June 27, 2024 -- Matthew 9:35-38 -- Pray for Witnesses, Missionaries and Labourers in the Harvest Field
/ And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for 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 laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9:35-38 ESV
It may seem that the world is pressing against Christians and that society around you is hard soil compacted against the truth of God’s word. Jesus is teaching His disciples something different. Even as the authorities were seeking to put Him to death, the crowds followed Him, and many individuals were confronted with the Good News. What is this Good News? The wrath of God, which sinners' wickedness brought on themselves, has been averted by the blood of Jesus Christ. All who believe in Jesus know their sins are punished on the Person of Jesus and they have received His righteousness. What a glorious truth!
When you pray for laborers to go out and bear witness to Jesus
you realize how abundant the harvest actually is and you become even more fervent in prayer
by the Spirit’s power in you the testimony you have proves itself relevant to your coworkers and family, your neighbours and coffeeshop friends, so that you feel more inclined to speak up for Jesus
your are revitalized in your prayers for missionaries, knowing they face dangers and have great opportunities
you realize through your Bible reading, coupled with prayer ,the fact that those who encountered Jesus didn’t wait until they’d attended a training course on evangelism, but immediately after meeting Him, testified to whatever they knew of Jesus
your heart is stirred to compassion for the people of this world who are sheep being led to slaughter by all kinds of false teachings, by paganism and the Devil’s lies. The clarity of Jesus’ words are so needed that you can’t help but speak.
Such urgent prayers reignite in you a passion for missionaries so that you are recommitted to financially supporting their labours
you also realize your local congregation is not a castle with a moat and a drawbridge so that you can shut out the world, instead the Church is the place where harassed and helpless sheep are drawn closer to Jesus, steeped in the love of the Father and by the Spirit’s power is a place of great transformation in Jesus’ Name; you in fact, become a laborer in the harvest field, bringing people to Jesus.
Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus, His mission, His authority, His compassion which all so wondrously reflect Your electing love towards lost sinners. Forgive us for our lacklustre prayers and our feeble mutterings about missions. Renew in us a holy commitment to obey Jesus and so pray earnestly that You will send out labourers into Your harvest fields. Spirit of God cause us to rejoice in what we know of Jesus; bring to mind recent Bible readings so that we can point others to passages which declare the majesty of Jesus and His saving work that so beautifully applies to us the abundant mercy of our Father in heaven. Triune God, be glorified in us. Amen.
https://youtu.be/N1DMIrqQVXI?si=9heoITk2XYFzXJdg “O Lord, You’re Beautiful”
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