A LESSON FROM STRAWBERRIES
Matthew 9:35-38
Sermon Objective: The effects of the Gospel, when proclaimed and obeyed, can spread like wild fire!
Supporting Scripture: Psalm 126:6; Proverbs 4:18; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:13-16; Mark 12:29-31
SUMMARY
We are concluding a series from Matthew chapter 9 called Lessons From the Garden. You are aware that there are characteristics of many fruits & vegetables which we can learn from and transfer in different ways to life.
Past sermons included:
• “A Lesson from the Onion” - Christ’s love infiltrates our environment and spreads in surprising ways, just like the smell and taste of onions.
• “A Lesson from Asparagus.,” – Like the “detestable vegetable”, real ministry and a sense of brokenness may not look good or be easy to swallow but it is sure good for our spiritual health.
• “A Lesson from the Potato.” - joy and celebration for Christ’s grace and presence have as many expressions as the ways we eat potatoes.
• “A Lesson from the Garlic.” – Just as garlic can ward off certain ailments, diseases, and close personal encounters, so the presence of Jesus Christ repels the fear of death and despair.
INTRODUCTION
One of my favorite fruits is the strawberry. For me, they are “nature’s candy.” For as long as I can remember my mother has grown them in her garden. I remember as a kid that what we didn’t eat fresh, were frozen or made into preserves. This assured that they were readily available all year ‘round.
A few summers back, while at my parent’s house, I looked at one of her flower beds and recognized a unique ground covering. It seemed very out of place. Mom had taken strawberry plants and put them in the bed. They had spread so much that they had covered the ground of the entire area. They were very dense. I have since learned that strawberries are used by many people as a ground cover and as an ornamental plant.
Strawberries are good for that; unless they are purged they will take over an area. They spread and spread.
There is an application here for our Christian life. Just as the strawberry plant will spread over an area, so our Christian influence is capable of spreading everywhere we go. It’s sort of the “bloom where you are planted” idea; but it happens naturally when we are fertilized by the Holy Spirit’s presence. Matthew 9:35-38 alludes to this.
TEXT
35 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.”
OUR INFLUENCE SURPASSES OUR AWARENESS (V. 35)
The strawberries in my mother’s flower bed far surpassed my expectations. They actually were in danger of surpassing the boundaries of the flower bed itself at one point. They had to be cut back.
As a follower of Christ your influence can far surpass your expectations. It is in the daily routine of life that your faith can really make an impact. As you live for Jesus in “all the towns and villages” (v. 35) you reveal Christ in a way which is remarkable and markable. You become salt and light in your community – but you will probably never be fully aware of the effect you have had.
Most of you are probably very familiar with the movie “Its a Wonderful Life”; it is about a common average Joe who thinks he has wasted his life and decides to end it. He cannot see how he has been a positive force in the world at all.
To counter this God sends an angel. The angel shows him what his community would have been like had he not existed. And the man in question is given a unique opportunity to see his far reaching influence for good.
You can learn a lesson from that movie. As a disciple of Jesus you have influence which surpasses your expectations too. That is why it is critical that we stay close to the Savior.
Last week’s Sportsman’s Evangelism Workshop is a good illustration of this too. There were 130 hunters setting in our sanctuary; most of which did not know Jesus and would not otherwise have been in a church’s building. But they were here and they heard the Gospel. And God’s Word will not return void. We have had a few emails since the workshop too. I cannot disclose the details, of course, but two hunters have emailed us sharing their pain and thanking us for the Gospel message. Both of these live too far away for us to be of ongoing assistance … AND THAT’S THE POINT … in a real since we went into the “towns and villages” and our influence of Jesus has been spread!
To God be the glory!
You will never know (this side of Heaven) what impact a righteous life filled with love and compassion has had. BUT YOUR COMPASSION EXCEEDS YOUR REACH.
1. OUR INFLUENCE SURPASSES OUR AWARENESS (35)
OUR COMPASSION EXCEEDS OUR REACH (V. 36)
My mother’s strawberry bed grew and grew. Without her oversight it could have become so dense that it even began to choke itself. The influence of God’s Spirit in a surrendered life is much like that. It will grow and grow and grow; especially as it relates to compassion.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A HARD HEARTED SPIRIT-FILLED DISCIPLE?
No.
It is impossible.
If we are like Jesus we are people of compassion. That means we come to the aid of those who are in need.
• Sometimes the pain is of their own doing (their own fault)
• At other times it may be the normal course of life
• And unfortunately, at other times it is the consequence of another person’s injustice.
Yet in each case it is ultimately the result of sin. It is the work of the Enemy.
People came to Jesus with many of the same conundrums.
• The thief on the cross, for example, deserved what he was getting and yet Jesus, in his compassion, offered pardon and restoration.
• The demoniac more-than-likely was the victim of his on sin but Jesus eagerly delivered Him.
Jesus saw people as harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (v. 36) and his priority was to come to their aid not inflict them with additional guilt. He understood the deceptive grip of sin like we never will and it moved Him to provide rescue by any means and at any cost.
Jesus was moved by many things. But there are some things that moved Jesus more than others:
1. HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION BY THE WORLD’S PAIN (MT. 14:14)
2. HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION BY THE WORLD’S SORROW (LK 7:13)
3. HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION BY THE WORLD’S HUNGER (MT. 15:32)
4. HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION BY THE WORLD’S LONELINESS (MK 1:41)
5. HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION BY THE WORLD’S BEWILDERMENT (MT. 9:36)
In each case he called on God’s love to alleviate the need. GUESS WHAT -- THE CHURCH IS THAT LOVE TODAY AND WE ARE BEING CALLED TO BE THE COMPASSION OF JESUS.
As we follow the Savior, His compassion will spill over in very powerful ways to others. Just as my mother’s strawberries spilled over their assumed boundaries.
1. OUR INFLUENCE SURPASSES OUR AWARENESS (35)
2. OUR COMPASSION EXCEEDS OUR REACH (36)
CONCLUSION
OUR OBEDIENCE INCREASES THE KINGDOM (V. 37-38)
Jesus said: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Our influence and our compassion are only realized when we walk in obedience and respond in love to Christ’s call. YOU ARE PART OF GOD’S ANSWER TO THIS PRAYER OF JESUS. As you choose to serve him rather than serve yourself you will be amazed at the rewards and blessings which will come your way. There is no better life than a life lived in the center of God’s will.
In v. 37-38 Jesus hangs out a “Help Wanted” sign. He calls for laborers and suggests a great harvest for those who respond.
In fact, there are a few things from this that we can be sure of:
• TRUTH #1 - THE HARVEST WILL NEVER BE REAPED W/O WORKERS.
• TRUTH #2 - CHRIST NEEDS SERVANTS! EVEN PRAYER IS NOT ENOUGH!
• TRUTH #3 - THOSE WHICH RESPOND IN OBEDIENCE WILL REAP THE HARVEST.
• TRUTH #4 - THERE IS SOMEONE (S) THAT EACH OF US CAN - AND MUST - INTRODUCE TO THE SAVIOR.
My mother’s strawberries grew and populated in significant numbers. More than she could have ever imagined. God too wants to populate His kingdom. He wants to fill his house.
If we obey we will see what Jesus sees, goes where Jesus goes, and feel what Jesus feels. And just like the strawberry garden, we will be surprised at the increase.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
