Ripple Effect Of A Response

Amen John 11 beginning at verse 38 and we're going to read a story that I am sure that many of you are familiar with John 11:38 Jesus therefore. Again, groaning in himself cometh to the Grave it was a cave and a stone lay upon it Jesus said take ye away the stone Martha the sister of him that was dead said unto him Lord by this time my brother Lazarus stinketh for he had been dead. For 4 days Jesus said unto her said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe thou should us see the glory of God. 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 and I know I knew that thou hearest me always. But because of the people which stand by I said it I didn't say it for my sake I said it for their sake that they may believe that thou Hast sent me, and when he had thus spoken he cried with a loud voice Lazarus.

Come forth verse 44 and he that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin and Jesus saith unto them loose him and let him go many times this is where the reading of The Story. Of Lazarus comes to a conclusion but I just want to continue a few verses more. Because there is more to the story the Bible says that then many of the Jews or a result of the resurrection of Lazarus that many Jews which came to Mary, and had seen these things which Jesus did believed on him, but some of them went. Their way to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done amen for just a few minutes this morning I want to preach on this thought the ripple effect of a response. Amen the ripple effect of a response amen would you turn to two or three people around you, and tell them how you respond today matters and then you may be seated as we get into the word of the Lord today I would say it this.

Way responses have consequences to bring to try to demonstrate the relationship between our response, and the consequence I would use an illustration that I believe every husband might be familiar with it's a it's the question that has no good response it's the question the only. The only options are no win responses it's the question that I believe every husband hates to hear and it's simply. When the wife says does this m dress make me look big amen there there is no right response I've tried I haven't tried them all. Because there are some that are obviously the wrong response there are varying degrees of wrong responses there's no right response there's varying degrees of wrong responses. Because if you think think about it for a moment and then say no that's a losing move all right you cannot pause rule number one all right. If you're young in this building and just got married don't pause all right it needs to be a very rapid, and quick response and no is the only response however.

If you do respond quickly and say no then they're going to come back and say. Well, you're just saying that because you're my husband you don't really think this looks good on me, and of course any husband with a brain of all knows that yes is not an option I don't care. If the dress resembles the broadside of a barn you do not say yes the best response I have learned is a lavish rebuttal to go over the top, and explain to her that there is no reason you should even think about asking that question. Because that dress looks amazing on you because we understand the reason I bring this today is because I have learned. How I respond to such questions is going to have a ripple effect in the days hours and weeks to come a pause. When she asked that question is going to leave a cold shoulder it's going to lead to a cold shoulder it's going to lead to a short temper several passive aggressive remarks are going to come your way possibly she's going to forget to make you a meal.

Or two the ripple effect of your response could be catastrophic I use that to demonstrate the relationship ship between your response, and the consequence this morning I draw our attention to the fame Miracle at Bethany the miracle of the resurrection of the friend of Jesus. Named Lazarus the responses that This Magnificent Miracle engenders what an incredible Miracle it is a man that the Bible tells us has been dead for 4 days, and Jesus with just a few words Jesus brings the lifeless body of Lazarus back to life with three. Words a multitude of lives are changed and an abundance of reactions are set in motion. When Jesus simply says Lazarus come forth you would think that the response to such a miracle like a man being raised from the dead that has been dead for 4 days would be celebrated by everybody you would think that everybody would be excited that everybody.

Would be giving Jesus praise for having raised Lazarus from the dead amen and I would parallel that today, and say you would think that when Jesus steps into the life of an individual. When Jesus begins working in somebody's life and begins to deliver them from addiction begins to deliver them from bondage begins to give them the freedom that was spoken about earlier. When Jesus does that you would think that the response of everybody would be to give God. Praise and say that's incredible and that's awesome and should be celebrated, but I've been around long enough, and I've seen enough to know that's not always the response my friend Robert fazor. Who now pastors and is the district secretary in West Virginia tells the story as a teenager he lived in a home of parents that had at one time been in church. But they had ceased to go we used to call them backsliders I'm not sure.

What the politically correct term is today but he lived in a home where his parents no longer went to church, and one particular summer he went stayed the summer with his grandparents and his grandparents took him to a summer youth camp. And at that Youth Camp he got filled with the Holy Ghost and God called him into the ministry he went back home to his mom, and told his mom that he felt like he had been called to preach he said that night he had was in the shower. Taking a shower and his mom took a plugged in iron and threw it into the shower with him she said I would rather you be dead than to be a preacher of the Gospel obviously is still alive the breaker tripped. And his life was spared but who wouldn't celebrate that God is saving somebody and calling them into the ministry.

But again not everybody responds the way that we think they would not long ago we had a young man that had been attending our church he was invited by a young lady from our church that attended his high school he came to church he was in the altar. He would shed tears he was weeping responding hungrily to the presence of God and after about 2 or 3 months of coming I recognized he was no longer attending, and I found out that his mom came. And told him I would rather you be a drug addict and an alcoholic than to be a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ. Amen you see there are consequences for the way that we respond to what God is doing, and it's not always the way that we respond to what God is doing in someone else's life. Because I've seen plenty of people that God began to deliver them and began to transform them, and God began to move in their life and instead of them celebrating that and instead of them surrendering they shut down.

And say that's it God you can't go any further in my life and so it is in the resurrection of Lazarus this morning for just a few moments I want to draw our attention to more than merely the moment that Jesus calls Lazarus from the grave. But there is a I believe a very distinct response in three different crowds in how they respond to this miraculous transformational moment of Jesus Christ in the life of Lazarus three very distinct responses to the resurrection of Lazarus that we find in the concluding. Verses of John 11 and the introductory verses of John chap 12 these responses as we identify them today to the Miracles of Lazarus, and the resurrection of Lazarus are not merely biblical historical responses. But they Define three very prevalent responses to the power of Jesus at work in our lives today. Now, here's what I'm not doing I'm not identifying three types of people because the three different responses each, and every one of us have the ability and the power and the authority to make in understanding their reactions we gain valuable insight into how we might.

Respond when Jesus comes and begins to work a transformational work in our own lives, and understand the ripple effect of our responses the first crowd that I would identify you or for you today rather is found in John chap 11 beginning in or we would find. Them first identified in verse 46 and this is the crowd identified as religious leaders. Listen, to how John phrases their response to this transformational work of Jesus we begin in John 11:45 the Bible says many of the Jews after the resurrection of Lazarus they come to Mary. And the Bible says that they see the things Jesus did and their response was they believed on him, but verse 46 says but some of them because not. Everybody their faith is built when Jesus begins to tr do a transformational work because like these religious leaders the Bible says that some of them went, and found the Pharisees and they told them listen they were not bragging on Jesus they were saying we're concerned.

About what Jesus is doing they were not saying saying what a mighty God he is they weren't saying we think this man is awesome they were saying we think this man is dangerous the Bible says in verse 47 that what started with some of them became. More of them as they gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a councel and they began to ask. What do we do I said what do you mean what do you do you praise, and you worship and you give God glory and honor. Because he raised a man from the dead, but they were saying how do we put a stop to these Miracles. What can we do to put an end to Jesus working in the I say today there needs to be a church in this hour that isn't trying to figure out. How to put Jesus in a box but we need more miracles we need more transformation.

Amen we need more Deliverance there might be some churches that when that tongues an interpretation went forth today the elders would get together and say. What do we do about that we've got to figure out how to stop that I say we need more of that amen we need more of the gifts of the Spirit in operation in our services here's. What they said in verse 48 if we let him alone if we keep letting Jesus do what he does all men will believe on him, and the Romans will come and take away our place. And our nation the Bible says that when the religious leaders hear that Jesus raised. Somebody from the dead they come together and they say something about Jesus they say. If we don't do something about Jesus then the Romans will rise up and they will take our can I tell you why we usually stop Jesus from working in our lives is because we know that the growth of his kingdom means the death of our kingdom.

If I keep on letting Jesus amen if I keep G letting Jesus do what he does then I won't be able to do what I've been doing. If I let Jesus get loose in my life then I'm not going to be able to continue to live the way that I've been living Walter Elwell says in his commentary on this passage that the Sanhedrin recognizes Jesus signs are compelling the Sanhedrin recognizes. Pastor that there's a good chance Jesus is the Messiah, but the Practical implications are more than they can bear they understand it looks like this man must be the Messiah the one they've been praying for the one they've been looking for the one they've. Been longing for but the political cost to their Kingdom even though we see that Jesus is the Messiah. If we don't put a lid on Jesus he's going to mess up my plans he's going to mess up my can I invite Jesus today mess up my plans mess up my agenda your kingdom.

Come and your will be done in earth as it is I wonder if somebody could give the name of Jesus. Praise today recognize that as you give him praise His Kingdom expands as you lift up the name of Jesus his kingdom increases and my kingdom decreases I wonder. If anybody's willing to raise your hands and say Lord if it means my kingdom crumbles. Let your kingdom be exalted come on if it means my kingdom has to die Paul said I've got to die. Amen Christ has got to live and I've got to die amen God you've got to increase. But I've got to decrease I need more of you and yes I recognize that means less of me in other words they realize the probability that Jesus was the Messiah.

But the political Fallout of a messiah cost too much for them a messiah would upset their peaceful arrangement with Rome, and it would compromise and upend the compromise they had reached with Caesar they reasoned it's not the right time for a messiah can I tell. You we're living close to the coming of Jesus those of you that don't feel like it's the right time for messiah to get in your life I want to tell you you're running out of time. If there's ever been a right time for messiah to enter into your world it's on this Sunday morning. If there's ever been a right time to run down to this Altar and repent of your sins it's right. Now, amen you better get right because Jesus is coming I think we can get more than five amens on that when Jesus is coming God bring my kingdom down and let your kingdom be exalted.

Let my plans be debased and let your plans be exalted interrupt my plans interrupt my dreams interrupt my agenda and God. Let your will be done verse 53 says that from the resurrection of Lazarus and the conversations that the religious leaders began to have the Bible says that their response to the miracle of Jesus is from that day forward they began to take counsel of how. Can we put Jesus to death doesn't even make sense How could a miracle like a man that's been in a grave for four days and he's resurrected. How could that lead you to walk out of the building saying I've got to find a way to put Jesus to death can I tell you when you walk away from an altar. And you go back to the way you've been living you're doing the same thing. But I've come today to plead with somebody it's not time to figure out how to kill Jesus it's time to figure out.

How to make him the Lord of your life it's time to figure out how can I put Jesus on the throne of my life I need a messiah more than I need to be in control I need a savior more than I need an Earthly. Kingdom I needed I need a deliverer more than I need dead lifeless religion amen that's got to be my response today is I need Jesus, and whatever I've got to give up I Surrender it I need Jesus. And whatever I've got to lay down I Surrender it and there is a ripple effect. How you respond John 11:26 the Bible says it starts out with some of them I don't know five six maybe 10 20 of them I don't know the number it just simply says it starts with some of them that begin their response to the miracle. And the transformation of Jesus is concern amen can I tell you what begins in concern is going to end up with you trying to put an end to what Jesus is doing in your life.

Because the Bible says it starts out with some and then a few verses later it's all of the Pharisees that are getting together the crowd begins to grow and within. Just a few weeks it'll be all of Jerusalem shouting out crucify him crucify it all started with some of them at a miracle of a resurrection. Listen, we can let things loose in our families if we're not careful when God begins doing a transformational work our response needs to be he's worthy of the praise he's worthy of the glory he's worthy of the honor. Come on Mom and Dad I know we might getting a be getting a little older in our years, and you might be concerned about how long service is going. But be careful what your concern will plant in a coming generation I want my children to worship him not crucify him I wonder right.

Now, could somebody give the Lord Praise in this room there's a ripple effect happening with how you respond. How you respond right now is it's going to get into your children it's going to get into your grand Grand children I surrender all Jesus I give all to you take everything. Let my kingdom crumble and let your kingdom come let me hurry the second group I do this at home I preach three points my church knows it if I preach four they get upset at me if I preach two they're disappointed they've learned to plant. Around three points what does that do when I get to point two hope begins to rise in the building it's like. When you're in the airplane and they say all right put your tray tables up and get ready. Because we're coming in for a landing that's what the second Point kind of sounds like every once in a while I'll fool them, and we'll Circle for a while before we land the second group we find in Matthew 26 and8 the first four words.

Of Matthew 26 and8 identify this second group the Bible says, but when his disciples saw it first group is the religious leaders the second group are his disciples we might consider that this second group this second crowd being the disciples those that had walked. With Jesus the longest amen they what did they saw Jesus turn water into wine they witness the fishes, and Loaves be multiplied and broken blessed and multiplied and 5,000 plus women and children fed they watched a lame man get up. And walk they watched Jesus walk on water they watch blind eyes be opened they even witness Jesus raised gyrus daughter from the dead. Amen and yet their response to the miracle of Jesus if you read it you don't even find record that there really was a response all right I looked it up read it for yourself we don't really I'm not saying they didn't respond.

But we don't see it recorded what we do find not that they respond to Jesus. But they respond to somebody else's response of Jesus Amen Mary when she becomes and begins to wash the feet of Jesus that was her responding to the resurrection of Lazarus the disciples. Don't respond to the resurrection of Lazarus they respond to somebody else's response perhaps the miraculous had become. Just another miracle to them when you consider that a miracle as momentous anybody ever been to a funeral where you just kind of kept an eye on the casket. If you're raise Apostolic you've done it I'm just watching just in case I remember as a child I just kept an eye on the casket. Because I read that Story of Lazarus I know what my God can do it hasn't happened yet.

But I'm still watching amen because I know what my God can do amen the response of when we begin to look at this the miracle that was as momentous as the resurrection of a man that had been dead for 4 days. And yet three out of the four gospel writers don't even write about it I'm not condemning the gospel writers. But I am saying if somebody was dead for 4 days and they got resurrected it's worthy Mark Mark you wrote about more miracles than anybody else. Why didn't this one cause your PIN to rise and begin to write down about the miracle of Lazarus I'm telling you that if we're not careful we can become familiar with the Miracles of Jesus. Amen we've seen him turn water into wine we've seen him feed the 5,000 with fishes, and Loaves we watched him walk on water and when he raises.

Somebody from the dead we don't even worship him I pray to God that I still get excited about miracles in the house of God I don't ever want it to get old to me when a sinner walks down. And repents of their sin amen some of you it may not be a big deal to you that a bunch of teenagers got down in this Altar and began to worship. But it's a miracle and I want to celebrate the miracle oh we always have good church like this at center point we always have a move of go that tongue's an interpretation we have one last week too oh we baptize a few on Wednesday. Night and we get so used to God moving that we don't move when he does move I pray something would wake the church in this hour I don't ever want to get familiar I don't ever want to be desensitized.

But I want there to be a shout in my voice I know he was here last Sunday. But he's in the building right now he's here to heal he's here to deliver. Somebody give him praise right now that he's worthy of I don't care if you got the Holy Ghost 50 years ago today is a new day there's new Mercy in the house there's Grace in the room today there's salvation in the building it ought. To put your feet to dancing it ought to put a shout in your mouth it ought to cause your hands to raise. Because Jesus did it again Hallelujah familiarity is a formidable foe in the life of a child of God disciples. What do they do they stand back and they criticize the one the one who is pouring out.

Praise Upon Jesus they criticize her because familiarity is novocaine for the soul once again I ask you to notice the Ripple of effect of our response to the power of Jesus Matthew says all of the disciples had indignation. And called Mary's waste our worship a waste all of them Mark says some of them had indignation, and said that this was a waste of the ointment. But John the Beloved I don't believe that there is discrepancy between I believe it's simply perspective. But the closer you get to the Inner Circle of Jesus Amen John was the Beloved the one that leaned on the breast of Jesus, and John said it wasn't most of them it wasn't all of them it wasn't even some of them it was just. One disciple at the root of it all it was Judas that was sitting back with his arms floated saying this is a waste of our worship, and Judas Judas beginning to complain had a ripple effect on the rest of the you better be careful.

Who you let impact and influence your worship you can sit back with your arms folded. If you want to but I've got to give him praise I've got to lift him up. Amen you can complain about what a waste worship is if you want to, but he changed my life. Come on he set me free you can sit there and stare ahead if you want to, but I got to dance, and I've got to jump and I've got to shout. Because he's been good to me h don't let that spirit that enters into church that says worship is a waste of time. Don't you let that influence your worship you ought to be the first one on your feet?

If you're a disciple of Jesus you ought to say I've seen him do it before, but he's doing it again all right third this is where the church really gets excited third point the third option concerning our response to Jesus. And this is the one that we write songs about I've never heard a worship song about the Pharisees. Who got together and said how do we kill Jesus that would be an awkward worship song I've not heard one about the disciples. Who stared at Mary began to talk about what a waste worship was again very awkward worship song. But the third crowd one one little one little lady amen that wasn't influenced by the criticisms of the Pharisee that wasn't influenced by the familiarity of the disciples all she knew is four days ago my brother was dead all I know is four days. Ago I needed a miracle and I didn't know where it was going to come from all I knew is my brother was bound by death all I knew is I had no hope.

And then Jesus showed up Jesus walked in the room come on when you when you've been in that place that you were in a low place and your Miracle couldn't. Come from anywhere else but Jesus walks into the you don't care what other people think about your worship talk about me laugh at me I don't really care I'm not going to be influenced by your criticism I'm not going to be influenced by your negativity. I will was dead in my trespasses and sins I was bound by alcoholism I was a prisoner to drug addiction. But Jesus found me anybody in the building can testify Jesus showed up there's got to be a Lazarus in the room there's got to be a Mary out there somewhere that can relate with what I'm preaching I was dead I was lost. But Jesus found me she doesn't even care about the cost of the Box commentaries say it was probably worth the year's worth of her wages she wasn't even thinking about how much it was worth all she knew is I've got to do something to show.

Jesus how thankful I am because if he didn't show up my brother would still be dead. So Judas you can sit back there with your arms folded if you want to Pharisees you can figure out. How to kill him if you want to, but I've got an opportunity right now to give him praise, and to worship him come on Mary you don't know. If you've got tomorrow but you got right now and the Bible says when she broke the Box there's a ripple effect however you respond there's a RI. If you're Judas and you sit back there arms floated I have to worship him what a waste of time this is it's going to have a ripple effect. Then you going to wonder why why why why don't my children worship God how.

Come the people around me seem to not worship because how you respond is going to have a ripple effect. If you're the Pharisee sitting back concerned about what Jesus is doing that is going to be there's going to be a contagious effect to that others around you are going to start figuring out. How to put Jesus to death but if we can just get a few Marys in the church. If we could just get a few Marys in the room today and say you know. What Judas you do what you got to do religious leader you do what you got to do, but I've got me an alabaster box today I might be the only one in the building h I might be the only one here to rememb where. Jesus brought me from but it started out with one woman and the Bible says when she broke the box it filled the entire house there's a ripple effect you say.

Well, I'm just one person you can change the atmosphere in this room today you can change the at somebody might have walked in here today not sure. What they thought about Jesus but Mary it could be your worship that convinces them that Jesus is worthy of my praise there's a ripple effect whatever you do today there is a ripple effect. But it didn't stop there Jesus says in Matthew 26 and13 verily I say unto you wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world they're going to talk about this woman. Amen wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world they're going to talk about this woman. Who broke the Box they ain't going to talk about Judas they ain't going to talk about religious leaders they're going to talk about that one person. Who stood on their feet and raised their hands and said God you brought me out of Darkness.

Amen you delivered me from Death you gave me Victory next thing you know you're going to have children standing in the house of God with hands raised toward heaven, and then you're going to have grandchildren running down in the altar area. Amen they're going to be giving God pray great grandchildren are going to become worshippers of the almighty God. Why because your response has a ripple effect oh yes can we stand together all around this room. When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that he done for me oh brother Satan you're you're one of them licensed UPC preachers you got to preach this he let me let me just backtrack for a moment for you my grandfather was at one. Time a UPC preacher and he fell into sin and lost his license backslid left the church my dad was a drug addict and an alcoholic.

Amen but about 40 some years ago about 50 years ago Jesus came and found my father, and saved his soul I'm here today. Because Jesus resurrected Lazarus if you think I'm going to sit back with my arms folded you've got another thing coming as the musicians. Come I want us to raise hands all around this room I'm not talking to three different groups of people I'm talking to three different responses every one of in this room. Well, brother Stan you preach a little bit longer I didn't I didn't I didn't I actually I've got three minutes left from my timer. Thank you I really didn't go that long today, but that Spirit of concern if I come down to this Altar, and I Surrender what's going to happen to my plans what's going to happen to my dreams what's going to happen to my desires.

And if you allow that mindset to Prevail you'll walk out the door the same that you walked in today. If you allow that Spirit of standing back with arms folded saying what a waste of time this is what a waste this is for all of these people to be gathered in the house of God can I tell you there will be a ripple. Effect but if like Mary somebody will reach down in that seat behind you and pick up your Alabaster Box walk down to this altar right. Now, and say I've got to give God praise because Lazarus was dead dead my brother was dead my family was dead my marriage was dead my life was dead my dreams were dead. But Jesus I'm calling Samaras to step down to this altar right now I plead with you don't walk out that door without running down to this Altar, and saying Jesus I Surrender oh what's it going to cost me well.

If you do it the right way it's going to cost you everything, but I promise you he'll give you back more I promise you he'll give you back more than you could ever get on your own you may lay your dreams down. But he'll raise dreams up that you never even had he's got a plan for you that is greater than you could ever even imagine Mom and Dad. How you respond right now not because your kids are watching you, but because there's a dynamic in the realm of the spirit it's going to loose some things into your children. Come on grandparents how you respond right now please don't let familiarity rob you of a breakthrough that Aroma is getting ready to fill this house the aroma is filling this house right. Now, of some worshippers husband and wives that can go back to the moment that your marriage was over, but Jesus stepped to the mouth of that grave, and said come on I'm going to put your marriage back together.

Again, come on there's a ripple effect that is taking place somebody right now as you offer up that complete worship without reservation broken boxes break the alabaster box loose that anointment. Don't worry about how much it's going to cost you.