'Jesus, This Makes No Sense': John 11:38-44 (Faithfulness)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Faithfulness?

Read John 11:38-44:

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

'Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 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.”'

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers' comments on the battle between faith and commonsense.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Like Martha, what are you currently encountering in your circumstances that, from a common sense standpoint, flatly contradicts your faith?

Write your answer in the space provided.

'Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture out with courage on the words of Jesus Christ, while the realities of your commonsense life continue to shout, “It’s all a lie”?'

Regarding your current test of faith, how well are you 'venturing out with courage'?

Chambers points put that every time we rise up to believe in the word of God, we encounter 'something that contradicts it.'

In other words, as soon as we believe God's word, the testing of what we believe begins.

How often do you experience this very frustrating, and potentially discouraging, reality?

Chambers then points out that God will bring us to the point where we must decide whether to give in to our commonsense and turn back, or continue to endure the trial of faith and venture on.

He asks: "When my strength runs dry and my vision is blinded, will I endure this trial of my faith victoriously or will I turn back in defeat?"

How would you answer him?

How much do you believe that your 'faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict'?

Do you agree that 'the test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it'?

Read Hebrews 3:14:

"We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Regarding holding onto your original conviction, is there anything you would like to repent of?

If so, you can do so privately or in the space provided.

Chambers concludes with:

"Believe steadfastly on Him and everything that challenges you will strengthen your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith up to the point of our physical death, which is the last great test. Faith is absolute trust in God— trust that could never imagine that He would forsake us."

How strongly do you believe that, despite the lack of commonsense in your current circumstance, God will never, ever fail or forsake you?

Is there anything you would like to ask from God?

If so, you can do so privately or in the space provided.

How much has this Trail helped to increase your level of faith?