It is well documented in history many of the great accomplishments of various named Christians. The list is enormous starting from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and bringing us into our modern times with C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, and D.L. Moody for just a few. There is no way we could do justice to all the great works that God has done through those who walked by faith, but this week we are going to look at what they all had in common and that is faith in God, but not just faith that they claimed to have, but faith that they lived, faith that they put into action. With this we want to keep in mind Hebrews 11:6 "For it is impossible to please God without faith!" and put our faith into action! Putting our faith into action means becoming workers in the harvest and serving a greater purpose than ourselves.
One of the effects of having too few workers in the harvest was even recorded in Jesus ministry. Mathew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Friend, the work of God is often resisted because it requires commitment. Not many people want to commit their, time, money, or talents to the work of Christ. There was a story in Africa where the famous Dr. Livingston was at work and received a letter from a few willing individuals that read; Have you found a good road for us to come to you yet? This from some supporters that wanted to do the work of God but resisted the idea until a road was made for them. Dr. Livingston replied: If you will only come when a good road is made for you I don't want you to come, I want those who will make the road and then come. He was talking about their commitment level and faith.
Putting our faith into action requires commitment.
Mathew 9:35-38
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.
Have you ever been presented with a task that caused you to look at the magnitude of the task and conclude that you will need others to assist you? Here we see that Jesus looked at the multitudes and saw the condition or the magnitude, in which the task at hand would require workers,
volunteers and devotees that saw a purpose much greater than themselves. He was moved with compassion for the multitudes understanding that like sheep when they are traveling through life they primarily keep their head down failing to look up and see where they are going and failing to realize how far they have drifted away from the Shepherd who protects them from ravening wolves. His great concern was that his loved ones would be eaten up by devouring wolves in sheep's clothing and began to ask the Disciples to pray to the Lord of the Harvest that he would send laborers to help to keep the sheep near to the Shepherd.
The Lord of the Harvest of course is Jesus and Jesus was with them already so why did he ask this? He wanted the Disciples to understand the purpose of having leaders in the field and why it is critical to understand that lives go astray like sheep when they are left unattended.
After reading these verses what questions do you have?
Answer the following questions:
What caused this feeling of compassion that Jesus experienced?
What was Jesus doing at this time?
When Jesus saw how much work was to be done what did
he say?
What was his instructions concerning prayer?
Mathew 11:1-12
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
As the earth travels around the sun it has times in which it is closer to the sun and times in which it is not so close. In the close times we call this summer and the not so close times we call it winter. If the earth were close to the sun always and too close then it would of course burn up and if it were always far away it could freeze and have no life at all. Here we see that John the Baptist who was once preaching with a fire in his heart and who was absolutely positive that Jesus was the Messiah the son of the living God now asking Jesus are you the one? We all have times such as this when affliction takes its toll. What can we do? Jesus simply told the Disciples to go and remind John of the miracles of the past. Sometimes we need to be reminded of all that Jesus has done for others and us. We need to remember where we came from and all that he has done to save us. Even the strongest have weak times and when we are weak lest us return to the foundational truths that Christ has laid before us and recall all that he has already done!
After reading these verses what questions do you have?
Answer the following questions:
Why do you think there are so few workers for Christ?
What emotions do you believe John the Baptist was experiencing and why?
Have you ever grown weak and began to doubt?
Why do you think that the workers of God suffer?
Mathew 8:5-13
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
It is a rare thing for a Centurion to call anyone besides the Emperor, Lord. Who was this man that even Centurions in which had servants of their own and who themselves only called the emperor Lord and served no other would actually have them calling him Lord? This man was the son of the living God, the Messiah who had the power to save and heal. Here this Centurion realizes the healing powers of Jesus and goes to him in faith, not demanding Jesus to heal his servant, not ordering Jesus to heal his servant, but instead in such an amazingly humble way he requests only that Jesus speak the word and his servant would be healed. Often in our despair we go to God with our urgent demand, with words that point at God stating
