LORD HELP ME BE A KINGDOM LABOURER

Luke 10:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

There is huge need and demand for Kingdom Laborers however the supply is low. This makes Kingdom laborers valuable and precious in the sight of God.

The purpose of this message is to show the great need for Kingdom laborers and to define the attributes, characteristics, and benefits of laborers for Christ.

Before we can talk about Kingdom Laborers let’s define the term harvest?

θερισμός (therismos). n. masc. harvest time, harvest. A time to gather a crop or the actual crop itself.

According to the Lexham Theological Wordbook, this noun literally refers to harvest time or to the crop harvested. However, in the NT it is used only figuratively in passages about evangelism (e.g., Matt 9:37–38; John 4:35) and eschatology (e.g., Matt 13:30, 39; Rev 14:15).

As I pondered on the Word harvest, it came to my attention the 70 disciples were sent not to just to plant but to evangelized to help make disciples of all the seeds that were planted by Jesus and the twelve disciples.

We are called to be disciples that make disciples. We were called to plant the seeds and help people to be born into the Kingdom of God.

Plainly stated the harvest is the souls that need to hear and experience the gospel (GOOD NEWS) of Jesus Christ. They are the lost souls, they are someones child, mother, father, friend, neighbor and enemy .

The harvest is the 17 millions that have a substance use disorder and mental illness.

The harvest is the at risk youth that are destined to part of gangs .

The harvest men and women that are incarcerated.

The harvest all the family and friends that are affected someone in the family who is dysfunctional.

The harvest does that are well to do and are well educated.

From hoods of urban and city to Wall Street and fifth Avenue.

Every one that does not Christ is the Harvest that Jesus wants us to reach.

The harvest is great and vast it consist of the people that we see each day.

Know let talk about the labours_ We call them Kingdom laborers

An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (ἐργατικός)

ἐργᾰτικός, ή, όν, given to labour, diligent, active, worker commissioned and focus on his or her assignment.

Kingdom laborers are workers, servants for the LORD and they have a great purpose. They are called to assignment to reach people for Christ kingdom.

Their goal is remove the blindness from the minds of mankind sharing the light of the Gospel.

Verse by Verse 10:1

Luke 10:1 (KJV 1900) The LORD Method of Operation is to appoint disciple to GO! (Send me I will GO!) Lord help me be a Kingdom Laborer. Let make this message personal for us today!

1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Jesus appointed seventy disciples to prepare the way for Him. The number seventy is disputed, for some very good manuscripts say seventy-two were appointed. No matter which number is adopted, the number is held to be symbolic just as the appointment of twelve apostles is said to be symbolic. The twelve apostles are said to symbolize...

the twelve patriarchs • the twelve tribes of Israel • the twelve leaders of the tribes • the twelve leaders of the tribes The seventy are said to symbolize... • the nations of the world (seeGe.10 where seventy names are listed; seventy-two in the Septuagint Greek Version of the Old Testament). The point being made in the symbolism is that the gospel is to go into all the world. • the seventy elders who saw the glory of God (Ex.24:1,9). • the seventy elders of Israel (Nu.11:16f). • the seventy palm trees at Elim (Ex.15:27). (Note there were also twelve wells of water at Elim said to represent the twelve apostles.) • the great Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews, which had seventy members.

a. Jesus had many disciples, many more than just the twelve often pictured. There were at least seventy disciples who followed Jesus so closely that He could send them out as witnesses for Him.

Peter spoke of the witnesses as "these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us" (Ac.1:21; see1:15). b. Jesus sent them out two by two for mutual encouragement and help. ( Don’t do ministry alone) c. Jesus saw a tremendous need, a need so great that a great corps of witnesses was needed. ( We must see the need to become Kingdom Laborers) d. Jesus sent the seventy forth as forerunners. They were to prepare the people for His coming (seeTit.2:12-13).

Thought 1. All four points are applicable to us. Think them through. How many of us follow Christ so closely that He can send us out as witnesses for Him?

Verse 10:2 Luke: PRAY for Laborers

Luke 10:2 (KJV 1900)

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Praying for Laborers was the very first duty. There were not enough laborers, because the need was so overwhelming. (We must always be praying diligently for laborers.) Jesus gave four reasons.

a. There was a great harvest of precious souls to be reached with the gospel. The number was staggering, and the vast majority were without Jesus, reeling to and fro under the weight of the problems of a sinful and dying world.

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (Jn. 4:35-36).

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Ga. 6:9).

b. The laborers were few, very few.

c. The need was urgent: the crop was ripe, ready for harvest. Some wanted the gospel, the answer to life.

They were actually ready to be reaped, wanting purpose, meaning, and significance in their lives. They might not know what was causing the longing and aching within their hearts; they might not know how to identify it, but they were ready to listen and grab hold of the answer. And Jesus was the answer.

d. God was the One who had to send forth laborers. He was the Source of laborers, and prayer was the method He used to send them forth.

Thought 1. Note a crucial point. A generation's concern determines how well that generation gets along under God's care. A generation that longs for God-that seeks after God to send forth laborers-will have laborers and see a good deal of righteousness prevail during its life. A generation that ignores God finds immorality and ungodliness, injustice and evil getting worse and worse. The answer to a solid generation, to a moral and just generation is prayer-prayer for laborers to be sent forth to reap the precious harvest of souls. If voices are not proclaiming love and morality and justice, then sin and death will reign.

"But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come" (Mk. 4:29).

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Ps. 126:5-6).

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you" (Hosea 10:12).

Verse 3 Persecution- Sheep- Wolves:

Luke 10:3 KJV 1900

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Second, go into an antagonistic world (see note, pt.2-Mt. 10:16 for more discussion). Note two points.

antagonistic-showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something:

a. The threat or danger of persecution. Jesus said that some men would be as wolves... protecting their territory, snarling and putting down the messenger of God, trying to scare him away from trying to tame the world.

• growling and threatening the believer who opposes the way of the world.

• hungry and ready to hunt down, attack and consume.

Wolves protect their territory by marking their territory with their scent.

b. The spirit of the Christian laborer. He was to be as a sheep: meek, harmless, and non-combative.

Sheep let their shepherd fight their battle

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember" (Ac. 20:28-31).

"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also" (Jn. 15:20).

"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake" (Ph. 1:29).

"That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto" (1 Th. 3:3).

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Ti. 3:12).

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1 Pe. 4:12-16).

"Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous" (1 Jn. 3:12).

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Re. 2:10).

"But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues" (Mt. 10:17).

Verse 4 Trust in LORD and have sense of Urgency

Luke 10:4 KJV 1900

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

Third, trust God and sense the hour's urgency. The charge was twofold.

a. Trust God. They were not to carry a money-bag (purse, ballantion) or a traveller's bag (p?ra) or two pair of sandals. They were to trust God for provisions, not worrying about money for food, housing, or clothing (Mt. 6:24-34).

Worrying about such things would be cumbersome, taking away precious time that should be spent in ministering. Also, they were preaching a message of faith and trust in God. They needed to live what they were preaching and become a living picture of the dependency that God wants from every man.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mt. 6:33).

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Ph. 4:11-13).

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Ps. 37:3).

"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Ps. 37:5).

"Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield" (Ps. 115:11).

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (Ps. 118:8).

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Pr. 3:5).

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye

in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength" (Is. 26:3-4).

"Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in

darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God" (Is. 50:10).

a. Act now, the hour is urgent. They were not to waste time by stopping along the way and carrying on needless conversation. Such time was to be spent in ministry or prayer.

Their mission was focused upon another world that lasted forever, a world into which every man was to eventually enter. Man desperately needed to sense the urgency and commitment necessary to enter the Kingdom of God.

This world and its needless affairs were not to be engaged in by the Christian laborer. (Note: all affairs are not needless, but so many often are.)

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" ( Jn. 9:4).

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short" (1 Co. 7:29).

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ep. 5:16).

"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" (Col. 4:5).

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Ps. 90:12)