5 January 2010
Psalm 2, 110:1-7; Jonah 2:1-9; Eph. 6:10-20; John 11:17-44

The thing that makes this prayer extraordinary is that it was prayed from the belly of the fish. Jonah is proclaiming the Lord’s goodness and deliverance, that his prayer was heard and answered, while he was still in distress. It was his proclamation that salvation belongs to the Lord that got him out of distress. Jonah is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. He is always aware of God’s goodness and His power and knows God’s nature. He depends on God being a certain way in his own life and understands God as gracious, merciful and forgiving. He hates it when it applies to others who are disobedient. He is capable of great faith as we see in this prayer. I wish that when I am in the midst of distress I could pray as Jonah.

The story of Lazarus is about a resurrection from the dead but it is a story of faith and what it means to believe in Jesus. Martha is able to make profound affirmations about Jesus, if He had been there her brother wouldn’t have died, and that He is Messiah. When push comes to shove though, she knows her brother is dead and that is all there is to that story, as the KJV says, “He stinketh.” Jesus may have been able to prevent the death and He might have something to do with the resurrection at the last day, but there is nothing he can do now. Jesus is calling people forward in their belief. Many from Jerusalem had come out to the house, the disciples feared being in or near Jerusalem, the feast was coming, but now He has revealed something about Himself that might change everything. This crowd can take the story back and maybe things will be different at Passover.

Faith isn’t for sissies, it requires armor because there are real enemies of faith, spiritual enemies and flesh and blood enemies. Paul says not to worry about the fleshly ones as they aren’t the really important enemies, we need spiritual armor and spiritual weapons for spiritual battle. Faith has content and it has to be ready for the assaults that will come against it. Faith, however, fully prepared, can handle all the assaults of the enemy.

I will tell of the decree:The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.