There
are many times a disconnect between what we as followers of Jesus proclaim to
others, what we say we believe, and what we live out.
1
Corinthians 4:20
For
the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but of power.
The
kingdom of God is not a matter of knowing the right theology or of saying the
right things but of doing the things of God through the power of God.
In
John 11 Jesus shows us what that looks like.
Jesus
gets the message that Lazarus is sick and remains for two addition days, and
then Lazarus has dies. When Jesus gets to Bethany and is met by Martha and
Mary, they tell Jesus that if He had been there, Lazarus would not have died.
Jesus
shows us four things about the kingdom of God being about power, not talk.
First,
Jesus shows us His heart.
In
John 11:7-10 Jesus tells His disciples that they are going down to Bethany in
Judea. The disciples remind Jesus that the last time they were in Judea, the
religious leaders tried to kill Him. Jesus tells them that they are going and
that they will be walking in the light.
Jesus’
heart is, no matter what the circumstances are, to do the will of God.
In
John 11:33-35 Jesus is moved in His spirit and is greatly troubled and weeps.
Jesus’
heart is always with His human creation. Jesus is moved and is troubled and
weeps because:
He
is angry over sin and evil
He
feels the grief of Martha and Mary
He
hurts over the unbelief of the people
Raise
the Roof an Remove the Walls is having our hearts in sync with Jesus by
desiring to do God’s will and mourning over sin and what sin does.
Second,
Jesus shows His courage.
In
John 11:39 Jesus tells them to remove the stone from the front of Lazarus’ tomb
and Martha says that Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days and that it
will stink. In response, Jesus tells her to just believe.
Jesus
was willing to endure the stink to be able to show the power of God. Jesus is
willing to enter the mess and chaos and stinky-ness of life so that God’s power
to give life is experienced by people.
Third,
Jesus shows His power.
In
John 11:43-44 Jesus tells Lazarus to come out, and Lazarus does.
Jesus
shows His power over death by bringing Lazarus back to life.
Jesus
shows His power over sin by bringing Lazarus back to life.
Jesus
shows His power over Satan by bringing Lazarus back to life.
The
cause of death is sin and the cause of sin is Satan. So, when Jesus brings
Lazarus back to life, He overcomes sin and death and Satan.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is letting Jesus live in and through us and
demonstrating His power through our lives.
Fourth,
Jesus shows His desire for community.
In
John 11:44 Jesus tells those there to go and remove Lazarus’ grave clothes.
Jesus
brings life and He invites us to join Him in the salvation process by enabling
us to baptize and teach others all that He has taught us and helping them to
realize that Jesus has changed them and made them new.
We
are Jesus’ disciples and we are to disciple others so that they can mature and
be disciples who disciple others.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is joining Jesus in making disciples of
others.
The
Body of Christ is to show the world the heart and the courage and the power and
the community of Jesus. The kingdom of God is a matter not of words or theology
but of Jesus living His life through us and showing His authority to the world.
We
as the church are the hands and feet and voice and heart of Jesus.
As
the Body of Christ Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
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