Graves, Grave Clothes, and Eternal Life”

John 11

November 4, 2007

Matt Bowen

Middle School Pastor

 

 

“Lazarus, come out…Unbind him and let him go.”  (John 11:43-44)

 

 

 

God brings us fully to life now, not just at the “end of the age.”

 

 

“The hour is coming and is now here when the dead…” (John 5:25)

 

 

 

 

 

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3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are graves to be left and grave clothes to be undressed.

 

 

“…a time is coming when all who are in their graves…”  (John 5:28)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The life of heaven is present for us to be fully alive and unbound in Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions for reflection this week:

 

Ask the person who came with you how the eternal kind of life has already been demonstrated in your life.  Ask them and yourself, “What are the most obvious hindrances or ‘grave clothes’ to growth in your relationship with the Lord.  What would be lost or gained if you were to be honest about it and if you were to undress it?  What is the most vivid area in which God’s Spirit is asking you to be ‘fully’ alive?  (i.e. marriage, finances, relationships, goals, legalistic spirituality, etc.)”