God restore us to your glory!

God restore us to your glory!

Grace, mercy and peace from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be multiplied unto you.

A: Beloved in the Lord, today is the 5th Sunday of Lent, as the whole world is going through challenges concerning the Novel COVID 19 that is spreading very fast in the world with its socio-economic effects on Sporting activities, borders of countries closed, concert parties, night clubs, beaches, political rallies, schools, colleges and Church Services had all been suspended for now.

Due to the effects of COVID 19 pandemic on human health and protection of lives and properties, we are all concerned! Why? Now is the time for Human beings to reflect on our human attitudes. We have neglected our duties as caretakers of God’s perfect Creation. This has brought about periodic flu and other diseases, and now mankind has become helpless and full of fear and panic. Our bones are dried out physically and spiritually and we are praying and crying to the Almighty God to restore the Land and Mankind for His Glory.

1. Let us reflect on the first reading from the book of (Ezekiel 37: 1-14). The hand of the Lord was upon me, and I saw the dry bones by the power of the Holy Spirit. What does the vision of bones mean to us today? As we observe things that are happening in our country and the world at large, and we neglect God and His begotten Son Jesus Christ in our lives, our communities and our nations. We do what pleases us without the fear of God. But I can assure you that we have a Savior who cares for us in times of difficulties.
2. Besides, the dry bones represent the whole house of Israel (v 11) both Israel and Judah in exile due to their disobedience and worshiping of idols/other gods. They became hopeless and God rejected them and dispersed them among foreign lands to be punished. After they repented and turned to God, He restored the remnants again. The same applies to mankind today in this modern world of technology without God in our lives. That always brought about God’s wrath upon His created world.
3. Certainly, God instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones (v 4-6) and the bones were raised to life again.

God gave this vision to Ezekiel to assure the exiles that they will be restored by God’s power again. So that they will become a living community in the Promised Land in spite of their seemingly hopeless circumstances (9v 14).

Beloved in the Lord, In the Book of Ezekiel (37:10) the scripture said breath entered Israel as God’s restoration of His chosen race. Life reminds us of the creation of man recorded in (Genesis 2:7). Adam was first formed physically after which God gave him the breath of life.

1. Dear Friends in Christ, this signifies the dead Israel world at their time that had been first restored physically. God said: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them (1 Sam 2:6, Deuteronomy 32:39, Jeremiah 29:14). What is Coronavirus before God? God is more powerful than Coronavirus. He puts to death and brings to life. Therefore, put your trust in the Lord because His spirit empowers, enables, emboldens, assures, and creates faith in us to rely on Him.
2. Beloved in the Lord, through our baptism, God has poured His spirit on us since we are His children. In (v 12 -14). The Land of Israel and the vision of the revived bones will be fulfilled at a time of Israel’s restoration. This restoration was initially fulfilled in Cyrus in (Ezra 1) But it will be fully realized only when God gathers the Israelites to their land in the end time.

With a great spiritual awakening and to accept Christ as their Messiah before Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom for the Jews and the Gentiles whom He called into the Kingdom of Grace as his visible church into the Kingdom of Glory (Romans 11:15,25,26).

B: 11. Brethren, according to the book of (Romans 8:1-11): life comes through the spirit to those who are in Christ Jesus. Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans that life without the grace of Christ is defeat, misery and bondage to sin and captivity in the slavery of the demons. Now in (Roman 8), the word of God emphasizes on spiritual life as freedom from condemnation and victory over sin. It indicates that the fellowship with God comes through union with Christ. As the Holy Spirit is indwelling in us, we are delivered from the power of sin and led onward to final glorification in Christ. This experience is the normal Christian life under the full provision of the Gospel.

C: Dear ones in Christ, in (v2) the Law of the Spirit-This law of the “spirit of life” is regulating and activating the power and life of the Holy Spirit that comes into sinners and frees them from the power of sin (R7:23). The Law of the spirit comes into full operation as the holy spirit aids believers to commit themselves to obey the spirit of God (v4-5,13-14). They find a new power operating within; a power that allows them to overcome sin. The law of sin and death is the controlling power of sin, which places people in bondage (7:14) and reduces them to wretchedness (7:24). In R.8:4, the law might be fully met in us, so that the gospel will transform lives through faith in Christ Jesus.

D: Beloved in the Lord, the Holy Spirit is working within believers that allows us to live righteous lives which is seen as the fulfilment of God’s moral law written in our hearts. So that the operation of grace and obedience to God’s law are not in conflict (R 2:13; 3:16:15; 7:12, 14), they all point to righteousness and holiness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

In (R.8:5-14), according to the sinful nature and the spirit, Apostle Paul describes two classes of people; those who live according to the sinful nature and those who live according to the spirit.

1. To live according to the sinful nature is to desire, take pleasure in, and indulge in corrupt desires of sinful human nature. Such nature includes not only sexual immorality, adultery, hatred, selfish ambition, outbursts of anger and so forth (Gal. 5:19-21). But also, offensiveness, pornographic addiction, drug addiction, mental and emotional desire for sex scenes, in playbooks, TV or movies and the likes.
2. The life with the spirit is to seek and submit to the Holy Spirit’s direction enablement and to concentrate on the things of God. It is to live consciously at all times in God’s presence, trusting him to give us the help and grace we need to accomplish His will for our lives
3. It is impossible to follow the sinful nature and the spirit at the same time. (R:8:7-8; Gal.5:1-18) if anyone fails to live by the spirit of God and lives according to his or her sinful nature, V13 he or she becomes God’s enemy R8.(v-7 James 4:4)and will be condemned (R:8:13)
4. In (R: 8:9) If the spirit of God lives in you through faith, you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour by walking and living in the spirit.
5. Your body is dead because of sin, and it has invaded all aspects of your being but through faith with the power of the holy spirit, you are alive in Christ Jesus because he won the victory for us
6. John 11:1-53 O GOD RESTORE US FOR YOUR GLORY

1: Beloved in Christ, we know the narrative of a man named Lazarus. When he got seriously ill, it was announced to Jesus. However, Jesus told His disciples that the sickness was to give glory to the Lord. How will this sickness of Lazarus give glory to the Lord? All sicknesses of mankind give glory to the Lord. Just like the current Coronavirus pandemic and the ebola epidemic that happened to humanity. They were to give glory to the Lord.

2. In these incidents, human beings come closer to God to seek for solutions to our problems. Christ assured us that His death and resurrection had eventually destroyed death on the cross and the victory is won for us through faith in Christ Jesus. Our Christian hope and belief is that, if Christ had not resurrected, then our faith in the Lord would be in vain (1Corinthians 15:1-3).
3. Beloved, let us analyse these few words Martha said to Jesus that: “Lord if you had been here, my brother Lazarus would not have died.” Jesus replied that your brother will rise again. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John11: 21, 25-26).
4. Dear Christians in the Lord, the final truth is that those who believe in Jesus will never die ( v26 ) Certainly, Jesus Loved Mary and Martha and their brother, Lazarus as a family that had a great concern for Jesus. Ministry with their strong devotion to Christ as the Messiah. The family enjoyed intimate fellowship with one another (Luke 10:38-42). Jesus was especially loved by their family (v 3-5).
5. Nevertheless, the experience of sorrow, sickness, death, and troubles can occur to God’s faithful and chosen believers. Some Churches have personalities as Mary, Martha and Lazarus who cares and preserve in loving devotion to the Men of God. Martha has been faithful in good deeds. However, the suffering and death of his brother, Lazarus threw the family into sorrow. How long, O Lord will you forget me forever (Psalm 13:1). (Matthew 27:46, Rev 6:10)
6. Dear friends in the Lord, let us reflect on what is happening now in the major superpowers of the world such as China, Japan, USA, UK, and North and South Korea. Please, observe the faith of their beloved families/their nations if really they have given their lives to Jesus, and accepted Him as their Lord and personal Savior?
7. Jesus says that his delay was not due to lack of love, mercy or compassion to the family of Lazarus, but for the glory of God (v4) to be seen in his kingdom and for the ultimate eternal good of the sufferers (v15, 23, 40,4).

Therefore, Dear Beloved in the Lord, God breathed on the dry bones and they rose to life again. Believe in Jesus and have eternal life. Jesus breathed into Lazarus and he came back to life. The same God will breathe on humanity who trust in Jesus. He will send His spirit from the four corners of the universe and heal us from this Coronavirus. It will soon die out of this world.

So that God will restore mankind to His glory. The same breath that brought Lazarus back to life eternal be breathed into you in Jesus’ Name. The same Holy Spirit is working in all believers to live a righteous life in Christ Jesus. Everything in this world will pass soon but the word of God will continue to live. O God “I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? the Lord, Who made heaven and earth…” Psalm 121:1,2

May the peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that passes all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Shalom ! Shalom!

topic                                           EZE 37:1-14                        ROM.8:1-11        JOHN 11:1-53