SEEING GOD AS HE REALLY IS! (Part 2)

Many Christians fail to experience the wonder-working power of God because they refuse to take the limits off Jesus.

Last week we learnt that for you to experience the wonder-working power of God, you must be fully persuaded that He is able to do whatsoever He has promised us in His Word.

Today, we want to look at two individuals in the New Testament who came to Jesus, each with a great need. One had a limited vision of Jesus, but the other saw Him as He is – “The God of wonders, the all-powerful God.”

1. The first was a Jewish woman who had welcomed Jesus in her house on many occasions (Jn. 11). She knew Christ very well and had become His devout follower. She had probably witnessed many miracles of Jesus. Yet when she was confronted by a seemingly impossible situation in her life, she failed to see Jesus as He really is. She failed to see Him as the God of miracles.

I am talking about the woman, Martha. Her brother Lazarus became very sick and she quickly sent a message to Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus loved Martha, Mary her sister and Lazarus her brother. Yet when he heard about Lazarus’ condition, he did not go immediately to them. Why?

In Isaiah 55:8-9 God said, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.  9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s ways are not our ways! God’s thoughts are not our thoughts! We must therefore continue to trust Him completely even when things don’t seem to work out the way we expect.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

We must allow God to answer our prayers anyway, anytime and anyhow He chooses. What we know is that at His own time He makes all things beautiful.

Jesus knew that Lazarus had died before He left for the city of Bethany where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived. He also knew that the power within Him was not limited (Eph. 3:20).

Jesus had a purpose for waiting until Lazarus died. He wanted to build their FAITH in Him by raising Lazarus from the grave. In John 11: 15 the Bible says, “…to the intent (purpose) ye may believe.”

Friend, Jesus has a purpose for allowing that your situation to linger this long. It could be that He wants to build your Faith in Him.

Listen, beloved, as Jesus approached the city, Martha ran out to meet Him. John 11:20 says, “Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.”

What did Martha say when she met with Jesus? Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." (Jn. 11:21-22).

You see, things have not really worked out the way Martha expected [and had planned]. She expected that Jesus would have come immediately He received the message to come and heal Lazarus. But He didn’t and consequently Lazarus died. Friend, the God of miracles may not come when you want Him but He’ll surely come, most times when all hope is gone, and He’s always on time. And at His own time, He makes all things beautiful. (Eccl. 3:11).

Notice that Martha may have heard of the testimonies and even seen the miracles Jesus performed amongst the people. For instance, she may have heard of the miracle in John 2, 5 and 9 plus all the miracles in the Old Testament. She may also have heard of how Jesus restored life to the only son of the woman of Nain (Lk. 7: 11-17), and how He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead in the city of Capernaum (Mk. 5:22-24; 35-43).

But now, faced with the reality of her own situation, the fact that Lazarus was stone dead, even since 4 days back, she gave up hope. She said she believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and that Jesus could perform miracles, but she was not expecting Him to supernaturally intervene in this seemingly hopeless situation. She did not recognize Jesus as the hope of the hopeless.

In John 11:23 Jesus said to her, “Martha let Me tell you something, your brother Lazarus is in the grave, but he is coming out of the grave again. Your brother will rise again.”

Martha replied saying, “Yes, I Know that he will rise again, but that will be in the resurrection at the last day” (Jn. 11:24).

Martha was able to see into the future – tomorrow, at the last day – but failed to see the unlimited ability of the God of miracles in the NOW; the fact that Jesus never was, never shall be, but always is.

Then Jesus said to her, “Take a good look at Me Martha, I am the resurrection and the life, He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

In other words, Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whosoever believes in Me, even though he dies like everyone else, yet he will live again. That person is given eternal life for believing in Me and will never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Can you see? Martha knew that Jesus performed miracles in the past; she knew that Jesus could do it again in the future, but what about NOW?  She had limited Jesus’ miracle power to a specific time and condition. But Jesus cannot be limited by anything. She believed that Jesus would have been able to heal Lazarus before he died (Jn. 11:21).

Mary also believed the same (Jn. 11:32). But now being dead since 4 days, it is too late and the game is over. “What more could Jesus do, she imagined?” She never knew that it cannot be over until the Lord says it is over. She could trust Jesus for healing but could not trust Him to give life to the dead body of Lazarus. This is contrary to Romans 8:11.

When they arrived in the place where Lazarus’ body had been laid in the cave, Jesus commanded them to roll back the stone. “Take away the stone,” He commanded (Jn. 11:39).

But still doubtful and unbelieving, with her eyes on the hard fact (but not on the TRUTH) that Lazarus was dead and gone, Martha said to Jesus, “But, Jesus, don’t you realize that by now Lazarus’ body has began to decay and sink for he has been there four days?”

Her lack of faith troubled Jesus, but that did not stop Him, because He had a purpose – to build their faith in Him. He was bent on building their faith by meeting to their need.

Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” (Jn. 11:43). Instantly, Lazarus’ spirit-man left the land of the dead, returned to the physical realm, and re-entered his dead body. Lazarus came out of the grave as evidence and a proof of the unlimited power and ability of the God of wonders. He is OMNIPOTENT!

In Romans 4:17 the Bible says, “He calleth those things which be not as though they were.”

Today, you too will be an evidence and proof of the wonder-working power of God. Turn to your neighbour and help me tell him, “Neighbour, today, you shall be an evidence of the unlimited power of the God of wonders!” Hallelujah!

2. The Roman Centurion is a typical example of a person that took the limits off the God of wonders, and saw Him as He really is (Matt. 8:5-13). Please realize that as at then, this Centurion was not yet a follower of Christ. He was just a Roman soldier. His loyalty was not to Jesus. His loyalty was to Caesar. His loyalty was to Rome. He also had a great need. His servant was sick of the palsy and was in great pain. Thank God he knew where to go (Heb. 12:2). He knew whom to bring his need to. He knew on whom to cast his cares (1 Pet. 5:7). He brought his cares to Jesus, the only solution to all our problems (Acts 4:12).

This Centurion came to Jesus and said, “LORD Jesus take a good look at me; can’t you see these army bars on my shoulders?” When I walk into the garrison, and say to any soldier “go,” he goes, and to another “come,” he comes. He said, “LORD, I am a man of authority and I understand authority. When I speak the whole Rome stands behind me.”

But when I look at You Jesus, I see something that goes beyond Rome. I see a power that is far beyond the power of Rome. Jesus, you really have no need to come to my house. It is not necessary. All You need to do is to stand right here, and speak the Word only, and my servant who is many miles away, will get out of that bed of affliction totally healed because in Psalm 107:20 it is written that when You send Your Word to anywhere, it will go, heal and deliver the one in trouble from destruction.

Also in Isaiah 55:11 it is written, “So shall Your Word be that goes forth from Your mouth; It shall not return to You void, but it shall accomplish whatever You please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which you sent it.”

When You speak, Jesus, the whole heaven is behind You. You are the God of wonders! LORD, my servant is paralyzed, totally incapacitated, but if You will just speak only, something positive will happen to his body, to his legs, and to every part of his being. Why?

Because in Hebrews 4:12 it is written, “For Your Word is quick [makes alive], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Jesus, I know that when You speak to this condition, my servant will surely rise up out of his bed of sorrow. There is none higher in power, in rank than You, Jesus. You are the Captain of the Hosts of the armies of Heaven. You are the only solution to all problems. Just speak the Word, Master Jesus!

What was the Centurion actually saying? He was saying, “Jesus, I see You as You really are. People have been watching You perform great miracles, but they don’t really know who You are, nor do they understand how unlimited Your ability is, but I do.”

Jesus, You are THE CREATOR, the PASSOVER LAMB, the LORD THAT HEALETH US, the LORD MIGHTY IN BATTLE, the LORD OF HOSTS, the ALL-POWERFUL GOD, the GOD OF WONDERS!

Jesus, even Professionals also have names for You, Jesus:

·        Administrators call You “THE BEGINNING AND THE END” (Rev. 1:11).

·        Transporters call You “THE WAY” (Jn. 14:6).

·        Horticulturists call You “THE FIRST FRUIT” (1 Cor. 15:20).

·        Oceanographers call You “THE RIVER OF LIVING WATER.”

·        Lawyers call You “THE ADVOCATE.”

·        Industrialists call You “THE GREAT SUPPLIER.” (Phil. 4:19).

·        Photographers call You “THE IMAGE OF GOD” (Col. 1:15).

·        Medical Doctors call You “THE GREAT PHYSICIAN.”

·        Sociologists call You “THE LOVE OF GOD.”

·        Sportsmen call You “THE STRENGTH.”

·        Animal Scientists call You “THE GOOD SHEPHERD.”

·        Botanists call You “THE TREE OF LIFE.”

·        Food Scientists call You “THE BREAD OF LIFE” (Jn. 6:35).

·        Carpenters call You “THE DOOR (Jn. 10:9).

·        Zoologists call You “THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH” (Rev. 5:5).

·        Electrical Engineers call You “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” (Jn. 8 & 9).

·        Judges call You “THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.”

·        Footballers call You “THE CAPTAIN.”

·        Publishers call You “THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF THE BELIEVERS FAITH” (Heb. 12:2).

·        Gardeners call You “THE ROSE OF SHAROM” (SOS 2:1).

·        Biologists call You “THE LIFE” (Jn. 1:4).

·        Architects call You “THE CHIEF CORNER STONE” (Eph. 2:20).

·        Theologians call You “THE BAPTIZER WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE” (Matt. 3:11).

·        Evangelists call You “THE SOUL WINNER.”

·        Morticians call You “THE RISEN ONE.”

·        Professors call You “THE WISDOM OF GOD” (Eph. 3:10).

·        Lecturers call You “THE TEACHER.”

·        Mathematicians call You “THE SOLUTION (to all problems).” Hallelujah! (Acts 4:12).

The Centurion continued by saying, “You are the God of wonders! You can do anything! Act like who You are Jesus, and let my servant be an evidence and manifestation of your unlimited power. Lord, speak the Word! Hallelujah!”

In Matthew 8:10-13 the Bible says, “When Jesus heard the utterances of the Roman Centurion, He marvelled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the Kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.”

Beloved, the existing ugly circumstances hindered Martha from seeing Jesus as He really is and trusting Him as such. Are the existing conditions in your life so overwhelming that you also fail to see Jesus as the God of wonders?

Are you like Martha or like the Centurion? Do you see Jesus like Martha saw Him or like the Roman Centurion did? If you see Him as the God of miracles like the Roman Centurion did, then say with every boldness and assurance, “Lord, speak the Word to my situation, and I will surely receive my miracles now. Lord, go beyond my human imaginations and make me an evidence of your ability as the God of wonders, in Jesus’ name, Amen!”

When you see God as He really is, you can see (look) beyond your problem. Deal with God as He is, not as you are, and you’ll instantly become an evidence and testimony of His power.

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!

·        Your friend, I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor, HOG).                           27.01.2019