Roll the stone away Week 4, 2017

Now there was a task to be done when Jesus came to the tomb before Lazarus received the command to arise from the dead and come out from the tomb. There is a task too Jesus has for you here after which He then brings His transforming power to your situation.  Then he told the people to roll the stone away. But Martha said, "Lord, you know that Lazarus has been dead four days, and there will be a bad smell." Jn 11:39(ISV).   We need to roll the stone away. It has to be done by man, by you and me. We need to open the mess of our lives first to Him in confession and genuine repentance.

Are you reluctant like Martha? Is there a bad smell going to come out when you open up? Would you rather leave the matter buried and with a decent looking tombstone? Would you rather keep your reputation and leave your Lazarus in the grave? King Saul craved for honour before men when he sinned, and the kingdom was torn away from him permanently. "I've sinned," Saul said. "But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship the LORD your God." 1Sam 15:30(ISV) 

“Preacher why disgrace me like this? And that in public?” no. This is not an attempt to disgrace you. ROLL THE STONE AWAY. Open the rottenness to Jesus, give Him your shame; pour it out to him in repentance. If men have betrayed and offended you look deep enough and you will see you did worse towards God. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” Mat 18:32(ESV) 

Let your cry come up to Jesus now in sincerity. Pray this way, “Have mercy upon me o God, according to your loving kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my sin. I am not worthy to be called your son. Because Jesus Christ on the cross died in my place make me as one of your servants. Forgive me o God.”

When you make the confession and repentance to God, when the stone is rolled away we hear no cries of a smell but thanksgiving to God. After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, "Father, I thank you for answering my prayer...” Jn 11:41  .

Have you opened to Jesus? Now In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I speak to those dead businesses come out of your graves. You dead marriages live in Jesus’ name.

Stop that lawyer. Don’t sign the divorce papers - Jesus has spoken. Watch Lazarus come to life again then “loose him and let him go” to Jesus

Concluding part of a message given at the Anglican Revival Hour