Speaker 1 (00:00:07) - Okay, so it's great to be back. Covid stopped me coming here for a couple of years, but I think I'm due back three times a year this year, so that's nice. I enjoy it. It's like my second home, right? John Chapter 11, straight into the word. I'd like to do a little bragging on Jesus this morning. I think Jesus is worth bragging on. Not much else in this world is worth bragging on, but he sure is. He is my hero. Anybody else? He's your hero. He's my hero. There's. There's no. There's no competition for him. Okay, John. 11 and put it straight up, boys. Just. Did you do the title already? I don't miss the title. The title is Resurrection Life. So Take the Stone Away. So one the first bit Resurrection. Life is what God does for you. Take the stone away is what you have to do. Because of resurrection life. Okay, John. 11 is the story of one of the friends of Jesus called Lazarus.

Speaker 1 (00:01:11) - You probably know the story. And he had two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was the moth, the the Mary, rather, who poured the oil on Jesus feet and washed his feet and anointed his feet and dried them with their hair, which was kind of outrageous. But and a lot of people objected to her. But Jesus said this was a good thing that she did because she understands this is for my death and burial. So she was anointing him before his burial. So they sent word to Jesus that his friend Lazarus is sick. And I don't know whether at that point told him he was dying. But he was and he died. And in John chapter 11, if you read it, it begins off sent word to Jesus, Lord, the one you love is ill or sick. When he when he heard this, Jesus said, this sickness will not this will the sickness will not end in death. No, it's for God's glory that his son may be glorified in him. So he's this is before Jesus has died.

Speaker 1 (00:02:19) - He's still he's still alive, as was given birth by his mother, Mary, and his father. God, 100%, man. 100%. God. Like you. There is a possibility in life for you to be God with skin on. That is not an outrageous, blasphemous statement. We are the body of Christ. So we are 100% human, but we can develop into 100% God if we are godlike anyway. This is before he died. He hasn't been to the cross. And yet he's talking about resurrection life. And he says he said, I will go. He's not. He's not. He's not going to die. But he did die. Long story. So the fact is, Jesus was bragging, not bragging. See, bragging is only when it isn't true. If it's true. It's not bragging. It's a fact. He's actually stating, look, death is not the problem here. And death is not the problem here in Milton Keynes in July 2023. Death is not the problem in this room.

Speaker 1 (00:03:44) - Oh, well, you're all going to die. True. But so what? It's not a problem. How many of you know your body wears out? Come on. Have you noticed those little things? What do they call those under your arms when it begins to sag, You know, and skin wrinkles a little bit. Right. Shall I get it fixed? What do you think? No. I'm proud of these wrinkles. I paid a big price for them, I tell you. So did you. But skin sags. Things go. Things fail. I mean, just its life. We might make it to a hundred. We might make it a 70. I read the other day that kids that are being born today will likely live to 150, which is kind of horrific thought. But I mean, I guess with genetics and stem cell and everything else, it's a possibility. But eventually people are going to die whatever happens. But death is not the problem. Now, Jesus is saying this before he's beaten death.

Speaker 1 (00:04:50) - Death has not been conquered at this point. Death is still ruling and death has his own keys. He has that. He has the he has the keys to the door of life and he can unlock it and close it. Death is still in charge. And Jesus is saying this is not going to continue. And I like the fact that Jesus was confident before he had an objective reason to be confident. That's what we call faith. When you just know. I mean, you don't know in the logical sense, because if you know something, you don't need to believe it. Paul says that in Romans. If you know something, you don't need faith, but you need faith for what you can't actually logically work out. Like a man dying on a cross 2000 years ago. Giving his life for me can save me today. It's not terribly scientifically logical. I am not trying to pretend it is. But it's true. And if you will believe it, it will work. It just does. And if you don't believe it, you won't.

Speaker 1 (00:06:08) - You'll never know. You'll never know unless you try. Anyway, he says, no, we're going to delay it. He's so he's bragging on he's not bragging. He's being truthful about what he wants to do. And he's and he's talking about resurrection life number two. He shows up in this incident. The power, powerlessness of dead religion or religion without faith. And John 11. If you put it up, guys, for me, please. Chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. The Sandra Hadrian was the council the count of. Town hall of Pharisees. What are we accomplishing? They asked. Is this man performing many signs? If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him. Oh, dear. Maybe if we go on like this, a lot more people in Milton Keynes will keep on believing him. Would that be a good idea? Would that be a good idea that this church would become a training ground for leaders to take care of all the thousands of people that are finding Jesus? Do you think that's possible? Or am I smoking dope? No, I've never smoked dope and I never will.

Speaker 1 (00:07:33) - If we don't believe that Jesus is the Lord of the harvest, we're kind of playing little games. Oh, yes. But Dad. Religion, cons, people. He tells everybody the rules that go on to say, listen, everybody is going to believe in him. How terrible. What? And then the Romans or the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation. In other words, they're going to lose their status. They're going to lose their ability to brag and be superior. And tell everybody else how to live. But don't live themselves. This is religion by rules. And I'm here to tell you it doesn't work. I've tried it. How many of you have tried religion by rules? How many of you hit the altar? About 50 times. Because you had another sin and you came in, repented again because you broke the rule? We had rules in our church back in the day. It was a good church. It believed many most of the things that we teach today.

Speaker 1 (00:08:39) - But we had so many rules. My wife had to wear a hat every time she went to church. A hat. How do you fancy that, ladies? How many of you have got hearts, by the way? Anybody got a heart? All the ladies got heart. No trousers. Oh, my gosh. No, I mean, for guys that was trousers. Yes, but the. Oh, not for women. Men's apparel. Men's apparel? No trousers. Oh, my gosh. If you had a glass of wine with a good piece of fillet steak. Gates of hell, mate. You going down, boy? Religion by rules doesn't work. What works? Religion by relationship. He loves me. And I know I love him. He's my hero. I said he's my hero. And I'm telling you, I'm going to brag on him and I'm going to tell my kids how great he is. Tell your kids how great God is. Tell your kids the stories of how he came to you.

Speaker 1 (00:09:46) - Tell them how good he is. Leave them in no doubt that he's the best and only. Brag on him, man. He's the savior of the world. He's the creator of all things. He broke every chain in your life and set you free. He's awesome. Blessed be the name of the Lord, I say. If you want to know why, I get excited at my age and I've been excited for about 60 years now. I'm older than that. You can already tell that. I know. I don't care. I'm still alive. Ha ha. Tell them. Tell them that he's worth following. Don't just exaggerate your problems. Tell him how he got you out of it. Tell him how he was with you in the fire. He walked through the waters with you. He consoled your spirit. When your mother died. He came to you when you were lonely. Tell him he's awesome. Anyway, dead religion by rules doesn't work, but religion by faith and relationship absolutely works. He is not only my hero, he's my friend.

Speaker 1 (00:11:00) - And he walks with me and he talks with me every day. We used to sing an old song like that. He walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there no other has ever known. It's brilliant stuff. Alone at night, sometimes alone in the world somewhere. And there he is with me and I talk to him. If I'm driving alone in the car, I'll look over in the passenger seat. I'm driving on the left. Normally, I look over in the passenger seat and I say, You fancy a coffee? He always says yes. He's my friend. He's my best friend. I think he's awesome. The third point. The joy of power, of knowing you were dead. Let me give you a few scriptures and I move along quick. I'm doing okay. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. But I come. Thank God he came. I have come that you may have life and life to the full or more abundant.

Speaker 1 (00:12:14) - The devil hates you. He's the enemy. The thief. The devil hates you. He kids hates marriage. Hate you. Don't pretend that he's kind of okay. He stinks. And there is nothing good in him. He's all evil. He's smarmy. He's cool, he's clever. He be witches, he seduces. But he hates you. And he came to rob, steal and destroy from you and your family. And to hell with him. Come on. Get some violence in your spirit against hell. I'm serious. The God of peace. Yes, He's the God of peace. But he's going to crush Satan. It's about time we as a church knew how to crush Satan. We bought the house that we're living in now in Spain on the word of the Lord. A long story. I can't tell you. My wife got the word. One of us gets the word and the other one always believes it because we know we trust each other. We bought and sold all our houses on the word of the Lord.

Speaker 1 (00:13:14) - I promise you, I can tell you many stories of how it happened. God, I woke up one morning in Arizona in the house we lived in, and God said to me on Christmas morning, Sell this house now. Nobody buys houses at Christmas. I sold it on January the 2nd for the full price to the first person that came and made a fantastic profit. In fact, the profit I made on that house bought my house in Spain, which was full of the devil. I'm serious. One room was freezing cold when in the midst of summer, it was always freezing cold. My wife was pushed down the stairs by a hand in the middle of a back, trying to kill her. She. I just had spirits coming into the room while we were asleep and were touched her nose and pressed her nose. I mean, you talk. This house is probably owned by a Nazi. In those days in Spain, Franco was a friend of Hitler's. That's why Spain is on the same time zone as Germany, when it should be on the same time as Britain.

Speaker 1 (00:14:20) - And there was a Nazi incumbent just over the mountain at the back of our house where they trained SS officers. Now, I don't know whether this guy was one of those, but something happened in that house. And we had to fight and fight and fight to get him out. And I would say, this is my house. You fouled spirit. This is blood washed territory. This is the kingdom of heaven on earth in this house. And I'm in charge of it. And you have no right to be here. And if you've got to know that, you've got to know the finger of God. Come on, guys. Protect your wife. Protect your husband, protect your your children, rather. Look after them and don't have any of that nonsense in your house. He comes to rob, steal and destroy, and I'm not having it. Come on. Don't let him on your children. You've watched your kids being seduced. You may be watching them being seduced in the quietness of your private times with the Lord, especially if you're married.

Speaker 1 (00:15:30) - You two get together and agree together. We're not having that in this house and bind Satan. Because he wants to rob, steal and ultimately destroy you. But Jesus came to give you the best life it's possible to live. It's a no brainer and it's real. Third point. Sheesh. The joy and power of saying we were dead. But we're alive. We were dead. But thank God we're now alive. Let's look at the scriptures, guys, quickly, please. Number three. When you are dead in your sins. And in the uncircumcision of your flesh, that means you weren't covenanted with God. You just. He was somewhere else. God made you alive with Christ when you received him. And he forgave all our sins. The wages of sin is death. The reason we die is because of sin. There is no sin. There'd be no death. The wages of sin is death. And Jesus took care of sin by dying on a cross and forgiving us all our sins. And I'm telling you, for people that know all their sins have been forgiven, are being forgiven and will be forgiven, there's nothing like it on earth.

Speaker 1 (00:16:54) - Then you're free. You're free to be who you really are. And he came to. But you have to recognize that without him, you're dead. You may well be successful. There might be three Mercedes in the garage. You might have a brilliant job. Your wife's beautiful and your kids are gorgeous and they're all healthy. And one of them is at Cambridge. And you're going to be aristocratic or whatever else it might be. Brilliant. But you know in your heart that the next part is the same as the last party. And the next boozy nurse is the same as the last one. When you promised yourself you wouldn't drink so much at night. It's always. It's empty stuff. Another holiday will fix it. No, it won't. It's enjoyable. Go on holiday. Of course. But it's not what you were born for. You were born to know God. You were born to destroy the works of the devil you avoid. You were born to be glorifying God in your life. You were born to be really alive? Yes.

Speaker 1 (00:17:57) - And without him, we are dead. Next Scripture, please. For it was the trespass of one man. The one man there is Adam. The father of the human race. And because he sinned, that sin was given to us. And we've all been sinners. We were born sinners. Don't blame people for being sinners. You are one yourself. But you have to be a sinner to get saved. Right. Why would he save you if you are already not sinner? You have to be a sinner to get saved. But I can assure you that everybody in here does not need to run out of here and do a few more sins because you already qualify. Come on, somebody help me. I'm not the only man up here with my hand up. I was as guilty as you. We're all sinners because of Adam. And sin reigned. And death reigned because of sin. Through that one. But how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift? Gift? What do you do with a gift? You say thank you.

Speaker 1 (00:19:05) - Which means you stop saying please. There's a big distance between please and thank you. But it's very simple. You stop saying please and you start saying thank you. Please, God, help me. Please, God forgive me. Help me now. Jesus knows. Thank you, Jesus, that you're here with me. The gift of righteousness and you can reign in life. Okay, so we had a prophetic declaration of confidence by Christ. We had the joy and power of knowing you were dead. But you can be alive. Admit it. And we had the the powerlessness of dead religion because of those four facts. And I mean, we've been we've rushed our way through like Formula One because of that. We have to recognize that in this scripture. Then there are a number of stones. That we have to throw away. Because when it came time for Lazarus to come out of the grave, he's been dead for days. Jesus waited at least that length of time. And I've often thought, I wonder why he did that, because they said, listen, he's been dead for days.

Speaker 1 (00:20:17) - And it'll stink. There'll be decomposition. It'll be horrible. And I and I just have to think that maybe he waited that long so that they would know that he was really dead. And there was no question. Well, he was kind of, you know, in a coma. No, the boy was really dead. He waited for days, but when it came time for Jesus to give the word. And by the way, when he gave the word, he said, Lazarus, come forth. I think if you'd have said come forth, they'd have all come out. Right? I mean, duh. So he said, Lazarus, I'm talking to you. He's dead for days. And he came out. Have you ever thought about that? By the way, this is a video I have to see when I get to heaven. The Bible says he was bound hand and foot. So how did he get out? He couldn't move. Couldn't walk. How did he get out? He float out? I don't know.

Speaker 1 (00:21:27) - But he came out. Bound hand and foot. Read it. He came out. Because they took the stone away. Take the. So when that was going to happen just before that happened, Jesus said to them, take the stone away. And they could have said, well, you know, why don't you take the stone away? Because you're kind of God. You are God. No, he said, You take the stone away. See, when he when he's offered something to us, then we have to do something in return. It's a relationship. It's a two way street of connection. Two way street of communication. Two way street of love. So take the stone away. The first stone guy's number one is the stone of unreality. John 11 again. So Jesus said. Going to delay because he's asleep. So they they they love to hear that. They were waiting to hear something like that. Oh, okay. Then it's okay then, because he's only asleep. And they lived in an unreal world.

Speaker 1 (00:22:32) - They lived in unreality. My point about this is simply this. I'm going there to wake him up. And then they said, Well, if he's asleep, he'll get better because sleep's always good for you. Right. Logic? Yes. But later on, it says that he had to tell them, Listen, guys, the boy is dead. He had to bring them up to reality. He's dead. Now, guys, if things are tough at home, don't pretend. If your marriage needs help, don't fake it. If you're hurting inside, don't pretend. Hey, how you doing? Oh, I'm fine, thanks. Don't worry about it. I've got it. I'm fine. You've got people here and certainly the Lord himself, who loves to be told the truth. The Bible says about Abraham, who was promised a son. And God waited and waited and waited. And Abram's now already dried up. He can't even give a baby. His wife is old and past it. She can't have a baby.

Speaker 1 (00:23:35) - And so so Abraham had to face the fact that his body was as good as dead. He faced the fact and if things are bad, things are bad. Don't live in a pretend phony world. Guys. If it stinks, it stinks. He's fallen in love. Oh, that's brilliant. Oh, thank you for that. Oh, he'll. He'll do good if he's asleep. No, he's dead. So don't live in unreality. I hope nobody will and I hope nobody is. God doesn't want He. Listen, God is capable of dealing with the truth. I think it was the story of a Marina. What was it called? Tom Cruise was in it. Oh, and he said you can't handle the truth. God can handle the truth. But tell him the truth. The next stone they had to take away was the stone of fear. John Chapter one. John Chapter 11, rather. Rabbi, they said a short while ago the Jews, they're trying to stone you. You're going to go back.

Speaker 1 (00:24:47) - You're crazy. They'll kill us. Last time you were going to stone you for sure. They'll do it this time. And don't forget, we're with you. And Thomas did the most. Apparently Billy was telling me means twin Thomas. The twin said to the rest of the disciples, Let's go. We might as well die with him. Full of fear. Shocking thing. Fear paralyzes people. And so many people are afraid, especially the fear of death. I can't tell you. I can't tell you what happens the moment you breathe your last breath. All I know is this. Jesus said in Psalm 23. Although the Psalm is said about Jesus, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He leads me beside still waters until pastures leads me. Excuse me. But when it comes to the valley of the shadow of death, serious business. It's over. You're dead when it comes to the valley of the shadow of death. Thank God death is only a shadow. Why? Because shadows are caused by light.

Speaker 1 (00:26:09) - So light is with you in the darkness. Come on. And it says he drops back from leading me, drops a peso to back and grabs my hand. And he said, Because you are now with me. I walk you through the valley of the shadow of death to the other side. Now, can I prove that? That I've seen that and I've done that? No. But do I believe it? 100%. Not afraid to die. Don't want to die yet. I don't think I finished. I want to keep on shouting at people. No, I mean talking. I mean, listen, guys, when I shout, I'm not shouting at you. I'm really honestly shouting with you. Really seriously shouting with you. Come on, let's do it. But I don't. I don't. I don't. I'm not looking to die, but. To be with Christ is actually far better. So resurrection, life, Stone of fear. Put a Hebrews two up, please. This is fantastic.

Speaker 1 (00:27:21) - Since the children have flesh and blood human beings. He too shared in our humanness, our humanity, so that by his death he might break the power of him Who holds the power of death, that is. That devil. At that time, that was true. Because at the point then Jesus hadn't died. But when he died, he broke the power of the devil. And left him weapon less. I have to know the story and I know the message and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Fear has no place in your life. Except the respect and what we call the fear of the Lord, that respect and awe of His Majesty and his greatness. That's a completely different kind of fear. It's not terror. Stone. If you've got a stone of fear in your life, you have to. You have to say, I want to get rid of this. I've got to get rid of this because it's hindering my prospects of the future and the resurrection life.

Speaker 1 (00:28:31) - Got to take the stone away. If your family is full of fear. Get to the Lord and start praying about it and cast out the spirit of fear. Because you have not Scripture again, not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. You're not going to go nuts. Search down the stone of rejection. John 11 again, it's all in the same chapter. This mostly anyway, Martha said, Lord, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died. But you didn't come. You didn't love us enough to come. You waited four days. Why did you wait four days and he died. You could have come. And there are many people that think I'm too far gone. My kids are too far gone. I think I can say he loves everybody else, but I can't see how we can love me. You might be on the outside looking onto the inside. I don't know. I don't know what the reasons are for rejection in people's lives, but people do feel rejected.

Speaker 1 (00:29:27) - It's it's a genuine feeling, not knocking it. It's like, yeah, it's okay for them, but not me. I can't do that. You have to get rid of that stone. And she's also kind of rejection says, Yeah, I know he's going to rise but it'll be in the last day. And Jesus is saying, No, he's going to rise today. It's going to happen now. And a spirit of rejection can hardly ever receive. Being blessed now. God wants to bless you. You. It's you. Yeah. The brother. The sister. The neighbor. The friend. Yes, but you. You don't have to feel on the outside looking in. Last stone. We talked a little bit about this already. The stone of dead religion. Listen to what two Timothy 315 says. Am I getting towards a conclusion? Two Timothy three, five. Look at that verse he's talking about. You read the context, but he's talking about those kind of people, the Pharisees, the dead religion, the rules, religious people.

Speaker 1 (00:30:46) - Listen. They only want status. They're trying to be impressive and they always act superior. Judgmental, superior people are more than likely full of dead religion. That's why it's dangerous, because it looks like the real thing, but has no power. Has no opportunity for greatness. Put the verse up again. Please have nothing to do with such people. Surround. Surround yourself with people who have real faith. You can always tell what a person is like by looking at their friends. Dead religion. And Paul is brutal about it. I've nothing to do with him. Dead religious people who know all the rules and can tell you all the scriptures can tell you what every verse and every word means, but don't know God for who he is, don't know God for themselves, are full of pride, trying to be impressive and always looking superior and maintaining their status. And Paul says, don't have anything to do with such people. Stick with the guys whose feet are on the ground, who live in the real world.

Speaker 1 (00:32:07) - Come on, somebody. So the conclusion is two conclusions. You're never going to die. John 11 When Jesus was speaking to Martha, he says this I'm not sure I've got that verse up there. But anyway, it says this. John 11 2720 sorry, 2526. Jesus said to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life. I am means he was. He is. And he still will be. I am his present continuous and he's saying I am the resurrection before he's been resurrected. He believes his own gospel. I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in me. Even though he dies, we acknowledge it. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. John. 1126 2526 rather. It's right there. You will never die. If you believe in Jesus, even though you die, you will continue to exist and be for all eternity. And to be with the Lord is far better anyway. You will never die. Have confidence. Life can kill you. Life will kill you.

Speaker 1 (00:33:33) - The only absolute certainty about about life. As some politicians, the old politicians used to say are taxes and death. No, the first one's true, right? We know the second one is true. But you're never going to die if you know Jesus. The last conclusion is you will reign in life. Put the last verse up again. I think we've had it before. You will reign in life. Have you got it? Two Timothy. Three, five. I'm sorry. Romans 517. I believe it is. Yes. And we already read that. Read the last verse again. Last bit of it again. You receive the the gift of righteousness. You will reign in life. You don't have to be a victim another second. Have confidence in who your best friend is. Acknowledge him to all your friends, your workmates and brag about him. That is the hero who conquered death on your behalf in my behalf and set us free from all calamities and all fears. What a savior. What a savior.

Speaker 1 (00:34:44) - In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. You Let me pray for you before I just pray. If there's anybody here who has never truly acknowledged the fact that they would like Jesus in their life. It's like he said. Do you believe this? Do you believe me? And the answer is yes, I do. But if you've never kind of given that decision to Jesus. Perfect time to do it right now. It's very simple. To say. Yes. Thank you. Stop saying thank you. Stop saying please. Thief on the cross on the jaws of hell looks over to the man on the middle across and goes to help me. I'd like. I'd like to be with you bum and Jesus before he breathed his last says I've got you. You'll be with me. Don't worry. Simple as that. Simple as that. As easy as that. Just say yes. We have people here to talk with you. I'll hang around for a couple of minutes at least to say if you want to come and talk to me.

Speaker 1 (00:35:58) - If there's a if there's a fear or unreality or any of those things in your life, you got to take the stone away, babe. I'm sorry. I can't do it. You got to do it. Which is good because you get to play a part in this. You get to say, Yes, Father, in Jesus name, we thank you for Jesus. Everybody say amen, please. Oh, do we ever thank you for Jesus? Because we were lost and dead without you, with no hope in this world or the next. And here we are. Cleansed righteous chains, broken sins forgiven on our way to heaven. Our spirits are made clean. What? I think. Thank you, Jesus. We want the world to know how good you are. Simple as that. And how much you know how much you love us. So bless us as we go. Help us to be good ambassadors this week. Help us to brag on Jesus at least three times this week. And keep us all clean.

Speaker 1 (00:37:09) - And help us whatever stones are in our life to chuck them out. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. God bless you guys. Have a great week. God bless.