Lazarus was sick, so his two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick. But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:3-4
Have you ever felt so sick that you thought you were going to die? Many of us have been there but we lived to tell the story. Was it because of anything good that we did? Absolutely not! We were healed so that we could tell someone else what God has done for you and give him the glory.
Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” John 3:2
My brothers and sisters in Christ, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you too will be healed. The same Jesus who was sent by God, who was healing the sick, making the lame to walk, the dumb to talk, and the blind to see; is still performing miracles among us today, but you must believe. We are being healed all for the glory of God, so that those who do not believe could come to believe. Nicodemus came to the realization that Jesus was only able to perform miracles because God was with him. God is with us! Believe!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. Mark 16:17-19
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures reminds us; “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news! Romans 10:14-16
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:2
Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the Law, or because you hear and believe? My brothers and sisters in Christ, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? Certainly not! Romans 3:3-4
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or, hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Let God be true and every man a liar.” Praise the Lord!
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true; and you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
Many messengers are sent by God to deliver to us the Gospel of Truth, and Scripture reminds us that, we should accept it as the True Word of God. “And we continually thank God, that in receiving the word of God from us, you did not accept it as the word of men, but as the true word of God; the word now at work in you who believe. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. So, you, by receiving the message with joy from the Holy Spirit, in spite of the severe suffering it brought you; in this way, you have imitated both us and the Lord, and as a result, you have become an example to all the believers.”
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of us be deemed to have fallen short of it. Hebrews 4:1
For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: So, I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’ Hebrews 4:2-3
“Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For Christ is the head of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for Israel, is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God, for Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law. The man who does those things shall live by them.”