11 And
it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many
of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now
when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried
out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the
city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion
on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And
he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And
he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his
mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they
glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God
hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout
all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. 18 And
the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. (Luke
7:11-18)
Who are the dead?
& Who are the living?
11 And it came to
pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his
disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now
when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried
out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the
city was with her.
The dead: Those who reject Christ as Lord and
Savior. Those who have no forgiveness for their sins…those for whom there has
been no redemption for sins. That includes all the world which dwells in utter
darkness.
ALL
were dead in trespasses and sins before being made alive in Christ by the Holy
Spirit: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein
in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience (Eph 2:1-2)
The
dead hear not. Who stopped their ears? Not God. Not even Satan. They themselves
have chosen to be dumb to the reality of God.
This
son of the widow is dead, but death cannot exist in the presence of the
Fountain of Life.
Jesus
knows the importance of a son or daughter to a widow. The boy is all his mother
has.
The
widow made no audible request of Christ, but Christ knew her abject sorrow and
took compassion on her as He always does with those who face calamity.
13 And
when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
Jesus
never desires our sorrow, but our joy in life. He neither wants us to ‘fear’
or to ‘weep’. Fear not, I am with thee
always, even unto the end of the world. Or “Hagar, why
weepest thou?”
The
desire of Christ is always for our extreme joy in Him. And Christ knows there
is no real joy, or life, apart from that which He offers.
He
sends no one to Hell. The lost, due to their rejection of Him, send themselves
to Hell.
14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare
him stood still. When God is at work, we had
best stand still and see the marvelous works that His hands perform. Stillness
is a vanishing quality in a world bent on technology and pragmaticism. As
God said to Job in Job 37:14 “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and
consider the wondrous works of God”
or
Psalms 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted
among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
So
those who bore the body remained motionless while God worked.
And he said, Young man, I say
unto thee, Arise.
Though
the ears of the Rabbi’s maiden were closed in the lock of death, the young girl
heard the voice of Christ. Though Lazarus lay long dead in a stone cold tomb,
the voice of Christ, his friend, penetrated the bars of death and were heard in
newness of life. So with this young man.
And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to
his mother.
Was
dead! No longer dead because he had heard and responded to the voice of Christ.
He sat up and began to speak. Once you have heard the voice of Christ whisper
in your ear a personal message, you cannot fail to speak out. You do not keep
it a secret.
Have
you heard that voice? Has your dead ears responded in life?
When
were you dead, and have you been called to life? Have you listened? Did you
respond by unashamedly speaking out?
We
were ALL dead prior to responding in faith to the grace of Christ. All lost.
All dead.
How
many are righteous?
Roms
23: 10 As
it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There
is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They
are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is
none that doeth good, no, not one. Romans
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ALL?
Does that include you and me?
Yes,
ALL!
What
is the condemnation to those who sin such as you and I have done?
Rom
6: 20 For
when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What
fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of
those things is death. 22 But
now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit
unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
What remedy is there for all of us who are born under the
condemnation of sin?
Rom10: 8 But
what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that
is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation. 11 For
the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Christ
is the great Creator and Giver of Life. Death will not exist in His presence.
So we must insure our salvation that we may be present with him.
o How?
o Know
that the wages of sin is death
o Admit
that we are dreadful sinners and cannot save ourselves through any good works
o Repent
of our sins and turn away from the desires of the flesh.
o Receive
Christ as you Lord and Savior – not simply Savior, but Lord of your life as
well.
o
How many of us present today have taken
a ‘dry’ shower, or a ‘dry’ swim, or walked in a ‘dry’ rain?
Is it possible to get into the water, or to come into
contact with a fountain of water, and remain dry?
There is a River of Life which makes all alive who bathe therein and drink from
its fountain:
John 4: 13 Jesus
answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of
this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him
shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well
of water springing up into everlasting life
When we are IN Christ, all our sins are covered by His blood. When we are IN
the River of Life, we are wet with that water of life all over. We are baptized
in newness of life.
Your eternal destiny depends upon which choice you make at the crossroads of
life – will you be fearful and unbelieving? Or will you partake of the Tree of
Life and Fountain of Living Waters?
Rev 21: 5 And
he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said
unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And
he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I
will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He
that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall
be my son. 8 But
the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
Simple decision – John 3:15
That whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life.
Have you, too, believed unto salvation? 2 Cor 6:2 (For he
saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I
succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation.)
