Ever feel like you’re stuck in a dark room, waiting for the picture to develop? Waiting is tough—whether in a grocery line, a parking lot, or for that perfect cup of coffee. Our culture hates waiting! In today’s message, Pastor Lisa Seaton wraps up our series on the Miracles of Jesus by exploring the challenge of waiting. Whether it’s for healing, reconciliation, a better job, or a significant other, we all face it. Through the story of Lazarus, discover how God’s delays are for our benefit and His glory.
Notes 📓✏️:
Don’t Hate the Wait – Pastor Lisa Seaton
John 11:1-8, 11-16 (NLT) – “A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling Him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
But when Jesus heard about it He said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He stayed where He was for the next two days. Finally, He said to His disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.” But His disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
Then He said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
So He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.” Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”
Normally if God is making us wait –
1. For your benefit
2. For His glory
Isaiah 40: 31 (AMP) “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”
EXPECT / LOOK FOR / HOPE IN
John 11:17-24, 32-35, 38-44 (NLV) “When Jesus got there, He heard that Lazarus had been in the grave four days. Martha heard that Jesus was coming and went to meet Him. Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. I know even now God will give You whatever You ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again when the dead are raised from the grave on the last day.”
Mary went to the place where Jesus was. When she saw Him, she got down at His feet. She said to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus saw her crying. The Jews who came with her were crying also. His heart was very sad and He was troubled. He said, “Where did you lay Lazarus?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus cried.
Jesus went to the grave with a sad heart. The grave was a hole in the side of a hill. A stone covered the door. Jesus said, “Take the stone away.” The dead man’s sister, Martha, said to Him, “Lord, by now his body has a bad smell. He has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say that if you would believe, you would see the shining-greatness of God?”
They took the stone away. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You for hearing Me. I know You always hear Me. But I have said this for the people standing here, so they may believe You have sent Me.” When He had said this, He called with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The man who had been dead came out. His hands and feet were tied in grave clothes. A white cloth was tied around his face. Jesus said to the people, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go!”
Misconception: It’s too late for a miracle
Not yet doesn’t mean no; it just means not now.
Psalm 34:1 (KJV) “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- How can we maintain patience and faith while waiting for answers to our prayers?
- How do we approach waiting with hope and expectations?
- What can we learn from Jesus’ intentional waiting before performing the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead?
- Why is it important to worship God during our waiting period?