Ministering: A/P Alaba Olanipekun.
Text: John 11:39-44.
” 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. 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: 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. 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.” KJV.
It is a joy to live cognizance of the fact that all power belongs to God. God’s power is such that it knows no impossibility. Through the gospel, God has given us the authority to use His power. There is power to make wealth (Deut. 8:18), Power to resist temptation, etc. The question is not whether God has given us power but whether we are using it.
Power is made available to us through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Luke 10:19 testifies of Christ giving us power to thread on serpents and scorpions.
Why God manifests His power?
- To confirm that He is the resurrection and the Life. John 11:25
- To instill a reverence fear in the hearts of men. Luke 7:11-17
- To give us boldness to minister. Acts 4:20
- To serve as evidence that God is in the midst of His people.
A “Stone” is any hindrance to the manifestation of God’s power in our lives. Taking away the stone means obeying the specific instruction God has given to us. God will not do for us what He has giving us capacity to do. He will not roll the stone away for us – this is our responsibility. Our part is the simple part (rolling away the stone), God’s part is the difficult part (raising the dead).
Common examples of stones (Hindrances to God’s power)
- Lack of commitment to the Lord – Jn. 20:21, Mark 7:6
- Lack of knowledge of Him and His word – Phil. 3:10, Hosea 4:6
- Impatience – 1 Sam. 13
- Inability to abide in Him and His Word – Jn. 15
- Indiscipline
- Fear & Doubt
God is not slack concerning His Promises (2 Pet. 3:9). He is the Same Yesterday, and Today and Forever (Heb. 13:8).
God Bless You!
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