Labor Giant

Matthew 9:35–38 NIV84

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The U. S. did not become the greatest nation by accident; it took the citizens of this great nation to do more than just talk—it took labor (work).

Labor: to exert one’s powers of body or mind especially with painful or strenuous effort: WORK

1. Jesus came to earth to labor for the Kingdom

Jesus worked by evangelizing, teaching, preaching, and healing

We are called to be like Christ

By now some ought to be teachers

Jesus came to serve; He came to die for sinners

Jesus said the greatest would be the servants (laborers)

2. Your purpose is to labor where God placed you

Genesis 2:15 NIV84

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

You have a purpose in the Kingdom

You must grow into your gift

Don’t let work scare you

Some don’t attend church because they don’t want to serve

You can’t be a Christian and not labor for the Kingdom

Authentic Christians labor for the Kingdom

Authentic Christians care for the Kingdom

3. You must overcome the labor struggle to get the breakthrough

Proverbs 6:6–8 NIV84

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Be like the ant, stay focused

Time to kill the labor giant

Philippians 2:25–30 NIV84

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Some are willing to give their lives for the Kingdom

Epaphroditus was willing to give his life so that Paul could be provided for

He was laboring in his gift

Do your part so that the Good News can continue to spread

4. The harvest awaits workers

Jesus defined the need - workers

The harvest has never been the need; it has always been laborers

1 Corinthians 3:8–9 NIV84

8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

There are no bench warmers in the Church

In the following chapter of Matthew; Jesus sent the workers

Too often the qualified are not willing

God will always qualify the willing

Your neighbors need you

Your family needs you

Two kinds of people: givers and takers

You are called to be a giver (tell others of the Kingdom of God)

5. The labor giant won’t stop the harvest when we all do our part

We all have a gift to work

When everyone does their part, much is accomplished

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 NIV84

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Labor giant is going down

This giant has been keeping you from fulfilling your call

The harvest is waiting for you

Labor time

Calling all workers