Freedom from the Grave

*SPEAKER*: Sr Lucy Udoh(Former General Coordinator) FOJ Headquarters,SS Philip &James Catholic Church, Idado (via Chevron), Lekki, Lagos

.*BIBLE REFERENCES*: John 11 vs 17-27; 33-44.The Raising of Lazarus! When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.I speak to you child of God, it doesn’t matter how long you have been overlooked, or how long you have been in pain, or what anybody has said concerning your situation, God will surely see you through, because no time is too late for God to do anything.In verse 21, Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now, whatever you ask from God, He will give you and Jesus said to her, your brother will live again.”Dear brothers and sisters, do you believe in God? Do you have faith that he can still do that, which seems impossible to do?In psalm 16 vs 10, David says, “for I know that God will not abandon my soul to the underworld (grave), nor will He allow His holy one to see decay. David believed in God and things went well with him.Psalm 55 vs 22 says, “cast your burden upon the Lord and he will carry them.”In verse 24, Martha replied, “I know that he will rise on the resurrection of the dead on the last day. But Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, though he dies shall live, whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” Do you believe?Believe and stop the doubt!In Ezekiel chapter 37, God spoke to Ezekiel in a vision that He will make all the dry bones live again.Ezekiel 11 vs 4, God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, he did and dry bones got flesh and lived again. You are a child of God; He has empowered you to prophesy and speak to every ugly situation on your way. He has given you authority, to come against anything that you don’t find funny or pleasant. Do you exercise the power that has been given to you? If yes, do you believe in the same power with your whole heart?Then prophesy to that grave and you shall come out of it!Grave could signify problems, sicknesses, hardships of all kinds, bondages, pain, afflictions and all kinds of bad and difficult situations. They may come as we strive in your earthly race, but joy, healing and restoration will surely come in the morning, as it happened in the life of Lazarus.It is also important to note, that sometimes God allows some ugly situations in our lives, just to glorify Himself. In John 11 vs 3, Lazarus sisters sent message to Jesus, “Lord the one you love is sick.” After he got the message, Jesus said, “this sickness will not end in death, rather it is for God’s glory, so that the son of God may be glorified through it.If Jesus had raised Lazarus earlier than four days, it wouldn’t be thought to be as great a miracle, unlike when corruption/decay had begun.Friends of Jesus, let us not be dismayed nor become despondent in carrying our cross, but with patience, faith and great confidence that at the end, God will see us through and revive us as he revived Lazarus.Jesus yesterday, today and forever…………