Key Scriptures: John 11:38-44
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
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Lesson One: You need to hear Jesus call your name.
• This is a personal invitation
John 11:43, When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
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Lesson Two: You need to wake up before you can walk out.
• My past no longer defines me. I am a child of God with a future and a purpose to glorify God with my life
John 11:44, The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Ephesians 5:13-14, But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. And this is why it is said, wake up o sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.
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Lesson Three: The world is waiting to hear our message.
• The church must wake up and understand that if the world going to hear Jesus calling out in the cemeteries of their lives—they’re going to hear that message through us
John 12:9-11, Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.