The Lazarus Principle - Now Faith

Today's Lesson:
THE ABCs of FAITH


Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11: 1

ABCs of Faith 7

WHAT FAITH IS

LAZARUS

Today we will continue our study of "What Faith Is." We are looking at the present tense faith it took to raise Lazarus from the dead in this lesson. We are going to launch out a little deeper into the realm of revelation knowledge. So close the door and turn of the TV as you read this today.

I told you yesterday that we were going to barbecue a sacred cow by looking at the resurrection of Lazarus, so let's do it.
I want to show you how Mary and Martha caused Jesus much grief by operating in the wrong tenses of faith regarding their dead brother Lazarus. The shortest verse in the Bible is Jesus wept. Jesus did not weep because Lazarus was dead, because He had already said this whole thing would bring glory to God, not death.

All of the verses we look at will be from John 11.

I am putting the Bible verses in italics with my comments inserted in regular font out of respect for the Word of God. That way you won't mix my comments up with scripture.

John 11

1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John 11: 1-4


Now let's get the NOW FAITH principle that Jesus was trying to teach at the death of Lazarus. Pay special attention to the bold words and my notes.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here (past tense), my brother had not died.


Notice that she was using past tense faith - If you would have been here, my brother would not have died is past tense! Jesus was grieved at this statement and she noticed so she immediately said; EVEN NOW whatever you ask, God will give you.

22 But I know, that even now (present - faith tense), whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Notice how Jesus responds to NOW faith:

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day ( she pushes it into the future tense)

Notice Jesus' mild rebuke;

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life (Now faith): he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (Now faith)

This is really a non-relative religious statement;

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

That was not the question!!! He did not ask if she believe He was the Son of God...Hello???

Jesus probably thought, Martha you have spent too much time working in the kitchen and not in the Word, get Mary...

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Past tense again - no wonder Jesus wept, I would have too...

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

His groaning was due to their unbelief. He was trying to find faith so that could raise the man up.

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? (Past tense, again)

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. (Now faith)

Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (Past tense)

Jesus is not weeping...by now, He is angry! The Greek brings out that He was now a a commanding mode of expression. TAKE AWAY THE STONE! Sense the commanding tone in verse 40. It is like saying; "What part of take away the stone did you not understand? Did I not tell you if you would believe...?

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (Now faith) 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.

Now faith, the taking away of the stone was the NOW FAITH He was looking for.

And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always (note the audacity of Jesus): but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (Now faith, calling things which be not as though they were...)

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Jesus had to have some NOW faith from the family to raise Lazarus from the dead. I know what your religious thinking is telling you; here it is "Why Bernard, Jesus is the Son of God, He could do whatever He wanted regardless of their faith or unbelief. If that is true, tear this verse out of your Bible:

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Mark 6: 5-6

It did not say he wouldn't, it said he couldn't! End of argument.
God demands "now faith" to perform miracles. What is the stone that you need to move by faith to receive your miracle today? God needs your faith. I don't think I can make it any simpler.
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Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11: 1

Live Well, Live Blessed!
Bernard