August 09, 2019: SOAP #3536:  Jeremiah 3-4; John 11

Scripture:  John (NIV) 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 “And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

Observation:   Prayer is the personal expression of a relationship with God.  In the above passage, Jesus expressed his relationship with the Father for the benefit of those close by who would hear His prayer.

They heard the loving, unbroken relationship of a Son to His Father.  They heard the confidence that the Son had in the Father—confidence that the Father always heard his prayers.  They heard the Son’s desire that people know that Jesus was on earth because He was sent by the Father.

What Jesus was about to do, was an expression of the Father’s love for people.

Application:  As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus has sent me.  It is important for people around me to know God.  God sends me to them so that they may see Him at work in my life and desire Him to be in their lives also.  When I have opportunity to pray in public, I should pray so that people listening to my prayer desire a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, so work in and through my life that people can easily see Jesus.  Love people through me.  Minister to them through me.  Use me to draw them to our loving Heavenly Father.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!