Matthew 9: 36-38
A typical housewife was going through her normal day, except she had a daughter who was sick with a fever. She knew the fever was getting worse as the day went on. She called a babysitter to watch her daughter so she could go get some medicine. Speeding to the store and rushing in to get medicine and getting to the car she realized in her haste she had locked her keys in the car. Her babysitter called her and stated the fever is getting worse, which made the mother feel more desperate, the sitter mentioned a hanger would do the trick. Looking down on the ground she found an old rusty hanger, probably from someone else who has been in the same predicament of locking their keys in their car. Picking up the hanger she prayed to God to send someone along, for she had no idea of how to unlock her car with a hanger. Within five minutes an old motorcycle pulled up with an old greasy man with an old head bandana on. He asked her, “Ma’am, do you need some help?” She stated, “Yes, I locked my keys in the car and I have a sick daughter at home and explained to him what had happened. The man took the hanger in his hand and within minutes the door was opened. With tears in her eyes she hugged the man and said you’re such a nice man. He stated ma’am, no I am not, I just got out of jail today for car theft. She again hugged the man and said thank you God for sending a professional.
God knows what we need and the time we need it. We expect God to answer when we call on him, but what about turning that around to when he calls on us?
Matthew 9: 36-38
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they [a]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 laborers into his harvest.’
• Being More than a status quo Christian: You realize the Work which needs done
• Being More than a status quo Christian: You realize the Workers are waning.
Don Jaques - Matt. 9:35-10:1 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Being More than a status quo Christian:
status quo - The existing condition or state of affairs.
Legal Encyclopedia - Status Quo
[Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending con- troversy.
1. Being More than a status quo Christian: You realize the Work which needs done
Mt 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous
Source Unknown - A shoe manufacturer who decided to open the Congo market sent two salesmen to the undeveloped territory. One salesman cabled back: "Prospect here nil. No one wears shoes." The other salesman reported enthusiastically, "Market potential terrific! Everyone is barefooted." Look at the potential not the problems.
Stan Lewis
a. In order to get to where you are supposed to be in life and have the desires of your heart, you have to get past the Status Quo. Breaking the status quo will involve embracing what I call the F.A.C.T.S. of life. We need to Focus on God’s word and the direction that he gives in that word. Then we need to allow this Focus to affect our Attitudes, so that we change our attitudes from the negative to the positive. A positive Attitude will allow us to effectively embrace the necessary Change in our lives, so that we can effectively use our gifts. Change will affect our Thinking as our minds are open to new opportunities around us. These opportunities will enflame our passion to use our gifts. And finally, the way we Think will renew how we See things around us.
b. John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
c. Barnes - The common time from sowing the seed to the harvest, in Judea, was about four months.
i. We must push to win souls to God
ii. Witnessing has an immediate effect upon souls.
iii. We should expect to see results
iv. We need to realize, each soul is important.
v. If we don’t pursue souls, we are neglecting our duty as Christians.
d. Lu 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
2. Being More than a status quo Christian: You realize the Workers are waning
Mt 9:37b but the laborers are few; Mt 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
PAUL FRITZ Status Quo People
1. Mainly concerned about preserving what they have vs concerned about reproducing what they have for God is the Lord of the harvest"
2. Concerned about survival vs. concerned about growth in quality and quantity
3. Concerned about keeping things repaired vs. concerned about developing what one has.
4. Concerned about upkeep vs. Concerned about improving on the way one operates
5. Concerned about building a wall for one’s protection and safety vs. Concerned about building bridges to help reach others for Jesus Christ
6. Concerned about one’s enemies and opponents vs. Concerned about the lost and those who are yet to enjoy the benefits of maturity in Christ
7. Concerned about the problems vs. Concerned about the opportunities
8. Concerned about the procedures vs. Concerned about God’s purposes and plans
9. Concerned about not offending anyone’s feelings vs. Concerned about doing God’s priorities
10. Concerned about keeping everyone feeling that they are unified and equally loved vs. Concerned about helping people developed their God given potential individually and corporately
11. Concerned about man’s interests vs. Concerned about God’s will and way and word
Bible Christian Outreach. - WHAT IS A BIBLE CHRISTIAN?
In a world where most people seem to be labeled "Christian" no matter who or what they believe in or practice, there still is a dividing line of who a true Christian is. That dividing line is the Bible (The Word Of God). According to the Bible, a Christian is a person who was convicted by the Holy Spirit through the preaching or reading of God’s Word and they were convinced they were a lost sinner headed for Hell and was short of the glory of God. They then respond by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross through faith and repentance which makes them born-again by the Spirit of God.
Stan Lewis Lewis
The Status Quo is the condition or state of affairs that currently exists within and/or around us. In life, if there is no growth - there will be no life.
After obtaining a positive and uplifting focus, we need to allow this Focus to affect our Attitudes, so that we change our attitudes from the negative to the positive. Taking up a positive focus will not only change your attitude about everything, but your interaction with others is more positive and productive.
A positive Attitude will allow us to effectively embrace the necessary Change in our lives, so that we can effectively use our gifts.
For most people change is uncomfortable and sometimes it can be down right painful. It is natural to want to avoid what is uncomfortable and what is painful. But growth and development comes with things and situations that are uncomfortable and painful. As a baby, we crawled. When we grew and developed into a toddler, it was not without a few knocks and bruises. Nothing has changed, because you have the potential to grow and develop right up to the day the Lord calls you home.
You have heard the phrase - you are what you eat - well the same is true when it comes to focus. Whatever it is that you make the center point of your thoughts is what you are.
And finally, the way we Think will renew how we See things around us. Those new and positive things that you would never have imagined are what you should be thinking upon now.
Tunnel vision is usually a product of glaucoma, high pressure in the eye.
This high pressure pushes the optic nerve until it cups.
Often time glaucoma and tunnel vision happen so slowly that the person
afflicted does not notice the damage until there is major vision loss.
Then treatment and medicine can restore very little.
With tunnel vision one can only see what is right in front of them.
There is no peripheral vision, one can see only part not the whole.
How is your spiritual vision today? Are you satisfied with the staus quo or are you desiring ……I mean really desiring to see your family and friends make it to heaven.
Mt 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Barnes – Paints a picture of this verse, A waving field of golden grain invites many reapers, and demands haste. By the harvest here, he meant that the multitude of people that flocked to his ministry was great. The people expected the Messiah. They were prepared to receive the gospel. But the laborers were few. Few were engaged in instructing the multitude. He directed them, therefore, to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth reapers.
Charles Mims – “A religion that does nothing, that gives nothing, that costs nothing, that suffers nothing, IS WORTH NOTHING!!!!!!”
