WHOM THOU LOVEST IS SICK

Sunday Morning - December 8, 1996

Text: John 11:1-6 "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. 5. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

BROTHER LAZARUS

John 11:1-2 "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.)"

GREAT BIBLE STUDIES

Luke 10:39 "And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word."

Luke 10:42 "But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

GOOD FELLOWSHIP

John 12:2 "There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him."

MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT

JESUS LOVED THEM

John 11:5 "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus."

 LAZARUS - abbreviation of Eleazar, whom God helps. Also assistance of God

LAZARUS IS SICK

John 11:3 "Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."

James 4:2 "...ye have not, because ye ask not."

WHAT SHALL I DO UNTO YOU

Matthew 20:30-33 "And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. ... 32. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened."

1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

 Philippians 4:6-7 "Be careful [thought] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought [careful] for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"

PRAYER IS HIS DELIGHT

Proverbs 15:8 "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight."

TURNETH AWAY FROM THE WORD

Proverbs 28:9 "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

HE WILL NOT HEAR

Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

DELAY

6. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was."

GOD BEARS LONG WITH US

Luke 18:1-8 "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

7. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

CHANGE

Romans 2:4 "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"

LAZARUS IS DEAD

John 11:14 "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead."

I AM GLAD I WAS NOT THERE

John 11:15 "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye [disciples v.12] may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."

SON MIGHT BE GLORIFIED

John 11:4 "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."

BELIEVE THE FATHER SENT HIM

John 11:40-43 "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."

THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE

John 17:21 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

THE FATHER SENT THE SON

1 John 4:14 "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."

 BLESSED ARE THEY THAT WAIT

Isaiah 30:18 "And therefore will the LORD wait [long, tarry, wait], that he may be gracious [deal, give, grant graciously] unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him."

 Psalms 19:9-10 "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

WAIT ON THE LORD

Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

 Psalms 37:34 "Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked sare cut off, thou shalt see it."