THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL

MATT. 9: 35 – 39

35 ¶ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

 

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples when he saw the multitudes in the cities and villages.  He had healed physical illnesses, but he realized they needed far more.  They were spiritually ill, distressed, outcast, lost, like sheep without a shepherd.  Jesus had compassion for them.

            Matthew chapter 10 names the twelve apostles and then quotes Jesus as he advises them of their mission in the fields, the place of harvest.  It would be dangerous even deadly for some, but they were not to worry because God was with them.

            The twelve apostles were not trained preachers, not well versed in the scripture, not gifted by the worlds standards.  They were fisherman, laborers, a tax collector.  Much like we are today.

            God used others in his plan.  When they heard Jesus they loved him and wanted to tell others about him.

            Today the fields are still white unto harvest.

I.                    Exodus 3 Moses was a shepherd for his father-in-laws’ sheep.

A.                 Exodus 2 Moses had been an Egyptian prince.  He had killed an Egyptian and fled for his life.

B.                 Exodus 3: 2 An angel appeared to him with the task of going back to Egypt to rescue the Israelite nation.

2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

C.                 Exodus 4 Moses makes all the excuses he can not to go.  God had an answer for all his excuses.

D.                 In the end Moses led the Israelite nation to the promised land.

II.                 Judges 6: 27  Gideon was the least man from the weakest tribe of Israel, but God chose him to lead the people in a great battle.

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

 

A.        Judges 7: 7    With only 300 men God sent Gideon against  thousands of the Midianites.

7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

            B.        Judges 8: 22  Gideon was victorious with God’s help.

22 ¶ Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

III.       Acts 9: 36 Dorcus sewed clothing for the poor,

36 ¶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

A.        Acts 16 Lydia kept missionaries in her house. 

            B.        2 Tim. 1: 5  Eunice and Lois taught Timothy the word.

            C.        John 1: 40 – 42 Andrew brought Peter, his brother, to Jesus.

            D.        Acts 10 Peter was the first to bring the gospel to the gentiles.

E.         These people all acted on their own desire to do good.  They recognized a need and did something to help.  They were ordinary, everyday people.

            F.         Philippians 4: 13  Paul says:

                        13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

God has used and uses ordinary, everyday and sometimes seemingly unlikely people to do his work.    

            How else could God show us, doubting people, his great power?  2 Cor. 12: 9  Paul was told:  

             9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

            So young, old, older, those with little time to spare, crippled: remember no task is to small or to great for the almighty God.  If God stood by Moses, Gideon, Dorcas, Peter and numberless others he will stand by us.  We can go into the fields of this world with the strength which God supplies.

1 Peter 4: 11  We can work for the Lord.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ needs labors and he calls you.  Will you come and go into the field of harvest?