Profile your own "Four D’s" 532-2 - 1 - 3

Lazarus was:

· Dead

· Defeated and bound in his grave clothes.

· Dangerous after Jesus called his back to life

· Dines with Jesus

Lazarus had been dead for four days and was wrapped in his grave clothes. He had a napkin covering his face as well. The time of even the professional mourners was passed so no one could possibly deny that Lazarus was indeed dead and decomposing. Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave and told the people to remove his grave clothes. Without the justification afforded us by the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus we would be spiritually dead and defeated and restricted by our own grave clothes. Our grave clothes can take many forms and to me would be anything that distracts from our devotion to God. Loyalty and love for family and friends who are not born again Christians can be draining as can old habits, a form of stifling grave clothes.

The gem shows are underway here in Quartzsite, AZ. I’m already loaded down with inventory, however, I found some very special beads and mineral specimens. Inventory, grave clothes or a good investment? Perhaps both.

After Lazarus was restored to life he was dangerous to the Jewish leadership who sought to kill him. Passover was at hand and one can only imagine the stories that were being passed around Jerusalem. Jesus certainly was not politically correct when it came to voicing his opinion of the Pharisees and was quick to point out their hypocrisy. Jesus walked the desert for three years in homespun and sandals preaching a simple message of salvation. By comparison the temple elites dressed in their Royal regalia and were suffocated by the grave cloths of perpetual rituals.

I’m justified by the blood of Jesus, a free gift not earned but accepted by faith in Jesus. I am working on my sanctification and hopefully becoming dangerous as the hour is late and I find it very difficult to soft-pedal my beliefs around Catholics and Mormon friends. It is easier to talk to a nonbeliever about Jesus than those who think they are Christian, but don’t accept His truth; “It is finished.” The level of apostasy in this country hasn't gotten to the point where to Christians are killed for their beliefs, however, the mention of the word Jesus seems to bring out the worst in many people. If we are true ambassadors for Jesus we will be dangerous to the world owned by the spirit of anti-Christ.

When the blessed hope comes and we are called to be with Jesus we will partake of the wedding dinner with our Lord, the final D