Text: Matthew 9:35-38
Main Point: Pray for more kingdom workers
There is often a difference between what a person aspires to be and what a person actually is. I aspire to eat healthy and exercise, but yesterday I slept in and ate a banana split. I have aspirational values and actual values. As a church, we have core values. The question is if these core values are actual or aspirational.
For years I would say that the core value of prayer was more aspirational than actual. We say we value prayer more than we actually pray. Thankfully this is shifting. Prayer is becoming more of an actual than an aspirational value. I think we are more faithful in prayer for several reasons.
First, we devote our 2nd and 4th Sunday prayer gatherings to praying Scripture. We are actually more fruitful in prayer because we are learning to pray according to God’s will. Second, as a church we are growing in humility. Proud people don’t ask for help. Proud people think they can do things by themselves. Humble people pray. The more we grow in humility, the more we will devote ourselves to prayer. Third, we are growing in our desire to know and obey God’s will for the church and not our own plans for the church. Collectively, I can see us moving away from our preferences for the church and toward God’s will for the church. Walking according to God’s will requires prayer.
So, it is with great joy, in 2019, that I hope to keep the ball rolling. As we devote this day to returning to the power of prayer, I am glad I can bring a message of encouragement instead of a message of correction.
Open your bible to Matthew 9 and let’s learn how to continue growing in our devotion to God through prayer. I’ll read Matthew 9:35-38.
Matthew 9 and 10 are transitional. Here we see Jesus’ ministry transition from being all Jesus while the disciples watch, to the disciples learning how to live like Jesus. The disciples learned how to do life by imitating Jesus. As disciples, let’s devote ourselves to
I. Understanding Jesus
The first thing we notice in verse 35 is
- Jesus was fully engaged in kingdom ministry (35)
Look at verse 35, “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.”
In verse 35 we see three aspects of kingdom ministry. Do you see them? Jesus was teaching the truth, preaching the gospel, and ministering to people’s needs.
Jesus is all in. He is taking every opportunity to teach, preach, and minister, likely in the area around Capernaum. He is going through all their cities and villages. There, he enters the synagogues where the first 39 books of the Bible would be read and explained each Sabbath. He is taking the opportunities in front of him to teach the truth. He explains who God is and how life is meant to be lived by faith. This is big picture, all of life teaching. Jesus went through the cities teaching in the synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
The gospel of the kingdom is basically the good news that the king has returned to restore his kingdom. Think Lord of the Rings and Return of the King. The true, right, and powerful king has come. No more selfish shepherds. No more self-seeking stewards. The king has come in strength!
The proof of the return of the king is the miraculous banishment of disease and affliction. Jesus is teaching what is true, proclaiming the truth of the king’s return, and proving his message by healing all sicknesses and disease.
This is our pattern: teach the truth every chance you get, proclaim the good news that the king has come, and work to alleviate suffering. That is what Jesus was doing. Now, how he was doing it.
- Jesus was compassionate (36)
Look with me at verse 36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Jesus saw the suffering of the people and it tore him up. It was gut-wrenching to see them struggling through life. But what was going on with the people? What does verse 36 say? They were harassed and helpless. They were distressed and dispirited. They were faint and scattered. They were weary and dejected. The suffering of the people was something Jesus could not ignore.
And what was the problem causing their suffering? They were like sheep without a shepherd. This is the problem explained in Ezekiel 34 when the prophet condemns the selfish priests who exploited the people and increased the people’s suffering so that the priests could live in ever-increasing ease. The problem of selfish priests is addressed with the promise of a coming shepherd, a shepherd like David, who will protect, feed, and serve the people.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of a great shepherd in Ezekiel 34. Jesus was a compassionate shepherd who knew the people and met their needs. Knowing people and meeting their needs is an overwhelming task. Ministry requires prayer so,
- Jesus commanded prayer for laborers (37-38)
There are many reasons to pray. We pray because God is glorious and we long to worship, celebrate, and praise him. We pray because God has done and is doing great things, so we pray and thank him. We pray because we have sinned and long to be forgiven and restored to the joy of our salvation. We also pray because we are missing something. We pray because there is a lack. There is a need. Let’s explore verses 37 and 38.
In these verses Jesus delivers the unexpected. Read verse 37, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” In light of that fact, what would you expect Jesus to say next? Imagine your boss comes in and says, “There is a lot of work to do and there are not a lot of workers.” What is your boss going to say next? Likely it will be, “Get to work!” That’s how I often approach a busy schedule or a big job; get to work! But Jesus doesn’t command his disciples to get to work. Instead, Jesus commands his disciples to pray. That’s unexpected and we need to leave no rock left unturned.
What has led Jesus to make the pronouncement about the harvest? He has been engaged in kingdom ministry and he has experienced first hand the needs of the people. Jesus has been working in the harvest. His conclusion is that there are a lot of people ready to be brought into the kingdom. There are a lot of people ready to respond to the gospel and be restored to God. The harvest is plentiful. There is no shortage of people to be saved.
But there is a problem in this massive harvest. The problem is the workers are few. There is a big harvest to bring in but a small crew to do the work. The answer is to pray. Pray earnestly is the translation of the word often translated as beg or entreat. In light of the great harvest and the small work force, keep asking God to send out more workers.
Look around. We need workers who will teach the truth and preach the gospel to our children. We need workers who will teach the truth and preach the gospel to college students. Look at your family and neighbors. They need the gospel. They are hurting and need help. We pray, “Lord of the harvest, send workers. Lord of the harvest, send me.”
Now, look at the one to whom we pray. Pray to the Lord of the harvest. God is the one who rules over the salvation of souls. It is his harvest. We plant and we water but it is God who gives the growth. Ask him to give the growth. Pray specifically for conversions. Tuesday we are going into the fields by helping the Baptism Student Ministry serve lunch to college students. Pray for conversions and pray for workers.
Jesus commands the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest pleading with him to send more workers. The needs are great. The numbers are great. We need more workers. God send workers. We don’t need watchers. We need workers. God, we want people to be healed and restored. You have chosen to do this work through people. Send more workers. This is the way Jesus did ministry. Our goal is to
II. Be transformed more and more into Jesus’ image
- Engage in kingdom ministry
Remember, chapter 10 is a transition point in the life of Christ. Between chapters 9 and 10 we see a transition from Jesus doing all the work to commissioning the 12 apostles to join in the work. After his resurrection, in Matthew 28, Jesus transitions from a small group (the 70) to every member a disciple and every disciple a worker. If you are a Christian, then you have been called to work in the harvest. God’s will for your life is to go make disciples. There are people in your house, on your street, and at your work that will be saved if you will patiently teach the truth, preach the gospel, and minister to their needs. The Lord of the harvest guarantees the salvation of the elect.
Teach the truth is a call to explain this world that God has made and redeemed through Christ. Write songs. Paint pictures. Fix cars. Teach math. Find cures. Clean things. Grow things. Write things. Code things. As you do good work you will have opportunities to teach the truth. Every day is full of opportunities for you to explain God and his ways.
Our culture is buzzing with news of New York passing the late term abortion bill and anti-conversion laws. Without judgment, without using harsh words, without pride, we Christians can engage this evil and teach what is true. God wants you to engage in kingdom ministry where you are with the gift you have been given. God wants us as pastors to equip you to do the work of the ministry in your home, on your street, and at your work.
Bring us your questions. I guarantee we under-shepherds love to think, teach, and talk. We have to work on not talking too much. Don’t keep your questions to yourself, learn, and teach the truth. This world is confused and hurting. Reasoning well, explaining the world as it is, helps us as we preach the gospel.
If we are going to reap a harvest you must preach the gospel. I want you to understand that engaging in kingdom work means you must explain the good news of reconciliation to God through faith in Christ Jesus. The righteous life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus is the way to life with the Father. Tell your children, tell your parents, tell your friends at school, tell your coworkers, come with us on Tuesday to the BSM lunch and tell college students.
Come and learn with us. Jesus was able to send out the twelve in chapter 10 because he spent chapters 3-9 teaching and modeling kingdom ministry. We want to show you how to teach the truth, share the gospel, and minister to people’s needs. Christian, you have a gift. How can you use it to help the people around you? The gift of faith and the gift of administration are both equally necessary for the harvest. There is work for you to do and there is a way to do that work.
- Be compassionate
I think if the parable of the good Samaritan were told today we would hear the priest and the Levite say as they pass the bleeding man, “Not my circus. Not my monkeys.” But imagine those words coming out of Jesus’ mouth when he sees the bullied and beaten crowds, “Not my circus. Not my monkeys.”
Maybe you have adopted that mindset toward your coworkers or your neighbors. Maybe you’ve adopted that mindset toward immigrants. I’m all for strong and fair immigration policies; maybe a wall will work. But if all you can muster for the harassed and helpless is an angry, “Go away!” You need to repent. Listen, I’m not advocating open borders. I’m advocating for compassion. And let’s be honest, compassion is hard. Being hard-hearted and self-centered is easy. Serving others is costly.
Now, make the connection between verses 36 and 38. Jesus saw the needs of the crowds and prayed for help. Jesus looked at the needs of the people and the group of disciples and said, “We need help. Pray to God to send helpers.”
One reason compassion is hard is because compassion is costly. Another reason compassion is hard is we are too proud to ask for help. With great stupidity we think we can meet needs by ourselves. Think of what could be. Imagine a church full of members asking one another for help, praying to God for help, and actively offering to help. That’s a healthy church; walking in humility, praying for help, and offering to help. Teach the truth, preach the gospel, meet needs, be compassionate, and pray
- Pray for laborers
The harvest among the next generation is plentiful. Pray for workers. The harvest among the older generations in nursing homes is plentiful. Pray for workers. The harvest among empty-nesters who have gained the world and found it empty is plentiful. Pray for workers. The harvest among college students is plentiful. Pray for workers.
I am convicted that I am asking for workers. I am pleading for you to work in the nursery, AWANA, with college students, and among our homebound. I am asking you, but am I asking God? He’s the Lord of the harvest. He’s the one who sends workers. He’s the one who causes the growth. Let’s give ourselves to praying to God to cause gospel growth in our children, in our neighbors, and in our coworkers. God cause the growth! Now for specific prayers.
III. Specific prayers
We will use these prayers during the Lord’s Supper. So listen, knowing that I am giving you a framework for prayer that you will be encouraged to use as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Just like we do in our worship gathering, we will follow a simple outline of praise, thanksgiving, confession, and intercession. Your daily prayers should include each of these types of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, confession, and prayer for others. Our first specific prayer is
- Praise the Lord of the harvest
We praise God for who he is. Our God is the sovereign Lord of people’s lives and hearts. He works in us. No one is like our God. No one loves like our God. No one has the power of our God. Think about who God is and praise him.
- Thank the Lord for the harvest
We thank God for what he has done. Thank God for your own salvation. Thank God that he sent laborers to you. Some planted and some watered but God caused gospel-growth in you. Thank God for sending those laborers and thank God for working in you. Then think about the ministry you are doing. Thank him for not giving up on your family and your neighbors. Thank God for gospel-opportunities. Then
- Confess your sin
God hasn’t given up on the harvest but maybe you have. Confess your sin of not praying. Confess your sin of not laboring. Confess your sin of laboring and praying with bitterness and not with compassion. Search out those sins that are getting in the way of you entering the harvest. Maybe it’s fear, maybe it’s laziness, confess your sin and believe the gospel. Ask God to show you your sin and turn from what he shows you. The Lord’s Supper is the great reminder that Jesus has done everything required to restore us to God. Believe Jesus who forgives all your transgressions. Confession is for forgiveness and forgiveness is for reconciliation with God. And finally,
- Pray for laborers
Pray Isaiah’s prayer, “here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
Pray for the harvest in your fields. Pray for the children in the church. Pray for your neighbors. Pray for college students. Then pray for more laborers to join you in the harvest. Pray for your pastors and for more pastors. Pray for your missionaries and for more missionaries. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Let’s pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Lord of the harvest, we praise you. You are sovereign over every soul. You give mercy to whom you choose to give mercy. You are ruled by no one and everything you do is right. It is our joy to praise you. And we thank you for the harvest. Thank you for saving us. Thank you for parents and friends and church members and pastors and coworkers who proclaimed the gospel to us. Thank you for the gifts and opportunities you have given us to teach and minister to others. Help us to do the work to make disciples. Forgive us for being fearful. We are often afraid of what people think and what people will do. We are often lazy and distracted by much serving. Reset our priorities. Show us Jesus who forgives us, Jesus who restores us, and Jesus who equips us for harvest-work.
And Father, please send laborers into the harvest. Raise up evangelists from among us. Raise up teachers and pastors and missionaries. We need workers among our children. Please give them to us. We need workers among the college students. Please send laborers. We want to see children and students and adults healed and helped because King Jesus has come and is coming again. Help us understand and preach the gospel of the kingdom. And we ask it all according to Christ. Amen.
By and For the gospel 