"LAZARUS COME FORTH!"

5/31/00

Hi Loved Ones,

Sixteen years ago the Lord gave me a promise about Lazarus. He said, "I will raise him up." Now is the time! I want to tell you about Lazarus and his long journey, for you may have loved ones who fit this category. The following are the scriptures the Lord gave me at the time of the promise. They dove tail together to tell his story.

1) The story of Lazarus is likened unto the 200 men who stayed behind at the brook of Besor where David was told to take back what was stolen from them. When others were moving forward in the Lord and flourishing, "Lazarus" was too tired to go on.

"And the LORD told him, "Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!" So David and his six hundred men set out, and they soon came to Besor Brook. But two hundred of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with his four hundred remaining troops." (1 Sam 30:8-10 NLT)

2) As the years grew, "Lazarus" grew dryer and without refreshment.

Besor was a dry water bed, and with the cloudbursts, it became a torrent. This is symbolic of where "Lazarus" has camped since the 80’s, totally dependent upon the mercy of God’s rain.

3) In the process of waiting for God’s refreshing touch, "Lazarus" grew sick and hopeless. But the Lord gave "Lazarus" a promise.

"Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hos 6:1-3 KJV)

4) "Lazarus" grew so sick that his loved ones made desperate pleas to the Lord on his behalf. But even though the Lord heard the pleas, He delayed answering.

"So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, "Lord, the one you love is very sick." But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God. I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this." Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and did not go to them." (John 11:3-6 NLT)

5) In the process of waiting, "Lazarus" became so weary that he and his calling were finally put to spiritual sleep.

"Then he said, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up." (John 11:11 NLT)

6) This sleep caused great disappointment for those that loved "Lazarus." But the Lord continued to reassure with His promise.

"When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." (John 11:20-23 NLT)

7) When the day came, God sent His Word and the door of hope was opened. The tomb door opened by removing the stone of hopelessness. Hope was once again stirred among disappointed and waiting hearts.

"And again Jesus was deeply troubled. Then they came to the grave. It was a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you will see God's glory if you believe?" So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so they will believe you sent me." (John 11:38-44 NLT)

"But I will court her again and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her tenderly there. There I will give back her vineyards to her and transform her Valley of Troubles into a Door of Hope. She will respond to me there, singing with joy as in days long ago in her youth after I had freed her from captivity in Egypt. "In that coming day," says the Lord, "she will call me 'My Husband' instead of 'My Master.'" (Hos 2:14-16 TLB)

8) "Lazarus" rises to the Word of the Lord. He hears the Word, he obeys the Word, even though he is still bound in personal captivity.

"Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus came out, bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" (John 11:43,44 NLT)

9) The company of "Lazarus" is bound in grave clothes.

"Lazarus" face is bound. He can not see what is going on, even though he knows something radical is taking place, for suddenly God is speaking into his life and he is once again responding. No one can see him either, for even though he is rising up to the Lord’s Word, his calling is hidden to himself, and to the world.

He is wrapped with grave clothes symbolic of death and preservation. "Lazarus" followed the Lord’s will even to the point of death to self. In the process of death, in order to preserve "Lazarus" from his own self destruction during the wait, "Lazarus" was allowed captivity, enough to severely restrict his movements.

10) And the Lord said, "Loose him and let him go!"

BINDING AND LOOSING:

The following scriptures use the same Greek words:

And he that was dead came forth, bound [1210] hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose [3089] him, and let him go. (John 11:44 KJV)

And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound [1210], lo, these eighteen years, be loosed [3089] from this bond on the sabbath day? (Luke 13:16 KJV)

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind [1210] on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose [3089] on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt 16:19 KJV)

TO BIND:

NT:1210

deo (deh'-o); a primary verb; to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively):

KJV - bind, be in bonds, knit, tie, wind. See also NT:1163, NT:1189.

[note the word wind here… as though to wind around like graveclothes.]

TO LOOSE:

NT:3089

luo (loo'-o); a primary verb; to "loosen" (literally or figuratively):

KJV - break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-) loose, melt, put off. Compare NT:4486.

11) The reward given to Lazarus for waiting.

Just like the men who waited by the brook of Besor, the "Lazarus people" shall be given everything that was lost back to them and they shall have a part in the increased spoils of war.

"David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back. His troops rounded up all the flocks and herds and drove them on ahead. "These all belong to David as his reward!" they said. When they reached Besor Brook and met the two hundred men who had been too tired to go with them, David greeted them joyfully. But some troublemakers among David's men said, "They didn't go with us, so they can't have any of the plunder. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone." But David said, "No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the enemy. Do you think anyone will listen to you when you talk like this? We share and share alike--those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment." From then on David made this a law for all of Israel, and it is still followed." (1 Sam 30:18-25 NLT)

12) What is the purpose of "Lazarus’" journey?

Why the miserable journey of sickness, is it only to be raised up healthy once again with the addition of spoils? NO. We find the purpose of "Lazarus’" sickness hidden in both Jesus’ promise and the meaning of Lazarus’ name.

First, Jesus promises that the testimony of Lazarus’ life, death and raising will be for the glory, honor, and testimony of Jesus Christ. "Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." (John 11:3,4 KJV)

Second, his purpose is found in his name. We can see that its meaning is a direct opposite of his sickness. Lazarus’ name comes from a Hebrew word that is built upon several layers of words, all based upon an original word. Following is a Word Study for you to see for yourself. However, for simplification, here is a condensed version:

The Hebrew words and origins of Lazarus literally means:

God (is) helper; strength; mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity): strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree: to twist, i.e. (by implication) be strong; the body (as being rolled together); also powerful: to surround, i.e. protect or aid.

The origins of the word Lazarus is translated as the following words: - God (god), goodly, great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree, mighty, strength, help, succour.

So now we see the true calling and nature of "Lazarus." He was called to be a mighty one in the Lord’s temple, and his very name was a challenge to the enemy. Because his calling and purpose are so important in last day events, his flesh had to be stripped so that he trusted not in his own strength, but the Lord.

13) Word Study

HEBREW LAZARUS

OT:499

'El`azar (el-aw-zawr'); from OT:410 and OT:5826; God (is) helper; Elazar, the name of seven Israelites:

KJV - Eleazar.

OT:410

'el (ale); shortened from OT:352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):

KJV - God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in "-el."

OT:352

'ayil (ah'-yil); from the same as OT:193; properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree:

KJV - mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.

OT:193

'uwl (ool); from an unused root meaning to twist, i.e. (by implication) be strong; the body (as being rolled together); also powerful:

KJV - mighty, strength.

OT:5826

`azar (aw-zar'); a primitive root; to surround, i.e. protect or aid:

KJV - help, succour.

If you are among the statistics or have loved ones that fit this description, have hope! For Lazarus is stirring, as the Lord is calling, "Lazarus, come forth!"

Lovingly,

Sandy

LAZARUS - part 2

6/1/00

Dear Loved ones,

There were so many responses to the Lazarus post and so many gripped my heart that I want to share with you some additional revelation that the Lord has shared with me concerning the last stages of Lazarus’ deliverance. I hope that it will be helpful for your own healing, or the healing of your loved one. "Lazarus" has come SO VERY FAR to get to this final stage!

1) HOPE

Loss of hope comes with a numbness that so shrouds the heart that it puts the pain of expectation to sleep. This is the flesh’s natural response to "bury" the pain and find a way to adapt and survive through the pain of loss.

When hope has been cut off and you have learned to live with the word "No," it takes courage to hope once again. It takes more courage than anyone could even imagine unless they have been there. And when you begin to hope, hurt bubbles to the surface at the risk of once again facing more disappointment and more pain just because you dared to hope.

There are many things that were buried in the process of putting expectation to sleep and one of them was the fear of not having enough faith. As I thought about the many times the Lord healed someone and said, "Your faith has made you whole," I pondered why faith could have such a powerful anecdote to one’s misery. I thought it unfair that someone so bound in hopeless conditions, who had already tried everything, would somehow have to muster up enough faith to be healed. The Holy Spirit came to me in that moment and revealed something as I was reading the following passage:

"As they approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. Then Jesus asked the man, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he pleaded, "I want to see!" And Jesus said, "All right, you can see! Your faith has healed you." Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too." (Luke 18:35-43 NLT)

This poor blind man had no idea what all the commotion was and when he found out, he probably had no idea if Jesus would see or hear him. The Holy Spirit suddenly imparted the understanding that because he could not physically reach Jesus, naturally he did not have the faith that Jesus WOULD heal him, rather he believed that Jesus COULD heal him if he could get His attention. We think that our faith must believe that He will, when all He is asking is for us to believe that He can. I saw that all it takes is a tiny mustard seed of faith. Healing of hope is like that, it doesn’t take some huge mountain of hope, all it takes is a glimmer or a response. Lazarus was dead, all he did was respond when the Lord called him.

2) OBEDIENCE

"Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus came out, bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" (John 11:43,44 NLT) In this passage, Lazarus rises to the Word of the Lord. He hears the Word, he obeys the Word, even though he is still bound in personal captivity.

It is important that when you hear the Lord begin to call your heart to renewed passion, that you respond, regardless of your personal circumstances. Lazarus was wrapped so tightly he could barely move, all he could smell was death, it was dark and it was cold. Yet Lazarus stood to his feet and began to move forward at the sound of the Lord’s voice. Notice this happened before he was loosed. This stage stirs you awake, it rattles the weary bones and brings you to your feet, regardless of how miserable you are. Be willing to stand and see the salvation of God on your behalf! (2 Chron 20: 15-17)

3) UNWINDING

As I was thinking about Lazarus’ natural strength as a leader and his calling, and everything that the enemy had been allowed to do to "kill" it, I suddenly understood something about the process of unwinding. If the Lord had a purpose in the unwinding process, what would happen if He chose to do the process backwards? In other words, what would happen if Lazarus is free from captivity first and suddenly all the restraints upon his life are gone in one instant? Then the Lord says, "Stand still, I want to take you through a process and unwind some things that have hindered you on the inside." Knowing Lazarus’ gifts and natural strength prior to the captivity, he probably would shoot out of that tomb like a rocket, grab the nearest ambitious idea at hand, and not even be around to hear the Lord say, "Please stand still for a moment and let Me work upon you!" I smile as I write this, for I know it is true, by the very nature of Lazarus’ name (explained in the previous post).

The Lord in His infinite wisdom knows exactly how to work on Lazarus! He speaks hope, stirs him awake, makes him stand, and calls him to move forward, still bound and restrained — for His purpose.

There is some "stuff" to work through and that stuff is stinky grave clothes. Have hope in your heart that you ARE going to be healed and set free, and each moment from now until that day, He will be taking you through a process unwinding the layers. You may have to work through fear of believing, fear of failing, shame, shame of loss, shame of falling, shame of stinking, unforgiveness towards God, unforgiveness towards others, anger, bitterness, resentment, rebellion, stubbornness, control, judgment, criticism and thousands of other fruits that will come to the surface, a layer at a time. Remember when you are working through these things, that it is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and that you are becoming more and more free. As you comply with releasing these layers, you are getting lighter and your healing is coming to the surface.

There are yards and yards of material in grave clothes. It took years to be enshrouded in the dying process. It will not take years to unwind, but it will take time to be unraveled because it is a process. This is a process of waiting upon the Lord.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isa 40:31 KJV) The word wait in the Hebrew is an interesting concept. It means to bind together by twisting… like a 3 stranded cord, or like a vine on fence… or perhaps even something like the twisting of Lazarus’ grave clothes.

OT:6960

qavah (kaw-vaw'); a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:

KJV - gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).

Over and over again you will circle these layers and be given many chances to "get it right". It comes through repentance and yielding the stinky stuff and sloughing it off a layer at a time with each circumstance. If you are willing, these layers will begin to spin you around so fast that all you will smell for a while is your own stench. Rejoice, the closer you get to that old dead flesh, the smellier it will be and the Lord will be able to get to that stuff and clean it out! This is a supernatural work. It will start slowly, then move forward faster and faster as you begin to catch onto what the Lord is doing and comply with these layers.

4) HOW TO RELEASE THE LAYERS

a) Keep the hope of your calling and healing before you and do not get caught up in the miles of unwinding, smelly grave clothes. Resist wallowing in a layer, rather confess it, pray over it, yield it, repent it, and move on. (Col 1:27)

b) Forgiveness is a foundation principle that is totally necessary in healing. Read the following as a promise: "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." (Matt 18:34-35 KJV) This is a scriptural law that the devils are allowed access to those who do not forgive! If you are not able to forgive, then ask the Lord to teach you how to forgive. Forgiveness is releasing another from all debt, or penalty from debt; it is asking for mercy for another, because the penalty for their debt is very terrible. Learn to forgive as though your very life depended upon it. — Because it does.

c) In each layer that comes to the surface, find a way through it with faith, hope and love. These things remain when all else burns. The greatest, most powerful, and yet simplest of these is to love. Love covers a multitude of sins, and love for Him, for others, and even for yourself as you see yourself through His love, will help slough off the dead weights. (I Cor 13:13)

d) Wash yourself with the water of His Word. Pray that He will once again breath new life into it. Pray that your appetite will return, after a long famine of not hearing Him. Pray that He will give you new revelation as you search Him. (Eph 5:26)

e) Resist the world’s answers to inner healing. This work of reviving the dead and sloughing off the grave clothes is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a supernatural work occurring as He brings you through circumstances whereby suddenly something "smelly" in your heart comes to the surface, and you wonder where that came from! It is in that moment of struggle that there is grace for the healing. You do not need to spend money and extensive time in counseling and books, you need Him. Take it to Him at that moment, and let Him do the surgery.

You may need some deliverance prayers, but even those will not work without your first going through the same process of yielding and letting go of the dead stuff. I believe that some of this smelly stuff is demonic infiltration, and these tormentors will leave on their own, simply by your going through a) and b) above.

f) Be willing to wait a while longer through this process, for you have waited years already and in comparison, this wait is much shorter. At least now you know you have a purpose and God is taking you to freedom. Moving forward is a whole lot better than lying dead in a dark cold tomb.

Thank you for all that shared your responses to the Lazarus post and for the many confirmations. I pray the Lord touches those of you who have died the long slow death of disappointment and that He releases you from the tomb to freedom.

Lovingly,

Sandy