Seeking God During Grief

1. Seeking God During Grief July 19

2. Think About It • Consider the quote: • Which do you think is more important – faith or hope? Why? Consider that hope and faith go hand in hand …  Today we look at the hope we have as we trust God to give victory over death. “Faith is that which lays hold of God’s promises; hope is that spiritual grace which sustains the heart until the promise is ‘received.’”

3. Listen for an accusation by Martha. John 11:17-21 (NIV) On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. [18] Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, [19] and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

4. Listen for an accusation by Martha. [20] When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. [21] "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

5. Jesus Welcomes Our Questions • What did Jesus find when He arrived at Bethany? • What did Mary and Martha do when they heard that Jesus was coming? • What did Martha say to Jesus about His having come after Lazarus had died? • What do you think her attitude was?

6. Jesus Welcomes Our Questions • How do we tend to respond (like Martha) when we are disappointed with the way God has chosen to work in our situation? • Why do we question Jesus about His timing, His way of answering our needs? • Martha was probably filled with grief over Lazarus’ death. How can our emotions impact our ability to trust God’s sovereignty?  Note that this is sin … lack of faith! Romans 14:23 … everything that does not come from faith is sin.

7. Jesus Welcomes Our Questions • Recall image from Four Spiritual Laws booklet • Our relationship with Christ is based on the Facts of the Truth and our Faith • Feelings (emotions) are nice but the train runs without a caboose

8. Jesus Welcomes Our Questions • When we do have questions of God concerning grief or loss, why is it better to talk to Him about them, rather than try to hide them from Him.

9. Listen for Martha’s lack of understanding. John 11:22-27 (NIV) But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." [23] Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." [24] Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." [25] Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live,

10. Listen for Martha’s lack of understanding. even though he dies; [26] and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" [27] "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

11. Jesus Gives Hope and Comfort She may have been confused, discouraged, grieved about her brother’s death … But …  Martha clung to the basic Truth … Jesus is the Son of God  She was discovering also that … Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life • Compare what Jesus and Martha were saying about a resurrection, about Jesus

12. Jesus Gives Hope and Comfort • What is the verb tense in verses 23 and 24? What tense is used in verse 25? • What was future, what was present? Who said it? • How did Martha express her belief in Jesus? • How can these verses, these concepts help you answer and give hope to your child or grandchild who asks about death?

13. Listen for the sequence of events as Jesus brings Lazarus back to life. John 11:41-45 (NIV) So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." [43] When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud

14. Listen for the sequence of events as Jesus brings Lazarus back to life. voice, "Lazarus, come out!" [44] The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." [45] Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.

15. Jesus Gives Eternal Life • What did Jesus do before He called to Lazarus? • What did Jesus say to the Father? Why? • How did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? • Under what circumstances have you doubted the power of God?

16. Jesus Gives Eternal Life • What helps you have faith in God’s ability to work out an impossible situation? • Consider this altered version of Jesus statement. How does it make you feel?  Quote the verse correctly together – Thank God for the hope of eternal life He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

17. Application • Sickness and death are realities of our earthly life • When sickness comes, when death threatens we should take our needs to Jesus • Know that the timing we desire is not always God's timing in dealing with the problem • Even when death is the eventuality, Jesus knows, Jesus cares, Jesus will be present • Jesus is not insulted or hurt by our expressions of grief, our questions of "Why?"

18. Application • Mary and Martha had the right concept of to whom to go when they had a desperate need • Take your needs to Jesus • Know that He is sufficient • Know that His timing is perfect, even though not always understood • Tell the Lord you are grateful for His help when you feel helpless and hopeless

19. Application • Praise God this week that he has dominion over death • Those who have Christ as savior may die physically, but they continue on in spiritual life • Receive comfort from this fact if you have lost someone close to you • Be assured of this fact if you are facing an uncertain physical future • Know that living believers have already entered eternal life!

20. Seeking God During Grief July 19