Present Help

Scriptures:

Main Scriptures: Please read John 11: 1-44

Supporting scripture: Proverbs 18:24

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Introduction:

There are14 purposes why Christs performs miracles

1. To Make believers

2. To Fulfill prophecy

3. To Demonstrate God will

4. To Destroy works of Satan

5. To Give abundant life

6. To confirm His Sonship and messianic claims

7. To Confirm God’s word and love

8. To Prove God

9. To Demonstrate God power over Satan

10. To prove the Kingdom of God presence

11. To Glorify God

12. To set an example

13. To demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit

14. To demonstrate full salvation of body soul and spirit

Body

• As highlighted before the meaning of Lazarus is God helpeth. It is similar to the Hebrew name Eleazar. Jesus was about 18 miles away and had to travel when He had that His friend was sick. Lazarus was a friend to Jesus and the disciples (v3 & v11). If you hear that your friend is sick you will call them quickly. Though you might not help, you will be very concerned with their condition. This is the same when Jesus becomes your friend. Any situation around will gain life as long as pray

• phílos – a friend; someone dearly loved (prized) in a personal, intimate way; a trusted confidant, held dear in a close bond of personal affection. beloved, dear, friendly.

• Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Let Jesus be your friend today. Your brothers can live you but Jesus will never live you.

• Lazarus had present help because of His friendship. Your connection to Jesus will ensure present help. You will not die if you are fully connected to Jesus. In John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live

• Ladies and gentle men we have got friends that used to be our friend but though we know them they are no longer our friends. Jesus know what you are going through, and He will never let you down.

• When Jesus went see Lazarus they were life threaten situations, but He went. When other friends come with you in your situation, they come to die with you (v16) but when Jesus comes, he has come to raise you up. Jesus exposed himself to danger when for his friend sake. It does not matter how many days you have been laying down He can raise you up.

• A grave site is place of lost hope. It’s a place of buried and dead dreams. I pray for the resurrection power to touch upon your situation this week. If God raised Lazarus you shall not be left in that situation. It is very encouraging that on earth there were people like Lazarus who were friends Jesus.

• Mary and Martha were sisters but also friend to Lazarus. They send a messenger (apostello) – prayer. Jesus waited not to neglect but to demonstrate a better, greater love and power to them. Lazarus died the day that the messenger was sent. Jesus knew it. Christ by divine guidance he had another plan. God can permit a temporary death but not a permanent death for His glory. Had Lazarus not been resurrected there would have been no glory to God. God gets glory out of healing, deliverance and breakthroughs. Anyone can do better and well when they are not sick so Lazarus had to be healed.

• Martha’s request was indirect (v22). Martha stopped short of her direct request and absolute faith for what she wanted. This is why many prayers are not answered. Make direct and earnest prayer requests. (Hebrews 4:14-16 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need). Scripture also says in 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

  • She fell down as a sign of worship (v32)

  • Wisemen (Mt 2:11

  • Jairus Mk 5:22

  • The woman healed Mk 5:33

  • Syrophoenician woman Mk 7:25

  • Peter Luke 5:8

  • The Leper Lk 5:12

  • The Gadarene Lk 8:28

  • The Samaritan Lk 17:16

• V35 is the shortest verse in the bible it expresses the humanity of Jesus in generous and sympathetic feeling for his friends. He wept with those who wept (Heb 4:15, Rom 12:15). They had no idea that a greater miracle was about to happen. The same God that raise Lazarus can change your situation for good. Let’s pray for our Present Help. God is faithful. There is no big situation for Him.

• May the Lord remove your barreness

• Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

• Job said in Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

• Matthew 19:26; But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

• Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

• Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

• Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

• Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”