Importance of Eternal Perspective


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Importance of Eternal Perspective By Larry Burden 2/25/2018 John 11: 17- 43 I.

Perspective A.

B.

Definition 1.

The APPEARANCE of things to ANY GIVEN INDIVIDUAL or GROUP

2.

A WAY of REGARDING a SITUATION or CIRCUMSTANCE

3.

How one INTERPRETS any given PICTURE or VIEW

Factors that INFLUENCE PERSPECTIVE 1.

PAST EXPERIENCE – Interpreting NOW events through OLD lenses

2.

MATURITY LEVEL – Adult views are different from Child views both naturally and spiritually – Mature Believers SEE things differently than IMMATURE ones.

3.

EMOTIONAL STABILITY – Fear, Anxiety, Unresolved trauma, Limited coping skills vs. Stability of mind, soul, and healing

4.

Words from OTHERS – Words are POWER – either positively or negatively

The View – Joy Behar – It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you. That’s called mental illness… Clearly her perspective is TOXIC to Christ and His Kingdom C. II.

So, today I want to share the IMPORTANCE of ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

Let’s LOOK at our TEXT A.

Story of Lazarus of Bethany and his SISTERS 1.

Lazarus and family were very close FRIENDS of Jesus

a.

Not much recorded about Lazarus per se

b.

Martha was a DOER

c.

2.

1.

She was the OLDEST of the TWO SISTERS

2.

She was the HOSTESS whenever Jesus would VISIT

3.

Known for getting irritated with her sister when she needed help in the kitchen

4.

Her LIFE PERSPECTIVE was PRACTICAL and DOWN to EARTH

Mary was more RELATIONAL 1.

She was the YOUNGEST of the TWO SISTERS

2.

While Martha busy in the KITCHEN, Mary is BUSY worshipping Jesus

3.

She BATHED the feet of Jesus in expensive ointment and then wiped them wither hair to the DISGUST of JUDAS

Jesus is SENT WORD that Lazarus is SICK and to COME 1.

Clearly, they wanted Jesus to HEAL HIM

2.

WHY? - they KNEW Jesus as THE HEALER of the SICK

3.

Rather than RUSH OVER, Jesus tarries TWO DAYS longer

4.

On the THIRD DAY, He announces it is TIME to go to Lazarus

V 11 (TPT) Lazarus, our friend has just fallen asleep. It’s time that I go and awaken him a.

Disciples thought Lazarus was resting comfortably

b.

Jesus plainly tells them, Lazarus is DEAD!

V 15 (TPT) And for your sake, I am glad I wasn’t there, because NOW you have another opportunity to SEE who I AM so that you will learn to TRUST IN ME. Come, let’s GO and SEE HIM B. Jesus ARRIVES to the SCENE to FIND GRIEF 1.

We must ALL REALIZE that GRIEF is PART of HOW we are WIRED to PROCESS LOSS in the HUMAN SOUL a.

We have ALL EXPERIENCED LOSS at ONE LEVEL or ANOTHER

b.

We have ALL EXPERIENCED EMOTIONAL TRAUMA in LIFE in one FORM or ANOTHER

EARTH LIFE is NEVER a matter of WILL We or WON’T We have these things in our LIFETIME It is a MATTER of HOW WILL WE PROCESS THEM when they OCCUR 2.

These TWO SISTERS are GRIEVING with a COMPANY of MOURNERS

3.

BOTH SISTERS are NOT TOO HAPPY with JESUS

Martha – My Lord, if only you had come sooner, my brother wouldn’t have died. Mary – Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. C.

LOOK at the TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INTERCHANGES 1.

Martha – Practical and Logical

Martha - My Lord, if only you had come sooner, my brother wouldn’t have died. But I know that if you were to ask God for anything, he would do it for you Jesus – Your brother will rise and live Martha – Yes, I know he will rise with everyone else on resurrection day Jesus – You don’t have to wait until then. I am the Resurrection, and I am LIFE ETERNAL. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. And the one who lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?

Martha – Yes, Lord I do. I’ve always believed that you are the Anointed One, the Son of God who had come into the world for us! Jesus – Roll away the stone Martha – But Lord, it’s been four days since he died – by now his body is already decomposing! Jesus – Didn’t I tell you that if you will believe in me, you will see God unveil His power? a.

There are TWO different CONVERSATIONS taking place 1.

Jesus – ETERNAL

2.

Martha – PRACTICAL and LOGICAL

Her PERSEPCTIVE is GOVERNED by what she had been TAUGHT and WHAT she can SEE in FRONT of Her 2.

Mary – Relational

Mary – When Mary found Jesus outside the village, she fell at his feet in tears and said, Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus – When Jesus looked at Mary and saw her weeping at his feet, and all her friends who were with her grieving, he shuddered with emotion and was deeply moved with tenderness and compassion. . . then tears streamed down Jesus’ face. Then Jesus with intense emotions, came to the tomb . . . and told them, Roll away the stone. a.

Jesus never SPOKE a WORD to Mary

b.

He RESPONDED to her out of RELATIONSHIP!

DESPITE the LACK of VERBAL CONVERSATION, MUCH was SAID POINT: Jesus will RELATE to YOU at the SAME LEVEL you RELATE to HIM

D.

Each SISTER knew Jesus as HEALER, but NEITHER knew Him as MIRACLE INTERVETIONIST 1.

In a MOMENT, their PERSPECTIVES CHANGED

2.

It was MORE than Lazarus was NOW ALIVE AGAIN

3.

It was MORE than, WOW! Did you see that?

A HIGHER-LEVEL PERSPECTIVE of the REALITY of JESUS entered their HEARTS and FOREVER CHANGED their LIVES! MIRACLES SPOTLIGHT REALITY of JESUS and forever CHANGE your LIFE They REVEAL the REALITY of the TRUE LOVE of JESUS for HIS FATHER’S SONS and DAUGHTERS They IGNITE PASSION for Jesus that has gone DORMANT E.

III.

Whatever BECAME of this FAMILY 1.

Set ADRIFT in a LEAKY BOAT onto the Mediterranean

2.

Landed in Marseilles where Lazarus became a bishop and the THREE declared the GOSPEL for remainder of their lives

Look at some other SCRIPTURES A.

Acts 2:1-4 – Day of Pentecost 1.

Read It a.

Before Pentecost,120 KNEW JESUS as Master/Savior

b.

On the DAY of Pentecost 1.

They DISCOVERED Jesus as the BAPTIZER of FIRE

2.

He INVADED their VERY BEINGS

3.

Changed their PERSPECTIVE (more than encounter)

4.

IGNITED their PASSION

5.

FOREVER changed their LIVES!!

c.

ASTOUNDING numbers of people were saved

d.

Unprecedented MIRACLES became a DAILY EVENT

e.

B.

C.

The CAUSE of the KINGDOM became MOST IMPORTANT

MORE IMPORTANT than LIFE ITSELF Paul was INVADED on the Road to Damascus 1.

Paul thought Jesus was BOGUS until he met Him on the Road to Damascus

2.

The LIGHT FIRE of Jesus BLINDED HIS EYES and INVADED HIS HEART and forever CHANGED his PERSPECTIVE

3.

His PASSION was IGNITED and never DIMMED for LIFE

I was INVADED in a HOSPITAL ROOM 1.

Do not want to SAY MUCH about my RECENT JOURNEY

2.

But SIMPLY SHARE a DEFINING MOMENT

3.

Loss of BLOOD left me COMPLETELY UNABLE to personally mount a SPIRITUAL OFFENSIVE – Could only TRUST

Bill Johnson – Bold faith will always stand on the shoulders of quiet trust CANNOT express my GRATITUDE DEEPLY ENOUGH for ALL who WARRED over ME during those DAYS 4.

But, there CAME A MOMENT in the early hours ONE MORNING when MY BEING was INVADED with the LOVE of the FATHER a.

I have EXPERIENCED His love before – sweet, precious, reassuring

b.

But, THIS was DIFFERENT

This MANIFESTATION was one of TREMENDOUS POWER and UNDENIABLE AUTHORITY that LITERALL INVADED my ENTIRE BEING It was like Father saying to me, I GOT THIS! I KNEW BEYOND a SHADOW OF DOUBT that FATHER had my BACK I KNEW that the WAR was WON!!

Come on! Our PERSPECTIVES are SUBJECT to CHANGE by DIVINE INVASION and MIRACLE INTERVENTION! IV.

I BELIEVE we have entered a NEW ERA of MIRACLE INVASION A.

The YEAR has begun with MIRACLES 1.

I have received at least TWO MAJOR MIRACLES already

2.

I have NO superior faith – I had no strength to fight

3.

I can only give honor to Jesus for touching my body twice

4.

a.

Doctors and nurses did their jobs they were trained to do

b.

Each one did their jobs with excellence

c.

But God wrought the MIRACLE of healing, saving my life, and restoring my strength

I thank the Lord and each of you for the PERSISTENT, FAITHFILLED prayers of the WARRIOR SAINTS

James 5:16 – tremendous POWER is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer If this PRAYER is powerful through ONE, how much more through the MANY! B.

God RESPECTS no SINGLE INDIVIDUAL over ANOTHER 1.

Why wouldn’t Jesus INTERVENE MIRACULOUSLY for YOU

2.

I do not KNOW how to WORK THEM, I just RECEIVE THEM!

He is the GOD OF MIRACLES and HE WILL DO IT FOR YOU!