Jhn 11:1 Now a certain [man] was sick, [named] Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her

r sister Martha.  Living together in a house presumably left by their parents after they passed away were two sisters and a brother.  Jesus loved going to Bethany.  Mary was an exceptional lady, she captured the city, she had incredible love for the Lord, she was a worshipper and those attributes captured the whole city and the whole community was known as the town of Mary.


was a true witness.  Rev 2; the church of Smyrna was being addressed by the Holy Spirit.  Smyrna was located in Turkey. In 155 AD the bishop of Smyrna was the last living disciple of John the Apostle, his name was Polycarp.  During his time as a bishop, persecution intensified, Christians would be fed to lions.
 She

was a Roman city, there was a large temple of the God Roma, whom Christians were required to worship.  They were required to pick a pinch of Myrrh and drop before that god and declare that Ceasar was Lord, once every year.  Christians would not do that, the consequences would be grave.
 Smyrna

Feb 23 155 AD, 35, 000 people were gathered in the stadium and demanded for Polycarp.  The soldiers went for him, he was 86 years old, was taken to a magistrate, who told him that he needed not die that way.  He responded that he had served God for 86 years and had not been wronged by him, how then could he denounce him.
 On

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tied him to sticks, the soldier in charge of execution told Polycarp that it was not too late, he would not be burnt if he claimed that Ceasar was Lord.  He responded, you threaten me with fire that will burn only for hours, but you are in danger of fire that will burn forever.  Soldier threw his torch on the wood, fire did not get stocked up, took spear thrust it into Polycarps body.

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squirted from his pierced heart and extinguished the spluttering fire.  People realised that they were seeing something very unusual, after 20 minutes got the fire going, Polycarp was praying a prayer of grace and kindness.  Form the fire there emerged a dove that flew heavenward as Polycarp prayed a prayer of forgiveness for his tormentors.

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there was intense persecution, and Christianity was outlawed, and one was arraigned in court, would there be enough evidence to convincingly convict one beyond reasonable doubts of being a Christian or would people say they are not really sure.

was a true worshipper.  Jhn12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
 She

In the days Jesus was on earth, when a young woman reached the age of availability for marriage, her family would purchase an alabaster box for her and fill it with precious ointment. The size of the box and the value of the ointment would parallel her familys wealth. This alabaster box would be part of her dowry. When a young man came to ask for her in marriage, she would respond by taking the alabaster box and breaking it at his feet.

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alabaster box was worth one year wages.  I) worship is expensive, will cost a fortune, will cost dignity.  Mary let her hair down, Jews dont let their hair in public, she then wipes with her hair, in Jewish culture, the hair is the woman's glory.

went ahead and wiped her feet in Jesus time the streets were not paved, the streets were used by animals and therefore were covered with manure.  Thats why in Jewish culture, the first thing that was supposed to happen is that if you are a good host, you wash their visitors feet.  Mary took her glory
 She

 Now

that she did that she took the fragrance of Jesus feet. People who worship the Lord smell like him.  Worshippers take on the fragrance of whom they are worshipping.  The house was filled with fragrance, the disciples must have smelt the fragrance, but when they left the house, they didnt smell like Jesus.

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Mary left, was on her way, she continued smelling like Jesus, all day long.  People can be in the service, be blessed but thereafter become stinkers. They were enjoying the fragrance of Marys who poured their hearts and paid the price.

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was an all season Christian,  Luk 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.  Jhn 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

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was always at the feet of Jesus, former taking in the word, latter pouring her heart to Jesus.  Many people either get on Jesus feet either in times bliss or gloom.

Lazarus was sick; though they were friends with Jesus, they were not immunized from tragedy or insulated from difficulties.  1Cr 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].  All of have problems, Christians and non Christians alike, difference is that we have access to problem solver.


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11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.  Not the one who loves you, Lazarus loved Jesus, but human love is fickle and frail too often, but Gods love is unconditional and never fails.  Thats how we should approach God.

Gen 20:7 Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore [her] not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that [are] thine.  If there is a time that one would think that God would not want to bring up the issue of a prophet, it would be here.  One would have thought that God would have said; give him back his wife, I dont know exactly what he is.


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11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.  They did not give Jesus directions but rather gave him information. We should desist from giving God direction because he knows better than we do.  He sees the bigger picture.

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11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.  Jesus was still in the parameter of the day, his time of darkness had not yet come.  Hbr 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

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long as you abide in God, before that appointed time you are indestructible.  Bu when time is up, no matter how many airbags you have in the car.  12 hours in a day a parameter of limitation is implied- one only has 12 hours.  When time is up, it will be too late to talk about the things that you will not have accomplished.

Automatic Braking systems to prevent or reduce the severity of collision. Infrared night vision systems to increase seeing distance beyond headlamp range Adaptive highbeam which automatically and continuously adapts the headlamp range to the distance of vehicles ahead or which are oncoming Adaptive headlamps swivels headlamps around corners Reverse backup sensors, which alert drivers to difficult-to-see objects in their path when reversing Backup camera Adaptive cruise control which maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front Lane departure warning systems to alert the driver of an unintended departure from the intended lane of travel Tire pressure monitoring systems or Deflation Detection Systems Traction control systems which restore traction if driven wheels begin to spin Electronic Stability Control, which intervenes to avert an impending loss of control Anti-lock braking systems Electronic brakeforce distribution systems Emergency brake assist systems Cornering Brake Control systems Precrash system Automated parking system [edit] Crashworthiness Ferrari F430 steering wheel with airbag Crashworthy systems and devices prevent or reduce the severity of injuries when a crash is imminent or actually happening. Much research is carried out using anthropomorphic crash test dummies. Seatbelts limit the forward motion of an occupant, stretch to slow down the occupant's deceleration in a crash, and prevent occupants being ejected from the vehicle. Airbags inflate to cushion the impact of a vehicle occupant with various parts of the vehicle's interior. Laminated windshields remain in one piece when impacted, preventing penetration of unbelted occupants' heads and maintaining a minimal but adequate transparency for control of the car immediately following a collision. Tempered glass side and rear windows break into granules with minimally sharp edges, rather than splintering into jagged fragments as ordinary glass does. Crumple zones absorb and dissipate the force of a collision, displacing and diverting it away from the passenger compartment and reducing the impact force on the vehicle occupants. Vehicles will include a front, rear and maybe side crumple zones (like Volvo SIPS) too. Side impact protection beams. Collapsible universally jointed steering columns, (with the steering system mounted behind the front axle - not in the front crumple zone), reduce the risk and severity of driver impalement on the column in a frontal crash. Pedestrian protection systems.

There is a limitation of time that is allotted to me.  Should not confuse activity with achievement.  Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Time is the only resource that we are given equally, how we deal with it makes all the difference.  In Africa we waste time with reckless abandon.


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talk about no hurry in Africa as if it a very edifying philosophy.  There is nothing like African time, indeed time keeping is a mark of excellence.  Plan your time, failing to plan is planning to fail.

 John

11:15, I am glad for your sakes that I was not there. Though the home was engulfed in sadness, Jesus was glad, because he could see the big picture, he knew how it would culminate. Gods delay is not Gods denial. Ask Abraham, and Sarah, they thought they had heard the word of God, Sarah panicked, brought up the issue of Hagar, but after years, Isaac came forth.

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1- at last we see a promise that had been given to Abraham 25 years ago come to pass. Abraham is 100yrs old while Sarah is 90yrs old. Often times, there is a time gap between the promise and the fulfilment of that promise. That time is usually longer than expected. The reason why God does that is to teach us to walk by faith. When we dont really understand what is going on or when we dont see what is up ahead, then we can exercise faith

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meant laughter, Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. Analogy of the skyscrapers foundation. The analogy of the three trees. Jesus delay is not a denial, the people would see Him in a perspective that they had not done previously.

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11:16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Thomas , always thought as a doubter had other aspects that were overlooked, he was bold. He was not in the upper room when the Holy spirit came upon the rest of the disciples, the disciples were hiding in the upper room.

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name Didymus meant twin, who was his twin, you and me because we often doubt. Judges 6: common passage of the scripture. Midianites were controlling and dominating the Israelites. V12-And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD [is] with thee, thou mighty man of valour. God adressed Gideon as a mighty man of valour, not concerned with present weakness but with the potential greatness.

Luk 7:19 And John calling [unto him] two of his disciples sent [them] to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? Luk 7:20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? Luk 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of [their] infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many [that were] blind he gave sight. Luk 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

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11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Mary was a spectacular lady, always at the feet of Jesus, during happy times and also during horrible times.

 In

Luke 10, she is at Jesus feet listening to His word, this time pouring out his heart to Him. Often times, people are at Jesus feet when things are hunky dory, but when hard times come, you dont see them. The opposite is also true.

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11:35 Jesus wept. May be he was weeping because of the unbelief they could not figure out what the Lord was capable. Unbelief breaks the heart of God, when he has done so much for us yet we cannot belief. To awaken faith, rehearse on the past success that God has given us, just like David did.

 1Sa

17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. May be he was relating to them emphatically, Hbr 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

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11:39 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. The same way he told Lazarus to come forth, he could have told the stone to roll away, but he says, here is part Martha and Mary.

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expose the problem, it is our duty to expose those issues that are troubling us to God. 1 Kings 17, God instructed Elijah to abide by the brook that he may draw water. God want not force water down Elijahs throat. We see a perfect balance of methodology and heart of God, he did what was beyond Elijahs ability but left the rest to him.

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will take care of those things that are beyond our power but we must also do our best in every area. If you are not working waiting for the lottery cheque, you are misguided.