Pastor (Mrs.) Yinka Adeyemi
Text: John 11:1-46
Sometimes, as you prepare to go for an appointment, in spite of your planning and calculation, external circumstances delay you and you are late. This makes us think that it is the same with God. We think that maybe God is so busy and He has so many things He is doing. Interestingly, God is not a man. He can never be late.
Ps 90:4 says, “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” KJV
2 Pet 3:8-9 says, “Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness…” THE MESSAGE
God neither delays nor measure lateness as humans think. God gave Abraham and Sarah a promise. Even though they believed God, they’d both passed the age of child bearing and they made a terrible mistake that produced Ishmael and this remains a pain to the children of Abraham till date.
Lazarus was sick though loved by Jesus; Jesus still delayed for extra 2 days after He got the news. Jesus said the sickness is not unto death but that God will be glorified. That delay that you are experiencing is not unto death but that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Whatever purpose for which you believe God shall never die.
Thoughts on delay
1. God’s timetable is different from ours. God sees the bigger picture and we can only see a fraction. Is 55:8-9.
2. God works with His purpose and not with our timing. He does not work with our deadlines. Jer 29:10-11.
Why does God delay?
1. To increase our faith. Instant miracles don’t increase our faith.
2. To increase our vision. He had never referred to Himself as the Resurrection until He raised Lazarus.
3. To increase our testimony. Resurrection from death is more powerful than healing from sickness.
4. To increase our compassion.
What to do if and when you are experiencing delays
1. Know that God’s purpose is higher and greater than your deadlines.
2. Learn to interpret your circumstances by God’s love rather than interpreting God’s love by your circumstances. John 11:5-6.
3. Remember that God expects you to trust Him absolutely even in hopeless situations. John 11:40.
4. Jesus knows and feels our pain. John 11:35.
5. God is awesome in power. Jer 32:17, Matt 19:26.
6. Wait for Him and don’t become impatient. Lam 3:21-26.
7. Jesus gave a promise that Lazarus will rise again and He fulfilled the promise. John 11:23, Num 23:19.
Jesus did this miracle so that believers will know that there is resurrection after death. It was the only miracle Jesus did that pointed to Him as the resurrection and life. When Lazarus woke up, he woke up with a strong body. It was a triple miracle at once – sickness, death and stink disappeared. God does miracles in our lives in order to make us a showcase. When Sarah gave birth to Isaac she said God has made me laugh. Nobody knew laughter the way Sarah did because of the miracle she received. Delay is always an opportunity for God to prove that He is Jehovah. How else will He prove this in our lives?
