MAN'S COOPERATION

A. "TAKE AWAY THE STONE" - John 11:39
  1. "The scene"
    1. The tomb of Lazarus.
    2. The sorrowing sisters -- Mary and Martha.
    3. Some spectators.
    4. A weeping Saviour.
  2. Our Lord's direction and action:
    1. "Take away the stone"
    2. "Lazarus come forth"
    3. "Loose him, and let him go" - John 11:33-44; Luke 12:17
B. "TAKE AWAY THE STONE"
  1. Our opening text shows that cooperation by man is a must to be blessed:
    1. Man must do his part -
      1. To express his faith in God's saving power.
      2. Our deeds are, in fact, the measure of our faith - Jas. 2:24-26; Matt. 13:58; Mark 6:6
    2. When our deeds are a denial of our faith, we show that we have suffered shipwreck in our faith - 1 Tim. 1:19
  2. Cooperation with God will increase our faith:
    1. Naaman learned from experience that to be blessed by God necessitates obedience on our part - 2 Ki. 5:10-15
    2. Abraham offered Isaac, believing that the Lord can raise him from the dead; and he actually received him in that manner - Heb. 11:17; Gen. 22:1-12
  3. God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves:
    1. Moses held out his rod over the Red Sea, and the Lord did the rest - Ex. 14:21, 22
    2. Israel was told to walk around Jericho seven days, and the Lord did the rest - Josh. 6:1-12
    3. The ten lepers were told to report to the priest, and the Lord did the rest - Luke 17:12-14
    4. God directed the poor widow to empty the oil from her vessel into other vessels, and the Lord did the rest - 2 Ki. 4:2-6
C. THERE IS A SPIRITUAL APPLICATION OF OUR OPENING TEXT
  1. "Roll away the stone":
    1. Stones of stumbling - Isa. 62:10
    2. Misrepresentation of the truth.
    3. A spirit of worldliness - Rom. 12:1-4
    4. Carelessness in our conduct in business and in our association with the world - 1 Pet. 4:1-4
    5. Disregard for the high standards of the message - Rev. 3:14-17
  2. Neglect of our personal relationship:
    1. Communion with God in secret prayer, or in family worship - Jas. 4:1-3; Matt. 6:6
    2. Neglect of witnessing for the Lord; doing active missionary work.
    3. Neglecting the study of the Word of God - Acts 17:11
    4. Indifference to the program and the activities of the church - Heb. 10:24-26
  3. The high point in our message may be summed up as follows:
    1. The Lord wants cooperation by us -- "God helps those who help themselves." That is true to a certain extent. God will do His part when we do what we can do for ourselves.
    2. There are stones to be removed that keep people from coming into the message; even our loved ones may be kept back by some stumbling block in our life.
    3. There may be things between us and our fellow men which must be made right before God can undertake for us.
    4. There are times when our prayers remain unanswered because there are things in our life that prevent our prayer.
    5. It is of the utmost importance that we cooperate with the Lord, be it in our personal life or in our relationship with others.
    6. May the lesson for this hour be useful to help us to work together with the Lord, who is ever willing and ready to do the impossible for all who cooperate with Him.


Design © John Bryant 2011