It Is Time To Get Up Out of That Grave And Get The Graveclothes Off!

King James Version (John 11:1)

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

King James Version (John 11:14)

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

King James Version (John 11:17)

when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

King James Version (John 11:21-27)

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

King James Version (John 11:38-44)

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

1. The first thing I would like to draw your attention too tonight is the position of Lazarus.

King James Version (John 11:1)

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

King James Version (John 11:14)

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

King James Version (John 11:17)

when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

His body - dead

Born in sin and shapen in iniquity

King James Version (Ephesians 2:1-3)

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

His breath - gone

His bed. He was laid down in it!

People are lying in their death!

The tomb

The darkness

The graveclothes.

This was an awful position to be in.

This is the position of a majority of people in the world.

King James Version (Matthew 7:13-14)

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

You are not lucky you are blessed!

2. The second thing I would like to draw your attention to is the Person of Jesus.

While Lazarus may have found himself in a dark position. He was about to come into contact with the Person who can change it all! He was about to have an encounter with Jesus.

When you have an encounter with Jesus everything changes!

King James Version (John 11:38-42)

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

King James Version (John 11:21-27)

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Where Jesus is present things can change.

Where Jesus is present things do change.

He touched the leper!

Before Abraham was I AM!

Everywhere He Went!

Here in our text we have a divine setup!

Darkness is about to meet with light. The tomb is about to meet with the tomb shaker. Death is about to have an encounter with life!

God so loved the world!

3. The third thing I would like to draw your attention to is the Power of the Gospel.

It is only because of the Person of Jesus that the Gospel has power!

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Unto us which are saved its the power of God unto salvation!

King James Version (Romans 1:16)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;

King James Version (1 Corinthians 1:18)

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Your brother shall rise again. He might be dead but I am going to speak life into Him!

Get where Lazarus was located!

The rich man and Lazarus

It doesnt only have power to rise one from the dead it has the power to deliver one from the things that they carried and were wrapped in while in the grave!

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

COULDNT HOLD JESUS DOWN! The grave could not hold Him and neither could the clothes!