Can you explain Yourself? | Pastor Rhema Ehiemere
This sermon by Pastor Rhema Ehiemere breaks down the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The bible clearly states that Jesus loved Lazarus, but if He loved him, the question begs, why did He let him die? Jesus, please explain yourself.
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Autogenerated Transcript
Pastor Torrance (00:00:00):
Hey, what’s up Lighthouse Nation? Listen, we got a power pack word coming right for you this morning. It’s going to change your life. Listen, pay attention to this word because this word right here is going to help you see a whole entire year flash right before your eyes. Connect with us on every social media platform we have, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, whatever you can find. Can’t wait for you to get this word. We love you.
Pastor Rhema (00:00:29):
Amen. I have an assignment. I have an assignment from the Holy Ghost. Get me a word. I was supposed to preach something but he switched it out midweek and I have, I believe this is a word because there was confirmation when Pastor Torrens was speaking and when Pastor Phil was speaking. If you have your Bibles, go to the book of John chapter 11, and as our custom is 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 stand. 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’s version. I’m going to skip over. I’m going to read a couple of verses and skip over because we know the story.
(00:01:18):
This is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and I know we know the story, but I’m going to just pull out some verses and extrapolate what God has given me this morning. Is that okay? Yes. Okay. John chapter 11, he says, now a certain man was sick Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Mather. 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 send as Mary and Madison sent word to Jesus saying, Lord, Lord, behold, he whom you love, that’s Lazarus is sick. Verse four, when Jesus had that, he said, this sickness is not onto death and this is a prophecy for someone. Whatever you’re going through, it’s not onto death. This blank is not unto death, but for the glory of God, somebody said the glory of God, glory, leave it in the chat wherever you’re watching it says the glory of God, glory that the Son of God may the word again be glorified through it.
(00:02:37):
Verse five. Now Jesus loved Mather, his sister and Lazarus, very important point, and so when he had had that date that he 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 said to them, our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I might wake him up. Verse 12 says, then his disciple said, Lord, if he sleep, he will get up that he don’t understand it. Verse Thein says, Jesus spoke. Jesus spoke of his death. Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought he was talking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them, plain Lazarus is dead and I’m glad. Hold on a second.
(00:03:37):
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 and you come late and you’re talking to your disciples and you’re saying, it’s okay. I’m glad that I’m glad he’s dead and 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 he had already been in the tomb for four days. Verse 20 doesn’t matter. As soon as she heard Jesus was coming, went out to meet him, Mary was sitting in the house and she said to Jesus, verse 21, Lord, if you have been here, my brother would not have died. Verse 25, I love this soul. Jesus said to her, I am.
(00:04:33):
You are looking for an event without knowing you are 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, he shall leave to verse 33, I know this is enough of reading of the Bible, but this is why we are in church, right for the word. Therefore, Jesus saw how weeping and the Jews who came with him saw how weeping and he groaned the spirit and was troubled. Verse 34, and he said, where have you laid him? And they said to Jesus, come and see and all famous verse 35, Jesus wept. Let’s go to verse 38. Then Jesus again groaning in himself came to the tomb. It was a cave and a stone against it and Jesus says, take it out, take away the stone. And Matthew said, no, Lord, he’s dead. By this time he’s stinking, he’s smelling. He’s been there for four days. Look at verse 40.
(00:05:47):
Jesus said, did I not tell you that if you believe me, the word again appears you’ll see the glory. Did I not tell you that if you believe this is going to be a year of manifested promise, did I not tell you that if you believe that 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? Every now and then you have to go back to what God told you and 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 that. I will examine that later, but because of this people, which means Jesus says, I didn’t even need to speak. I’m only speaking because people are here.
(00:06:58):
He says, I know you already hear me. I didn’t need to speak. The only reason I’m speaking is because people are here that they may believe you sent me and when he has said this thing, he said, Lazarus comfort, and he who was dead came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes. Please mark this, and his face was wrapped with cloth and Jesus said, lose him and let him go. This text is confusing because there’s a whole lot that is going on here, but for the next few minutes I want to speak on the subject that says, can you explain yourself? Look at your neighbor and tell them. Can you explain yourself?
(00:07:54):
Can you explain yourself? You may be seated. Come and give it up. For the worship team and the praise team, they were on fire this morning. Father, we ask for the anointing that makes preaching and teaching easy. We ask that you move from center to second friends and feel this place with your glory, not of me and all of you, anything I’ve planned to say that you don’t want me to say, take it out and everything you want me to say that I’ve not planned to say, put it back in beyond the excitement. Let it be an experience. Let this not be in tithe in words of men’s wisdom, but the demonstration of your power in the mind to name of Jesus we pray and the people of God say amen. Amen. Somebody say, can you explain yourself? Can one of the most beautiful words to experience in scriptures is also one of the most difficult words to explain.
(00:09:13):
It’s a beautiful experience, but it’s difficult to explain and that word is what we’ve been talking about all morning glory. Somebody said, glory, glory, glory is wonderful to experience, but it’s difficult to explain that the word glory is used over 600 times in the Bible. The word glory or is derivative, glory, glorious glorify. It’s used over 600 times in the Bible. And I know that might not mean anything to you, but let me put things in context and perspective for you. As important as the word faith is, it is only used 350 times thereabouts in the Bible. As important as the subject of love is in the Bible, it’s only used about 300 times in the Bible. As important as the subject of grace is, it’s only used guess how many times? About 200 times in the Bible. Yet the word glory is used over 600 times. Now, this is not to suggest that the frequency of a word automatically denotes its priority or I importance. I’m just saying this to say that the word glory is used in multiple places at different times because it means different things. Isaiah for the two, verse eight, let me prove it.
(00:10:59):
The Bible says, I am the Lord your God. That is my name and my glory. I will share with no one Jesus. God gave us his son, he gave us his blood, he gave us his spirit, he gave us everything that one thing he cannot, that will not give us is his glory. Now, it’s easy to stay on that and move further, but I understand that I’m not just speaking to the 350 people in the house. I’m speaking to thousands around the world. So there will be some very smart Bible scholars that would go immediately to John 1722 and say, but Jesus pray for his disciples and said, father, the glory which you have given me, I give to my disciples. So can you explain yourself? Do you share your glory or don’t you share your glory?
(00:11:56):
And this is why you need to understand the concept of glory because in Isaiah, God was talking about the glory of him being the sovereign God, the creator of the universe, but in John, he was talking about the glory of sonship and position that they may be won even as we are won, everything God does is for his glory. Look at someone and tell them, glory, glory. Look at your other neighbor and tell them glory. Do you know when the people of God ask Moses for bread, asked for food, God spoke through Moses and told him they will see my glory and do you know how as manna from heaven, Exodus, I believe he’s 19 or 16, they will see my glory. He described manna from heaven as glory. Look at David. David was trying to describe the beauty of God and he says, the heavens declare the glory of God.
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Look at Exodus 33. Moses wanted to go deeper with God and he said in Exodus 33, I want to see your glory. Show me your glory. Look, I can go on and on and on. The Bible says the glory of the later shall be greater than that of the former. The Bible says The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord just as the water covers the sea glory. That’s what I’m talking about. Sams 84 11 lets us. I love this part. It says, the Lord God is a son and seal, he gives grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them. That works uprightly. Listen, whenever glory shows up, good things shows up. I don’t know about you, but I have a funny feel that there is glory in this house and if there is glory, I have a feeling that good things are coming your way. Give your never a hy of and tell them good things are coming your way. Good things are coming your way. What did they say? Did they say amen to that? If they didn’t say amen, turn to the other neighbor and tell them, good things are coming my way. Good things are coming my way. What did they say? Did they say amen if they didn’t say amen? Now talk to yourself and say good things.
(00:14:22):
Did you say, amen. I feel something in this house. Can I go one more? I know you love this. Isaiah six to the Bible says, arise and shine for your light has come and what the glory of God is reason upon you, and as a consequence of that glory, the abundance of the sea shall be converted to you. Who is ready for abundance? Who is ready for wealth transfer, who is ready for increase? I don’t know about you, but I see some hands. If you are sitting beside a neighbor that is not raising your hands, tell them, can you get my bank accountant transferred? Because some of you don’t like money. I like money, but listen, and you need to understand that is the love of money, that is the root of our evil, not money. There’s nothing wrong with money, but how you love it, God doesn’t mind you having money. God minds money having you. So if you don’t know what to do with yours, just let me know. I’ll tell you what to do with it. Who is ready for overflow? Who is ready for an increase? Who is ready for an abundance? If you are ready online, wherever you are, put it. I’m ready.
(00:15:40):
One more, I promise one more, then we’ll move forward because I love to stay in this place of glory. I love to stay in this place of glory. The Bible lets us know, I believe is Psalm 24. It says, lift up your head. Lift up your head ye gates and be lifted up ye everlasting doors and let the king of what, who is this king of glory, the Lord s strong and mighty in battle. Oh, I feel something in the Lord strung and mighty in battle. If you come in here with any battle, I came to announce to you that the Lord is strong and mighty in battle As you open your mouth for the next 30 seconds and give him the glory he is fighting for you, chains are breaking, miracles are happening. The walls are falling down. Come on, take 30 seconds and give him the glory. Give him the glory. Give him the glory. Give him the glory. There is power in your thank you Jesus. There is power in your hallelujah. There is power in your wave. There is power in yourself.
(00:17:00):
The glory is here. The glory is here. I can sense his presence. Go ahead, play some. I can sense his presence. I can sense his presence there. Someone watching line that is believing God for the fruit of a womb. I want to prophesy to you in the next nine months, God is going to surprise you. I can sense his glory. There are raises. I can sense his glory. This is holy ground. There are angels all around miracle jobs. I can sense his glory, I can sense his glory, miracles, signs and wonders. Oh, the glory of God is here. Oh, the glory of God is here. Oh, the glory of God is here. Oh, the glory of God is here. Oh, the glory of is here. Oh, the glory of God is here. I said the glory, the glory, the glory. Somebody said the glory. Glory. Somebody said the glory. Glory. When the glory comes, everything melts like a wax because the word glory is from a Hebrew word called Cabo, which means the weight, the tangible weight and manifestation of God’s presence. It’s from a Greek word called do, which means the presence of God.
(00:18:28):
Thank you because if you do that, we’re going to flow into the prophetic. I need to teach. The thing about glory is that we know how to give God the glory and that is fine, but what happens when God decides to use your life to get the glory I just said, give him the glory and we did it in a second and there’s nothing wrong with it and we felt his presence. So glory has to do with presence. But if that’s the only definition of glory you have, then you’re going to encounter some disappointments because your expectation is not going to match with God’s decisions.
(00:19:27):
Just hang with me please. It’s heavy on my inside. I got to get this out. So glory is not just about God’s presence. Glory is about God’s purpose. Say that. What do you do when God says you were good at giving me the glory, but now I want to use you to get the glory the Bible tells us, this is where we get into the free of this text because the Bible tells us that this was the Mary that knew how to give him the glory. This was the Mary that anointed his feet with oil, so she knew how to give him the glory, but she said, Lord, my brother is sick, and God says, yes, this is another dimension, another dimension of glory. You know how to wash my feet with your tears, but what happens when I want to use your life for my glory so this sickness is not on to death.
(00:20:42):
He said, God, man, can you stop with all this glory talk? Where was the glory talk when we were eating wings last week and I was frying some chicken wings and we were eating and Matha was cooking and Mary was taking notes at your feet. Where was this glory where we were hanging out and just chilling and you were spiting out? Rev, where was this glory? Okay, by the way, you were here last week and I broke a Le baster box on your feet. You didn’t know about glory then, so how is it that you’re talking to me about glory now my brother is sick and he’s dying and you’re talking about glory. Lazarus is dying and you’re talking about glory. What do you do when you have a connection with God but you don’t understand what God is doing?
(00:21:39):
Oh my goodness, every now and then I’m telling you, I know I’m speaking to somebody in-house and online. You would encounter a Lazarus situation. You would encounter a Lazarus marriage. You would encounter a Lazarus relationship. You would encounter a Lazarus child. You would encounter a Lazarus boss. You would encounter a Lazarus business. You would encounter a Lazarus job business, a situation that you don’t understand and God, I need you now. Now. But Pastor Keon always says everybody’s emergency doesn’t have to be your urgency. Jesus never ran to a place. He always walked to the place. So just because he doesn’t respond how you respond doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand what you.
(00:22:34):
Somebody say Glory, glory. This was the Mary. What if I told you that what you are going through is for his glory? See how quiet the church is? But when we quote scripture, we jump when we say all things are working together for the good. Let me show you something. Can you open second Corinthians four 17? This is church, so we’re going to read Bible. Somebody said Bible. Bible. Yeah, that’s what we’re here for. Second Corinthians four 17. Do you have it? Oh, thank you. It says, for our light affliction, listen now it is the way I am wired. Don’t be calling what I’m going through light.
(00:23:37):
You mean I was laid and it was light. You mean the house? What’s for close night? You called it light. You mean I lost the baby and you call it light? You mean they repossessed the car and you call it light? You mean my brother committed suicide and you call it light? What are you talking about? Jesus. For our light affliction, which is for a moment, hold on. The affliction is actually the one doing the work, not you. We’ll talk about it later is working a far more exceeding. God is saying the compensation package of what is about to hit your life, life is heavy compared, oh my.
(00:24:28):
It’s heavy compared to what you are going through. I know you were going through hell and high water right now, but God told me to tell you something bigger is coming. Something better is coming and I wanted to hold the hand of your neighbor and tell them something bigger is coming. Something bigger is coming because you don’t even know what people are going through right now. Believe it in the chat and say something bigger is coming, something better is coming. Something bigger is coming. I feel it. Something bigger, better and it’s still called glory. This is important, and that’s why in this text I’m going to take you through three things. Jesus teaches us that we must understand if we have to understand glory very quickly. The first word there is clarity. Everybody say clarity. Clarity. No. Say like you mean it. Say clarity. Clarity.
(00:25:32):
This is very important because you need to have clarity in crisis. If you don’t understand and have clarity in crisis, listen to me, wherever you are, drop the pancakes and listen to me prophetically. If you don’t have clarity in crisis, you’ll always mislabel a divine appointment as a disappointment. Jesus said he’s sleeping. Mary said he’s dying. Who is correct? This is why you need clarity. Lord, I don’t understand what you’re doing. You said you love me, but why am I going through this? Do you know I serve in the parking lot ministry? Do you know I pay my tithe? Do you understand that I’m in charge of this and that group and my brother dying and my business is dying? What do you do when you do all the right things and get the wrong results?
(00:26:56):
I want to speak to Mary. I want to speak to mother. Wherever you are, you might be in Canada or California. You might be in Germany or Ghana. Wherever you are listening to me, you might be in-house. I need you to understand that glory is when God does his best work after the enemy has done his worst work. Glory is when God does his best work. After the enemy has done his worst work, by that definition, look around you. You don’t even understand that you are in glory. He will supply all your riches according to his richest where in glory, some of you are in glory and you don’t even know because glory doesn’t feel comfortable sometimes. Listen to me, everything that brings God glory will not bring you joy.
(00:27:57):
Everything that brings God glory wouldn’t bring you peace. Oh, I’m preaching better than you’re talking everything. Oh my goodness. Everything that brings God glory wouldn’t bring you peace. Glory can be uncomfortable. That’s why when Peter, James and John went the mound of transfiguration, they were confused. They said, hold on. What’s happening here? Let’s build three-tenths. Glory can be confusing because it’s not always about his presence but his purpose. By the way, when God said, when Jesus said this, sickness is not onto that Holden, where were you? He was not even there, so glory cannot be defined based on his presence because Jesus was not even there and he was talking about glory. So glory cannot be relegated or limited to just the presence of God. Glory is the purpose of God. Wherever you are, put it in the chat. Glory is the purpose of God. Glory is the purpose of God. Glory is the purpose of God. Glory is the purpose of God, and some of you are in glory and you don’t even know it.
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This is the purpose of the mess. I know you might not shout and jump, but I’m telling you, when this thing explodes, the weight of glory that is coming, you will call the season light. Oh, I received that for you. Just because you don’t understand what I’m saying, I say, in the next season of your life, you will call what you’re going through light because God’s glory is about to hit you. Good measure, press down, shaking together and running over someone. Give your neighbor a hy and tell them glory. The glory is here. This is why we need clarity in crisis.
(00:30:01):
Melver, do you know Mary was asking God for a healing, but what God was trying to do was a resurrection. Oh, I feel it. I’m ready. Some of you are asking God. God doesn’t want to manage the situation. He wants to change the situation. Oh my goodness gracious. It is possible for God to answer your prayers and he not get the glory. If God healed Lazarus, he didn’t get no glory in it. Some of you are asking for a promotion and God is asking for glory. Some of you’re asking for open doors and God is asking for glory. See how heavy it is now? Nobody’s shouting anymore. Some of you’re asking God for an increase and God is asking for glory.
(00:31:09):
Remember this, when you wake up, hear my voice, everything that brings God glory sometimes doesn’t bring you peace. We have reduced the glory of God to good things. We have reduced the glory of God to good feelings. We have reduced the glory of God to good vibes in church. I refuse to reduce the gospel to man motivation because then I’m going to be selling you a countered version that is full of frustration because you cannot handle delayed gratification. I refuse to give you a water down version of the gospel. Jesus carried his cross. You got to carry your own too. Some of the New Testaments you quote, were written by men in prison in glory. I had to add that because some of you’re like, I don’t want that in glory. Do you want glory or not?
(00:32:19):
If it’s not about the kingdom, it’s not about the glory. This sickness is not unto death. Glory is when God makes a transition out of what the enemy wanted to make a final destination in your life on your way to glory. You might stop by this junction called a heartbreak on your way. Oh, on your way to glory. You might stop over by this place called pain on your way to glory. You might stop by this. I know I’m speaking to you. Yes, you on your way to glory. You might stop by this place called disappointment, this loyalty manipulation that is a stopover, not a sleepover.
(00:33:19):
Somebody say Clarity, clarity, clarity. God, give me clarity. I want you to squeeze the hand of your neighbor wherever you are, squeeze the hand of your neighbor. I know you’re with mask and all of that, but just for a second, squeeze your hands like you’re about to squeeze it off and look at them and say, this is what glory feels like. Now if you are online, I wanted to just lay hands on your head and just prophesy to yourself and say, this is what glory feels like. Why do I say that? Listen, listen, listen. You have so much glory on you to give up because Christ is in you and here’s the hope Christ in you, the hope of glory. I came to announce to you. You had too much glory to give up. Now you have too much glory on you to throw in the tower. You have too much glory in you to end your life. Stop it. You’ll have too much glory in your life to be despondent under glory. You’ve got too much glory on your life.
(00:34:22):
If you’re never ahy person, you’ve got glory on you. You’ve got glory in you. You’ve got glory in you. Take 30 seconds. Give him the glory. Give him the glory. Give him the glory. Lift up your head. Oh ye gate be lifted up. Ye aest endorse. Let the king in. Let the king in. Let glory come in. Let P come in for dying. Is the kingdom, the power, the glory? Feel the power of the Holy Ghost. The glory is here. Sit there. Pastor T, oh Jesus. The Bible was very careful to tell us that Jesus loved him. God, can you explain yourself? You love me enough to be late.
(00:35:25):
I was thinking about this pastor tea and I think we’ve talked about this and tackled the text. I think pastor made this point. If Jesus showed up, now you got to understand that the Jewish custom, they believe that when a dead body or when someone dies, that the spirit hovers for a couple of days. I think about three or four days. If Jesus showed up the first day, they would’ve said, eh, yeah, the spirit was there, so this is not really, yeah, that’s fine. We can do it second day. That’s fine, but the spirit of God said maybe he didn’t show up on the third day so they would not confuse him with Jesus.
(00:36:13):
Maybe he didn’t show up on the third day so they don’t confuse him with what if the delay is clarity? What if God is delaying this so he can bring clarity to your destiny? Because if it shows up, if shows up on the third day, they’ll be like, hold on a second. Who is Jesus you? Because they’re already confused about who Jesus was. They’re like, Hey, can you point out who Jesus? Oh, the one that, oh, third day, you, both of you, third day and you are Jesus, come on. No, Jesus said, no, no, no, no, no. I need no confusion about my destiny and I’m not going to put the pressure of a savior on you. Lazarus, you love me and you don’t show up. This is very important, guys.
(00:37:13):
I’m having fun all by myself. That’s my African laughter. Sorry. God may not always explain himself, but God would always reveal himself. God is not in the explanation business. He’s in the revelation business. Love is not what you understand. Love is what you believe. You please write it down. Love is not what you understand because in this text, love did not make sense. I’m walking heavy. Listen, the proof of God’s love, the proof of God’s love is not what he will do. Oh my goodness. I’m trying to preach and the teaching is coming. I’m trying to teach and the preaching is coming.
(00:38:15):
The proof of God’s love is not what he will do in your life. It’s what he did in your life. Lemme put it this way, so you understand the proof of God’s love is not his response to your challenges. It’s his response to the cross. Newsflash, God doesn’t have anything to prove. God is under no obligation, none whatsoever at all that he still loves you. I know this is heavy for some people because Lord, if you love me, why didn’t you show up? Listen, the definition of love cannot be reduced to his response to your situation. Just because he didn’t respond the way you responded doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. God’s love is too big to be relegated by the circumference of your situation.
(00:39:28):
Lemme say this. This is why you need to have faith in love. This is real teaching. Guys. I going to come to the shouting part and all of that, but this is important because once you understand love, it changes your paradigm. The reason most of you are disappointed is because you don’t understand love. Lord, if you are here, my brother wouldn’t have that yet to don’t one worshiping so you can worship without the revelation of love. You can spend your all. That’s why the Bible says in First Corinthians, you can give your body to be burned and not have love. This is the problem with the church. We do things that we don’t understand who we’re doing it for because God is love.
(00:40:15):
Let me say this, God’s love. It’s not a presence to be felt. It’s not a presence. You can feel God’s love. It’s not an evidence. You can see God’s love is an assurance. God’s love, God’s love. God’s love is not a presence. You feel God’s silence is not His absence. God’s love. It’s not an evidence. You can see like a car or a house is an assurance. I know that my redeemer leaves God’s love is an assurance. I know. Oh my goodness. Now we make sense. Pastor Torrance, while the church, oh, church will sing the song, blessed assurance Jesus. Jesus is mind. Oh, what a forte. Oh, what a forte
(00:41:46):
Of glory divine A of salvation, ed of God. Then he says, born of his spirit washed in his blood and he says, this is my story. I know I don’t have the money yet, but I believe him. This is my son. Does anybody have a story in the house? Come on. If he did it before he can do it again. He is the same. Yesterday, today, and forever. I’m talking about the God who was, who is and who is to come. This is my story. I believe you God, I don’t understand what you’re doing, but I know what you can do. I don’t understand what you’re doing, but I know what you can do. You can do all things. You can do all things. You can do all things. I believe your Lord. I don’t understand what you’re doing.
(00:43:01):
I wanted to preach to yourself and say, Lord, I believe that’s why you have to have faith in God’s love because faith is a substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen. Sit down, we’re talking, sit down. The second thing Jesus stitches us is compassion. Everybody say compassion. Okay, Jesus. You finally show and you begin to weep. Jesus, stop this man. You are. Why are you weeping? Jesus was weeping, not because he didn’t know what to do, but because they didn’t know what to do and my people perish for lack of knowledge. He was weeping because of the pain of ignorance, the pain of what they were going through.
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Jesus wept. He showed compassion before he went into action. Say that he showed empathy before he showed authority. He showed tears before he showed his words. Jesus now switches from the prophet that says, this is not unto death to the priest in Hebrews four that is touched with the feelings of our infirmity. Oh, I’m preaching. Oh my goodness. Jesus switches roles from the prophet that says, this is not unto death to the priest that says, I can sit Hebrews, I believe four 12, I believe so he says, we have a high priest who can sympathize and empathize and listen. Lemme tell you something. On Friday I was preparing this message and all of a sudden I started feeling some kind of underneath my lips and I looked at the mirror and my lips were swollen. I was like, what?
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I was about to call pastor like that sermon on Sunday. We might need to call Pastor Torrens or Pastor Fields to take care of it because what if I showed up and then God told me, if it bothers you, it bothers me. Whoa. How do I say this? Say it. Even if you, she is been the hype woman all service, you don’t even know what she’s been through, so don’t even just leave her. Do you know that? Even if it’s a pimple, even if it’s a rash, whatever it is, if it keeps you awake at night, guess what? He never sleeps also. Yeah. I’m trying to tell you that the God that takes care of cancer can take care of the people. He don’t change anything about him. Jesus loves you. Listen, listen, listen, listen. This is the gospel. The Bible says, don’t be deceived lest anyone deceive you with the simplicity of the gospel. Jesus loves you. I need everybody online to write it and leave it in the chat. Jesus, you might not love you, but Jesus loves you. Let me show you something. Romans eight, please, please. Romans 8 38. I’m sorry, I’m reading all these verses, but this is important. Romans 8 38, verse 38 through 39. In the new Living translation, there’s something that God says that blows my mind.
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Oh, oh, oh. I’m convinced that nothing, this is a word for someone. Someone just came to church for this, that nothing can ever separate me from God’s love. Neither death, Lazarus, neither life Mary and Matha, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow. Oh Jesus, some of you’re afraid of hell. It says, neither the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. It’s already too late. No power in the sky above or on the earth below. Indeed, nothing in creation will ever be somebody, say, ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus.
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This is the gospel for God so loved you. This is why he died for you, because he loved you. This is why he came, because he loves you. If it matters to you, it matters to God. Whatever you’re going through, he’s the high priest says That is touched by the feelings of our infirmity. Jesus did not show to give compassion. Jesus didn’t show to give sympathy or pity. He showed to give compassion because you can give sympathy and sympathy will bring consolation, but compassion will actually bring love in action. So what Jesus showed was compassion, and he wept. I love what John Maxwell says. He says, people don’t care how much you know till they know how much you care. You would never understand people’s steps till you step into their shoes sometimes show empathy. He steps into the situation and he said, take me to the place, to the place, Lord. Lord, it’s been four days. You know this stuff, man. Take me to the place God is smelling and I don’t think you want to do that. I know. Take me to the place.
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How do I put this? God, you’ve been confusing me all hour you came. You said you didn’t come because you died because of love. Now you’re saying, what do you mean? Why didn’t you even, you’re crying now. You didn’t come. What are you doing? Where are you? Are you bipolar? You cry, but you say you love, but you’re not calm. What are you? Where are you? Can you explain yourself? Take me to the place. Mary said one of them, one of the ems, come, come, go, come. You know by now it’s going to be smelling.
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Jesus said, didn’t I tell you if you believe you will see the glory. So here, Mary was concerned about what they would smell and Jesus was concerned about what they would see. Mary was concerned about odor. Jesus was concerned about glory. That’s why you need clarity in crisis. Take me to the place, Lord. It’s stinking. It’s smelling. I know. Take me to the place. Take me to the place you were molested. Take me to the place where you were abused. Take me to the place where you stop believing. Fake me to the place where they stopped trusting you. Take me to the place where you stopped loving yourself.
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Take me to the place where you wanted to commit suicide. Take me to the place of pain. Take me, take me, take me. Take me. Take me. Take me. Take me. Take me to the place. Take me to the place of pain. Take me to the place. Take me. Take me to the place that is difficult. Take me, take me, take me. I asked God, why do you want me to take you when you are the way and you know the place, and he told me something. He said, every time you go to the place, you go alone told me. He told me. He told me, anytime you go to the place of pain, you go alone. But this time around I want you to take me with you.
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When you confront your pain, you go on your own and that’s why you are always defeated. But God is saying this time around, I don’t want it to go on your own. Go with me. Go with me because when you go with me, you have a backup. When you go with me, you have more power. When you go with me, you have more strength. Take me to the place. Listen to me. The enemy wants you to go alone and I kept asking why? Because he wants you to keep it a secret. You are only as sick as your secrets, your struggle. I’m talking to you online. Your struggle has become exponential because your struggle is confidential.
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You are only as sick as your secrets. Take me to the place. As long as this addiction and pain, as long as it remains classified information, you will never have public victory. Take me to the place. Take me to the place. Take me to the place. Give me a couple of minutes. Can I have three people, three people? Three people? Actually, lemme have one. Come on. Come on. I want to show you something because I need you to see the picture of this in your mind. Malin, you are biggest, so I’m going to use you as the challenge. I need one more person. Come on. I need a lady. We can have all guys there. We need to mix it up. Come this way, this way. Can you stand here, Arianne, come on. That’s fine. It doesn’t matter. Come on. Stand this way and I want you to face, face Marlon face. Marlon, no, no. Stand here. Come on, everybody just line up. Line up here, line up, line up with him. He represents the challenge, and of course I represent Jesus. I’m just joking.
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Here presents the challenge and this is you. Every now and then you go only to push me back. When I go, you go to the challenge and you go along. You go to the challenge, you go to the addiction and you go along. You go to the disappointment and you go along. You go to the heartbreak and you go alone and he’s not moving and your life is not moving and you are static. But watch what happens when we, you better push him. Watch what happens. Watch what happens when you take him to the place, when you take God, you go with his word, you go with his name, you go with his blood, you go with his spirit, you go with everything. Come on, let’s push him down. When you take me to the place, we are able to push him down. This is what happens when you take him to the place. Thank you, my Lord.
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Some of you have been going alone to the place and God says, take me with you. The next thing I want to end with is the last sea, which is the command. Somebody say, command. Command. Just give me about five minutes. I’ll be done. Command is very important because here Mary and mother, they said, this is interesting, Brandon, this say, Lord, if you are here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Hold on a second. They didn’t tell Jesus that he died. They only told Jesus he was sick. How did he know that he was dead? Nobody came to say, okay, since you didn’t come when he was sick. Now this is your invitation for the funeral, and that brings me to that point. Jesus, you knew he was dead and you did not even have the courtesy of coming to the funeral. I don’t understand this friendship, but we need to have a conversation. It come to Jesus conversation because the way my, okay, lemme shut up.
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No, we can’t have an attitude on stage. This is very important guys. I asked God, why didn’t you come for the funeral? He said, I was so busy preparing. I was so busy preparing for the resurrection party party. I didn’t have time to attend the funeral, and by the way, Rema, did you forget I am the resurrection and I am the life. I don’t attend funeral. I said, yes, sir. So I came to announce to you everything that the enemy thought he would kill you with. God says, I’m about to bring life out of it. Oh, that’s a prophetic word for you. God says, I’m about to bring life out of it. Life out of it. I’m almost done. Jesus looks at that tomb and he screams Lazar and I wanted to jump to the next thing. We always know we’ve preached this a thousand times. The Holy Spirit told me, stop. I said, why? He said, because I know the name of what is bothering you.
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You know the name newsflash. God knows the name of what your life. God knows the name of what is going on in your life. He called it by its name. He said, Lazarus, disappointment, societal thoughts, cancer, diabetes, whatever it is, God knows it by its name. Shame, tears, pain come forth. I say, hold on a second, God, Jesus, there is. I have a problem here. Jesus, you waited for four days. You show up and you don’t touch anything. You just spoke. Why didn’t you do the centurion thing where you spoke the word and all you did is show up and say, take it away. Move it away. Get it out. Comfort. Did the Ong guy break the alabaster box? The Ong guy, did they prepare food for you and you said you love me and you didn’t speak the word, and it dawned on me that Jesus did not come to speak the word.
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There was something Jesus would not have gotten if he didn’t come closer. That was the smell. He could speak the word and the servant will be whole and Lazarus will come forth, but if he came closer, he would smell the order of a decaying body and Jesus said, I showed up because I use what people refuse. I showed up because your limitation is your qualification. I showed up because I’m the type of God that will not let your mistakes stop you. I’m the type of God that will not let your weaknesses, your ex excesses all the things you’ve done. I’m the type of God that I know it’s smelling is messy. I know you are ashamed of what you’ve done, but I’m still going to be common for you. I put it to you that Jesus didn’t come to speak. Jesus came to stand with you.
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He looked at Lazarus and said, Lazarus, come forth. Amen. I’m going to end with this because I got too much point and I have time and the Bible, that Lazarus, Lazarus came forward and that’s fine to understand a bit. The little problem I have is that Lazarus. Lazarus, his face was covered, so can you explain to me how Lazarus knew the exit Lazarus comfort? Can you explain how Lazarus knew the way out? Because when you open your mouth and when you open your mouth and speak, your miracle comes in the direction of your mouth. This is why it’s important to open up your mouth because everything you speak is coming in your direction. Woo. Everything you open your mouth to speak is coming in your direction. A closed mouth is a closed destiny. If you shut your mouth up, you shut your life down. Open up your mouth for the next 30 seconds and give Jesus the biggest praise in the house. Come on, open up your mouth. Open up your mouth. Open up your mouth. It’s coming out. It’s coming out. Nazarus, come out. Whatever you have, it’s coming out. Come on, 30 seconds, open up your mouth. Comfort my marriage, comfort my business, comfort my health. Comfort my dreams. Comfort. Comfort, comfort, comfort. Call it out. Call it out. Call it out. Comfort children, comfort, joy, comfort, peace, comfort, comfort.
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Come for, come. For I need to let you know. I need to let you know that everything that is dead in your life, it’s coming back to life. I know there are people watching online right now. I need to understand it’s coming back to life. Leave it in the common and say, come forward. It’s coming back. It’s coming back. It’s coming back. Do you know the name Lazarus means helper. The name. Lazarus means the God. That helps, and sometimes you think you need a healing. When God wants to give you a resurrection. I prophesy to you that when God sends the help, it’s not going to be just what you want. It’s not going to be what you need. It’s going to be what you want. He’s going to do good measure. Press down, shake it together and running over help is on the way.
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Preach you neighbor and tell them Help is on the way. No, look at the other neighbor and tell them, help is on the way. I feel a prophetic spirit in my spirit right now, and you are the prophet of your life. For the next 30 seconds, whatever you believe in God for, this is the year of manifested promise. Whatever you believing God for, this is your time. This is your moment. Open your mouth and begin to call it for, call it, for call it for call it for whatever you believe in God online. Leave it in the comments, the job, the joy, the dreams, the house, the spouse, the marriage, whatever you believe in God for 15 seconds, call it. Call it. Call it. Call it Lazarus. Come. Comfort. Comfort. Your joy is coming for the dream is coming for the life is coming for my mama is coming for my children are coming forth. The baby is coming. For Jesus showed up not to speak.
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Jasmine, you know when Jesus spoke and he said Lazarus comfort, he was not speaking to a person. Only He was speaking to a process. Death is an event. Decay is a process. When he said Lazarus comfort, he was speaking to every maggot. When he said Lazarus, he was speaking to every dead cell. It’s not over for yous. If Jesus can speak to death things and they respond, your life is not a problem. You’re still alive. Can you imagine He spoke to a dead person and the dead heard his voice? How much more you that is alive?
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That is the confidence of God’s love. The only reason why we have this text, I like one word, Jesus. Jesus used something. He said, my friend, Lazarus is dead another time. The word my friend is used is when God talked about Abraham, I began to research what is the commonality? It’s what they gave. This woman gave. I have a question for you if you were married, but if you were married, do you have a Jesus you will call if you were married? Do you have a Jesus you have been given to that you will call? What have you been given to? What have you been? He called Abraham a friend. He called Lazarus. He was dead, but he was still a friend. What will speak for you? Some of you don’t even have something that will speak for you while you are alive. Lazarus had something that would speak for him even while he was dead. We’re getting ready to give our offerings. Am I going to bring this as a sign of glory to God? I don’t want
Speaker 3 (01:08:49):
What a dynamic word by a dynamic man of God. Pastor Rama brought forth the word of God in a way that all could understand it as a response to the word of God. It is not just our custom. It is the unction of the Holy Spirit according to the scriptures that we give so that it would be given to us. The Bible says that God wants you to live an abundant life and with everything that is happening in the world, you have a lot of reasons to clam up and draw up to make sure that your hands are closed and not extended. But let me tell you, when you close your hands, you not only keep what you have, but you keep God from getting to you what he has for you. We believe in tithing and offering yet even grace giving to God because he has been faithful in giving to us.
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I want you to get ready to give today, not from your pocket, not from your purse, but from your heart. I want you to give with an expectation that God as a responder to those who give the Bible says He gives seed to the sower. I’m going to pray over your gift because I’m believing that God is going to give you 10 times back what you’re releasing at this moment. This isn’t a common number. This isn’t a number that you’ve heard me say of many times. This is a number that God has given me right at this particular time and season that whatever you release today, God is going to pour 10 times the oil on it and this seed is going to be a blessing to not only, not only your children, but your children’s children. Hold that gift up and I want to pray that God would expand your territory. God, right now, in the name of Jesus, touch not only the gift. Make sure you’re touching the giver. Let them know that you will withhold no good thing from them, and they can trust you in all their ways. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen. I cannot wait to hear your testimonies. I cannot wait to hear what God is getting ready to do for you in your life. God bless you. I’ll see you next time.