Intro.
In the story of Lazarus there are three pictures:
1.
The first time you see Lazrus, He is Dead.
-This is a picture of the Natural man
2.
The second time you see him, He is Defeated; alive, but not a loose.
-This is a picture of a saved, carnal man
3.
The third time you see him he is Delivered.
-This is a picture of a Spintual man
The
iob of the church is to get dead men ailve and bound men a loose
I.
LAZARUS, THE DEAD MAN -speaks of a natu rat-minded, lost man.
A.
His Problem, -He only has one problem, He is dead.
But
that affects his entire being.
1.
He cannot eat, but he does not have a stomach problem.
2.
He cannot see, but he does not have a sight problem.
3.
He cannot hear, but he does not have a hearing problem.
B.
The Proof.... -Is Lazarus really dead? Let us examine him.
1.
He has no activity
2.
He has no appetite
3.
He has no ambition
4.
He has no awareness
a.
He has no response
b.
He has no requirements, He needs:
-No
food, no water, no heat, nothing (Cp. artificial flowers)
C.
The Perceptions... -Some problems you run into when you try to get
dead men alive.
1.
The Disciples said in Vs 8, "Its too dangerous."
John 11:8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
2.
The Disciples said in Vs 12, "If he is sleeping he shall do
well."
John 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
3.
Mary and Martha each said in Vs 21, 32, "It's too late."
John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
4.
The Jews blamed the Lord in Vs 37.
John 11:37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
5.
Martha said in V 39, "He's too far gone."
John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
D.
The Procedure -We have got to get him alive someway
1.
Society's plans:
Society
says There is some good Inside everybody.
a.
What he needs is encouragement
b.
What he needs is education
c.
What he needs is an example
d.
What he needs is employment
e.
What he needs is a change of environment. But after we try all
of these, Lazarus is still dead.
2.
The Scriptural Plan
a.
The Saint's Part
1. Get God on the scene, Vs
2-3
(Somebody Sent-Somebody Went)
John 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
John 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
2. Roll away the stone, Vs 39,-remove
the hindering cause.
John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
3.
Believe God, Vs 40
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
b.
The Saviour's Part, Only He can call dead men to life.
1. The Call was personal,
Vs 43 "Lazarus"
John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice,
Lazarus, come forth.
2. The Call was plain, Vs
43 "Come forth"
John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice,
Lazarus, come forth.
3. The Call was powerful,
Vs 44, "He that was dead came...
John 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with
graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith
unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
II.
THE DEFEATED MAN, -speaks of a carnal-minded, saved man
A.
His Condition, He is alive, but not a loose.
B.
The Command, It is as though God said,
1.
You loose him...
2.
I'll let him go...
Ill.
THE DELIVERED MAN, -speaks of a spiritual-minded, saved man
Notice
some proofs of his deliverance:
A.
The Place he is at, John 12:1-2-He got out of the cemetery
John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
John 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
B.
The People he is with, -With those who are alive.
John 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
C.
The Publicity he caused,
John 12:9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
D.
The Problem he faced,
John 12:10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
E.
The Pull he had,
John 12:11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
F.
The Proclamation they made,
John 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
by
Bro. Stinnett Ballew
