The Divine Story of Jesus and You: For God's Glory

Sermon Quick Summary
The scripture text for today is from John 11:1-16 (Section 4.62 of our booklet on the Life and Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth).  In our scripture sermon text, Jesus taught about the death of Lazarus, Jesus as the resurrection and the light raising Lazarus from death, and God’s call on us to show the glory of God’s divine greatness. God’s glory is a foundational theme of scripture. Glory is used as a designation for God and a description for God’s presence. The God we worship is intrinsically glorious in the fullness, sufficiency, majesty, beauty, and splendor as well as the display of God’s attributes, perfections, or person. We are called to praise and worship God as God is transforming us for God’s glory. Transforming for God’s Glory includes reaching out to others. There are 5 Lessons from Lazarus’ story for living our life.  Lesson 1: Our story is bigger than we know or imagine. God knows us and every aspect of our story. Lesson 2: We decide if we want Jesus as part of our story and choose when to invite the divine God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit into our lives. Lesson 3: Lesson 3: God’s love is immutable and speaks a word of destiny over and into our life story. Lesson 4: God’s work in our life stories grows our faith for God’s Kingdom, God’s glory and God’s love. Lesson 5: As we trust in God, God has the final say in how our story ultimately ends.

Scripture Text: John 11:1-16 (Easy to Read Version Translation)
1There was a man named Lazarus who was sick. He lived in the town of Bethany, where Mary and her sister Martha lived. 2 (Mary is the same woman who put perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) Mary’s brother was Lazarus, the man who was now sick. 3 So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, “Lord, your dear friend Lazarus is sick.”
4 When Jesus heard this he said, “The end of this sickness will not be death. No, this sickness is for the glory of God. This has happened to bring glory to the Son of God.” 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days 7 and then said to his followers, “We should go back to Judea.”
8 They answered, “But Teacher, those Jews there tried to stone you to death. That was only a short time ago. Now you want to go back there?”
9 Jesus answered, “There are twelve hours of light in the day. Whoever walks in the day will not stumble and fall because they can see with the light from the sun.[a] 10 But whoever walks at night will stumble because there is no light.”
11 Then Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus is now sleeping, but I am going there to wake him.”
12 The followers answered, “But, Lord, if he can sleep, he will get well.” 13 They thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was literally sleeping, but he really meant that Lazarus was dead.’
14 So then Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad I was not there. I am happy for you because now you will believe in me. We will go to him now.”
16 Then Thomas, the one called “Twin,” said to the other followers, “We will go too. We will die there with Jesus.

We are called to praise and worship God as God is transforming us for God’s glory
            The God we worship is intrinsically glorious in the fullness, sufficiency, majesty, beauty, and splendor as well as the display of God’s attributes, perfections, or person. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
            There are a lot more people in your life story than you know or have awareness of God transforming their life. Your life story is ever changing not only for you, but also for others in ways that you may never see.
 
Transforming for God’s Glory includes reaching out to others.
            We are easily caught up in our life story that we forget that others needing God’s glory. Thinking about us, rather than glorifying God, can lead to selfishness and isolation. Selfishness in our world has led to an epidemic of loneliness.
            In the last 50 years, rates of loneliness have doubled in the United States. In a survey of over 20,000 American adults, it was found that almost half of respondents reported feeling alone, left out, and isolated. Further, one in four Americans shared that they rarely feel understood, and one in five people believe they rarely or never feel not close to people. Provisional CDC data show that the number of suicide deaths in 2022 is the highest recorded, exceeding the next closest year (2018) by over 1,000 deaths.
            In 2022, the CDC said more than 49,000 people in the United States died by suicide. In 2023, those numbers surpassed 50,000 suicide deaths. Mental health officials say it is the highest rate of suicide that the nation has ever seen.
            Lazarus’ story shows the biblical principle of reaching out to others for God’s Glory.
           
5 Lessons from Lazarus’ story for living life today:
Lesson 1: Our story is bigger than we know or imagine. God knows us and every aspect of our story
            The story of Lazarus shows the impact on other people for God’s glory. “1There was a man named Lazarus who was sick. He lived in the town of Bethany, where Mary and her sister Martha lived. 2 (Mary is the same woman who put perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) Mary’s brother was Lazarus, the man who was now sick” (John 11:1-2). “‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17).
            There are promises from God for God’s glory. “When Jesus heard this he said, ‘The end of this sickness will not be death. No, this sickness is for the glory of God. This has happened to bring glory to the Son of God.’” (John 11:4). “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11-14).
            There are consequences to following Jesus in glorifying God. The enemy wants us to believe that we are insignificant, of no value and on our own. God wants us to remember that we are chosen, royal, holy, special and called to show for the glory of God. (See 1Peter2:9). So then Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead (John 11:14). Jesus pronounced Lazarus death, but raised Lazarus from the dead for the glory of God. “Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. ‘There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd of so many?’” (John 6:8-9). Jesus performed a miracle of feeding 5,000 people.
             There’s a common thread in these stories. God’s glory can be shown by everyone and using everything.

Lesson 2: We decide if we want Jesus as part of our story and choose when to invite the divine God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit into our lives
            Inviting the divine God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit into our lives is an action that every human being has the chance and choice to take. Even our difficult circumstances are opportunities for Jesus to impact our life journey. “Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, ‘Lord, your dear friend Lazarus is sick.’” (John 11:3).
            The two sisters, like so many of us, were at a place and point where their individual and combined capacities, were ineffectual and inadequate in addressing help for Lazarus. So they called for Jesus. Similar to the sisters, our prayers in accordance with God’s Will are effective.
            Jesus places no limitations on whose invitations He accepts. “When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death” (Luke 7:1-2).
            The Roman Centurion had heard about Jesus.  The centurion decided that what he heard was enough for him to seek Jesus for help. He had no grounds for asking anything of Jesus but based on what he’d heard and believed, with the help of friends and associates, he invited Jesus into his life story. Jesus responded to his appeal for help and the servant was healed.
            Jesus wants to be a part of our story but He waits for us to invite Him. We should not give up on our loved ones who have not yet taken the step to invite Jesus into their life.

Lesson 3: God loves is immutable and speaks a word of destiny over and into our life story
            “When Jesus heard this he said, ‘The end of this sickness will not be death. No, this sickness is for the glory of God. This has happened to bring glory to the Son of God.’” 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (John 11:4-5). “God is love.”(1 John 4:8b).    “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal live” (John 3:16). “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ…in Him it is always yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory. (2 Corinthians 1:19-20). Through Christ, God’s word speaks over our lives and circumstances.
            In living your life story you’re not going to always understand what God is doing or like how things go in your story. His word and our immediate circumstances do not always align. “For I know the plans I have for you,’” declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11). While we take comfort and inspiration from Jeremiah 29:11, verses 12-13 instruct us to pray and seek God with all our heart.
 
Lesson 4: God’s work in our life stories grows our faith for God’s Kingdom, God’s glory and God’s love  
            God is at work in us so that “all things become new.” The process of transformation and renewal takes time, so we need to be reminded that: God always places me at the center of His love not always at the center of His story. Jesus stayed for two more days before deciding to go see Lazarus. He doesn’t at first tell the disciples all that He knows about Lazarus. Then in spite of the danger He takes them back to Judea. His love is constant and unconditional.
            We think it is always about us, but it is not.  The experiences in our life story are used by God to teach us more about who God is and to benefit and serve others. One of the results of being “born in sin and shaped in iniquity” is the tendency to be selfish.  But God Word declares that it is for our good, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
            Through the circumstances of our story God reveals in us and through us, His holiness, power and love. When we are going through the stuff of our stories, our focus tends to be on GETTING through it and coming OUT on the other side. God’s focus is different, it’s on us GROWING through it and coming UP on the other side in growing together.
            God working in our stories grows our faith for our benefit so that we are fit for God’s Kingdom and Glory.

Lesson 5: As we trust in God, God has the final say in how our story ultimately ends
            God allows do overs and second chances. “Then Peter came up and said to Him, ‘Lord how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Is it as many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” (Matthew 18:21-22). Through the circumstances of our story, God’s glory and kingdom is revealed. “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13).
            The disciples who were ready and willing to go to Bethany and die with Jesus that day were the same disciples who showed an unconditional love for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. That was not how the story ended however. Their story continued through the day of Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit gives us the capacity to endure and overcome.
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Quick Summary
-In what ways might we focus on our own selfish desires rather than our need of trusting and glorifying the divine God, Son, and Holy Spirit?
We are called to praise and worship God as God is transforming us for God’s glory
-What examples do you have of awareness that God in the process of transforming you in your deep inner self?
Transforming for God’s Glory includes reaching out to others
-In what ways can thinking about you and forgetting about serving others lead to selfishness and isolation?
5 Lessons from Lazarus’ story for living life today:
Lesson 1: Our story is bigger than we know or imagine. God knows us and every aspect of our story
-In what circumstances have you seen in your life that God’s glory can be shown by everyone and using everything?
Lesson 2: We decide if we want Jesus as part of our story and choose when to invite the divine God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit into our lives
-Why is it so important to call for the divine God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit when our own capabilities are ineffective in providing the help we need?
Lesson 3: God loves is immutable and speaks a word of destiny over and into our life story
-How is God’s love pervasive and unchanging as God has destiny over your life journey?
Lesson 4: God’s work in our life stories grows our faith for God’s Kingdom, God’s glory and God’s love
-In what ways is this process of glorifying God for our own good? Why?
Lesson 5: As we trust in God, God has the final say in how our story ultimately ends
-What is the difference between the disciples understanding that Lazarus was sleeping, and Jesus’ declaration explaining that Lazarus was dead?
-Why is it important to trust in God’s love, mercy, and transformation through Jesus Christ?
5 Lessons from Lazarus’ story for living life today:
-Which lesson from the life story of Lazarus will you act to apply to your life journey soon?