If I'm Going To Live, Some Things Have To Die

What if the thing you have been begging God to fix is actually something He is trying to let die? Drawing close to God is one of the most important things a believer can do, but it comes with a cost. The closer we get to Him, the more His light reveals what does not belong in our lives. And sometimes, the most loving thing God can do is not heal what we are holding onto, but let it go. In John 11, Jesus waited two days before going to Lazarus. To Mary and Martha, it looked like He was too late. But Jesus was not healing Lazarus. He was raising him. There is a difference between a healing and a resurrection, and understanding that difference can change the way you see every unanswered prayer in your life. This message explores what it really means to draw close to God, why He sometimes allows painful things to linger, and how the story of Lazarus reveals the heart of a God who loves us too much to leave us where we are. We also look at what it means to walk out of the tomb still wearing grave clothes, and how the church is called to help one another get free. Topics covered include drawing close to God, letting go and trusting God, unanswered prayer, the story of Lazarus, spiritual growth, dying to self, Christian faith, last days, James 4, John 11, Romans 13, Jeremiah 29:11, resurrection, spiritual transformation, and the purpose of God for your life. Whether you are in a season of waiting, holding onto something God is asking you to release, or trying to understand why He has not stepped in the way you expected, this message is for you. God is not ignoring you. He is answering in a way that leads to something far greater than what you were trying to save. If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for weekly messages designed to help you grow deeper in your faith and closer to God.