DCLM Sincere Milk 7 May 2022 — Life for buried dreams

TOPIC: LIFE FOR BURIED DREAMS

TEXT: JOHN 11:39-44

39 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.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 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.

42 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.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Key Verse: “And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44).

MESSAGE:

Normally, someone who is dead has no life in him, and all that others can do is to bury him. But when Lazarus died and was buried in the grave, Jesus came, and with His word, brought him back to life again. This tells us of the absolute power of God to raise the dead.

Some children who have had great dreams of being significant in life, such as being missionaries for God, engineers, pastors, doctors, bankers or other great professionals, have buried their dreams. They think they cannot achieve those dreams due to their background, academic challenge or their financial situation.

Therefore, they just live their lives with no goal, drive or direction, and go to school with no ambition to be somebody great in life. They forget that God has ultimate power to make them what they ought to be in life.

Are you one of them? Know today that like the power of God raised Lazarus and brought him out of the grave, that power of God will bring life again to your dreams and goals in life. You only need to pray to God and believe that you will be an achiever. You will achieve your dreams of greatness!

Prayer: Lord, please quicken me and revive all the great dreams You have given me, and make them come to pass.

Further Reading: 1 Chronicles 4:9, 10

GOSPEL REALM: STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)