Spoken At SGBC
Luke #86
Luke 1:1-24
Pray The Lord of The Harvest
(Luke 10:1-24 NASB) Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, (In addition to the twelve.) and sent them two and two ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. {2} And He was saying to them, "THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW; THEREFORE BESEECH (Implore, Request, Beg, Pray) THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS (Workmen) INTO HIS HARVEST. (Reaping.) {3} "Go your ways; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. {4} "Carry no purse, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. {5} "And whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' {6} "And if A MAN OF PEACE is there, YOUR PEACE WILL REST UPON HIM; but if not, it will return to you. {7} "And stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. {8} "And whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you; {9} and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR TO YOU.' {10} "But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, {11} 'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR.' {12} "I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city."
We begin our work in Luke chapter ten with the study of these twelve verses. They describe Christ's appointment of seventy men to a wide spread evangelistic campaign. These men were of a different character than the three discussed in our last lesson. Those all had an excuse as to why they could not follow Jesus when He called them. One said, "I will follow you wherever you go." However he had not taken into account the hardship that would face him as a follower of Christ. Having heard Christ's command, "Follow Me", another man replied, "Permit me first to go and bury my father." Christ answered, "Let the dead bury the dead, but as for you go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you Lord, but first permit me to say goodbye to those at home." To this Jesus replied, "No one after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." These people were moved by the external experience of seeing Jesus perform miracles and of hearing Him teach. They were not moved by the inclinations of new heart. Had their verbal commitments come from a new heart they would have followed Christ immediately without looking back.
The section of scripture we deal with today is one of four paragraphs that make up the first half of the chapter.
First, we look at Christ's appointment of the seventy. Here we are reminded of who Jesus really is. He is the Lord. He is, in other words, the King of Kings, the Ruler, He is the final Authority, He owns all men and all things. He has in His person the authority and power to do as he pleases with all He has created. Jesus is Lord! Hear the scriptures speak on this.
(Colossians 1:13-18 NASB) For He DELIVERED US from the domain of darkness, and TRANSFERRED US to the kingdom of His beloved Son, {14} in whom WE HAVE REDEMPTION, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. {15} And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. {16} For BY HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED, BOTH IN THE HEAVENS AND ON EARTH, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE, WHETHER THRONES OR DOMINIONS OR RULERS OR AUTHORITIES-- ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM. {17} And He is before all things, and IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER. {18} HE IS ALSO HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; SO THAT He Himself might come to have FIRST PLACE IN EVERYTHING. Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth.
This Jesus called seventy men to himself. These were called to participate with Christ in the accomplishment of His mission. His mission is described in Luke 19:10 NASB. "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." The sending out of the Seventy was part and parcel of Christ's overall mission to "Save His people from their sin." In modern terms we might call this an evangelistic campaign. These were to go hunting for the Lost Sheep of God by taking the good news to all men. Those who received this MESSAGE OF PEACE were the Children of God. They were the lost whom Christ came to seek and to save. These are not few in number as the next statement reveals.
(Luke 10:2 NASB) And He was saying to them, "The HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL, but the LABORERS ARE FEW; therefore BESEECH THE LORD of the harvest to send out laborers into HIS HARVEST.
"The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few." That is, there are many of God's elect people out there who must be saved but only a few workers to carry the Gospel to them. Therefore, or that is why, I want you to PRAY that, "The Lord of the Harvest would send out laborers into His harvest." Christ tells them to,"Beseech" the Lord (Meaning God the Father.) that He might increase the number of workers in the field that is the world. (Matt. 13:38) The word beseech is very intense. They were to beg God, make urgent request of Him, implore the Father to send out or thrust out people to gather in His harvest of souls. These laborers would include Evangelists, Pastors, Deacons, Missionaries and all the saved of God.
They were to pray for "Laborers, not Loafers." The church then, as now, was full of folks claiming to be God lovers. People like the three men in chapter nine who say they will follow Jesus but disappear when the going gets tough. They aren't to be found when the work begins, when sacrifice of life and substance is called for. The seventy were to pray for "Laborers." People who understood the work and were willing to sacrifice themselves as necessary. The seventy were such people and were to pray that God would call and send more like them, for the "Harvest was plentiful but the laborers were few."
To pray for a godly laborer is to pray for men willing to mimic the Savior in attitude, practice, selfless love and service. Consider how Christ expressed His love for us.
(John 10:11-29 NASB) "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. (He came to seek and to save His lost sheep. The laying down of His life proves His love for both the Father and the Sheep given to him.). . . {14} "I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, {15} even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. {16} "And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; (That is, not from among the Jews but from among the Gentiles.) I MUST bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd. {17} "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; {28} and I GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO THEM, AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. {29} "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. This is a picture of Christ's love for His Lost and Saved Sheep. We are called to mimic Him in His love and devotion to the Lost and Saved Sheep of God.
(Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB) Therefore BE IMITATORS OF GOD, as beloved children; {2} and WALK IN LOVE, just as Christ also loved you, and GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
(1 John 3:16-18 NASB) We know love by this, that He LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US; AND WE OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE BRETHREN. . . {18} Little children, LET US NOT LOVE WITH WORD OR WITH TONGUE, BUT IN DEED AND TRUTH.
We are to walk in love toward others as Christ did toward us. He lay down His life that we might be saved. He set His face toward His own death and the salvation of the Lost Sheep of God. He loved them and gave Himself for them. Can his Ministers do any less? Can the body of Christ do less than this? Let us look at the way and the urgency with which Peter and Paul sought the souls of men and then we will see how this applies to us. Peter is our first concern and the text we will look at is Acts 2:37-41 NASB. These words were spoken at the close of Peter's sermon.
". . Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. {39} "For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, (Both Jews and Gentiles.) as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." {40} And with many other words he SOLEMNLY TESTIFIED AND KEPT ON EXHORTING (The word means to beg, entreat, beseech, appeal, and urge.) THEM, SAYING, "BE SAVED FROM THIS PERVERSE GENERATION!" {41} So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls." There is urgency in his words Beloved! He was seeking the souls Christ came to save. He was carrying on the work and mission of Christ. He was fulfilling his commission and calling.
Now let's look at the lengths to which Paul went in seeking out the Lost Sheep of God.
(1 Corinthians 9:19-27 NASB) For though I am free from all men, (See context for the meaning of this phrase.) I have MADE MYSELF A SLAVE TO ALL, that I might win the more. (He speaks of persuading men to believe in Christ as Savior.) {20} And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; (Paul voluntarily bound himself by Jewish customs, sensitivities and by the Law that he might gain an audience for the Gospel which is the power of God unto salvation for God's Lost Sheep.) {21} to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. (He speaks now of Gentiles who had not been given the Written Law of God as the Jews had. Therefore, they had different customs and sensitivities to which the Apostle conformed himself. He stopped short, of course, of violating the Word of God or his conscience as he fit himself into this and that circumstance.){22} To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; (Paul was not a weak man, physically, emotionally or spiritually. But for the sake of the Gospel it was sometimes expedient to put himself in the place of weakness. Which is to say he would work with people on their own level refusing, for a time, to exercise the freedom he had in Christ. Refusing also to express the full extent of his wisdom. He was content to appear weak if it meant he had opportunity to bring Good News to the ear of a sinner.) I HAVE BECOME ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN, THAT I MAY BY ALL MEANS (By all legitimate means.) SAVE SOME. (That is, see some come to faith in Christ.) {23} And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it."
Later on in this same passage Paul speaks of buffeting his body and making it his slave. This is what he had to do in the process of becoming all things to all men for the good of their souls. Surely his flesh rebelled as he fed it things it didn't like at the table of a Gentile. Surely his flesh cried out as he kept it from expressing itself in accord with his natural character when it was not expedient or profitable to do so. But he did it none the less. He did all things for the sake of the Gospel. He refused to speak or do anything contrary to Christ's mission and purpose which was his calling and purpose.
Here then are two ministers of the Gospel who, like Christ, loved the lost and saved Sheep of God. This is what I meant when I said earlier that Ministers of the Gospel are called upon to mimic the Savior in the sacrifice of themselves for the Lost and Saved Sheep of God. To walk in love is to love as we have been loved by Jesus Himself. He lay down His life that I might have life and that abundantly. I am called upon to do the same. Greater love has no man than this.
In case you might be distancing yourself from the lesson because it has to do with Apostles, Ministers and other so called officials of the church consider Paul's words to all Christians found throughout his writings.
Philippians 3:17 NASB. {17} Brethren, JOIN IN FOLLOWING MY EXAMPLE, AND OBSERVE THOSE WHO WALK ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN YOU HAVE IN US.
Philippians 4:9 The things you have LEARNED AND RECEIVED AND HEARD AND SEEN IN ME, PRACTICE THESE THINGS; and the God of peace shall be with you.
1 Corinthians 4:16 I exhort you therefore, be IMITATORS OF ME.
1 Corinthians 10:32-33 GIVE NO OFFENSE either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; (Here is a life governing principle for the Christian. "Give no offense." If anyone is offended by a Christian it must be because he is living a holy life and setting forth God's truth in a courteous and loving manner.) just as I also PLEASE ALL MEN IN ALL THINGS, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved. Paul's life was dedicated to the Lost and Saved Sheep of God.
1 Corinthians 11:1 BE IMITATORS OF ME, JUST AS I ALSO AM OF CHRIST.
2 Thessalonians 3:7 For you yourselves know how YOU OUGHT TO FOLLOW OUR EXAMPLE, because WE DID NOT ACT IN AN UNDISCIPLINED MANNER among you," The Christian who does not control his feelings, passions, words and behavior for the Gospel's sake is not following the Apostle Paul and therefore he is not following Christ. He is not walking in love and is not concerned about the Lost and Saved Sheep of God but rather about his own comfort and freedom.
The Seventy were such laborers and were to beg God to send more like them into the field that is the world. Let's finish reading our text for today.
(Luke 10:2-12 NASB) And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore BESEECH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST. {3} "Go your ways; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. {4} "Carry no purse, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. (They were to be totally dependant on God for protection and provision. They were to be focused on their work.) {5} "And whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' {6} "And if a man of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you. (That is, if one of God's elect are there they will receive you and your message of Peace.) {7} "And stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. (Do not be bothered in your conscience in reference to the lodging and food provided this is pay due you as a laborer.) Do not keep moving from house to house. (As if discontent.) {8} "And whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you; (Here is the requirement that these become as a Jew to the Jew and as a Gentile to the Gentile. When with the Jew they must be content with what we might call a kosher diet. When with the Gentile they might have pork or meat sacrificed to Idols set before them. Eat what is set before you is the requirement. Give no offense to Jew or Gentile is the principle. Become all things to all men for the sake of the Gospel!) {9} and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' {10} "But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, {11} 'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.' (Shaking of the dust from ones feet against a person, family, or city, was a declaration of God's displeasure toward them for rejecting the Gospel, His servants, Christ and ultimately God Himself.) {12} "I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. The rejection of the Gospel and its bearers is a serious matter that will be dealt with severely in the judgement.
There is more that must be said on this passage, by the grace of God we will return next Lord's Day.