Being More Than Status Quo

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.