Evening journal., 1916-01-12

/ XII 80, Take Ye Away the Stone"
From the incident of the sickness,
death and resurrection Of Lazarus let
us derive some practical lessons es-
pecially applicable to the series Of
special meetings
In many ways time of sickness
and death is very similar to real
revival of religion. When the Grape
is on the door and the hearse is at
the gate and the coffin in the house.
all other matters are laid aside. So
cial engagements are cancelled, there
is no time for more money making or
pleasure. The entire thought and at
tention of the household is centered
upon the great sorrow that has come
into their lives. So il is in the time
OF a great religious awakening. When
we grasp the truth that souls are
dead in their trespasses and sins this
great reality overshadows all else.
And again. i'm a season of sickness
and death, many for the first time call
upon Jesus. Had it not been for their
brothers illness the sisters. Mary
and Martha. would undoubtedly never
have sent for Christ In health and
prosperity there is apt to be a spirit
Of self-sufticiency. Many will never
itdii1t lhNii ntth VI SdlNdAloU III TIE
hand Of adversity or sorrow is laid
heavily upon them. DO not wait for
financial losses to come, or the death
Of husband or wife. parent or child,
10 awaken you out Of your spiritual
lethargy. Now, in your health and
prosperity, turn your thoughts toward
God
We are told that when Jesus heard
fhaf hfc frf,v 1 ufa Ia
abode two days still in the place
where he was. 1t took more real love
in the heart of Jesus to remain away
than TO have come at once. He want
ed this sorrow to bring a great spir-
itual blessing to this Bethany home.
but AT first they were not ready to re-
ceive il. How long will Christ have
to remain away from your church or
your community your home or your
heart before you are prepared 10 re-
ceive the blessing He is so ready to
give?
And when Jesus drew near to
Bethany. Martha went TO meet Him.
but Mary still stayed in the house.
Mary was discouraged. She did not
believe that Christ was going to come.
There are some in this community
who have said unto me, do you think
anybody could do anything here to
bring about a real spiritual revival?
The people are too absorbed in their
money-making and their pleasures
and have no time for religion and sal
vation." There is no one that the
Lord is more willing 10 bless than
the people right here and now. There
is no city in the entire land that God
loves more than He does this city.
There is no place that He is more
desirOus to transform into a great
center of righteousness and moral
and spiritual influence. God cannot
use a discouraged Christian. If you
are living on Grumbling alley. move
up on Sunshine boulevard so the Lord
may bless you Many folks mistake
liver complaint or dyspepsia for
spirituality. They are long-faced
enough TO drink butter-milk out of
churn.
Against Mary's doubt the faith of
Martha shines forth with brighter
radiance Full of hone and expect
ancy she goes forth to meet Christ
and from his lips she hears that
great message. 81 am the resurrec-
tion and the life Now Martha, hav-
ing met Jesus, goes back to Mary
and her words are fraught with new
meaning. Let us note the steps in
any great revival You cannot get
all the professed Christians of any
church or community at the outset Of
any great work of grace interested
i'm the salvation OF souls. It must be
at the first the faithful little band of
men or women who go into their in
ner chambers and there meet Christ.
Hrfs F.-f. Ta anns 4
their invitation have weight that
they did not have before. As soon as
the entire household went, we are
told the multitude went also. II you
can get all of the religious people of
this community to be Christians in
deed. and vitality interested in the
salvation of others you cannot build
n building large enough to hold the
crowds who will desire to attend the
meetings and seek salvation. A re-
Vival never begins in the world, but
= always in the church Judgment
must begin at the house Of Cod
They did not bury their dead in the
+ earth as we do now. They made an
opening in the solid rock where they
!. laid the body and at the mouth of the
tomb they placed a huge stone. Such
was the grave of Lazarus Before the
:. living Christ could come into contact
with the dead Lazarus and bring him
forth to life, that stone must be rolled
y away. He might have summoned the
angel Gabriel or the arch-angel
Michael. and a host OF heavenly be-
ings to have performed this task. But
he wanted these disciples TO have a
share in the work of revival This
was work that they could do. There
: fore Jesus said 10 them, Take ye
away the stone
Now let us make a three-fOld ap-
plication: First. removing the hind
RANGES between the churches; sec
= ond. removing the obstructions in the
individual church. and third. the diff
fculties i'm the individual lives. There
is often between the churches of A
community a spirit of competition
y and rivalry If one gets a new build
ing or furnishings. some other church
says. I'VE must not let them get ahead
: of us. And they get up all sorts Of
schemes and contrivanceS 10 get
ahead of someone else. This is the
. spirit of the pastor who prayed, "Oh,