TRAPPED
April 26th, 2008TRAPPED
Introduction
As we look into the Word this day, let me ask you a simple question? Have you ever felt like you were trapped with now way out? This could cover several different situations. There is an answer in God’s Word for every situation that you face in this life: whether it’s physical or spiritual. Let me start with describing a box, it can be square, rectangle, small, or large. The heart of this explanation is to look at your situation and let the Word show you a way out, help in the time of need. John 11:1-3
11:1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
NIV This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, (the one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair. Was in a needed situation where she was desperate. She had anointed Jesus, loved him, and she didn’t know anything else to do. She had known of His miracles and knew that He could help her. She was in a box.
Martha & Mary’s brother was sick, in their mind; they was emotional, concern of their brother’s sickness. Have you ever been in a life’s situation that you needed help and there wasn’t anyone there to help you or couldn’t help in your need?
You have seen God work in other people and wonder why He doesn’t hear your prayer. God always hears our prayers and answers them in His way (that’s His will for us) He goes through each situation that we are in. He is down in the valley as well as on the mountaintop with us.
Examine yourself: that is do you feel like your in a box, look at some of the things that box us in; depression, financial, stress, hurts, fear, economy, family, your past (you have been forgiven but can’t forgive yourself), faith, even with just these few mentioned, we ask ourselves what do I do next. I’ve prayed, believed, and where is the answer?
What did Martha and Mary do? John 11: 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” In our situation we’re still looking for answers for all these few were just mention, I’ve prayed and sent word and everything is the still the same.
In the next verses tells us that Jesus knew just what the condition of Lazarus was. John 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.
NIV
Verse 4 tells us that Jesus knew the whole situation and it was under control, even thought Martha and Mary didn’t realized what the purpose was. They were loved by Jesus just like He loves us.
He stayed two more days and there was a purpose for it, just as there is a purpose in your life, even in your box. John 11:17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
NIV
Have you been in your situation long enough? You say it can’t get any worst, Jesus arrived and Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Not only that he stints where the body is decaying. What about your situation, does it stink and seems to be more than you can bear?
John 11:23
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know 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 will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Jesus told them that their brother will rise again, they agreed that he would rise in the resurrection at the last day. We sometimes look at this as we read these verses again, and say Yes, Lord, as he told him, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world. But my situation is the same.
I’m still sick, depressed, fearful, can pay my bills, no friends, loner, I’m used by everyone, economy, family hurts, my past still haunts me, I try to live a Christian life, I’m still in my box and I want out.
John 11:39-40
39 “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.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
NIV
The box that you are in has a door, you have just got to focus on it’s opening and do something about it. When you open a door you have the choice of walking through it and shutting it behind you or staying in the room of the box
They took away the stone, Martha said by now there’s a bad odor, he has been here four days. Pastor my situation has a bad odor and I want rid of it.
Let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart this day and be set free from your situation by opening the door of your heart just like Jesus said; take away the stone, did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?
This scripture will speak to your need today, now act on the Word. John 11:43-45
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 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.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.
NIV
Let God’s Word speak to your situation as the Spirit shows you that there is a way out.
Shake off the chains and fetters that has been keeping you boxed in.
Closing:
Ps 17:6-9
6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
9 From the wicked who oppress me,
From my deadly enemies who surround me.
NKJV
I’m safe under the shadow of Your wings, that means that He is close by for there to be a shadow over me, I’m set free in His grace.
