Raise The Dead

JAN 2 – JAN 8 2011 — RAISE THE DEAD — ISSUE 187

Not sure what was a better start to the new year, seeing a crazy Discovery Channel special called "Rise of the Jellyfish" which convincingly instilled fear in me regarding those crazy, boneless, bloodless monsters of the deep (I'll never swim again. Ever.); or the 30 seconds of an old Martial Arts film I caught on Telemundo. That's right, a poorly over-dubbed film from Japan was even more bizarrely hysterical seeing them all speak Spanish. I love this country.

At the end of this issue is an explanation and invitation regarding the Single's campaign this month. If you have an extra moment, please check it out and contact me if you're interested in joining us in anyway you can. Thanks.

John 11:1-43 (please read for a better insight than my recap)

In John 11 we read about Lazarus dying and how much Christ cared for him. In verses 21 and 32 Martha and Mary challenge Jesus, saying if He'd been there Lazarus would not have died, a thought spectators concurred with (v37). Martha is still optimistic in Jesus, believing even with her brother dead, God may still raise Him if Jesus asks. When Jesus wants the stone to be removed, fear of the stench makes others hesitate to comply. He reminds them that if they believe, they will see God's glory. When they pull back that stone, Jesus prays and commands Lazarus to come out; he does, thus rising from the dead. Jesus brought back to life a person who, to the world, was no more.

Like Lazarus' sisters, at times some question God, wondering why He wasn't there when they, or someone they cared about, fell. They know that He is more than capable of preventing it, and out of their hurt they seek for answers, letting their emotions override the truth we all know; that God never leaves us, we leave Him. (Deuteronomy 31, Josh 1)

Deep down, like Martha, they know it's not too late, that repentance and a renewed walk are still an option. But this renewal comes at a price, obstacles have to be removed and lives have to be laid bare once more. That stone has to be rolled back and the stench from the sin has to be let out. Some don't want to deal with the smell, and chose to walk away. Others can't get over what they may hear and discover. Even some believers are guilty of this, having not learned how to embody the grace God so badly wants to instill in us on others, and hinder attempts at helping those who have fallen because of doubt and a failure to forgive. But others believe and obey, they "take a chance" on God, and roll back that stone. And if the person inside is willing to listen, to obey the command, "Come out," Jesus then does the rest.

He restors to life a person the world had counted out. Someone everyone had given up on, who had been living in a tomb of sin and who could not remove that stone between them and God on their own, was given another chance. Jesus' final command is that the "grave clothes" be removed, shedding the last evidence of death and forever freeing the newly restored of the bondage their past can hold.

God on more than one occasion displays His power for us in one of the most awe-inspiring ways; raising the dead back to life. If He can do this, to bring a dead body back and give them another opportunity at life, how can we doubt He can't or won't do the same for a sinner? For us? His abilities are beyond our wildest imagination, and so if something we long for Him to do is within our realm of understanding, how can we still doubt?

Trust God. Roll back your stones. Believe in Him who there is no limitations. Come out of your tombs and live.

Brett "If Jelly fish were the source of the jelly on my bread, I'd be willing to forgive some of their creepiness" Hibbler

PREFACE, EXPLANATION, & INVITATION
As many of you are aware, the title of this week's 'C relates to the Singles Campaign this month, where our focus will be on those who are no longer a part of the Body. Join with us for prayer, fasting, reaching out, and other supplication as we extend God's unyielding grace to those we dearly miss with the hopes they'll pick their crosses back up and join the fight once more.

As a Christian, there are some realities we cannot escape. The first is that once we've been to the foot of the cross where our deeds were exposed and our lives laid bare before us for what they really are, we will forever be different people. We live with a new purpose and focus in life, and cherish the gift God gave us through His Son, forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. The second is that once you know the truth, it is impossible to completely walk away. Leaving is complicated. Your thoughts will forever remind you, in concordance with the Spirit, of His will, and it takes a lot of initial willpower to block out that truth, those gentle whispers of what is right, and to continue to stray from that narrow path.

Why would anyone leave? I'm sure we've all met someone, perhaps even ourselves, who were once passionate believers. The reasons for leaving are many and the explanations long, but take a moment to consider what it would be like if you left. How would you respond?

Would you just hope that over time you'll grow numb to that voice and any guilt you may feel regarding your current life, attempting to regain some form of "normalcy"? Or maybe you'd never shake the truth and long to return to it, to come back to God's embrace, but could you accept that you can do so with no ramifications and that it is impossible to be beyond saving? Would you fear that those you abandoned won't share that same display of grace and love? Or perhaps you'd just believe you couldn't make it to the end, that the burden of the cross is too large and that you couldn't overcome your sin and struggles, or that by continuing to sin your faith would forever be a sham, so why try. Or what if you realized you made a mistake in leaving, that you caved to an emotional or rash decision, or a deception of Satan; could you admit it? Or would your self view and what you call dignity not let you return?

These are just some of the things going through the minds of those who have fallen, and though I'd love to show through scriptures the answers to all these issues, I instead wanted to focus today on one thing: the power of God. All praise be to Him.