I left home at 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
I was going to Walmart to find flour and bread.
I went into Walmart and got one of the last bags of regular flour.
But there was no bread on the shelf, no loaves of bread.
So I took off to Ingalls.
I got the next to the last bag of self-rising flour.
And there was absolutely no bread to be found on any of the shelves in Ingalls.
Now I know most of you have had a similar experience.
Because right now at least, this is the new normal.
In fact, I heard someone say the other day that the way things are going right now,
they felt like we were living in the twilight zone.
We can relate, can't we?
However we describe it, we are living in the midst of the most disruptive crisis since World War II.
How are you responding?
How are you responding to the coronavirus crisis?
How do you normally respond to a crisis in your life?
Do you turn to God for help?
Or do you blame God?
Some people do.
And instead of turning to Him, some just turn away.
Or do you ignore God?
And just sort of do the best I can.
But realistically, you're doing the best you can like an atheist.
You're just leaving God out.
I want us to look at a passage, John chapter 11 this morning,
that provides for us a great example of how Christians should respond to a crisis.
Now, what we're going to be looking at is how two sisters, Martha and Mary,
responded to a crisis.
Their brother had died.
His name was Lazarus.
Many of you are familiar with Martha and Mary and Lazarus.
They were friends of Jesus.
We learn from Luke's gospel, the 10th chapter,
that they hosted Jesus in their home.
It seems that they had a close relationship.
Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Jesus.
Well, that's why when Lazarus,
what appears to have suddenly come down with a serious illness,
Mary and Martha sent for Jesus.
They sent word to Him because they wanted Him to come and heal their brother.
But Jesus did not immediately go.
And Lazarus died.
They buried Him.
And then four days later, four days after He was buried,
Jesus arrived at the house of Mary and Martha.
John describes all this to us in John chapter 11, verses 1 through 45.
We're going to read some of these verses as we go through this message.
But I want to encourage you, maybe sometime today,
to read John chapter 11, all the first 45 verses.
Or you may even want to pause this message right now
and go ahead and read John 11, 1 through 45.
But as we go through this message,
I want you to keep in mind that the qualities we see in Jesus,
they're the same exact qualities that we see in God the Father.
One of the things Jesus did when He came into this world
is He revealed to us what God the Father is like.
Jesus explained it like this one day.
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
From this John 11 passage,
I want to point out two lessons
that can help us deal with any crisis,
including the coronavirus crisis
that we all have been touched by right now.
Lesson number one.
Whenever you face a crisis,
turn to the Lord.
Turn to the Lord.
When Mary and Martha found out
that their brother was seriously ill,
they immediately sent word to Jesus.
Look at it in verse 3.
So the sisters sent to Him, saying,
Lord, he whom you love is ill.
Now think about that.
Their first response to a crisis,
their brother was seriously ill,
well, they turned to the Lord for help.
Now we know from what they said later,
after Lazarus had died,
that they were hoping that Jesus would come
and heal their brother.
In fact, both Mary and Martha
said the exact same thing to Jesus later on.
It's found in verses 21 and verse 32.
They both said to Jesus,
Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
Now, when a crisis occurs in your life,
what is your first response?
Now be honest.
Looking to the Lord is not always
our first response, is it?
Sometimes we do everything except look to Him.
Sometimes we panic.
Sometimes we not only panic,
but we say or do things that are irrational.
That's why there's a toilet paper shortage right now.
People are acting irrationally
in responding to this crisis.
Some people, what they react is
they try to downplay its seriousness
or maybe even ignore it.
Just pretend it's not there
and hope that it'll go away.
You know, there are some people right now
who are denying the seriousness
of the coronavirus pandemic.
They're trying to downplay it.
And I want to be honest with you.
At the first,
when things were starting to be said,
and it was mostly our media saying them,
I was one of the ones
who was guilty of denying it.
It was not really until last Friday
when President Trump came on,
surrounding himself with government
and private sector leaders,
that it really sunk into me.
This is something that is extremely serious,
deadly serious.
And so we need to avoid being that kind of person
who pretends it's not real or it's not serious.
That is not the way to respond to any kind of crisis.
But you know, I think a lot of people,
including Christians,
sometimes respond to a crisis
by just sort of what you might say,
buckling down, getting tough,
and just doing the best that we can on our own,
and really with very little thought
about looking to the Lord.
Now don't misunderstand that last statement.
When a crisis happens,
we need to act decisively
as well as turn to the Lord.
A few years ago,
on a Sunday morning,
Lisa passed out.
And when I went to her,
helping her to sort of gather herself together,
she complained with severe pain in her stomach.
Well, we got ready as quickly as possible
and took off to the ER.
And I am so glad we acted decisively
and quickly
because the pain was coming from her appendix.
And by getting there when we did,
they were able to do the surgery
before it ruptured.
Now, as we were getting ready,
hurriedly,
and as we flew to the ER,
we did turn to the Lord in prayer.
We asked God to help Lisa,
take care of her,
help her to get over this,
help us to get to where we need to be
for her to get help.
And I'm sure the way that I drove,
Lisa was also praying,
Lord, help us to not get killed
on the way there.
But,
as we got ready,
as we drove,
we did everything we knew to do.
We had hurried,
we'd acted decisively,
we had prayed,
we had looked to the Lord,
and we did what you might say
the best we could,
personally,
and in terms of turning it over to the Lord.
During this time of crisis in our country,
we desperately need to be
looking to the Lord
and calling out to Him
for help,
for wisdom,
for divine intervention
into this crisis.
But at the same time,
we also need to be listening
to our government and healthcare leaders,
and we need to be listening carefully.
We need to be following their instructions.
We need to be doing everything that we can
to stay healthy,
to help others,
and to stop the spread
of this very, very serious virus.
Now, I want to ask you,
do you naturally
and automatically
turn to the Lord
in a time of crisis?
I can predict your answer.
It really depends
on the kind of relationship
that you have with the Lord.
If you have a close relationship with Him,
you spend time with Him,
you talk to Him,
you listen to Him,
well, you'll just naturally turn to Him
whenever a crisis occurs,
and you'll turn to Him
with confidence.
But if you don't have
a real relationship with Him,
then you won't turn to Him.
You know,
if you don't have
a close relationship
with the Lord right now,
there is absolutely
no better time
for you to begin one
than now.
And I'm talking to Christians.
I'm talking to you
who you do know
Christ as your Lord and Savior.
You do pray at times.
You do read the Bible at times.
You're watching this message
right now.
But I want to encourage you,
start spending time
with the Lord every day,
seriously.
Just you and Him.
Talk to Him in prayer.
That's really what prayer
is all about.
Talking to the Lord,
communing to Him.
Listening to Him.
And think about
as you read the Bible,
this is God's Word.
This is God speaking.
Listen to the Lord
as you read His Word.
You know,
it may be that your life,
your schedule at least,
has slowed down.
Your life's slowed down.
Your schedule's gotten
a little bit lighter
during this crisis.
You may not have
warned it to,
but it is.
I want to encourage you
to take some of this time
and do some reading.
There's all kinds of
helpful Christian books
and articles available today
that you would profit from.
Help you to know God better.
To know how to live
in a closer relationship
with Him.
To know how to use
the gifts He's given you.
To know how to better serve Him.
You know,
our church family,
as a church family,
we have access
to some very good
online Bible studies
and resources
for people of all ages
through Right Now Media.
You can access
Right Now Media
on your computer,
your iPhone,
your iPad.
Now,
if you've never done that before,
I want to encourage you,
email Jeff Rafferty.
Email Jeff here at the church
and let him know
you would like to have access
to online
or to Right Now Media
and he can send you a link
that will get you started
immediately.
Or,
there is information
in this week's newsletter.
The March the 22nd newsletter.
One that was mailed
to your home this weekend.
It's also available online.
Just go online,
look at the newsletter
and there's information
how you can start looking
at these resources,
these helpful resources.
on Right Now Media
Right Now.
But having a close relationship
with the Lord,
that makes it natural
to automatically turn to Him
in a time of crisis.
Make sure
that this weekend
you get serious with the Lord.
Draw close to Him.
And the Scripture tells us
as we draw near to Him,
He will draw near to us.
The second lesson
I want us to see
from John chapter 11
is this.
Whenever you face a crisis,
trust the Lord.
Now trusting the Lord
involves more than just
turning to Him
or calling out to Him
in prayer.
Here's what I mean
by trusting the Lord.
First,
trust that God
is in control.
Martha believed this.
She had absolutely
no doubts.
That's why she turned
to Jesus
and said this
in verses 21 and 22.
Lord,
if you had been here,
my brother would not
have died.
But even now,
I know
that whatever you ask
from God,
God will give you.
Martha
may have heard Jesus
on another occasion
explain in very simple terms
how God controls
everything in this world.
Look at what Jesus said
in Matthew chapter 10.
He said,
Are not two sparrows
sold for a penny?
And not one of them
will fall to the ground
apart from your father.
Jesus is talking about
a lowly, insignificant sparrow.
He is saying
that not even a sparrow dies.
Not even a sparrow dies
and falls to the ground
apart from God's will,
from God's plan.
Now,
I think it's important
that we understand
the point that Jesus
was making
when he made that comment
about God being in control
through the death
of a sparrow even.
Jesus was saying that
to calm fears
He was trying to
help people not worry,
not be anxious.
He was trying to let people know
that God not only
is in control,
but God cares.
Look at this.
It's the verse after,
the two verses after
verse 29,
verse 31.
Fear not, therefore,
you are of more value
than many sparrows.
It's important for us
to understand
that God is in control.
But that's not enough.
We need to have confidence
that our Lord
and our Heavenly Father
care about us.
Look at this.
Trust that God cares for you.
Mary and Martha
saw firsthand
just how much
the Lord cared for them
during their time
of grief,
this crisis
brought on by
their brother's death.
I want you to look with me.
We're still in John 11,
verses 32 through 35.
It says,
Now when Mary came
to where Jesus was
and saw Him,
she fell at His feet,
saying to Him,
Lord,
if You had been here,
my brother would not have died.
When Jesus saw her weeping,
and the Jews who had come
with her also weeping,
He was deeply moved
in His spirit
and greatly troubled.
And He said,
Where have You laid Him?
And they said to Him,
Lord,
come and see.
Jesus wept.
That helps us to see
that when we are hurting,
the Lord hurts with us.
Whenever a crisis occurs
in your life,
you can be assured
as a child of God,
you are not alone.
The Lord is our faithful shepherd.
He walks with us
through the valleys
of life and death.
You know,
during this time
of a national crisis,
I think it might be
helpful, comforting
to all of us
to take some time
to just read slowly
through Psalm 23
and to make it personal.
Make it personal
as you read,
The Lord
is my shepherd.
And let it sink in
and take comfort
from His words
of comfort.
Let's look at one more
reason for trusting God
in a time of crisis.
Trust that God is working
according to His good purpose.
You know,
Jesus did not prevent
the death of Lazarus.
Even though it caused pain
to His friends,
Mary and Martha,
their hearts were broken
because their brother died.
But Jesus knew
that God the Father
planned the death
of Lazarus
for a purpose.
Look at this
in verse 5 of John 11.
Jesus said,
It is for the glory of God
so that the Son of God
may be glorified
through it.
I want us to think
for just a moment
how both God the Father
and the Son
were glorified
through the death
of Lazarus.
First,
Jesus raised Lazarus
from the dead.
Look at this.
It's in verses 43 and 44.
When He had said
these things,
He cried out
with a loud voice,
Lazarus,
come out.
The man who had died
came out,
his hands and feet
bound with linen strips
and his face
wrapped with a cloth.
Jesus said to them,
Unbind him
and let him go.
Jesus brought
this dead man
to life
before all these people.
Truly,
God,
the power of God
was made known,
visible,
right there
before their eyes.
Both God the Father
and Jesus
who called him forth
received much glory
for their power
in bringing
back from the dead
this man,
Lazarus.
The scripture
goes on to tell us
that as a result
of what Jesus did,
many people
believed in Jesus.
In verse 45,
many of the Jews,
therefore,
who had come
with Mary
and had seen
what he did
believed in him.
they saw
the power of God
at work
and God not only
worked to bring
Lazarus back
from the grave,
in that experience,
in that time
among those people,
God worked
in their lives
to open
their spiritual eyes
and to call them
to faith in Jesus
right then,
right there.
We need to have
confidence
that God
is in control,
that he cares
for us
and that he works
in everything
for his glory.
But that's not all.
We also need
to have confidence
that God works
in all things
for the ultimate
good
of his people.
The Apostle Paul
assures us of this
in one of my favorite
verses in all the Bible.
It's in Romans 8, 28.
He says,
and we know
that in all things
God works
for the good
of those who love him,
who've been called
according to his purpose.
I can't think
of anything
more comforting
to me
as a child of God
as I go through
this time
of national crisis
than this promise.
Paul said it
in the context
of talking about
Christians' suffering.
Back up in Romans 18,
he said this,
for I consider
that the sufferings
of this present time
are not worth comparing
with the glory
that is to be revealed
to us.
This is a time
of suffering
right now
worldwide.
Many people
are suffering
throughout the world.
Many people
are suffering
in this country
including Christians.
Christians are suffering
physically,
emotionally,
financially,
socially,
and in other ways.
There is absolutely
nothing good
about this crisis
that we're going
through right now
in our country.
But God is working
in the midst
of this awful crisis
for ultimate good
in the lives
of his people.
One of the ways
God is working
is to develop
Christ-like character
in us,
his children.
Look at this
from Romans 8, 29.
For those
whom he foreknew,
he also predestined
to be conformed
to the image
of his Son.
God is working
in everything,
both good
and bad,
to make us
more and more
like Jesus,
to develop
Christ-like character
in us.
We as God's people,
God's children,
we need to trust
him as we go
through this time
of crisis.
We need to have
confidence
that God really
is in control,
that he really
does care for us,
that he is working
everything for his glory
and for ultimate good
in our lives
as his people.
You know,
Mary and Martha
experienced a crisis
related to the death
of their brother.
They responded well.
They are models
of how to respond
because they
looked to the Lord
in faith.
They truly
trusted
him.
But remember,
the Lord didn't make
the crisis go away.
Things got worse
before they got better.
Lazarus
died.
Mary and Martha
had to deal
with the pain
and the sorrow
of grief.
Grief over losing
their brother.
But we need
to always remember
in this story
and in life,
God is always
working in the midst
of these difficulties
for good.
He is always
working according
to his good
purpose.
He'll bring good
from the crises.
We've already
seen in this passage
both God
the Father
and the Son
were glorified.
Jesus raised
Lazarus
from the dead.
And many people
believed in Jesus
as a result
of this crisis
and the way
Jesus brought
him back
to life.
The Lord
also worked
in this experience
to draw Mary
and Martha
closer to him.
Now think about
that.
Their hearts
were broken.
They were grieving
the death
of their brother.
But the way
Jesus came to them,
the things he said
to them,
the way he responded
to them,
it made all the
difference in the world.
They drew closer
to him.
Think about what
happened.
Jesus walked
with them
through their
crisis of grief.
He was there.
He was with them.
Jesus even
wept
with them.
You know,
that's how
relationships
grow deeper.
We know that.
Haven't you
drawn closer
to people
who have been
there with you
during a crisis?
Or maybe
people who
shared a special
time of joy
with you.
It draws you
closer,
doesn't it?
Most people
draw closer
to those
that they
laugh
and cry
with.
That's why
we need
to have
a relationship
with God
through faith
in the Lord
Jesus.
If you don't
have a relationship
with the Lord
like that,
there's no better
time for you
to begin one
than right now,
this moment.
If you
sense your
need of a
real,
true,
saving
relationship
with the
Lord,
admit to
God
your sin.
Admit your
selfishness.
Admit how
you have been
living life
your way
instead of
His way.
Turn from
your sin.
Change your
mind.
What the
Bible calls
repent.
Turn from
your sin
and to
Jesus.
Trust that
when He died
on the
cross,
He actually
paid the
penalty for
your sins.
He took
the punishment
that you
deserve as
a result of
your sin
against God.
Call upon
Jesus right
now to
save you.
Call upon
Him to
become your
Savior.
Surrender
your life to
Him right
now as
your Lord,
your King.
You know,
if Jesus
died for
us, if He
gave His
life for
us,
in response
as we
trust Him,
we should
give our
lives back
to Him.
He is
trustworthy.
And I
encourage you
to make that
kind of
commitment
right now.
If you
are a
Christian,
but you've
drifted away
from the
Lord,
as I've
talked about
having a
real close
relationship
with God
earlier in
this message,
it bothers
you to know
that you
don't have
that kind
of fellowship
and relationship
with the
Lord.
I want to
encourage you
right now,
just admit
to God
that you've
ignored Him,
you've
drifted away,
or if you've
rebelled,
admit it,
confess your
sin,
turn from
it,
repent,
come back
to the
Lord,
trusting Him,
resting in
Him,
knowing that
through His
death on the
cross,
the penalty
for your
sins have
been paid.
Trust that
through faith
in Him,
His perfect
life is
credited to
you.
That's why
God can
accept us
because when
we are
trusting Christ,
we become
one with
Him.
He accepts
Christ's
perfect life
and His
death on
the cross
as ours,
His death
to sin
as ours.
You know,
right now,
we all need
to take
responsibility
to do
what we
can to
stay healthy,
to help
others,
and to
stop the
spread of
the coronavirus,
by listening
to our
state and
national
leaders.
This is
important.
And at
the same
time,
as God's
people,
let's make
sure that we
do turn to
the Lord,
trust Him,
and rest in
the fact that
God is
great.
God is
sovereign.
God is in
control.
God is
good.
God is
good.
God is
good.
He is
working out
His good
purpose right
now, even
in the midst
of this
crisis, in
your life
and in my
life as
His children.
Let's go to
the Lord in
prayer now.
Would you pray
with me?
Father, thank
You for
Your Word, for
these examples
of believers
who responded
to a crisis
by looking to
You and
trusting You.
Help us,
Lord, to do
the same.
Lord, show
us this
morning how
we need to
respond.
Show those
who do not
know Christ as
their Lord and
Savior their
need.
Convict them
of their sin.
Call them to
true faith in
Jesus.
Save them
today, we
pray.
And Lord, we
pray that You
will work in
the life of
Christians who
are not
close to You
right now.
give them a
true desire, a
hunger and a
thirst for
closer fellowship
with You.
Draw them to
You, Father.
And Lord, I
pray that You
will encourage
Christians who
are seeking to
walk with You.
They're seeking
to be faithful.
Lord, help
them, help
all of us to
be models in
our community,
among our
family members
and friends,
of how
Christians face
a crisis by
looking to
You, trusting
You, and
also seeking to
be the best
neighbors and
citizens that we
can by
cooperating with
our national and
state leaders
and doing
everything possible
to bring about
an end to
this global
pandemic.
And it's in
Jesus' name we
pray.
Amen.