PREPARING YOUR WORLD TO MEET JESUS-II—Luke 10:1-16
Need:
It takes much more than one ‘lone wolf’ to bring down the prey.
A lot of basic Christian tenets in this section!
Jesus ministry expansion began with a mission briefing.
Preparing your world to meet Jesus requires mission briefing.
What must your mission briefing cover to prepare your world to meet Jesus?
22 principles to prepare your world for Jesus.
‘Envisage’—‘To have a mental picture of especially in advance of realization.’
When preparing your world to meet Jesus, Picture...
1. The Appointment to the Harvest(:1a)
2. The Pairing for the Harvest(:1a)
3. The Kept Itinerary for the Harvest(:1b)
4. The Harvest(:2a)
5—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE LABOR IN THE HARVEST(:2b)
—Explanation:(:2b)
:2b—“..., but the laborers are few;...”
Mat. 9:35-36—“Workers”
‘Labor’—‘Expenditure of physical or mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory.’
For what are laborers responsible?—Sacrifice of self
Rom. 12:1-2—“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living & holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good & acceptable & perfect.”
Js. 2:14-22—“What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing & in need of daily food, & one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed & be filled,” & yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith, & I have works; show me your faith without the works, & I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, & shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, & as a result of the works, faith was perfected;”
—Argumentation:
1Thess. 5:12-13—“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, & have charge over you in the Lord & give you instruction, & that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.”
Jn. 4:36-38—““Already he who reaps is receiving wages, & is gathering fruit for life eternal; that he who sows & he who reaps may rejoice together. “For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows, & another reaps.’ “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, & you have entered into their labor.”
1Cor. 3:7-8—“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants & he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
1Cor. 16:15-16—“Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, & that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints), that you also be in subjection to such men & to everyone who helps in the work & labors.”
—Illustration:
My daddy loved crab meat/I can either take it or leave it/Not worth the effort & mess of preparation/Return is not worth the effort/Some feel that way about God’s harvest/LABOR in the HARVEST
Thanksgiving with family/Host always loaded down with work/
Prayer—Preparation/Communication
Worship—Preparation
Sanctuary remodeling—
Sunday School—
Discipleship Training—
Wed. Evenings—
Fellowship—
Evangelism Training—
Self-sacrifice—
—Application:
?You pictured the LABOR in the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
6—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE LABOR FORCE OF THE HARVEST(:2c)
—Explanation:(:2c)
:2b—“..., but the laborers are few;...beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers”
“Few”—??????—Why?
Mat. 7:13-14—“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, & the way is broad that leads to destruction, & many are those who enter by it. “For the gate is small, & the way is narrow that leads to life, & few are those who find it.”
“Send out laborers”—
We are not by ourselves—Others will follow & are involved in other places—Commission Magazine
?Why, out of 25,000 people in Grady County, Only so many claim evangelical church membership?
Disappointed in size of the labor force? Yes, very disappointing to give your energies to the Lord only to have His graces be refused by others.
Some, unless many are involved they are not involved...Thus Personal conviction is minimal/
—Argumentation:
A large part of your Christian experience & energies should be funneled toward sharing your faith both individually & corporately.
—Illustration:
Starfish on the beach/Individual throwing them back into water/Made a difference to that one!/LABOR FORCE few
Waiting list
Adopt-a-Highway street cleanup/
—Application:
?You pictured the LABOR FORCE in the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
7—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE HEAD OF THE HARVEST(:2d) Generator/Initiator
—Explanation:(:2d)
:2d—“...therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
HAVE EVERYONE CLOSE THEIR EYES...
“Lord”—??????—Title of honor toward one who is...
Supreme in authority—King
One to whom a person or thing belongs
One who has the power of decision
Possessor—Property owner.
Disposer of thing(s) possessed
Sovereign—ruler—head
Law maker/enforcer
“Lord of the harvest”—God has a harvest to reap/bring in.
*He is both the organizer of & provider for the harvest.
?YOUR RESPONSE to this LORD?
Is He worth dying/working for?
—Argumentation:
Jn. 12:23-25—“And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth & dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. “He who loves his life loses it; & he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.”
1Cor. 15:36—“You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;”
Die to self
—Illustration:
Clay Lacey/Owns Lacey Lumber Co./Master over all operations of Lacey Lumber/His Daddy had the vision & implemented it/It is the Lacey family’s harvest/HEAD of the Harvest
Mr. Harrell/Logging Co./
Gus Paffenofer/Copepod research/I was accountable to provide needed information for his research/He ultimately accountable to the DOE from whom he got the grant/HEAD of the Harvest
—Application:
?You pictured the HEAD of the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
8—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE FORCE BEHIND THE HARVEST(:2e)
—Explanation:(2e)
:2d—“...therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
PRAYER
“Beseech”—??????—Ask, Beg, Desire. To have God ‘bind’ Himself to your task.
“To send out laborers”—Called of God; Convinced of God.
The Holy Spirit must convict & call harvesters.
1Cor. 3:6-7—“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”
—Argumentation:
2Tim. 1:7—“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power & love & discipline.”
1Sam. 2:7-9—“The LORD makes poor & rich; He brings low, He also exalts. “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, And He set the world on them. “He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.”
Zech. 4:6—“Then he answered & said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
Php. 4:12-13—“I know how to get along with humble means, & I also know how to live in prosperity; in any & every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled & going hungry, both of having abundance & suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Eph. 6:10,18—“Finally, be strong in the Lord, & in the strength of His might.”....“With all prayer & petition pray at all times in the Spirit, & with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance & petition for all the saints,”
2Cor. 12:9—“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
—Illustration:
Fill out job application for Metrolina Greenhouses/Personnel Director determined hiring/The FORCE behind the Harvest
Before we go blaming others lets look at how God wants to use me in Prayer in seeking His will.
Application:
?You pictured the FORCE behind the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
9—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE RISK IN THE HARVEST(:3)
—Explanation:(:3)
:3—“Go your ways; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”
Matthew 10:16ff.—“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, & innocent as doves.”
“As lambs”—Like sheep in some ways.
Ps. 100:3-4—“Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, & not we ourselves; We are His people & the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name.”
Domesticated—Non-threatening
“In the midst of wolves”—
Mat. 10:16-18—“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, & innocent as doves. “But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, & scourge you in their synagogues; & you shall even be brought before governors & kings for My sake, as a testimony to them & to the Gentiles.”
Php. 2:14-16—“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will & to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless & innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked & perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”
“Wolves”—Beasts of prey; Deadly to humans; Kill in packs.
—Argumentation:
Ezek. 2:3-6—“Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they & their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. “And I am sending you to them who are stubborn & obstinate children; & you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ “As for them, whether they listen or not--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them. “And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles & thorns are with you & you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.”
—Illustration:
Farmer planting year by year/RISK planting corn, cotton, tomatoes, oranges, pecans/All involve RISK
?Willing to RISK sharing Jesus with someone in need?
—Application:
?You pictured the RISK of the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
—CONCLUSIOIN—
Action:
When preparing your world to meet Jesus, Picture...
THE LABOR IN THE HARVEST(:2b)
THE LABOR FORCE OF THE HARVEST(:2c)
THE HEAD OF THE HARVEST(:2d)
THE FORCE BEHIND THE HARVEST(:2e)
THE RISK IN THE HARVEST(:3)
YOUR APPOINTMENT TO THE HARVEST(:1a)
YOUR PAIRING FOR THE HARVEST(:1a)
YOUR KEPT ITINERARY FOR THE HARVEST(:1b)
THE HARVEST(:2a)
Presented 03/30/03pm to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 39897
