Rhema Ehiemere - Can You Explain Yourself?

Amen. I have an assignment. I have an assignment from the Holy Ghost. Get me a word. Um, I was supposed to preach something, but He switched it out midweek, and I believe this is a word because there was confirmation when Pastor Torrance was speaking and when Pastor Phil was speaking. If you have your Bibles, go to the Book of John, chapter 11. As is custom here at the Lighthouse, we stand for the reading of God’s Word. So, if you are physically able to stand, I would crave your indulgence to the intent that you do. We stand for celebrities; we stand for heroes; and the Word of God is a person, and His name is Jesus. Amen. John chapter 11, I’m going to use the New King James Version. I will read a couple of verses, then skip over because we know this story. This is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and I know we know the story, but I’m going to pull out some verses and extrapolate what God has given me this morning; is that okay?

Okay. John chapter 11 says, «Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair.» This is very important. «Whose brother was sick.» Therefore, the sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus, saying, «Lord, behold, he whom You love, that’s Lazarus, is sick.» Verse 4: When Jesus heard that, He said, «This sickness is not unto death.» And this is a prophecy for someone: whatever you’re going through, it’s not unto death. This blank is not unto death but for the glory of God. Somebody said the glory of God—leave it in the chat, wherever you’re watching—it says the glory of God.
That the Son of God made the world again be glorified through it, verse 5. Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus—a very important point. And so when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed two more days where he was. Now there’s a disconnect: how can you love me and not show up?

Let’s skip over to verse 11. These things he said after he had told them, «Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I might wake him up.» Then his disciples said, «Lord, if he sleeps, he will get up.» They didn’t understand it. Verse 13 says Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought he was talking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, «Lazarus is dead, and I’m glad—hold on a second. Lazarus is dead, and I’m glad.» How does Jesus speak? Thank God he was Jesus, because I’m sure they had an attitude. I mean, how do you explain that you love them, come late, and talk to your disciples, saying, «It’s okay, I’m glad that he’s dead»? He says, «I’m glad I was not even there, that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go.»

Verse 17: So when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Verse 20: Then Martha, as soon as she heard Jesus was coming, went out to meet him; Mary was sitting at the house. She said to Jesus, verse 21, «Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.» Verse 25: I love this so much. Jesus said to her, «I am.» Oh, you were looking for an event without knowing you were supposed to look for a person. She was looking for a process without knowing she was looking for a person. «I am the resurrection and the life.»
He who believes in me, though he may die, shall live. Skip over to verse 33. I know this is enough reading of the Bible, but this is why we are in church, right? For the Word. Therefore, Jesus saw how they were weeping, and the Jews who came with Him saw how they were weeping, and He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. Verse 34: He said, «Where have you laid him?» They said to Jesus, «Come and see.» And the famous verse 35: Jesus wept.

Let’s go to verse 38. Then Jesus, again groaning within Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was against it. Jesus said, «Take away the stone.» Martha said, «No, Lord, he’s dead by this time. He stinks; he’s been there for four days.» Look at verse 40. Jesus said, «Did I not tell you that if you believe…?»

The word again appears: «You will see the glory.» Did I not tell you that if you believe, this is going to be a year of manifesting that promise? Did I not tell you that if you believe, the addiction will be broken? Did I not tell you that if you believe, generational curses are going to be lifted off of your life? Did I not tell you that every now and then, you have to go back to what God told you?

They took away the stone from the place where the dead man was. Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, «Father, I thank You that You heard me, and I know You always hear me.» I have a problem with «I will examine that later,» but because of these people, which means Jesus said, «I didn’t even need to speak; I’m only speaking because people are here.» He said, «I know You already hear me. I didn’t need to speak. The only reason I’m speaking is because people are here.»