The Time is Now

Welcome

Welcome to Celebration. We are so glad that you are here. My wife, Maegan and I are honored to serve as the Lead Pastors and if there is anything that we can do to better serve you and your family, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

If you are joining for the first time welcome, or digitally, we welcome you as well and want to invite you to join us if you are ever in the Orlando area.

Context/Background

Series Recap

I hope you have been enjoying the Signs series. If you are new, we have been on an amazing journey through the Gospel of John and over the past few weeks we have been so encouraged at seeing the signs/miracles that Jesus performed. This inspires us because we know if God did it for them, He can and will do it for me!

Scripture(s)

John 11:1–6 NLT

A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair.* Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 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.

John 11:14 NLT

14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, we need you. We ask that you breathe on us today. We invite you to speak to us, challenge us, and encourage us. Give us open eyes, open ears, and open hearts. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Illustration

I think it is safe to say that we have all had to adjust as a result of going through a global pandemic. We have had to adjust how we interact with family and friends. We have to adjust how we work; how business is conducted.

It is a season that has required grace but still has its moments of frustrations, especially as a consumer. I was recently introduced to a term that describes what many of us likely encounter on a day to day basis. Skimpflation. Skimpflation is when, instead of simply raising prices, companies skimp on the goods and services they provide.

Fast food isn’t fast

All inclusive doesn’t include all

Guaranteed quick delivery, isn’t guaranteed.

We ordered a new bedroom set. We were told it could take up to 6 months to get all of our items. Each passing day we checked status only to be frustrated at hits lack change. I would see the delivery truck pass through our neighborhood. I would ask Maegan is that delivery for us and she would respond, it is not our time yet. I watched others get what they wanted, but it was not our time yet. I did my part but it wasn’t our time yet.

Transition

Martha and Mary did their part. (Luke 10:38-42) Martha represents serving; Mary worship. They welcomed Jesus in their home. They built a relationship. This made clear by the statement, “the one you love is sick”.

They informed Jesus of their need and they are waiting. It wasn’t their time. Even with their relationship and loyalty, it wasn’t their time. What do you do when you’ve done all you can do and there doesn’t appear to be any progress?

Stand

Wait

Observations

Jesus arrives 4 days after the death of His dear friend.

If you would have been here!

An answered prayer after the fact doesn’t seem like an answered prayer. Losing their brother in a male dominant culture meant a life of potential oppression. Losing her brother in many ways meant losing hope for the future; a better life.

Have you ever reverse engineered your life?

If you didn’t take the job

If you would have gotten out of the relationship earlier

If you would have saved more money

We can learn from the past but we should not be prisoners to it. When we overly unpack the past, we bring baggage into our future.

Do you believe?

Jesus recalibrates her focus. He tells her that He is the resurrection.

He inhales our pollution and exhales solutions

Stop looking at your dilemma and start looking at your deliverer.

What you are looking for isn’t found in an event, it is found in a person! Instead of reliving the past, are you willing to recognize what He wants to do in the future? Your best days are ahead, do you believe it? Our belief is the active ingredient in your miracle. What you believe determines how you behave. Believe...

Jesus is who He says He is?

Jesus will do what He says He will do?

He is for you?

There is greatness inside of you?

Your best days are ahead?

Our belief opens the doors to the Kingdom

Where have you laid him?

Martha returns and informs Mary that Jesus has arrived and she rushes to Him and poses the same question. If you would have been here. 1 question, 2 responses. 1 that deals with our faith, the other that deals with our obedience.

Where have you laid him? Where have you laid your dreams? Where have you laid your hopes? Where have you laid your promises? I feel like Jesus is here and He is asking, where have laid your dreams. I know you've probably already had the funeral. You've already left flowers. You've already visited grief share and have been comforted but Jesus is asking you where have you laid your dreams. Jesus wants to know are you willing to take Him down the boulevard of your pain and be a tour guide to your brokenness. After my ankle surgery, I had to go to physical therapy. It’s not always comfortable but if I don’t engage the pain, it will impact my walk. Where have you laid your hopes and dreams?

Remove the Stone!

This is a powerful statement from Christ. We can almost miss it. Jesus is standing outside of the tomb. He's standing at the door of broken dreams and destroyed hope and He says remove the stone. He wasn't concerned about the evidence. He wasn't concerned about the aroma. This was a stare down with Jesus and death. Can I tell you that your stench doesn't bother Jesus. Why did Jesus say remove the stone? Why was this part so pertinent? He knew restoration was upon Lazarus and He wanted to ensure that nothing would muffle His voice. Lazarus is buried in a tomb wrapped up and Jesus wanted to make sure Lazarus could hear Him. Lazarus wasn’t responsible for removing the stones, the community was. When you invest in Kingdom, the Kingdom invests in you.

Serving removes the stone

Giving removes the stone

Engaging the Word removes the stone

Worship removes the stone

Baptism removes the stone

Your participation provides the pathway for your breakthrough!

Closing

The time is now! I was upstairs and heard Maegan yell out. It could be a burglar or a video from TikTok. I inquire and discover we got an update, our furniture was finally on its’ way. She said, the time is now! What we have been waiting for, was finally getting delivered. We were about to get our deliverance. The time is now. God sent me here to tell someone, the time is now!

Lazarus, come out!

At a Word from Jesus, Lazarus emerges from the shadows. He was still wearing the garments of death, but He got a wardrobe change. At a Word from Jesus, Lazarus has been restored, redeemed and resurrected. One Word from God can restore your dream. God can resurrect your hope. One Word from God can redeem your future.

The time is now to come out of...

Fear

Shame

Sin

Addiction

Bethany

John 11:30 CSB

30 Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him.

I want you to notice, Jesus didn’t go into the village yet. Martha and Mary came out, first. Bethany means misery, depression, despair.

Perhaps we are waiting for a move of God but He is waiting on a move from us.

If you want Jesus to step in, you have to step out

Each one of us, has a step we need to take:

Belief

Engage the Process

Remove the Stones

Respond to the Word of God

Options

Prayer

Holy Spirit

Baptism

Serving

Community

Engage the Word