Resurrection Power

   When Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha became sick, the sisters sent a message, (a prayer) to Jesus.

   “Lord, our brother Lazarus, the one You love, is very sick. Please come!”

   When He heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death for Lazarus, but will bring glory and praise to God. This will reveal the greatness of the Son of God by what takes place.”

   Now even though Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, He remained where He was for two more days. Finally on the third day, He said to His disciples, “Come. It’s time to go to Bethany.” John 11:3-7 TPT

   Even though Jesus understood the situation and loved this family, He chose, on purpose to stay two days longer. Jesus saw and knew what Martha and Mary did not. Even when things looked impossible and it seemed as if there was no hope, Jesus had a plan for resurrection and restoration. This was way beyond their realm of comprehension, and way beyond what they could ask or imagine.

   When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the grave four days. The first thing that Martha said to Jesus when she saw Him was, “My, Lord, if only you had come sooner, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Then she added, “But I know that if you were to ask God for anything, He would do it for you.”

   Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise and live.”  She replied, “yes, I know he will rise with everyone else on resurrection day.”

   “Martha,” Jesus said, “You don’t have to wait until then. I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to Me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. And the one who lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

   Then Martha replied, “Yes, Lord, I do! I’ve always believed that You are the Anointed One, the Son of God who has come into the world for us.”  John 11:21-27 TPT

   Resurrection HIMSELF was standing right in front of her! The study notes in The Passion Translation says, “Resurrection is superior to life, for life can be defeated and ended. But resurrection overcomes. Life is the power to exist, but resurrection is the power to conquer all, even death itself.”

   Then again, when Mary came to Jesus, “she fell at His feet in tears and said, “Lord,

if only You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32 TPT

  Both of these sisters spent a lot of time with Jesus, but still they restricted and limited what He was capable of doing. They both expressed doubt and unbelief, even though they said that they believed. Not only did they believe it was too late, for Martha even said that “it is hopeless” (v.39 AMP), they lacked faith by believing that He had to actually be in Bethany to heal Lazarus. Jesus is not limited by time or space!

   Then Jesus, with intense emotions, came to the tomb-a cave with a stone placed over its entrance. Jesus told them, “Roll away the stone.”

   Then Martha said, “But Lord, it’s been four days since he died-by now his body is already decomposing!”

   Jesus looked at her and said, “Didn’t I tell you that if you will believe in Me, you will see God unveil His power?” John 11:38-40 TPT

   Jesus is about to do an amazing miracle and Martha stops Him in protest because it’s already too late. Jesus response to her is also for us, “Didn’t I tell you that IF you will believe in Me, you WILL SEE GOD UNVEIL HIS POWER!”

   As they rolled away the stone, Jesus prays, “Father, thank You that You have heard My prayer.” V. 41.  “Have heard” is past tense, Jesus had already prayed about this situation. While He was waiting two more days, He was not just sitting around passing time, He was praying!

   “Then with a loud voice Jesus shouted with authority: “Lazarus, come forth! (NKJ)

   “Come forth” means to move forward and into view, to emerge, to appear (yourdictionary.com) but it also means: spring up or arise (thefreedictionary.com)

   “Then in front of everyone, Lazarus, who had died four days earlier, slowly hobbled out— he still had grave clothes tightly wrapped around his hands and feet and covering his face! Jesus said to them “Unwrap him and let him loose.” John 11:44-45 TPT

   Loose means; set free, release, liberate, unchain, unfetter, unfasten and unleash (definition from Oxford Languages)

   It is time for us to let go of doubt and unbelief of the “if only” and the “but Lord”. It’s time to let go of hopelessness and allow faith to move us. “And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that He is real and that He rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Faith moved Abel.

Faith lifted Enoch.

Faith opened Noah’s heart to receive revelation and warnings from God.

Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call.

Sarah’s faith embraced the miracle power to conceive even though she was barren. Abraham’s faith made it logical to him that God could raise Isaac from the dead.

The power of faith prompted Isaac to impart a blessing to his sons.

Jacob worshiped in faith’s reality at the end of his life.

Faith inspired Joseph and opened his eyes to see into the future.

Faith prompted the parents of Moses at his birth to hide him for three months.

Faith enable Moses to choose God’s will.

Faith stirred Moses to perform the rite of Passover and sprinkle lamb’s blood.

Faith opened the way for the Hebrews to cross the Red Sea.

Faith pulled down Jericho’s walls.

Faith provided a way of escape for Rahab the prostitute.

(Taken from Hebrews 11)

   I Decree over you today that you don’t have to wait until the “resurrection day”. Resurrection Himself is standing right in front of you, behind you, beside you, and in you, and He is about to resurrect your life, your marriage, your family, your job, your finances, and whatever else needs a new breath of life–IF only you will believe, you WILL SEE GOD UNVEIL HIS POWER! Jesus is letting you loose, setting you free and unleashing you to emerge and to arise! His heart is always to restore and He has given you the power to overcome and to conquer every area of your life.