LWC SERMON GUIDE

If You Believe…

  • Scriptures to read and ponder

    • John 11:40 (Key Text)

    • John 11:17, 21, 38–39

    • Mark 5:34, 36

    • Matthew 9:28–29

    • Mark 6:5–6

    • Mark 11:24

  • Sermon Recap

    1. The Reality of “N.F.E.” Situations

    • The sermon opened with the powerful analogy of “No Further Entries” (N.F.E.) — a file stamped closed, final, and archived.

    • Many people carry areas of life that feel permanently closed:

      • Marriage

      • Health

      • Finances

    • These are not just problems — they feel like tombs:

      • Sealed

      • Silent

      • Beyond hope

    2. When Life Contradicts God’s Character

    • Lazarus (Eleazar) means “God has helped” — yet his situation screams the opposite.

    • This exposes a deep tension:

      • What God has said vs. what life looks like

    • Faith must navigate this contradiction without collapsing.

    3. God’s Timing — The Tension of Delay

    • Jesus delays intentionally (John 11:6).

    • The delay is not neglect — it is strategic:

      • Not N.F.E. by accident

      • N.F.E. by design

    • God allows situations to go beyond human comfort to set the stage for His glory.

    4. Honest Faith Includes Honest Pain

    • Martha’s statement (“If you had been here…” - John 11:21) reflects real human disappointment.

    • This is not unbelief — it is wounded faith.

    • God is not intimidated by honest emotion.

    5. The Stone — Our Responsibility

    • Jesus commands: “Take away the stone” (John 11:39)

    • Principle:

      • God will not do what He has already instructed us to do

    • Before resurrection comes:

      • Obedience

      • Action

    • Modern “stones” may include:

      • Pride

      • Unforgiveness

      • Cycles of behaviour

    6. The Stench — The Battle in the Mind

    • Martha focuses on the smell — the evidence of decay.

    • Two dimensions:

      • External reality: It looks too far gone

      • Internal mindset: Expectation shaped by limitation

    • “Stinking thinking” must be confronted before glory is revealed.

    7. Obedience Before Breakthrough

    • Moving the stone may release discomfort before it reveals glory:

      • Pain surfaces

      • Habits break

      • Truth is exposed

    • This is not regression — it is process.

    8. The Pattern of Jesus — Believe First

    • Across multiple miracles, Jesus emphasises one principle:

      • Believe before you see

    • Examples:

      • Jairus — “Just believe” (Mark 5:36)

      • Woman with the issue of blood — “Your faith has healed you” (Mark 5:34

      • Blind men — “According to your faith” (Matthew 9:28)

    • Faith is:

      • The bridge between human reality and divine authority

    9. The Danger of Unbelief

    • In Nazareth, Jesus “could not” perform miracles due to unbelief. (Mark 6:5–6)

    • Insight:

      • Unbelief does not merely doubt

      • It restricts what God is ready to release

    10. The Core Principle — A Spiritual Law

    • “If you believe, you will see the glory of God.”

    • This is not suggestion — it is Kingdom order:

      • Belief → Glory

    11. The Call to Action

    • Every person is standing before a “stone”:

      • The decision is unavoidable

    • Key challenge:

      • Protect the tomb OR roll away the stone

    • Faith is not denial — it is a decision:

      • “It may smell… but I choose to believe.”

  • Memorable quotes

    • “Some of you are not dealing with a problem… you are standing in front of a tomb.”

    • “God will not do for you what He has already told you to do.”

    • “We cannot ask for resurrection while the stone is still in place.”

    • “The stench was not just in the tomb — it was in the mind.”

    • “Faith is the bridge between your reality and God’s authority.”

    • “Unbelief does not just doubt God — it shuts the door.”

    • “The world says: I will believe it when I see it. The Kingdom says: you will see it when you believe it.”

  • Questions for discussion

    1. What “N.F.E.” situations exist in your life right now?

    2. Where have you emotionally “closed the file” on something God has not closed?

    3. How do you personally respond to God’s delays?

    4. What “stone” might God be asking you to move in obedience?

    5. In what ways can “stench” (negative expectations) affect your faith?

    6. Which example of faith from Jesus’ ministry challenged you most?

    7. Have you experienced a moment where belief preceded breakthrough?

    8. What practical steps can you take this week to act in faith rather than feeling?

  • Further reading

    • Hebrews 11:1 — Faith defined

    • 2 Corinthians 5:7 — Walking by faith, not sight

    • Romans 4:18–21 — Abraham’s belief against hope

    • Ezekiel 37:1–10 — Dry bones and resurrection

    • Luke 18:1–8 — Persistent faith

    • James 2:17 — Faith and action

  • Prayer points

    • Lord, reveal any area where I have stamped “N.F.E.” prematurely

    • Give me courage to move the “stone” You have placed before me

    • Renew my mind where “stench” has shaped my expectations

    • Strengthen my faith to believe before I see

    • Break every pattern of unbelief in my life

    • Help me align my actions with Your word

    • Release Your glory in the areas that seem beyond hope

    • Teach me to trust Your timing, even when I do not understand