September 3rd, 2000, Sunday Evening

"Laboring Together with our Lord"
So much to harvest, so few harvesters

OPENING: Matthew 9:36-38, KJV

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• Matthew 9:36-38: We see a grave announcement/assessment but a glorious answer from Jesus. "Fainted" in this context of scripture means "being cut-off or dying" in the spiritual sense
  
  
• Ephesians 2:4-5: Even unsaved sinners destined for hell are loved by God
  
  
• Jesus Christ looks are the world differently than man in that Christ sees multitudes of souls worth dying for on a cruel cross while man criticizes man for their economic status (i.e., men who are richer and more well off than poorer men)
  
  
• There are two types of sinners: saved sinners and lost sinners.
  
  
• Some Christians can see "rotten sinners" in action doing deeds contrary to the Lord's directive and while we would desire to despise, stop, expose, or punish them, God still loves sinners. And as such, we should love them, pray for them, and then be patient with them to allow God to work their hearts
  
  
• Matthew 9:36: "as sheep having no shepherd" means:
  
  
  • No guidance or sense of direction
  • Sheep going off half-cocked
  • Not enough sense to know about the enemy wolf
  • The devil having a vicious attack on different souls
    
    
    • Just as the lion as a strategy of several lions chasing a gazelle, one at a time until the gazelle is out of breath, and then beginning to eat the gazelle before it is dead, Satan is causing souls to "faint" at an alarming rate
  
  
• Matthew 9:37: Jesus' assessment that there is much work but few laborers
  
  
  • You don't need to be a theologian to be a successful "soulwinner;" Simply have a little experience and roll up your sleeves. Plead and witness over and over again. One of the basic weapons a soulwinner has is the testimony of his/her own saving
    
    
  • Even if you fail in your attempts to soulwin (sneered at, talked out, outcast, door slammed in your face, told to "go away"), realize God still loves and has compassion for that person.
  
  
• Matthew 9:38: Jesus' answer to this problem.
  
  
  • The answer is to bring forth laborers and have a good ol' fashioned Holy Ghost prayer meeting at the altar. But don't pray if you don't want yourself included in this work of labor. In other words, don't say, "Please God, send forth laborers so I don't have to work."
    
    
  • Asking for laborers should be our begging prayer to the Lord. Perhaps by not praying, we're losing potential laborers! We need to be willing to labor so we may win souls to Christ.
  
  
• God's promise to the laborer:
  
  
  • Matthew 11:28-30: God is extending an invitation of rest to those who have labored. Isn't it true you rest and sleep better after an honest, hard day's work than if you were changing channels all day?
    
    
  • Matthew 11:30: Put your burdens and workload on Jesus' yoke so your personal burdens will be lighter.
  
  
• 1 Corinthians 15:58: Know that in public or private without anyone's knowledge, that ALL laboring, witnessing, pleading, and inviting is work done not in vain. Your labor to the Lord will be rewarded.
  
  
• Hebrews 6:10: While in the world of big business, leadership can change frequently due to mergers, etc.; Employers will sometimes forget the work of their laborers. But this verse of scriptures assures you that God will not forget your work for Him. Whether you worked in the church nursery, sung in choir, led the singing, etc., God will remember. Your labor to the Lord will be rewarded.
  
  
• 1 Corinthians 3:9: Is it a privilege to labor for and with the Lord. Just imagine plowing a field and right beside you is the Lord--sweating and tiring as you are; "Husbandry," in this context of scripture, means "to take care of the garden" in the spiritual sense.
  
  
  • While the pastor labors in the word, the congregation should labor in the work.
  
  CLOSER

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• We're laborers together with God and we should be laboring for the lost. The cost is simply to have a little experience!