========================================================================
  FOR GOD'S GLORY
  by J. Stuart Holden
========================================================================

Summary: The Lord's love and power are greater than human understanding,
and He uses suffering to display His might and declare His Godhead.

Topics: "God's Sovereignty", "Divine Glory"
Scripture References: Isaiah 55:8, John 11:21, Romans 8:28, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Ephesians 3:20

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

J. Stuart Holden preaches about Martha's misconception when she said,
'Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died' (John 11:21),
highlighting how she did not realize that Lazarus' death was part of
God's plan to display His glory and Christ's power. Martha had to learn
that God's love surpasses human understanding, always exceeding
expectations and working in ways beyond our comprehension, preparing us
for greater blessings even when we face denial or loss.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died"

(John 11:21).

Of course she was wrong. The plain truth of the matter is that Lazarus
had died just because, in a truer sense than Martha could understand,
the Lord was there! She did not know that her brother's sickness was
"not unto death," that is, it was not part of Death's campaign and
triumph, but was directly ordered "for the glory of God." It was
actually planned by the Love that permitted it to take its course, and
was meant to set the stage for the mightiest display of Christ's power,
the most convincing declaration of His Godhead. But this Martha could
not know. She had to learn--and she did learn--that His love outstrips
all fleetness of the human mind, that it is always ahead of the
conceptions and prayers of His followers, that when the lesser is denied
it is as a preparation for the gift of the greater, that the measure of
His power is "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think"--be
our thoughts never so extravagant.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/j-stuart-holden/for-gods-glory/
========================================================================