John 11:38

John 11:38 says, Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.  Jesus was still groaning in the spirit, I believe over their disbelief, when He came to the grave.  Even if God is disappointed in our lack of complete faith, He is still at work in our life.  Verse thirty-nine adds, Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.  When Jesus got to the grave, which was a cave, , He asked for the stone to be moved away.  In our life, if there is something standing between God and our dead faith, we need to remove it.  Martha said to Jesus that by this time he would stink since he had been dead for four days. She still called Jesus Lord but didn't think He could do anything for Lazarus. Even if our faith in God's ability to handle a situation is dead, if we are His followers, He will still be at work for us.  I believe sometimes our faith may stink, and we may grieve the Spirit, but if we simply listen to God, we will see great things happen.  Verse forty continues, Jesús saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?  Jesus asked Martha if He had not told her that if she would believe she would see the glory of God.   God says the same to us today.  Look to God in faith, and not to the world in doubt.  As long as we are capable of doing everything for ourselves, we don't really have to live by faith.  It is only when we move into a situation beyond our control relying totally on God that we will truly see the glory of God.  Verse forty-one says, Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. They moved the stone and Jesus said, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hadst heard Me.  Jesus first thanked the Heavenly Father for hearing Him, as we should thank Him today for hearing our prayers.  Verse forty-two adds, And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.  Jesus then said He knew the Heavenly Father always heard Him and that He said this for the benefit of the people were standing there. We need to make sure that when God does something through us that those around us know that He is the One Who did it.  We don't have to pray out loud for God to hear us, but it is good for others to know Who is listening to our prayers. Verse forty-three continues, And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. Jesus said in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."  He called only Lazarus, and when He is dealing with us today, He will call us forth by name, whether it is to new life in Christ or to renewed faith in Him.  Verse forty-four concludes, And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Lazarus came forth bound in the grave clothes, and Jesus told them loose him, and let him go.  When we come to Christ, bound by sin, He says, "Loose him, and let him go.”