Groups in the Harvest
Notes
Transcript
We’re moving along in our Move Out series. We’ve looked at quite a bit of Scripture, but Luke 10:2 has been the key verse for the series. Everything we’ve talked about centers on this verse.
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.
We live in an ever increasing secular society. The number of people who identify as Christians is declining. Not to mention the enemies infiltration of the Christian community where false gospels are being taught and represented.
Pew research says 28% of Americans say they are not religious. They aren’t affiliated with any religion.
While 23% consider themselves Catholic and 24% consider themselves Evangelicals.
The religious nones have become the largest group in America.
However, 70% of people say they are spiritual people. 71% believe in heaven, 61% believe in hell. Only 60% believe in both.
A large majority of all these people believe in and try to connect with a higher power or something bigger than themselves. 27% are trying to center themselves and connect with their “true selves.”
It’s interesting how unpopular Christianity is given all this information. So many don’t believe in Jesus nor do they think they even need Jesus. And yet He’s exactly what they are seeking.
This is the harvest. These are the lost sheep without a shepherd. The multitudes for whom Jesus has a deep, divine compassion. What happens to them if they don’t have a shepherd?
That’s where it gets tough right? They may live good lives. Lives full of worldly success. They may have sad lives, full of pain and strife. But in the end, no matter how good or bad their lives are, they will die an eternal death without Jesus.
That’s the point of this goofy named “Move Out” series. We need to have the compassion Jesus has for our society. It’s the only way we can stop the rapid growth of hostility toward and running from Christianity.
We’ve talked about the four P’s of the harvest. Pray, Prepare, Places, and People. Today we’re going to expand on our action step from last week.
We’re going to look at different groups of people. Jesus reached out to many different groups of people. We’re going to look at three of those groups of people. Three groups of people we need to be aware of.
These same groups of people are still prevalent today. We must also reach out to these three groups of people.
Spiritually Damaged
Physically Damaged
Financially Damaged
Spiritually Damaged
Spiritually Damaged
We’re going to be in Matthew 8:28-9:13. We’re going to start in Matt 8:28-34 and take a look at the spiritually damaged people.
And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
Jesus encounters demon possessed men. Their bodies were infiltrated by and controlled by demons. Spiritual entities opposed to Jesus.
Demons want to hurt God by attacking His prized creation: people. Their goal is to damage the spirit of their targeted people. Now, I love the interaction between Jesus and the demons. They can’t stand in His presence. They are terrified of Him.
So they try to out Jesus before He wants to disclose Himself. They say what do you want with us Jesus, Son of God? Are you coming to torment us before the time?
Then they start begging Him to send them into a herd of pigs. Jesus says one word “go.” They had no choice and they immediately went into the swine. He’s cutting them off before they can say anymore. Talk about silencing your opposition.
And, He fulfills His purpose for coming here in the first place. He restores these two men spiritually. Jesus has compassion for spiritually damaged people.
Jesus knew what He would encounter going into the Gergesenes. He knew He would meet these two men. That’s why He went. To cast out the demons and spiritually restore them.
Who are some people we know that are spiritually damaged? People hostile to Jesus or have no need for Jesus? Amazingly Jesus has compassion for these people. He wants to be their shepherd. He wants us to go into the harvest and bring them to their eternal shepherd.
Physically Damaged
Physically Damaged
As we move into Matthew 9:1-8 we see how Jesus has compassion for the physically damaged people.
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Here’s a paralyzed man whose survival is dependent upon friends and family who love and care for him. He couldn’t move and couldn’t take care of himself.
There are two things that should pop out at us right away here. First, Jesus saw their faith. They believed in and trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Second, Jesus doesn’t heal the man right away. He says “your sins are forgiven.” Jews would associate physical damage to sin. But sin would also be mentally damaging in their lives as well.
And anyone who deals with physical ailments can understand the struggles of self-worth. The mental struggles with depression, anger, and fear. To hear your sins are forgiven would have changed the entire outlook this man had on life.
He didn’t need the physical healing to bring joy and purpose back into his life. Jesus healed both out of compassion and for the purpose of others. Jesus still does the same today.
We may know others who are physically damaged. How would Jesus change the outlook on their lives? How would Jesus use them to reach others around them?
We are the faithful friends who can take them to Jesus. Maybe they are divinely appointed relationships for that specific reason.
Financially Damaged
Financially Damaged
In Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus reaches out to and calls the author of this book to follow Him.
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew was a tax collector. Tax collectors were so greedy about money that they even harmed their own fellow Jews for gain. They would actually say the taxes were higher than they were to line their own pockets.
Is it any wonder the Jews hated them so much? They were so consumed by money that they would harm those closest to them in pursuit of it.
That pursuit is still alive and thriving today. People consumed with getting money. Some have hordes of money and are consumed with getting more and more.
Some don’t have any money and are consumed with getting some.
Some really need it but don’t have any hope of getting any. All of these people are financially damaged people.
Back in the last two verses of chapter eight we also see some financially damaged people who reject Jesus.
And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
The whole city, minus the two Jesus just spiritually healed, besought Jesus to leave. The Greek word translated besought brings the connotation of appealing to earnestly.
You see the pigs were a source of income and probably a primary source. These people were so concerned over their financial health, that they were turning away from their spiritual health.
We all know people who think that money solves everything. Some who are obsessed to the point of turning their backs on everything else just to get money.
Jesus has compassion for these lost sheep and wants them to come to Him as their shepherd. The rich need to know there’s no amount of money that will take the place of Jesus.
Those who are obsessed need to understand that gaining the world is forfeiting their souls. The poor can find comfort in Jesus and support in the church family. A place where Jesus can and does provide for them.
I am completely against any form of prosperity gospel. But, I do know that Jesus does use His church body to help provide.
I also know personally there are times that Jesus does miraculously provide. There was a time when we didn’t have money to pay rent or get food for five hungry teenagers.
When I looked in the bank account to try and figure out what to do, the money for rent and food was in the account. No deposit showing where the money came from. It was just there. I can only come up with one solution as to how the money appeared. A divine act of our Lord and Savior.
Who in our community is financially damaged? How can we build a bridge to them and form a relationship with them? A relationship that brings them to their eternal Shepherd Jesus Christ.
Three types of damaged people. Spiritually damaged, physically damaged, and financially damaged.
Some people can be damaged in two or all three of these areas. But, no matter where or in how many ways they are damaged, Jesus is the answer for all of them.
Jesus says in verse thirteen that I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus makes the difference. Spiritually damaged can be delivered by Jesus. Physically damaged can be healed by Jesus. And the financially damaged can be called by Jesus.
These are the people of the harvest. It takes a lot of work, but it’s divine work that never makes us weary. It’s never perfect and it gets really messy.
Spiritually damaged people are messy. They may have been damaged by the church. They don’t want to have anything to do with Jesus.
They require a new approach. An approach built on a safe loving relationship. One that they know is not dependent upon them becoming a Christian.
One that empathizes with them in their pain. One that meets them where they are and gives them compassion.
The Physically damaged are hurting. They are physically exhausted from pain. They are mentally exhausted from pain, depression, anxiety, fear, and anger. And their souls are crying out in pain.
Why me? What have I done to deserve this? Why doesn’t God do something? Jesus can shine a new light on their souls and on their perspectives.
This again can only be done through a safe, loving, compassionate relationship. One that is not dependent upon them coming to our side.
Financially damaged people are struggling. They never have enough. They always want more, now. Because they are trying to find security. They are trying to find peace and comfort.
The security, peace, and comfort they are looking for can only be found in Jesus. We can help them find that through a safe, loving, compassionate relationship. One that doesn’t depend upon them coming to our side.
There are a couple things I must address, because I haven’t said it enough up to this point and I need to make it clear.
I’m not talking about compromising the gospel in any way. I’m talking about how we can bring people to the point where they are able to and ready to hear the gospel.
I’m not talking about just the next program we can plug in to entice people into our church. What I’m talking about, is what I have been doing myself for a long time and have seen several people come to Christ through relationships.
And I am by no means saying I am responsible for their salvation. Every one that has come to Jesus I have witnessed the Holy Spirit work in their lives. I have seen the Holy Spirit open their eyes to Jesus.
Three groups in the harvest that Jesus says is great. The harvest is already there. We just need to get in the fields and do the work by following the process.
It’s messy and it’s ugly. It means getting out of the Kingdom Country Club we have built for ourselves. It means being uncomfortable. It means we ourselves must find transformation.
Is our desire to be part of the harvest led by deep down, heartfelt, divine compassion? Because there are multitudes in our community for whom Jesus has deep, divine compassion.
I’ll leave you with another question for you to ponder this week.
How much do those people matter to you?
