My Morning with God- John 11:4-45

Remove. Release. Respond.

“Loose him and let him go.”

John 11:4-45

There are seasons in life where it feels like something in us has died.

Dreams.

Vision.

Passion.

Faith.

Hope.

Strength.

And if we are honest, sometimes we learn how to function around dead things instead of believing God can resurrect them.

But John 11 reminds us that Jesus is still in the resurrection business.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, the atmosphere was heavy. Martha was grieving. Mary was broken. The mourners were crying. Lazarus had been dead four days. The stone was sealed. The smell of death was expected. The community had already accepted the ending.

And to make matters even more intense, Jesus was entering dangerous territory.

This was not a safe region for Him. Opposition was rising. Religious leaders were angry. The climate was hostile. Yet Jesus still went.

That alone preached to me.

Because sometimes purpose will require you to walk into uncomfortable atmospheres.

Sometimes assignment will call you into places where people misunderstand you.

Sometimes obedience will lead you straight into environments filled with doubt, grief, jealousy, resistance, and fear.

There’s one thing that I have learned in this journey, the comfort zone that place where we are comfortable, is where our success goes to die. We cannot become the people that the Lord wants us to be in our comfort zone. We have to come out! Listen

Bethany was a dangerous place for jesus,,Yet Jesus went anyway.

Why?

Because resurrection was waiting on Him.

Jesus declared in verse 4 that this sickness was “not unto death, but for the glory of God.”

Can I encourage somebody this morning?

What looks dead may simply be positioned for God’s glory.

Not every delay is denial.

Not every burial is permanent.

Not every closed chapter is final.

Then Jesus does something powerful.

Before Lazarus could come out, something had to be removed.

1. REMOVE

“Take ye away the stone.” — John 11:39

The stone represented blockage.

Obstruction.

Limitation.

Finality.

And many of us are asking God to resurrect things we still have sealed behind stones.

Sometimes the stone is fear.

Sometimes it is pride.

Sometimes it is unforgiveness.

Sometimes it is insecurity.

Sometimes it is people.

Sometimes it is our own disbelief.

Jesus could have moved the stone Himself.

But He told the people standing around to remove it.

Why?

Because there are some things God will not remove without our participation.

We want resurrection without responsibility.

Breakthrough without obedience.

Freedom without surrender.

But before resurrection came, the stone had to move.

What stone have you been protecting that God is asking you to remove?

2. RELEASE

“Lazarus, come forth.” — John 11:43

I love this part because Jesus did not whisper.

He cried with a loud voice.

Life spoke to death.

Authority spoke to decay.

Heaven interrupted the grave.

And Lazarus responded.

Still wrapped.

Still bound.

Still carrying grave clothes.

But alive.

That blessed me because sometimes resurrection happens before restoration is complete.

You may still be healing…

but alive.

Still rebuilding…

but alive.

Still recovering…

but alive.

Still emotional…

but alive.

Still figuring it out…

but alive.

Jesus did not wait until Lazarus looked perfect to call him forth.

And He is not waiting on your perfection either.

He is calling you now.

Out of depression.

Out of fear.

Out of hiding.

Out of stagnation.

Out of dead places.

This morning, I hear God saying:

“Come forth.”

3. RESPOND

“Loose him, and let him go.” — John 11:44

Lazarus came out alive, but he still needed help getting free.

That is where community comes in.

Some people know how to celebrate your resurrection but not participate in your freedom.

But Jesus gave instructions to the people around Lazarus:

Loose him.

Help him.

Unwrap him.

Release him from what death left behind.

And that is what powerful women do.

We help one another heal.

We pray for one another.

We encourage one another.

We remind each other who we are when life tries to bury us.

At this conference in Hilton Head Island, surrounded by powerful women, I cannot help but think:

Maybe some of us are here because God is removing stones.

Maybe He is calling some dreams back to life.

Maybe He is teaching us how to respond to His voice again.

And maybe…

just maybe…

what we thought was dead was only waiting for Jesus to arrive.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being the God of resurrection. Thank You that no grave is too deep, no atmosphere too dark, and no situation too far gone for Your power. Remove every stone that has blocked us from freedom. Release us from dead places and teach us how to respond when You call us forth. Surround us with people who help loose us from what no longer serves Your purpose in our lives. We declare that what looked dead shall live again. We asked that you created us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.