Helpers In The Harvest Series

TITLE: HELPERS IN THE HARVEST

TEXT: Matthew 10:1-8

THEME: JESUS’ KEYS TO HARVEST

INTRODUCTION:

A Canadian soldier was wounded during training manouvers. He was ordered to go to the base military hospital for treatment. When he arrived at the large and imposing building, he saw two doors, one marked, "For the slightly wounded," and the other, "For the seriously wounded." He entered through the first door and found himself going down a long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked, "For officer" and the other, "For non-officers." He entered through the latter and found himself going down another long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked, "For commissioned" and the other, "For non-commissioned soldiers." He took the second door, and when he opened it he found himself out on the street. When the soldier returned home, his sergeant asked him, "How did you get along at the hospital?" "Well, Sarge," he replied, "to tell the truth, the people there didn’t do anything for me, but you ought to see the tremendous organization they have!"

The soldier’s comment reminds me of many churches in our day: really organized, but accomplishing little.

It is no secret that the church has more money, technology and resources at its disposal now than at any time in church history. So, why is it that the church in North America is not even making a dent in its mission of preaching the gospel and impacting our society and culture for Jesus? What is the main obstacle to world evangelization? Jesus gives the simple answer, Lack of workers.

In Matthew 9:38 Jesus summarizes the issue, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Jesus tells His disciples to pray for workers, then he makes them the answer to their prayers.

The key to harvest begins with faithful workers who will commit themselves to go and compassionately serve those who need Jesus.

Who has Jesus called? What is the mission of the workers? What have the workers been given to complete the task?

This morning we continue our study of JESUS’ KEYS TO HARVEST”. I want us to concentrate on the first key, which is, the HELPERS IN THE HARVEST. That is, you and me.

Jesus gives His disciples some instructions, and from those instructions, we find a number of principles to take with us in our mission. Today we’re going to look at four of these, from verses 1-10.

The first principle we learn is to...

1. Take the authority Jesus has given you.

He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

As I read this list a couple things come to mind. First of all, I wonder if you and I were in the Human resources department, would we have chosen the men that Jesus did? After all, These guys were not part of the 40 top leaders under 40. They were a motley crew with little of what you might consider leadership potential. Most did not have the social graces to interact with the political or religious powers of the day. They were simply ordinary guys, called to do an extraordinary task.

This should encourage each of us. None of us are what we would describe as superstars. Nevertheless, as Jesus sent His disciples, He also sends you and I.

The word "apostle" means, "sent one," and not just in the sense of going on behalf of someone, but actually in the sense of acting on the full authority of the one doing the sending.

The disciples were sent out on the full authority of Jesus himself.

Two types of authority are in view here:

* Authority over spiritual enemies.

* Authority over illness.

Today we also have another authority from Christ: * Authority to take the message.

Matthew 28:18-20 -

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

If you are a follower of Christ, you have the authority of Christ.

But it’s important to keep this in mind: