Years ago, a large church I was on staff with at the time did a series called “Elephant in the Room”
• Prior to the series, the church was polled to narrow down the top things that were on people’s minds that it seemed nobody wanted to address.
• We even rented a live Elephant in a cage out front to attract attention, it did!
While we aren’t doing that, (this week at least), I do want to address an Elephant in the Room that is not usually talked about when people preach on Miracles…
What happens when you are caught between the time that Adversity strikes and the Miracle we are praying for?
Chances are, at some point the adversity you face today as an individual has brought you to the place where you have asked yourself a form of this question.
“Why does a good God let these bad things happen?”
We are used to being challenged with these kinds of questions from non-believers as they attempt to shoot holes in our faith.
But what do we do when we find ourselves asking that very same questions?
Even while deep down we believe…
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
…God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
The enemy at times tries his best to convince us that God meant those words for everyone else but not for you!
The way I see it, the same answer we would use in response to a non-believer applies.
• “Why does a good God let bad things happen?”
• Because Jesus himself says, “In this life you will have trouble”.
• Because we live in a fallen world full of sin which brings sorrow to individuals living on this very world Jesus so desperately wants to save!”
There are things in those times of adversity we do not understand and the answers can be hard to come by.
However, there is a peace that is available to us all for times like these that transcends beyond what we understand
Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes we face adversity because of sin and wrong decisions:
• Even in those times Jesus still desires to set things right
• Several times in scripture Jesus showed up miraculously healed a situation leaving them with the words, “Now go and sin no more”.
God has not stepped down off His throne concerning your situation and even as difficult as those seasons can be, it can serve a purpose.
(John 9:1-4) Tells us the story of when Jesus saw the man blind from birth and his disciples asked, “Who sinned to cause this?”
Jesus said, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
Many times, things happen to serve a purpose that for now is one of those secrets that only God knows:
• But the reality is it serves a purpose none the less.
• You may even in their own struggle to make sense of it all, say something that causes you to try and put blame on yourself or even others
As I thought about this idea of that season before our miracle comes, my mind went to a miracle story in scripture that I believe can speak to us this morning, that I would like us to look at together.
1 Yes Jesus Loves Me
Why am I facing this? Does Jesus love me?
John 11:1-3 (NIV)
Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
Tragedy strikes someone Jesus dearly loves…
There are several things we can take from this
• A personal friend of Jesus and a family that He dearly loved were facing a very difficult illness. (That’s okay, we know Jesus)
• They reached out to Jesus believing He could meet their need and heal the situation. (They even had faith)
• Jesus didn’t arrive with the answer in the time frame they wanted, nor in the manner they had prayed! (Lazarus was dead)
• This left them with the same questions and sorrows we face today…
2 If You Had Been Here…
John 11:21 (NIV)
"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
They had faith, but this was stretching its limits.
• The doubts
• Even blame towards Jesus
• There was still a mustard seed of faith “I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask”.
Many times, we can relate to their despair and confusion…
• Lord, you say that you call me friend, so why am I facing this? (I’ve even sang the song) (John 15:15)
• I’ve reached out to you in prayer long before it got this bad.
• I believed you could meet the need, and heal my situation.
• Now this!
• Jesus you didn’t arrive with the answer in the time frame I wanted, or in the manner I had prayed!
Lazarus’ family and many of us have asked this same question, “Lord, where were you?”
We have to remember the lessons from this story
• Just because tragedy strikes, does not mean Jesus doesn’t love us deeply
• In those times that it seems our prayers are falling on deaf ears, it may just be serving a bigger purpose than we know (rant)
• Just because we don’t get the exact answer we asked for, doesn’t mean another greater miracle isn’t on the way
In these times we can have (and must remember) the same hope that Lazarus’ family had even in the midst of their pain. (No matter what, we win)
3 Do You Believe This?
John 11:24 (NIV)
Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
John 11:25-26 (NIV)
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
For those that believe and have a relationship with Jesus we have this hope and during times like these we have to hold onto His words and use them as strength and comfort.
• “Do you believe this?” was His question
• This belief can truly bring unimaginable comfort in times like these
For those that ‘believe this’ there are some promises that we can hold to
• To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8)
• I’ve done many funerals…
• But believing this can also mean the reality we see before us, may not be the final answer!
So, what about that span of time before the answer comes?
While we are stuck between our tragedy and the fulfillment of the promises?
Whether by Rapture, Death or Miracle…
4 See How He Loved…
John 11:33-36 (NIV)
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. (35) Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
It is in these times that Jesus walks with us
• Jesus knew why Lazarus had died (A luxury the family didn’t have) (And neither do we)
• He knew the resurrection miracle that He was going to perform (then and later)
• He knew that Lazarus’ spirit was already safely in God’s hands
• Yet He still walked beside them moved by their personal pain and cried with them!
If you are here today and you are caught between some form of adversity and your answer...
• He is walking with you today
• I believe He is shedding tears for your sake today (He is moved by your pain)
• If you will let Him, He will put His arms around you and help you in this walk, until you see with your own eyes the fulfillment of His promise!
You may just be mere steps away from your miracle!
1 Yes Jesus Loves Me
2 If You Had Been Here…
3 Do You Believe This?
4 See How He Loved…
