Foundations:

• A miracle: A supernatural interruption or intervention in the natural flow of life
• A miracle: God getting involved
• Does God get involved: YES! 

Passage:

John 11:3–7 (NLT) — 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

John 11:20–26 (NLT) — 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

FIVE THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT:

1. Remember it’s a fight
   1. Most of the miracles Jesus did was in direct opposition to a spiritual force
      1. He cast out demons
      2. He broke satan's power
      3. The strong man was bound. 
      4. You have to remember that miracles often are a fight! 
   2. We know the verses: Wrestle not against flesh and blood; Weapons of our warfare are not carnal; etc. 
   3. Luke 13:10-13;16 (ESV) 10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”
   4. Here’s the point... Arm yourself for a fight! Stop naturalizing everything and understand that we have an adversary. 
2. Don’t get offended
   1. Appeal to the narrative - Both sisters seemed a little hurt and offended
   2. Offense becomes a big struggle in the world of believing for a miracle
      1. Offended that God let it happen
      2. Offended that it wasn’t an instant response
      3. Offended that it isn’t how you thought it would be. 
   3. Matthew 15:25-28 (ESV) 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
   4. Offended when our faith is conditional not unconditional -“God, I’ll trust You if You do this.” When those conditions aren’t met, disappointment quickly turns into offense. 
   5. Offended when our faith is contractual not relational - “I’ve done my part (prayer, good works), now You owe me.” Offense arises when we feel God hasn’t “kept His end of the bargain.”
   6. Offended when we walk by sight and not by faith - When visible outcomes don’t align with our expectations, offense and doubt creep in.
   7. Luke 7:23 (ESV) And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
   8. We are going to move into an unconditional, relational, and trusting faith!
3. Watch your attitude
   1. We all know what it’s like to let our attitude get bad while we are waiting on something.
   2. While God is working in your situation, let Him also work in your character!
   3. Attitudes to focus on while you are waiting
      1. Gratitude - Shifts our focus from what we lack, to what we already have. 
      2. Trust - Places our trust in God’s character, instead of our circumstances
      3. Joy - Counters discouragement, despair, and spiritual fatigue
      4. Others - Focusing on others prevents self-centeredness
   4. You must remember the early apostles, Christians, martyrs, that kept their joy while believing. 
4. Stay full of the Word
   1. John 11:26 (NLT) — 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 15:7 (NLT) — 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
   2. A problem I see
      1. People are misled and don’t have good doctrine. 
      2. People have a few scriptures that they base everything on, but don’t read the Bible. 
   3. Solution 
      1. Read Daily 
      2. Meditate Often
      3. Make the Word the most important voice
   4. Jesus said “ man does not live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”
5. Have a friend
   1. Faith thrives in community.
      1. Waiting gets heavier in isolation. When you’re surrounded by faithful people, your hope stays lifted.
      2. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 — “Two are better than one… If either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.”
   2. Jesus didn’t do miracles in isolation.
      1. He brought Peter, James, and John with Him. Even in His final hour in Gethsemane, He asked His friends to pray with Him.
   3. Find people who will:
      1. Pray with you
      2. Speak the Word to you
      3. Remind you who God is when your memory fades
   4. Don’t wait alone.
      1. Get into a small group, text a prayer partner, or gather your family—faith multiplies in fellowship.
   5. Bottom line:
      1. Faith is contagious, but so is discouragement. Choose your company wisely while you wait.

How it all will end:

John 11:38–44 (NLT) — 38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

• The end of the story for ALL WHO BELIEVE will be seeing the glory of God.

Closing

• Prayer for those waiting on a miracle.