The Greatest Problem in Ministry

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

Introduction

Charles Dickens began his 1859 masterpiece, “A Tale of Two Cities,” with the memorable poetic words, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” He continued, elegantly and insightfully, “…it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

He was in essence describing dilemmas of sentient we all experience: The simultaneous yet contradictory states of being, when there is unease, fear, and despair, on the one hand, yet optimism and idealism on the other.

But if we fast forward to 2022, we find that we are experiencing these same dilemmas today, when we are still searching for meaning in our lives. Physically, emotionally and Spiritually.

In our text today we will explore these contrasts with regard to ministry. As we do we will discover the Greatest Problem in Ministry and find the answer that Jesus and Scripture lead us to.

What is Ministry? We use words so lightly. Thinking we know what they mean yet never really define them. "Ministry" is from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning "to serve" or douleuo, meaning "to serve as a slave." In the New Testament, ministry is seen as service to God and to other people in His name. Jesus provided the pattern for Christian ministry.

Matthew 20:28 KJV 1900

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Real ministry is always in the context of the cross. Ministry does not occur in a vacuum. We don’t do ministry just because it is nice or noble or kind. We do ministry with a goal in mind, a purpose or an intended goal.

Luke 19:10 KJV 1900

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Previously Jesus has called the 12 disciples to follow him, now in Luke 10 he expands the net with the sending of the 70. Let’s look at this passage together to find how we may face the Greatest Problem facing our ministry today.

Body

I. The Opportunity - The Best of Times - vs. 2

“…the harvest truly is great.”

Jesus is commissioning 70 followers to go out 2 by 2 to reach the lost, to preach the gospel, to minister to needs.

Matthew 10:7–8 KJV 1900

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Luke 10:9 KJV 1900

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

John 4:35 KJV 1900

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.

Are you a pessimist or an optimist? Look around you. We are still reeling from the COVID Pandemic, the economy is tanking, Gas prices are nearing $5.00 per gallon, there is war in Ukraine, threats from North Korea and China, and right here in the U.S. we see crime, school shootings and political division all around us. Our world needs Jesus like never before. The harvest is plentiful, the fields are white unto harvest.

It is interesting to note that when Jesus said this he had just spoken to the Samaritan woman. She had gone back to her town and told the people about Jesus and they are coming back to see him. It is the time that they are planting the crops, they are dressed in white to ward off the sun as they work planting in the fields. As they come out Jesus looks out and sees not the crops, but the people and says the fields are white unto harvest. Don’t look at the physical world and its problems, look at the spiritual world and it’s opportunity.

II. The Obstacle - The Worst of Times - vs 2.

“…but the labourers are few.”

This is the greatest problem.

It is a problem that is beyond human ability to solve. But God is not a stranger to insurmountable odds. There were only 8 people on the Ark, yet God birthed an entire Hebrew nation from those 8. There were only 12 in the upper room, yet God turned the world upside down with those disciples following the resurrection. Jesus helped Peter catch so many fish that his boat was sinking. yet they called for help and brought in the catch.

Jesus prescription for this problem?

Prayer.

Pray the Lord of the Harvest, to send forth Laborers.

Matthew 7:7 KJV 1900

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Stop and pray right now.

III. The Outcome - Now is the time - vs 3

Luke 10:3 KJV 1900

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

Isaiah 6:8 KJV 1900

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

You are the solution.

I thought it was interesting that in the Thompson Chain reference Bible the chain next to verse 2 where says the laborers are few is labeled indifference.

Someone once asked a congregation member in a Baptist Church, “What is the difference between ignorance and apathy?” The congregant answered, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

You will never be able plead ignorance when it comes to ministry. You have been told.

Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV 1900

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Luke 12:48 KJV 1900

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

God has given you his great salvation, you are required to share it.

Conclusion

What will you do?

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Will you seize the moment? Will you labor for him? Will you share the gospel? Will you do ministry?

For some of you maybe, before you can answer the call to ministry, you must answer the invitation to be saved.