I. THE VISION OF THE MULTITUDES
1. In heaven He saw the great size of humanity. v. 37. the harvest is great. 5.5 billion people. He also saw the great value of the multitude.
2. He saw the condition of the multitude. He compared the necessity of the crowds with the comfort he had. cf. Phil. 2 Harassed and thrown down, distressed and downcast--flayed. Perf. pass. participle. He saw the terrible precipice and the people falling over to a lost eternity.
3. He saw the vision of his own responsibility. What to do in the light of this great multitude? What can I do with my life? How can I live in peace and tranquility while the multitudes are perishing? Do I personally have something which I can do about it? Does Rom. 1:14 refer to ME? I must stand before the judgment seat of Christ. How will He speak to me at that time?
4. He saw a vision of the possibilities which HE had. Paul said that he preached more than all other, but not "I but the grace of God."
5. He had a vision of what would happen if he should not go into the world. Cf. Ezek.33
What if Christ had not come?
What if someone had not preached to me???
For this reason Paul says that he is a debtor.
Christ had to do something. Do I??
6. He had a vision of HIS part in the plan of God.
7. He had a vision of the brevity of time, and the urgency of the need.
8. He had a vision of the rewards.
Phil. 2--God exalted Him. cf. Heb. 12:2--who for the joy that was set before him--instead of the joy..
II. THE COMPASSION OF JESUS.
1. His vision of the multitude had an effect in his own life. 9:36--HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION. He felt compassion for them. Note CO-PASSION.
This is not merely feeling pity or sympathy. Phil. 1:8--affection of Jesus Christ, --the bowels of...or the inward parts.
Missionary enterprise , to be Christian, must be based on the passion of obedience, not on the pathos of pity.
2. This compassion speaks of a feeling in the intestines, in the stomach, not just the heart. It is the "spleen" in the Greek.
3. This is a very special word. Perhaps you can capture the sense of it in the following passages:
a. Mat. 14:14
b. Mat. 15:32
.c. Mat. 18:27
d. Mat. 20:34
e. Mark 1:41
f. Mark 6:34
g. Luke 7:13
h. Luke. 15:20
i. Luke 10:30-37
On the darkest side of the road, where the sick and wounded lie;
They're calling for help and for mercy
Oh how can you pass them bye?
The Savior asks your life
In the service of want and pain,
And everything more that thou spendest
He'll repay when He comes again.
Now then, what is the characteristic of all these examples of compassion?
It is that the person who felt compassion always DID SOMETHING.
True compassion never is passive. It is not simply feeling.
Think of us--what is the real love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit? Rom. 5:5. It is GOD'S OWN LOVE--NOT OURS.
But in Mat. 9:36 CHRIST DID NOTHING. He simply said that we should do something.
Look at Mark 9:22--if you can do something, take pity (compassion) on us and help us. Love seeks not it's own. I Cor. 13:5 Phil. 2:20-21
This is the cry of the world--Take pity on us and help us.
III. THE CO-MISSION OF JESUS.
Introd. 1. Co-mission means the mission THAT is held in common. Cooperation in doing something. cf. 2 Cor. 6:1--workers together with God.
2. The plan of Christ is to seek OTHERS in order to send them into the harvest. cf. Mat. 20:1-7.
3. See 2 Cor. 5:14-15--the love of Christ constrains us.
v. 18--gave us the ministry..
v. 19--committed to us the word.
A. The first part of the commission is v. 38--BESEECH --petition--the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into HIS harvest. Emphasis on the need.
1. First, notice the condition of the harvest and the workers as Christ sees them. v. 37--the harvest is plentiful, the workers are few.
2. "Therefore" - the answer that we have is to beseech--continuously, for this is for all ages and times.
The Word "beseech" is from the word deo, or deomai, which means the present urgent need, the MUST OF THE HARVEST.
GOD HAS GREAT INTEREST IN THE HARVEST. IF IT PERISHES ALL PERISHES.
3. The theme of the petition is beseech the Lord of the Harvest TO SEND OUT workers into his harvest.
Days of prayer especially for missions.
Missionary conferences geared to present missionary themes and reports from the fields.
Special services on the theme of missions.
But especially, beseeching the Lord to SEND OUT --ekballo--lit. kick out.
WORKERS--DEDICATED--PREPARED ANOINTED --KNOWN --EXPERIENCED
IT IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH TO PREPARE WORKERS FOR THE FIELD.
B. The second part of the commission is CONSECRATION.
Cf. 10:1--called to Himself, cf. 18:2--his 12 disciples
1. Called by Christ Himself to the work. This calling is of great importance, and is the product of the prayer.
2. He called to Himself--put all that we have and are to one side in order to serve Christ.
cf. Mark 3:13-15--summoned to Him
appointed to be with Him-- to send out--to have authority.
Left their nets... cf. Luke 145:25-33--come and follow me.
give up all his own possessions.--cf. Mat. 19:29--shall receive 100 times more--the RECOMPENSE.
C. The third part of the commission is the authorization..10:1 He gave authority.
Cf. Luke. 10:19 John 20:22-23
We act with the authority of Christ.
10:5--he gave instructions. We must act accor-ding to the instructions of Christ Himself.
NOTE: This first instruction was for them, not for us. Later Christ extended and amplified his instructions to all the world.
This implies A PROFOUND PREPARATION so that we may know WHAT ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS. This means that WE HAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PAGES OF THE BIBLE.. OUR AUTHORITY IS BASED ON THE WORD OF CHRIST AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE ITSELF.
D. The fourth part of the commission is GO...v. 5,6 or extension.
1.The word "send" in v. 5 is the word apostello, or send as an apostle--a personal and official represe-nta-tive of God, with the qualifications and gifts which God gives. Evange-list, pastor-teacher, etc....
2. Note the command...GO, v. 6---SPEAK, PROCLAIM, v. 27--DO NOT FEAR, v,. 28,--all these words are in the IMPERATIVE MODE.
IV. THE CONFIDENCE OF JESUS.
We have seen Jesus and His vision, His compassion, and His commission. Now we shall see His confidence.
A. vs. 7-8 - confidence in the authority He had.
B. vs. 9-10--confidence in the care of God for him.
1) From God--God will touch the hearts of people to support the work.
2) From the church - the work of the missionary is the work of a team. Note the work of Paul supported by the church in Philippi. And those of Macedonia, sending offerings to those in Judea.
Luke. 6:38--give and it shall be given to you.
We must learn that we are stewards, and that we must use what God gives us for the work of the evangelization and the work of missions.
I know a brother who supports himself by the profits of his business, but he does missionary work.
C. vs. 12-15--confidence in the dignity of the missionary work.
D. vs. 16-25--confidence in the presence of the Lord with you, in the middle of, and in spite of all sorts of opposition and persecution, vs. 25.
E. vs. 26-33--confidence in the watch-care of God in whatever circumstances (v. 29-31).
Cf. Mat. 28:19-20--and behold I AM WITH YOU.....
V. THE COST, vs. 34-38
A. The work of Christ is opposed to all the work of the world. The Christian life is not a banquet or fellowship meeting, but a WAR.
cf. Acts. 14:21-22
Eph. 6:12
2 Cor. 10:3-5
Hebrews 11:24-27
B. Many times the war begins inside your own home. vs. 35-36
Cf. Peter and Jesus in Mat. 16:21-28
with Micah 7:6-8
Also, note the warfare to save your own self.
The cost often includes your most intimate relationships. Cf. Jesus in Gethsemane, Mark. 14:50--all the disciples left him and fled, and he was all alone, except for the Father and the angels.
Cf. Paul in 2 Tim. 4:9-18
C. It will cost you all your life,
family,
ambitions
energies vs. 37-38
ALL....
ARE YOU WORTHY OF CHRIST?? IS CHRIST WORTHY OF YOU???
VI. THE CONCLUSION, v. 39
A. If you want to save your life (psuche--soul), you will lose it.
The problem is that we put more value on the
Body and
Soul----this is the flesh.
Cf. Rom. 8:5--those that are of the flesh think on the things of the flesh.
8:6--is death --v. 7 is enmity against God, does not submit to the law of God--cannot submit
v. 8--cannot please God.
B. But he who loses his life FOR MY SAKE, shall find it.
Mat. 19:29
Luke 18:29
Mark. 10:29-30
Conclusion:
VISION
COMPASSION
COMMISSION
CONFIDENCE
COST
CONCLUSION
Is it worth it to really surrender your life to the missionary work?
Is it worth it to leave all to follow Christ? and to serve Him? and to spend your life in the quest of souls and then prepare them for eternity?
What will you say when you stand before that Great Missionary, Jesus Christ, who gave all for you??
