SOS, more workers needed!

Scriptural Text:

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

SOS, when it was first agreed upon by the International Radio Telegraphic Convention in 1906, it was merely a distinctive Morse code sequence and was initially not an abbreviation. It is a recognized signal used to request help!

In our context today… SOS is an urgent prayer to God for him to deploy more helpers to this local church.

Theme: God, please deploy more workers to the harvest field!

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

God, please deploy more workers to the field!

This text gives us a fascinating glimpse into the life and history of the early church at Ephesus, and it is rich with practical spiritual lessons about Christian work and what Christian workers should know.

Here are at least three lessons:

As Christian workers…

1. We should all know Christ

2. We should all work well together

3. We should all ask God to send more workers

As Christian workers we should know Christ

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (appropriately or completely).

We must know Jesus Christ personally and be his disciple. There can be some people in churches who are not saved yet but who may know a great deal about the bible. They may know some scripture, Old Testament and New Testament and may be able to tell Bible stories. But they may not know Jesus. They may not have internalized that Jesus died for them personally and that he rose again for their personal justification. They may know his name, but they may not know him personally as Savior and Lord. Remember, Christianity is about having a relationship with Jesus. They may not really be Christian disciples.

What do I mean by Christian Disciple?

I mean someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to Jesus’ mission (Matt. 4:19).

19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

And are also committed to Jesus’ great commission: (Matt 28:19-20

19 Go [c]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [d]Amen.

To make disciples is to enter into relationships with others that helps them to learn to trust and follow Jesus. This includes being with them through the whole process from conversion through maturation and multiplication.

“True Christianity is more than a philosophy for living, or a moral code. Instead, it is fundamentally a life changing personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the son of God that results in a way of living that submits to Jesus’ lordship.”

As Christian workers we should all seek to work well together.

Each one of us is necessary.

Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos, and Paul were all needed in the Church at Ephesus. We know this because God brought them all together there. Aquila and Priscilla were different from Apollos, and Apollos was different from Paul.

- Paul is there with his faithful missionary zeal.

- And Apollos is there with his ability to vigorously defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Messiah

Acts 18 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

- And Priscilla and Aquila where there to host the developing church in their home.

Each one of them were necessary for the ministry.

So are you if you are Christ’s disciple. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit imparts gifts to each of us as it pleases him. God has given each of us a distinct spiritual gift and that gift(s) is needed where we are. If we choose not to use our gift(s), if we think, we are not needed, because someone else is more eloquent or someone else is more hospitable or someone else has more energy or is a better evangelist than we are, we are making a mistake. If we neglect to use our gift(s), the church’s work will be hindered.

As Christian workers we should all ask God to send more workers

Paul certainly prayed for help because he was well aware of the need. He often needed to leave his coworkers behind to care for the newly founded churches as he went ahead to the next city.

He must have been asking God to send new workers into the missionary field. And God did.

The Lord Jesus Christ 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” (Matt. 9:37-38)

Church these words where true for Paul and are as true for us today as they were when Christ spoke them. The harvest is plenteous. Just outside our door are many people who need to hear the gospel, but they are not likely to come looking for us, we need to go looking for them.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep offers us a good illustration of the work that God is calling each of us to.

Luke 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

This parable is about God seeking out the lost sinner and rejoicing when they are found. We serve a Good Shepherd whose heart is for us to be found, rescued, and renewed.

God told Paul when he was in Corinth that, “I have many people in this city” and I believe that in our city God also has many people.

Remember …

1. Apollos needed to have a personal relationship with Christ and so do we.

2. We need to use the gift (s) that God has blessed us with, to advance Christ’s mission in the earth, which is to make Christian disciples.

A prayer for more workers...

“Lord Jesus Christ,

- show me what I can do

- show me why I am here

- and why you have made me with the gift that you have given me.

And please use me...

1) use who I am and

2) the gifts that you’ve developed in me,

3) and where I am, ...

in order to advance your work in the earth.

Thank you in advance Lord, for sending the resources that we need. Hallelujah!!!

In Jesus’ Name… Amen