Songfest Week #2 – Don’t Stop Believin’
BIG idea: Believing isn’t a feeling it’s a choice.
One of the lessons we learn from Jesus raising His good friend Lazarus from the dead is how we can continue to believe and trust God, even when we’re disappointed with God or discouraged. Anger and sadness don’t disqualify us as people of faith.
Thankfully, the key to receiving our miracle isn’t found in having everything figured out; It’s found in the last thing Jesus says in the story. “...The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NIV).
Jesus doesn’t require us to feel or be perfect, or to be free from our struggles, for Him to do a miracle in our lives - He simply wants us to, not just believe in Him but don’t stop believing in Him! Because He will never let us down!
The Story of Lazarus
(John 11:1-6 NIV) Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.
(John 11:11-15 NIV) After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
John 11:20-24 NIV) When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
(John 11:25-26 NIV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11:27 NIV) “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Make It Practical
Martha struggled with disappointment. Delays do not mean Jesus isn’t interested. God is an intentional God, so whether we can see that He’s doing something or not, He is doing something intentionally! Let’s trust that God’s developing something in us that we need and let Him do His good work.
Mary struggled with discouragement. Our discouragement does not disappoint Jesus. Jesus is close to the brokenhearted. He is near. All we have to do is look for Him.
Don’t stop believing - Believing isn’t a feeling, it’s a choice. We must choose to believe and trust Jesus.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’”
John 11:25-27 (NIV)
God doesn’t do what He does out of our love for Him, but out of His love for us.
Discussion
Do you sometimes struggle with disappointment and discouragement? Do you ever get angry with God or become broken hearted at God’s seemingly disinterest in our circumstances? How did this week’s message bring clarity and hope to your circumstances?
Have you approached your belief as a feeling or a choice? How does this kind of trust in Jesus change how you approach your need for a breakthrough or miracle?
Share an experience of when you saw God’s purpose after what seemed like a delay or disappointment.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross and for paying for our sins. We celebrate that You were raised from the dead and that the same resurrection power is available to us! Thank You, that no matter our struggles, You are there, and ready to do a miracle in our lives if we will believe. We surrender our health, relationships, souls, finances, dreams, and hopes to You, as we declare our belief and trust in You. It’s in Your mighty name we pray. Amen!