John 11:9 got my attention this morning. Listen and hear what the Spirit has to say this morning. The disciples asked Jesus a question in verse 8, saying to Christ. “His disciples said unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and go thou thither again?” Even the disciples did not understand the plan of God at that particular time in Christ’s walk in the world. So many don’t even today for a lack of knowledge. Listen to Christ’s reply in verse 9-10. “Are there not 12 hours in a day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of the world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.” Please listen: Get into the Word of God and learn of Him who calls you. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Today so many get caught up with the emotions of the world, finding it difficult to walk by faith, for it is by the Word of God that a disciple of Jesus Christ is equipped to live this life in a world that grows darker continually. Jesus had heard that Lazarus was dead, and he was going to wake him out of his sleep. The disciples didn’t realize he was dead, until Jesus told them. It is like that today; so many walk in darkness and don’t realize it, Why? They don’t practice the presence of God in their lives. “In 1st Corinthians 15;35-37 Paul instructs the Corinthian believers in resurrection life. “But some will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do the come? Thou fool, that which thou sows is not quickened except it die. And that which thou sows, thou sows not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chances of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.”
When people walk in darkness, they have difficulty discerning the world around them. But Christ was in communion with His Father, and He walked in the light. He was going forward in the plan of God and was returning to Judea to resurrect Lazarus. Christ was equipped and knew His Father’s will. Do we? If we continue in the Word as a disciple, we put on the whole armor of God. In other words, by the Word of God we are equipped to walk in a dark world.
Listen this morning to what Paul instructed the disciples to do by the Spirit of God. In Ephesians 6:10 he says, “Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God: that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Why? “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” What is the solution for us as believers. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
In closing this morning, before one goes out in the darkness of this world, and believe me, it gets darker by the day; we put on Christ. Listen to these words and live the life God has called you too. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, (not your own righteousness, but the righteousness that comes by the intake of the Word of God), “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith;, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Every believer needs to be equipped by God, and the believer needs to know who he or she is in Christ, and how can one unless they are in His Word!
