Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III 
Synopsis 5/18/25

John 11: 20-27 NKJV 
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

I.               INTRODUCTION

Life often challenges our faith, especially when we’ve prayed earnestly for a breakthrough, yet it seems delayed. During these moments, the enemy tempts us to give up on God. This struggle is familiar to all of us—the waiting feels endless, and doubt begins to creep in. Yet, remember this: God has not abandoned you, so don’t lose faith in Him. Even in the midst of your trials, God remains actively involved in your situation.

Jesus shared a close friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, who lived in Bethany. When Lazarus fell ill while Jesus was away, the sisters sent word to Him, hoping He would come quickly. However, Jesus deliberately delayed His journey, knowing that something greater was unfolding. Days later, the news came that Lazarus had passed away, and many thought it was too late for Jesus to intervene.

Explaining to His disciples, Jesus revealed that Lazarus was only sleeping, and He intended to wake him. Although they struggled to grasp His meaning at the time, Jesus was preparing to demonstrate God’s immense power. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days, and the funeral had already taken place. Martha, frustrated and grieving, confronted Jesus, believing He had arrived too late.

Despite Martha’s doubts, Jesus came to show that no human condition is ever beyond God’s ability to transform and redeem.

II.               TRUST GOD’S TIMING, EVEN IN TROUBLE

Life’s greatest test often lies in trusting God when your situation worsens despite your prayers. Can you hold onto faith even when trouble deepens? Trusting God’s timing requires unwavering belief, especially when delays seem to overshadow progress.

A.    Delays Are Not Denials

• Delays often serve a purpose—they may protect us from unseen dangers or position us for greater outcomes. Consider the way a plane circles the airport before landing. You might not know whether the delay is caused by mechanical issues, weather conditions, or traffic at the destination, but the ultimate goal is your safety and successful arrival. Similarly, God’s timing ensures you reach your destination without collisions.
• When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, His purpose was not merely to console but to bring resurrection. Delays often allow us to witness the full scope of God’s power. Sometimes, He lets situations exceed human ability to make His divine intervention unmistakable.

B.    Faith Must Function Beyond Frustration

• Even in her frustration and grief, Martha demonstrated remarkable faith by saying, “Even now, whatever you ask of God, He will give it to you.” Faith does not ignore the pain or frustration you feel; instead, it encourages you to trust God despite them.
• It is natural to hurt or cry, but know this: God’s plans often exceed your expectations, and His best work is often yet to come. Hold on to faith, for you haven’t seen the entirety of what He can do yet.

III.               Treasure God’s Truth, Even in Testing

It is during challenging times that you must hold tightly to God’s word. When God sends forth a word, it will always fulfill its purpose.

A.    God’s Word Is Greater Than Your Worry

• In the midst of her heartache, Jesus reminded Martha of who He is by declaring, “I am the resurrection.”
• Resurrection is not merely an event—it is embodied in the person of Jesus.
• When life seems insurmountable, recall that through Christ, you have the strength to overcome all things.

B.    Your Reality Does Not Remove His Reliability

• Martha was consumed by her reality—the death of her brother. Sometimes, your reality can be overwhelming.
• Paraphrasing Martha, she expressed doubt: “I hear You, but my brother is stinking. He’s been dead for four days and decomposition has already begun.”
• Even when situations seem beyond hope, refuse to settle for finality.
• Trust His ability to turn things around and believe beyond the present moment.

C.   Take God’s Terms, Even in Tears

• Reflecting on “Jesus wept,” the shortest verse in the Bible, reveals the profound union of divinity and humanity.
• Jesus, while fully divine, also embraced His humanity by grieving for Lazarus, His friend. This teaches us that it is entirely valid to cry and express pain—it is not a sign of weakness.
• While Jesus wept, He simultaneously moved into action to raise Lazarus from the dead. This mirrors our own journeys. While we may hurt deeply, we are also moving forward toward healing and redemption.
• The mistake lies in trying to separate our humanity from our progress. Jesus exemplifies that strength and vulnerability can coexist.

D.   Breaking Harmful Stereotypes

• Jesus was fully God and fully human, yet He still wept.
• One of the most harmful beliefs is that crying or showing emotion makes one weak. This mindset often leads young individuals to suppress their tears, turning them into anger.
• Recognizing that expressing emotion is a natural and healthy part of humanity can lead to greater healing and understanding.

IV.               Take God’s Terms, Even in Tears

A.    Your Pain Does Not Prevent His Power

• Jesus is already working on your behalf, even in the midst of your pain and confusion.

B.    Obedience Precedes the Outcome

• When Jesus told the people, “Show me where you have laid him,” and then commanded them to “Roll the stone away,” He illustrated an important principle: obedience often comes before the miracle.
• By asking those who had sealed Lazarus in the tomb to now unseal it, Jesus demonstrated how God transforms those who carried burdens into those who assist in liberation. He can turn your pallbearers into your armor bearers!

1.      Key Lessons to Apply:

• Follow His command to take action, even when it defies logic.
• Stop questioning His directions and trust His wisdom.
• Believe in the process, even when the outcome seems uncertain.

V.               Trust God’s Triumph, Even in Transition

Faith in Action

·      Believe in Victory During the Process

• The journey may be excruciating, but rest assured, God wouldn’t have you endure it if victory wasn’t awaiting you. When Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth, it was a call to breakthrough, even in seemingly impossible circumstances.

·      Jesus Sends a Word Into Dead Situations

• In ancient times, the deceased were mummified and bound in grave clothes. Despite these circumstances, Jesus didn’t enter the tomb but instead sent His word into it. This demonstrates a powerful truth: the living do not dwell among the dead, but the word of life can penetrate even the darkest spaces.
  • When Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth,” Lazarus had every excuse to stay in his dead situation—bound in burial clothes, confined by the limitations of death. Yet, he didn’t remain stagnant. He moved, hopped, and emerged from his bondage!

·      Empowered, Not Enabled

• When Jesus sends a word, it’s not to enable you but to empower you. Faith without works is dead. When you receive God’s word, you must take action, even if it means rolling out, crawling out, or hopping out of your circumstances. The key is to move towards liberation—because breakthroughs require effort.
  • A common mistake is attempting to pull others out of their dead situations without letting them take the steps themselves. True transformation happens when individuals actively participate in their own deliverance.

A. What You Release, God Will Resurrect

1.     Breaking Free from Grave Clothes

• Lazarus’s resurrection was incomplete as long as he remained bound by his burial clothes. The grave clothes represent whatever holds you back, keeping you stuck in your past or struggles. However, God’s power is about to break everything that’s been weighing you down.
• Release to Resurrect: Let go of what binds you, and God will bring new life into your circumstances.
• Bound Must Be Broken: God is preparing to shatter every chain that has kept you captive.
• Trust that when God calls you forth, He equips you not only to rise but also to thrive in the freedom He provides.