1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,160 And he didn't run out after after Wednesday night. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:04,680 So I guess we consider that a win. 3 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:07,600 But anyways, glad good to have him here tonight. 4 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,600 And he's he's a preacher. And that's that's that's who we 5 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,480 like to have in is, is people who like to preach God's word. 6 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,200 And I know how to expound God's word, not just tell a bunch of 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,720 stories and everything else. But we're glad he's here. 8 00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:24,320 And so, Pastor Zoom and you come up and preach for us. 9 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:32,200 Amen. Thank you for having me. 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:33,600 It's a blessing to be here with you. 11 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:38,080 And I'm enjoying the fellowship with your pastor and with you as 12 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,920 well. And it's great to have this 13 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,280 emphasis over the weekend on missions. 14 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:45,800 Missions is the heartbeat of God, isn't it? 15 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:51,840 And so it's never a waste of time to give time to this 16 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:53,880 wonderful and very important theme. 17 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,960 It's right at the heart and soul of what we need to be involved 18 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,040 with as a local church. Turn with me, please tonight to 19 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,080 Matthew Chapter 9. Matthew Chapter 9, and we're 20 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:12,320 going to read verse 35 to verse 38, Matthew Chapter 9, and verse 21 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:21,040 35 to verse 38. The Bible reads, and Jesus went 22 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,160 about all the cities and villages, teaching in their 23 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,680 synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and 24 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,640 healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 25 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,520 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on 26 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,760 them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep, 27 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,120 having no shepherd then save he under his disciples. 28 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:50,120 The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. 29 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:55,040 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send 30 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,280 forth labourers into his harvest. 31 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:03,080 The title of the message tonight is Helpers for the Harvest 32 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,760 Field. Helpers for the harvest field. 33 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,240 Let's pray and ask for the Lord's help now as we look into 34 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,000 this message. Lord, we just pray that you'll 35 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,560 be with us tonight. Lord, thank you for those who've 36 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,200 made the effort to come out. Lord, on a Friday night after a 37 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:18,760 busy week. We pray now that you would 38 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,040 undertake for us, Lord, that you administer to us. 39 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,520 We pray for that strengthening by your spirit in the inner man, 40 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,520 Lord, that we might have hearts that are receptive. 41 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,960 Lord, receptive to hear from you. 42 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,000 We pray that you'd stir our hearts afresh for this great 43 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,200 theme of world missions. Lord, give us a heart. 44 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,800 We pray for souls. I love the souls and we pray 45 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,120 that You would just be with us now. 46 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,560 Pray for myself, Lord, that you just empty me of self. 47 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,040 Fill me with Your Spirit and speak through me. 48 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,000 Now to the blessing and edification of the hearers here 49 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,240 tonight. We pray in Jesus name, Amen. 50 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,160 There are three times recorded in the Gospels where the Lord 51 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:01,320 Jesus Christ speaks about the need of the harvest field. 52 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,520 The 1st is the one we just read here to the 12 disciples before 53 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,800 He sends them out two by two on their first official 54 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,600 evangelistic tour. Then the Lord Jesus spoke about 55 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,800 the harvest field when He sent out the 70 disciples there to 56 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,240 preach the gospel in Luke chapter 10 and verse one and 57 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,080 two. And then the Lord Jesus again 58 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:28,440 spoke of the harvest field in John chapter 4 and verse 35 59 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:32,600 after he had led the woman of Samaria to saving faith in 60 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,280 himself. And so we could, we can see as 61 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:41,040 we look at these examples that the harvest was on the heart of 62 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,600 the Son of God. And you know, if we're going to 63 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,800 truly be like the Lord Jesus Christ, then we need to have his 64 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,680 heart for the harvest field. And we talk a lot today or 65 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,760 there's a lot of talk today about being like the Lord Jesus 66 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,880 Christ. But if we don't have a heart for 67 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,920 the harvest field, then we are not much like him. 68 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,400 Because if you're going to get close to the heart of the Lord 69 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,640 Jesus Christ, you will find that He has a heart for the harvest 70 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,680 field. Was it not his final instruction 71 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,320 to the church before he ascended back into heaven to go into all 72 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,040 nations, to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the 73 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,000 name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Ghost, teaching 74 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,240 them to observe all things whatsoever I've commanded you 75 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,000 and along with you alway even to the end of the world. 76 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:27,920 There. That was Christ's final really 77 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:32,000 set of instructions that he left the church as he then ascended 78 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,760 back into heaven and until he comes. 79 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,600 That is to be the primary work of the church. 80 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:43,000 We are not to get distracted with with with with all the 81 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,280 different causes out there and many of those causes may even be 82 00:04:46,280 --> 00:04:48,840 good. But we must remember that the 83 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:53,240 primary mission, the primary purpose of the church is to win 84 00:04:53,400 --> 00:05:00,400 the world for the Lord Jesus. And as you look at the life and 85 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,760 ministry of the Lord Jesus, he taught much about the subject of 86 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,480 prayer, didn't he? But it's interesting to me that 87 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:12,760 really this is the only specific prayer request that Jesus Christ 88 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,760 made to his disciples. He taught on prayer, and there 89 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,840 were commands about prayer, but but as far as a request of the 90 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:22,440 Son of God, this is about the only one we find. 91 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,120 And again, it highlights how close this is to the heart of 92 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,160 God. And so tonight we need to adopt 93 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,360 3 heart attitudes in relation to the harvest field. 94 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,000 And we can see them here in our text. 95 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,640 Number one, we need what I would call a compassion for the 96 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,360 harvest. A compassion for the harvest. 97 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,280 Look back at verse 35 and verse 36. 98 00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:46,520 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in 99 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,280 their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and 100 00:05:49,280 --> 00:05:51,680 healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 101 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:56,800 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on 102 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,960 them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep, 103 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:03,600 having no shepherd. And so our Lord Jesus Christ is 104 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,960 our perfect example in this matter of compassion. 105 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:12,000 What love we see in the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ, love that 106 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,200 is indescribable. Love that the human language 107 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:20,400 cannot fully express. And Christ had such love in his 108 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,280 heart for the lost, and we need that same love and compassion. 109 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,040 So Christ's compassion was demonstrated by a number of 110 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,200 things. We see it demonstrated in in in 111 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,920 two areas. Firstly, his laborers among the 112 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,480 lost, his laborers among the lost. 113 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,120 In verse 35, there we see Christ's compassion there in 114 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,760 action in his laborers among the lost. 115 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:49,360 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in 116 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,000 their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and 117 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,680 healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 118 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:00,520 And so Christ went to the lost. And here's our example. 119 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,640 You say that's very basic, yes, but we actually need to go. 120 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,160 And there are, there's a school of thought out there in many 121 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,360 Christian circles that says, well, when I get an opportunity 122 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:11,680 to witness, I'm willing to witness. 123 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:15,000 And I just witnessed by my life. Listen, we need to be careful, 124 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,160 don't we, not to pit one truth against another. 125 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,400 You do need to be witnessed by your life, but you also need to 126 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,720 be a witness by your lips. And evangelism needs to be not 127 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,640 just a passive reactive thing. We actually need to be 128 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,760 intentional in our evangelism and actually go and seek to make 129 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:34,800 contact with sinners for the cause of the gospel. 130 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,320 Jesus said follow me and I'll make you fishes of men. 131 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,160 And any fisherman knows that that fish don't generally just 132 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:42,840 jump into the boat of their own accord. 133 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:47,920 You have to go and find them. And so the Lord Jesus went both 134 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,600 to the cities and the villages with the gospel and it shows 135 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:56,320 that his heart was to seek to reach every Sinner in that area 136 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,560 with the gospel. He went to the large population 137 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,560 centres, He went to the smaller population centres. 138 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,560 And that's a good model by the way, for us to follow. 139 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,160 And you see that even in the book of Acts with the apostles, 140 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,480 they tended to maybe plant churches in the major population 141 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,000 centres. But then from there the gospel 142 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,080 can ripple out into the community and out into the into 143 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,800 every locality there. And so we see our Lord's heart 144 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,640 to reach every soul regardless of their locality. 145 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:29,760 Christ went to the lost and we need to go to Matthew 2819, 146 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:33,799 verse 2019 and 20. Go ye therefore, and teach all 147 00:08:33,799 --> 00:08:36,000 nations, baptizing him in the name of the Father, and of the 148 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,840 Son, and of the Holy Ghost, et cetera. 149 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,120 There, Mark 1615. He said to them, Go ye into all 150 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,720 the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 151 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,400 John 1516 You have not chosen me, but I've chosen you and 152 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,800 ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that 153 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:56,520 your fruit should remain. And so we need to go with the 154 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,080 gospel. That is our mandate, that is our 155 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,760 mission. And we see that example in the 156 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,760 Lord Jesus. So Christ went to the lost, then 157 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:09,120 he preached to the lost, lost. Verse 35, He went about all the 158 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,000 cities and villages. Notice this next word, teaching 159 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,720 in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the 160 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,520 Kingdom. So our Lord Jesus Christ was 161 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:23,640 preeminently a preacher of the gospel and that is God's primary 162 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:29,360 method that He has chosen to reach the lost, not movies, not 163 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:36,560 programs, not para church organizations, but the preaching 164 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,120 of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 165 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:45,000 And so we see in Christ ministry the centrality of the preaching 166 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,760 of the gospel. And what I find interesting is 167 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,520 you look at the order of the verse he preached, then he 168 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,200 healed and that's the correct order because, you know, a lot 169 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,480 of missions today is humanitarian, deals with the 170 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,680 needs of the body, but does not address the needs of the soul. 171 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:04,160 Now, folks, I'm not against having compassion for people's 172 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:08,080 physical needs, and we support men in countries where you know 173 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,840 they can't shut up the bowels of compassion towards people who 174 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,280 are in need. If you've got someone who's 175 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,440 literally starving, you can't as a believer just ignore that. 176 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:20,120 But the point is, we see in the ministry of Christ that 177 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,080 preaching was always the priority. 178 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,880 Then as the needs arose, He fed the hungry and he healed the 179 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:27,680 sick. And that is the correct order 180 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:30,000 because most of missions, I forget the percentage now, we 181 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,400 studied it in missions class that Bible college, something 182 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,480 like 70% or 80%, whatever. The majority of missions today 183 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:39,560 is humanitarian and leaves the gospel out. 184 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,320 Now folks, what is the point of helping people's bodies only for 185 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:45,400 them to die and go to hell for eternity? 186 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,560 We need to make sure that we make the sole the priority. 187 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:53,920 People need to be saved and that's the priority in missions. 188 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:58,120 And then yes, as we have ability and as the needs arise, we can 189 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,200 minister in other areas. That's the correct order. 190 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:08,240 Christ preached the lost, but He also transformed the lost. 191 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,600 Look back at verse 35, he went about teaching in their 192 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,960 synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and 193 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,700 healing every sickness and every disease among the people under 194 00:11:18,700 --> 00:11:22,400 score the word every there cross was not like the modern faith 195 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:26,440 healers who probably heal no one and perhaps some I don't know 196 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:30,560 but anyway, the Lord Jesus Christ he healed every sickness 197 00:11:30,560 --> 00:11:33,040 and every disease among the people. 198 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,520 We could say this, the Lord Jesus was the answer to these 199 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,800 people's needs. And we know that the greatest 200 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:45,600 sin, the greatest sickness that people have today is as they did 201 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,720 back then was is the sin sickness. 202 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:55,280 And the Lord Jesus is still the answer to sin, sick souls. 203 00:11:55,640 --> 00:12:00,320 And notice that every single disease and every sickness was, 204 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:03,680 was, was healed by the Lord Jesus Christ. 205 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:07,480 And it doesn't matter what sin you are bound up in, the Lord 206 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,480 Jesus is the answer. Doesn't matter if you're bound 207 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,920 in drugs, Doesn't matter what your particular besetting sin 208 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:15,960 is. And we need to remember that, 209 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,160 that the Lord Jesus is the solution. 210 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,880 Jesus Christ is the answer for every Sinner out there, no 211 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,840 matter what sin holds them captive. 212 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:32,640 We live in a world full of broken people, people with 213 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:38,200 broken hearts, broken homes, broken marriages, broken moral 214 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,000 morals. You say, who can heal all that 215 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,240 brokenness from sin? The Lord Jesus Christ. 216 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,360 So can you see Christ's compassion for the lost? 217 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,560 We see it in his laborers among the lost. 218 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:55,000 If you have a love for the lost, you will labor to see them 219 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,880 saved. But His compassion is 220 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:01,240 demonstrated secondly in his love for the lost. 221 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:04,360 And here we look at that compassion more specifically 222 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,320 here it's demonstrated in his laborers among the lost, but 223 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,040 it's also demonstrated in his love for the lost. 224 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,720 We see Christ's heart was moved verse 36. 225 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:17,480 But when he saw the multitudes, he was what moved with 226 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:24,640 compassion on them. So our Lord Jesus was his heart 227 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:30,600 was moved for people. I don't know about you, but 228 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:35,400 that's is something that I find a challenge because it's just so 229 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:40,240 easy for any of us to just go, to grow cold towards people. 230 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,920 And we know it shouldn't be that way, but it's just in our own 231 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,520 humanity, our love is very limited. 232 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,440 Human love only takes you so far. 233 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,240 Human emotion only takes you so far. 234 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,160 But if you're saved, you have the Lord Jesus living inside 235 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,160 you, and he can give you his heart for the lost. 236 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,600 And we need to learn to pray that, Lord, would you give me 237 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:08,040 your heart for lost people? So Christ was moved, we could 238 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:14,680 say, by the sight of the people, but when he saw the multitudes, 239 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:20,160 he was moved with compassion. That word saw is an interesting 240 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,240 word. It means to perceive or discern 241 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,120 with the eyes. In fact, this Greek word is 242 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,680 often translated by a King James translators as no. 243 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:32,960 In the New Testament 282 times it's translated as no. 244 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:39,520 And so it refers not to a casual glance, but it refers to a 245 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:45,440 knowing look. To look with knowing to look 246 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,000 with discerning. It was a loving look. 247 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,720 You know, we need to remember in this busy world in which we live 248 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:58,960 to someone's pause and really see people because you know, 249 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:01,960 America feels like Australia here, everyone's, you know, 250 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:06,480 people to see places to go, running here, running there, 251 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,360 busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy. 252 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,240 And I understand we do have things we need to do. 253 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,320 But it wouldn't hurt at at times for us to pause and really think 254 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,600 about the fact that the masses of humanity just floating around 255 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,600 us are largely headed to a Christ less hell. 256 00:15:27,490 --> 00:15:31,080 Now what's interesting to me here is that this scene of the 257 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:35,560 multitudes was in the context of Christ being actively involved 258 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,120 in seeking to reach the multitudes. 259 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,080 We've seen that in verse 35, the Lord Jesus is out being active 260 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,920 in seeking to contact people and give them the gospel. 261 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,800 And as he was out amongst the people and as he saw them, his 262 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,280 heart was moved. And that is the right order. 263 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:51,760 You know, some Christians have this idea. 264 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:53,880 Well, when I get a burden, then I'll go. 265 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,480 No, you need to go and then you'll get a burden. 266 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,160 So don't, don't wait because I understand and I understand we 267 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:05,680 can pray for a burden. But if you will go and actually 268 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,400 involve yourself in seeking to reach people, what you will find 269 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:14,960 is your heart will get involved. That's the correct order. 270 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:21,960 So don't wait till you get a burden, then go, go and get a 271 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,480 burden. I find that, you know, most 272 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,120 Saturdays, I'll be honest with you, I don't feel like going 273 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,320 soul winning in my flesh. So, pastor, what's wrong with 274 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,120 you? Well, I'm glad you're more 275 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,480 spiritual than I am, but I'm just saying, humanly speaking, I 276 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,280 don't really feel like it. Now the spirit in the spiritual 277 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,480 realm, sure, but I'm just saying we're we're very weak to get up 278 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,840 on a Saturday morning, give some of my time, right and go out. 279 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:48,760 All right, The flesh doesn't like to do that. 280 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,600 But here's what I found. If I will just ignore my flesh, 281 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,080 make the decision to go. I always come back glad I went, 282 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,600 and my heart gets stirred, because what you do is you obey 283 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,960 the Lord, and you step out and you go. 284 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:03,560 And guess what? The Spirit of God will do the 285 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:05,200 work in your heart when you're obedient. 286 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,319 The Lord Jesus exhorted the disciples, Lift up your eyes and 287 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:17,760 look on the fields, for they are white or ready to harvest. 288 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,560 John 435. We really need to open our eyes 289 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:26,040 and look means you may have to put your smartphone down 290 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:30,680 occasionally so you can look at someone else and something else. 291 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:37,160 And people need the law, don't they? 292 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,080 Went for a walk around one of your outdoor shopping malls not 293 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,880 far from here and just to get a feel for, you know, America and 294 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,280 Virginia or whatever. And, you know, just I like to 295 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,000 observe people. That's part of a shepherd's job 296 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,680 is to watch sheep. So I like to observe people. 297 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:56,800 And I'm just looking at people's faces and watching people. 298 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,640 And, you know, people here look very similar to people back 299 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:00,880 home. They don't really look very 300 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,760 happy. And it's interesting, isn't it, 301 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:08,160 Because we're surrounded in our countries by tremendous 302 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,320 materialism. Anything pretty, all your heart 303 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:17,400 could wish for. People are miserable, not happy. 304 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,760 Why? Because stuff can't replace the 305 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:24,080 Savior. Stuff can't really fill your 306 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,160 heart with joy. You need to know the Lord Jesus 307 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,040 Christ. I even tried to say hello to a 308 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,640 few people sitting there eating my cold rock ice cream, which 309 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,760 wasn't much chopped, but said hello. 310 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,920 And people looked at me strange. I think they were trying to 311 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:44,400 figure out where I was from. But the point is you need to 312 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,920 stop sometimes and look and think about where people are 313 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,240 headed. Now the phrase here moved with 314 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,440 compassion, means to feel pity or sympathy. 315 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:54,840 It's actually a very strong word. 316 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,000 As you studied the word, the root word actually referred to 317 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:02,840 the internal organs. This word is translated bowels 318 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,240 in other places. So the reference is to the 319 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,760 heart, to the inner man. It speaks of the seat of 320 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:10,960 affection. So this was this was the Lord 321 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,960 Jesus. He felt a pity and he felt a 322 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,480 sorrow for the multitudes in his heart. 323 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:21,320 This was a strong, very strong and powerful feeling of 324 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,040 compassion. You can read multiple verses. 325 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,600 In fact, I found 9 references in the gospels to Christ's 326 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:32,480 compassion for sinners and what a heart he had for the lost. 327 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,760 Aren't you thankful for it for the Lord Jesus compassion. 328 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,680 Second Peter 3 verse 9. The Lord is not slack concerning 329 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:39,800 his promises. Some men count slackness, but 330 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,840 his long-suffering to to us would not willing that any 331 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,360 should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 332 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,040 That's the heart of Christ. And let's just, let's just state 333 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,120 this why? Why we're on that verse. 334 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,720 The Lord Jesus loves every Sinner, not just some sinners. 335 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,480 We totally reject the Calvinistic idea of limited 336 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,200 atonement. Jesus Christ came to die for the 337 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:03,720 sins of the entire world, not just a select group of people. 338 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,440 And if you believe in Calvinism, you're basically saying that he 339 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:08,320 only really loves some and not others. 340 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:10,560 That's not the Jesus that I find in the Bible. 341 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:16,520 So his heart was moved by the sight of the people. 342 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,160 Then we could say His heart was moved #2 by the plight of the 343 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:22,920 people. Look back at verse 36 again. 344 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,840 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on 345 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:27,560 them. Why? 346 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,560 Because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep, 347 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:37,960 having no shepherd. It was the spiritual misery of 348 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,160 the people that so powerfully moved our Lord's heart with 349 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:45,360 compassion. As He looked at those people, He 350 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:51,360 saw where they were really at. We could say they were weak 351 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,400 because they fainted. They were weak. 352 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:56,520 They fainted. You know, sin has that effect, 353 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:57,720 doesn't it? It weakens, it doesn't 354 00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:59,960 strengthen people. People think if I just, if I 355 00:20:59,960 --> 00:21:03,440 can, just, if I can just indulge this last and that last, I'll be 356 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,280 living my best life. No, it sin ruins people's lives. 357 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,360 Sin, sin. Sin brings wreckage and 358 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:11,160 breakage. And Christ saw that they 359 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,320 fainted. They were weak, we could say. 360 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:16,240 They were wounded and we're scattered abroad. 361 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,080 The Greek word here means to cast down, to throw down to the 362 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,080 ground. And so we could say sin brings 363 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,760 sorrow and scarring and senselessness to the life. 364 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,960 Can you see that? They were just scattered abroad? 365 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:27,920 Isn't that a picture of our world? 366 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:32,920 People just wandering about and people just just just lost 367 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,640 without hope and without purpose in life. 368 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:42,880 They were wandering as sheep, having no shepherd, no 369 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:50,960 direction, and no protection. That's the reality, isn't it? 370 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:53,440 The bulk of humanity go through life not really knowing the 371 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:59,160 answer to questions like why am I here, where am I going or what 372 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:04,080 is the purpose of life? That's the case, isn't it? 373 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,840 And you're thankful that when the Lord Jesus saved you, He 374 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:10,440 gave you real purpose. You have a reason to live, but 375 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:11,920 think about the average person out there. 376 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:16,840 What are they really living for? What does life mean without the 377 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,040 Lord Jesus? It's meaningless, isn't it 378 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,280 really? And that's the reality. 379 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:26,680 People are lost and people are wandering and ruined by sin. 380 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,920 You say what's the answer? The Lord Jesus Christ? 381 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,840 And where are they going to hear about the Lord Jesus Christ and 382 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:35,760 where are they going to hear about the gospel except a gospel 383 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:41,160 preaching spirit empowered local churches and Christians obeying 384 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:45,120 the Lord and going. You know, there's an old song 385 00:22:45,120 --> 00:22:52,200 that I heard growing up and it said in the course I think it 386 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,200 was let me see this world, dear Lord, as though I were looking 387 00:22:56,200 --> 00:23:00,120 through your eyes. For if once I could see this 388 00:23:00,120 --> 00:23:03,800 world the way you see, I just know I'd serve you more 389 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:09,840 faithfully over us like the Lord Jesus to truly see the world 390 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,720 with love as he sees. So we need a compassion for the 391 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:19,040 harvest. Pray for it, but follow cross 392 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:22,160 example. Go in obedience. 393 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,960 Go out and involve yourself in seeking to reach people with the 394 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:28,120 gospel and the Lord will give you a burden. 395 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,280 Go and get a burden. Don't wait for a burden. 396 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:33,440 Sometimes that can become an excuse. 397 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,120 Well, I'm just, I'm just waiting, pastor. 398 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:37,680 I'm just waiting, pastor, until I get a burden. 399 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:42,320 No, no, no, don't, don't, don't use that as an excuse. 400 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:48,200 You need to go. So then the second, the second 401 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,320 thing we need, not only do we need a compassion for the 402 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:56,560 harvest #2 we need a vision of the harvest, a vision of the 403 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,760 harvest. Look at verse 37 there, read it 404 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,600 with me on the count of two, will you 1-2 then say, if he and 405 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,400 his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers 406 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,680 are few. Verse 38 as well, pray ye 407 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,120 therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth 408 00:24:12,120 --> 00:24:18,600 laborers into his harvest. So we need a vision for the 409 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:23,440 harvest. The harvest truly is plenteous. 410 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,520 In John 435, Jesus exhorted the disciples to lift up their eyes 411 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:30,440 and look. And so we need a compassion for 412 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,400 the harvest, but we also need to get a vision for the harvest. 413 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,560 We need the vision for the vastness of the harvest field. 414 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,520 It's a vast harvest. Jesus said that the harvest 415 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:48,480 truly is. The harvest truly is plenteous. 416 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:52,080 That's a vast harvest, isn't it? And it is. 417 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:54,520 It's described in the Bible as plenteous. 418 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,200 Matthew 937. We just read that. 419 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,840 It's described by our Lord Jesus as great. 420 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,480 Luke 10, verse 2, it's described as the world. 421 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,920 Jesus said that the field is the world. 422 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:12,720 That's a big harvest. And that's our mission, to reach 423 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:17,560 the World with the precious message of the Gospel of Christ. 424 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:22,760 Lift up your eyes and look not on the field singular, but on 425 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:27,480 the fields plural. Not a vision for just one part 426 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,920 of the harvest field, but a vision for the great harvest 427 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:33,880 fields of the world. That's so important, isn't it? 428 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:37,640 And it's great to invest time and energy in a particular 429 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,160 mission field. But let's remember to look upon 430 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:44,760 the fields plural and seek to have a heart for the fields 431 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,520 plural and look out and see what the Lord Jesus would have for 432 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:49,880 us. And so we need to get a vision 433 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,880 for the local field where God has placed us. 434 00:25:53,120 --> 00:25:54,760 That's where it starts really, doesn't it? 435 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,400 We could say this missions begins at home. 436 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,160 I'll challenge you. I'd say you have no right 437 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,800 jumping on a plane to go to another country to sew in there. 438 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,920 If you're not willing to sew in here, something wrong with that. 439 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,800 And I've seen Christians that were literally willing to jump 440 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,280 on a plane and go on a missions trip and go and knock doors or 441 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:18,920 speak for the gospel in another country, but you couldn't count 442 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:22,080 on them to show up to the outreach service of the church. 443 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,840 Something wrong with that model because missions begins at home. 444 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:27,880 You say, how do you know? Because when the Lord Jesus gave 445 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:33,040 the Great Commission in Luke 4024, verse 47, he said these 446 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,880 words beginning at Jerusalem. So he told the apostles you to 447 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,880 go and, and, and reach all nations essentially there. 448 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,720 But he said that it was to begin at Jerusalem. 449 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,200 In fact, just look at that verse, Luke chapter 24, verse 450 00:26:46,200 --> 00:27:04,080 47, Luke chapter 24 and verse 47, and that repentance and 451 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,960 remission of sin should be preached in His name among how 452 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,240 many nations, right? That's the global vision there. 453 00:27:10,360 --> 00:27:14,200 But notice this phrase beginning at Jesus said you start right 454 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,440 here where you are all nations. That's the vision, that's the 455 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,960 mission. But you need to begin at 456 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,840 Jerusalem. That means for you, you need to 457 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:28,120 begin here in Richmond. This is your, this is where God 458 00:27:28,120 --> 00:27:29,960 has placed you. This is the corner of the 459 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:31,840 harvest field that God has you in. 460 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,960 And you need to have a heart for the local field as well as the 461 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:40,000 global field. Do people not need the gospel in 462 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,240 this area? I think they do. 463 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:46,200 Virginia needs the gospel. Richmond needs the gospel. 464 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:48,160 The USA needs the gospel, doesn't it? 465 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,600 Absolutely. Australia needs the gospel. 466 00:27:52,360 --> 00:27:57,200 The answer to this nation's needs, ultimately is the gospel. 467 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,120 Not politics, not the Republican Party, definitely not the 468 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:04,320 Democrat Party, whatever party. That's not the point. 469 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:08,360 The point is, the answer for this nation, as well as every 470 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:11,240 other nation, is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 471 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,280 So we need to get a vision for the local field where God has 472 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:19,360 placed our church, your church. We need to get a vision for the 473 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:23,600 mission fields of the world and pray and give and go as God 474 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:28,400 calls. What a vast harvest we have. 475 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:33,520 We need a vision for it. China, 1.3 billion people, 476 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:39,400 India, 1.2 billion people, African continent, 1.2 billion 477 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:45,680 people, North America, 579 million people, South America 478 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:50,080 422 million people, Middle East 411 million. 479 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:51,560 And it just goes on and on and on. 480 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:54,920 Even in your own state here, almost 9 million people in this 481 00:28:54,920 --> 00:29:01,840 state and the whole population of the world is over 8 billion. 482 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,640 And we have been commanded to preach the gospel to every 483 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,640 creature that that's enough work to keep us all busy till the 484 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:09,720 Lord Jesus comes. We don't have time to get 485 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:12,840 distracted on this para church ministry and that para church 486 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:16,200 ministry and this charity and that charity and they may do 487 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:17,640 some good. And I've had to think about this 488 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:20,600 as a pastor because your heart feels, you think, boy, that's a 489 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,720 good cause. You know, that's a great 'cause 490 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,640 that they're doing there yet. But we have to come back to what 491 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:28,200 is the primary work of the church. 492 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:32,320 That's right. And, you know, as I read the 493 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:36,760 book of Acts, I just don't see political activism as being the 494 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:42,320 primary focus of the church. Now, should we care about our 495 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:43,280 nation? Yes. 496 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:45,160 Should we pray for our nation? Yes. 497 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:48,520 Should we have some involvement in the political process as salt 498 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,040 and light? Certainly, but I'm just saying, 499 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,000 read the book of Acts, which is the mission manual of the New 500 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:57,440 Testament, and you will not find the apostles on the whole 501 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:00,440 really, really going around preaching politics. 502 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:06,960 Now, I love your president, but he's not the Savior and some 503 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:11,440 almost talk like he is. He's not that female pastor he's 504 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,640 got. She's a doozy and needs to sack 505 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:16,960 her. But anyway, on her third 506 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,040 marriage, she shouldn't be a pastor because she's a woman. 507 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:21,360 She definitely shouldn't be because she's had three 508 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:23,040 marriages. That's disgusting. 509 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:27,680 Anyway, All right, But you understand what I'm saying. 510 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:29,680 What did the apostles do? What did the early church do? 511 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:31,200 They shook the world with the gospel. 512 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:33,440 They turned the world upside down for the gospel. 513 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:35,240 And guess what? Do you really want to help your 514 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:36,360 nation? Do you know the best thing you 515 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:39,600 can do is win souls? Because guess what happens when 516 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:42,440 people get saved? They change their values. 517 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:46,840 We have people in our church who used to be left wing voters and 518 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,960 now they vote more conservative or more in line with biblical 519 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:50,640 principles. Why? 520 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,400 Because when they got saved, they got a new set of values. 521 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:58,280 It's very hard to get pagans to accept Christian values. 522 00:30:58,600 --> 00:30:59,720 And you've got these groups out there. 523 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:01,800 We have them in Australia too, that spend millions and millions 524 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,240 of dollars trying to get pagans to accept biblical values. 525 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,440 But pagans don't accept biblical values but save people do. 526 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:11,560 So even from that perspective, if you really want to help your 527 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:14,280 nation, the best thing you can do is get out there with the 528 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:18,120 gospel. That'll in the long run have a 529 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,400 much bigger impact than all this lobbying. 530 00:31:26,250 --> 00:31:31,970 You know, the world we're living in is just passing on into 531 00:31:31,970 --> 00:31:35,090 eternity. What a vast harvest field. 532 00:31:35,530 --> 00:31:40,290 There are 56 approximately 56,000,000 deaths per year, 4.6 533 00:31:40,290 --> 00:31:45,330 million deaths per month. Over 153,000 deaths per day, 534 00:31:46,410 --> 00:31:52,440 over 6000 deaths per hour, about 106 deaths per minute, and 535 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:57,280 almost 2 deaths per second. It's pretty sobering. 536 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:04,080 Every second that passes, about two people are passing into 537 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:05,520 eternity. Can you see why? 538 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:09,840 The Lord Jesus said the harvest is plenteous, but the labor is a 539 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:14,400 few. So we need a vision for the 540 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:18,640 vastness of the harvest field. We need a vision, secondly, for 541 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,880 the ripeness of the harvest field. 542 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,760 In John chapter 4, the Lord Jesus said that the harvest 543 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:25,960 fields were white or ready to harvest. 544 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,800 John 435. Do you know there are souls that 545 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:30,720 are ready to be harvested right now? 546 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,400 There are. I know many are hard to the 547 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:37,960 gospel and many don't want to be saved. 548 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:42,720 But there are people who are right now in our world, even in 549 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:46,600 this city, no doubt willing or ready to be saved. 550 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:50,280 They just need someone to tell them. 551 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,520 That's important because sometimes I understand it's a 552 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:58,200 challenge. We're living in difficult times. 553 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,840 We're getting close to the return of Christ, perilous 554 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:03,960 times. And a lot of hearts are hard. 555 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:06,200 But sometimes we can make it sound like, well, no one's 556 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,320 really getting saved anymore. And we're just so close to the 557 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:10,720 rapture. And I think we are. 558 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:15,680 And therefore we just, you know, we make it sound like the 559 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:21,160 problems in the harvest field, but actually the problem has to 560 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:28,040 do with the laborers. That's the issue even in 561 00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:30,040 Australia. In Australia, look, honestly, 562 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:34,680 it's hard yakka, trying to, you know, witness to people because 563 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:39,680 most Australians are secular. We have a Christian heritage in 564 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:41,840 our nation. But most people, their attitude 565 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:44,480 is she'll be right, mate, don't bother me. 566 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:46,480 You can have your religion. In fact the Australian mindset 567 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:49,280 is you can believe whatever you want, just don't bother me, 568 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:51,200 bother me with it. Don't tell me I'm wrong. 569 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:56,240 And so, but you know, even in Australia we find we go outdoor 570 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:59,040 knocking and almost every time we have opportunities, there are 571 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:02,800 people out there who are still willing to hear the gospel if we 572 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:07,320 will go. So we need a vision for the 573 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:10,760 vastness of the harvest field, the ripeness of the harvest 574 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:12,040 field. We also need to catch a vision 575 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:15,239 for the scarceness in the harvest field or understand the 576 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:18,080 scarceness in the harvest field. Look back at verse 37. 577 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:21,600 Then say if he under his disciples, the harvest truly is 578 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,960 plenteous, but the what labor is a few. 579 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:29,920 So the issue is not a harvest. So the problem is not a harvest 580 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:32,199 problem. We have a labor problem. 581 00:34:34,199 --> 00:34:41,719 We have a labor shortage when it comes to laborers for the 582 00:34:41,719 --> 00:34:44,760 harvest field, the old commentator Matthew Henry said. 583 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:49,239 We have loiterers many, but laborers few. 584 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:55,239 We need laborers. This local church needs 585 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:57,920 laborers. The mission fields of the world 586 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:00,760 need laborers. Belize needs laborers. 587 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:03,440 Every country needs laborers. That's, that's, that's the 588 00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:07,760 crying need of the hour. I don't, I have not met one 589 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:09,960 faithful pastor who says I'm all good now, I've got enough 590 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:12,000 laborers. It just doesn't. 591 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,600 It's just, it's just the needs just go on and on and on and on. 592 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:22,680 And laborers are needed in this most important work of reaching 593 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:25,800 people for Christ. It's just comes down to simple, 594 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:28,280 simple mathematics. If 10 people go out so many on 595 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:31,240 Sunday morning and even speak to two people each, that's 20 596 00:35:31,240 --> 00:35:35,920 people contacted for the gospel. If 20 people go out and even 597 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:38,600 just speak to two people each, that's 40 people who have been 598 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:42,600 touched by the gospel. We trust If 50 people goes out, 599 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:45,840 go out and even just speak to two people each, that's 100. 600 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:48,040 Do you see the issue? Do you see what I'm saying? 601 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:51,160 We just need laborers. And the more laborers, the more 602 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:54,880 people can be contacted for the gospel, the more people can be 603 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:58,840 impacted with the gospel. Romans 10/14 How shall they call 604 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:00,320 on him and whom they have not believed? 605 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:03,320 And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? 606 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:05,880 And how shall they hear without a preacher? 607 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:12,040 The answer is they won't hear. So as we think of the harvest 608 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:16,720 field, we need a compassion for the harvest. 609 00:36:17,240 --> 00:36:20,320 We need to get a vision of the harvest. 610 00:36:20,720 --> 00:36:24,760 And then thirdly and lastly, we need then a supplication for the 611 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:28,480 harvest and look for the therefore in verse 38. 612 00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:32,120 In fact, read it with me the verse on on on the count of 212. 613 00:36:32,720 --> 00:36:35,680 Pray ye therefore, the Lord of the harvest that he will send 614 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:40,040 forth laborers into his harvest. So we need a compassion for the 615 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:42,960 harvest. We need to get a vision for the 616 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:47,480 harvest and then that will lead us, we trust to this 617 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:51,240 supplication for the harvest. Therefore, on the basis of what 618 00:36:51,240 --> 00:36:53,600 I've just said, that's what the word therefore means. 619 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:56,240 When you see the word, therefore stop and see what it is there 620 00:36:56,240 --> 00:36:58,960 for and it connects us to what is just being said. 621 00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:02,000 The Lord Jesus has just spoken about the fact that the harvest 622 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:05,320 is plenteous, but the laborers are few, and then he gives us 623 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:08,000 the solution. Prayer is the solution to this 624 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:13,480 labor shortage and the and the the shortage of laborers should 625 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:18,000 drive us to our knees, should drive us to the Lord Jesus to 626 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:25,560 seek his working to meet the need a supplication for the 627 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:30,160 harvest. And so we note there the problem 628 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:32,480 motivating the prayer. It's the it's the labor 629 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:36,160 shortage, the problem of the lack of laborers that drives us 630 00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:38,360 to prayer. This word prayer is an 631 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:41,560 interesting word. It means to beg or to make 632 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:43,920 petition. You study the grammar of the 633 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:45,480 word. It's in the Eris tense, which 634 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:47,960 gives the command a sense of urgency. 635 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:55,280 And so we have this sense of urgency laid upon us to pray for 636 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:58,800 the needs of the harvest field. We could say our prayers for the 637 00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:01,720 harvest field need to be earnest and passionate. 638 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:04,880 That's the kind of prayer God wants to hear. 639 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:09,360 And we'd have to work something up in our emotions and sort of 640 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:12,480 manufactured sense. But we just need to have a heart 641 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:14,840 to pray. And there needs to be 642 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:17,680 earnestness in prayer and fervency in prayer. 643 00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:23,680 And no doubt the lack of laborers for the harvest field 644 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:26,720 is due in part to the prayerlessness in churches. 645 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:29,880 What's Christ's answer to the labour shortage here? 646 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:32,040 The harvest is plenteous. We need labourers. 647 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:35,200 Christ's pray, pray the Lord of the harvest that he will send 648 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:36,720 forth labourers into the harvest field. 649 00:38:37,120 --> 00:38:39,920 Well, if we have prayerless churches, we are not going to 650 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:43,040 see labourers raised up and sent forth. 651 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:46,200 The kind of churches that are going to see labourers raised 652 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:51,000 up, trying and sent forth are churches that are praying 653 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:55,960 centres, prayerful churches, churches that are serious about 654 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:58,880 prayer. And sadly many churches today, 655 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,440 and I include independent Baptists in that many churches 656 00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:06,320 today have many programs and not enough prayer. 657 00:39:12,310 --> 00:39:16,270 And prayerless churches are powerless churches. 658 00:39:18,110 --> 00:39:23,840 Little prayer, little power, much prayer, much power. 659 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:27,880 We need to get back to the place of prayer, serious prayer as a 660 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:32,360 church, if we're going to see the needs of the harvest field 661 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:37,920 addressed. You know, when men work, men 662 00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:41,800 work, but when men pray, God works. 663 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:52,320 When men work, men work, but when men pray, God works not 664 00:39:52,320 --> 00:39:56,080 against programs, not against the church being well organized. 665 00:39:56,080 --> 00:39:59,360 We try to do that on our in our church as well and to have a 666 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:02,240 schedule and all those things. Those things aren't sinful. 667 00:40:02,240 --> 00:40:04,760 It's we to do things decently and in order. 668 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,400 And there are various facets to the church ministry, but let's 669 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:11,240 not forget to, let's make sure that prayer doesn't get buried 670 00:40:11,240 --> 00:40:14,360 beneath the programs and prayer gets pushed to the side. 671 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:17,160 Now it needs to be very much a central part of the life of the 672 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:23,600 Church. I'm not surprised that many 673 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:25,680 independent Baptist churches aren't sending out missionaries 674 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:26,960 anymore. Half of them are closing their 675 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:29,040 prayer meetings. They don't even have a prayer 676 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:31,240 meeting anymore. That's the trend today. 677 00:40:31,240 --> 00:40:34,640 By the way, I was someone wrote me recently, someone who 678 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:37,120 obviously listens to my sermons online from America, actually, I 679 00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:40,280 forget which part. And this brother, I believe he's 680 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:42,720 probably a brother in cross, was just broken hearted about what's 681 00:40:42,720 --> 00:40:46,840 happening in his church. New pastor came in and basically 682 00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:49,800 got got rid of the prayer meeting and turned it into like 683 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:55,280 a little program thing, 2 minute devotion, this modern thing and 684 00:40:55,280 --> 00:40:59,400 just, well, it's just powerless, isn't it? 685 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:07,680 God's methods haven't changed. And, and you look at the early 686 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,760 church and they they prayed and they preached and they prayed 687 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:12,480 and they preached and they prayed and they preached. 688 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:13,720 That's kind of the heart of it, isn't it? 689 00:41:13,720 --> 00:41:15,200 Really? What is the church supposed to 690 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:16,720 do? Well, pray and preach is right 691 00:41:16,720 --> 00:41:21,960 up there on the list. Pray much and preach much and 692 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,120 God will still bless. I mean, look at the early church 693 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:28,560 in the book of Acts and look at the power in that church and say 694 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:30,600 why? Because they prayed, they 695 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:32,280 prayed. They were a praying church. 696 00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:38,760 So that's the trend today. Shut down the prayer meetings, 697 00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:40,840 shut down the Sunday night service. 698 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:42,680 Let's have less church and less church. 699 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:47,400 Let's have programs. Well, all you're left with then 700 00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:55,760 is a substitute fake power. Most churches out there today, 701 00:41:55,760 --> 00:41:58,880 if you turn the band off, there would be no more sense of power. 702 00:42:00,240 --> 00:42:03,960 And if your power comes from the band, that's not a genuine power 703 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:06,640 because the true power of God is not dependent on a band. 704 00:42:11,900 --> 00:42:16,500 The problem that motivates the prey, it's the problem we have 705 00:42:17,020 --> 00:42:19,980 of a lack of laborers that should motivate us to go and beg 706 00:42:19,980 --> 00:42:25,460 God for laborers. Consider then the person to whom 707 00:42:25,460 --> 00:42:28,220 we pray, the person to whom we pray. 708 00:42:28,220 --> 00:42:33,240 Pray ye therefore, who? The Lord of the harvest, Well, 709 00:42:33,240 --> 00:42:35,320 he's the only one who can solve the problem, isn't he? 710 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:38,120 He's the one who has the power. The Lord Jesus is the one who 711 00:42:38,120 --> 00:42:42,520 has the resources that we need. So what do we do? 712 00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:47,280 So few good churches today, so few preachers that are faithful 713 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:50,560 to the gospel, so few laborers. What shall we do? 714 00:42:50,640 --> 00:42:56,200 Pray to the Lord Jesus about it. He has the power and the 715 00:42:56,200 --> 00:43:02,800 resources to meet the need. He's the Lord of the harvest. 716 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:05,520 Let's just remember that the Lord Jesus is the director of 717 00:43:05,520 --> 00:43:08,320 world missions. It's his harvest field. 718 00:43:09,320 --> 00:43:13,200 We have the privilege of serving in it, but it's his. 719 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:17,720 He's the director. He's the one building his 720 00:43:17,720 --> 00:43:20,160 church, and we have the privilege of laboring for him 721 00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:24,080 and with him. So we need to go to the Lord 722 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:27,680 Jesus about this labor shortage and make it a serious point for 723 00:43:27,680 --> 00:43:31,800 prayer in our churches. Person to whom we pray. 724 00:43:31,960 --> 00:43:34,680 The point of the prayer. The point of the prayer, verse 725 00:43:34,680 --> 00:43:36,520 38. Pray you therefore the Lord of 726 00:43:36,520 --> 00:43:41,480 the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his 727 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:43,520 harvest. That word send forth is a very 728 00:43:43,520 --> 00:43:45,320 strong word. It's the word Ek balo. 729 00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:48,160 It means to cast out or to thrust forth. 730 00:43:48,160 --> 00:43:49,240 And that's what we're praying for. 731 00:43:49,240 --> 00:43:53,960 We're praying that God will raise up faithful men and thrust 732 00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:57,240 them forth into the harvest fields of the world, cast them 733 00:43:57,240 --> 00:43:59,040 forth into the harvest fields of the world. 734 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:01,560 That's a wonderful thing. When God will do that in a 735 00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:05,040 church and we see people raised up and trained and then sent 736 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:11,040 forth to take the gospel. And God will call some to go 737 00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:15,320 out, as it were. God calls some to stay and keep 738 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:17,960 home base running. And I'm very conscious as a 739 00:44:17,960 --> 00:44:19,680 pastor. I pray for, I really pray for 740 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:21,520 two things. I pray for laborers to be raised 741 00:44:21,520 --> 00:44:23,600 up and sent forth. I also pray for laborers to 742 00:44:23,600 --> 00:44:26,720 strengthen the home base because if you want to, if you want to 743 00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:29,160 do much for missions out there, you need a strong base here. 744 00:44:30,320 --> 00:44:33,040 And maybe that's your role. It may not be that God's called 745 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:35,200 you to be a full time pastor or a missionary, but you can be a 746 00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:38,560 laborer in the local field and support in prayer and support in 747 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:41,360 giving and get behind what God is doing through the mission 748 00:44:41,360 --> 00:44:43,640 efforts of the church. And that's a very, very 749 00:44:43,640 --> 00:44:45,360 important role. We need that. 750 00:44:49,920 --> 00:44:52,800 So while I'm not called to be a full time pastor or missionary 751 00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:57,040 or evangelist, you know every Christian can do something for 752 00:44:57,040 --> 00:44:59,440 the harvest field and every Christian needs to do something 753 00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:04,440 for the harvest field. We need a we need churches where 754 00:45:04,440 --> 00:45:09,560 everybody takes to heart this need for laborers and we can all 755 00:45:09,560 --> 00:45:11,960 do something for the cause of the harvest field. 756 00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:15,360 We need believers who will reach out to their home mission field. 757 00:45:15,360 --> 00:45:17,680 We've talked about that. We need believers who will give 758 00:45:17,680 --> 00:45:19,080 generously to the work of missions. 759 00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:21,840 We need believers who will join the local church team and 760 00:45:21,840 --> 00:45:24,400 strengthen the home base so that more can be done for missions. 761 00:45:24,680 --> 00:45:27,800 Every gospel preacher needs a strong team of workers to help 762 00:45:27,800 --> 00:45:33,640 keep him at his post. Your pastor needs help. 763 00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:36,840 So how do you know? Because every pastor needs help 764 00:45:39,720 --> 00:45:43,880 and it's all part of being a laborer and doing something for 765 00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:46,000 the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ. 766 00:45:47,680 --> 00:45:53,040 The point of the prayer, send forth laborers, then think about 767 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:55,040 the performance following the prayer. 768 00:45:55,040 --> 00:45:58,160 And I'll just say this, if so many admissions is made a top 769 00:45:58,160 --> 00:46:02,120 priority in our prayers, then we will be more likely to make it a 770 00:46:02,120 --> 00:46:07,080 top priority in our schedules. If you really get a heart for 771 00:46:07,080 --> 00:46:10,800 the harvest field and you really start to pray as Jesus has 772 00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:14,880 commanded us here, He's asked us to pray about this. 773 00:46:16,640 --> 00:46:17,720 It's an interesting thought, isn't it? 774 00:46:17,840 --> 00:46:20,720 The Lord Jesus is asking us to pray about this. 775 00:46:21,320 --> 00:46:22,720 Could you do it for the Lord Jesus? 776 00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:26,080 If He's asking you to pray for it, then you better pray for it. 777 00:46:26,080 --> 00:46:27,440 It's obviously very important to him. 778 00:46:28,200 --> 00:46:31,520 And here's the thing, if the Lord Jesus asks us to pray for 779 00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:35,000 this, I believe if we actually do pray for it, we can expect an 780 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:37,080 answer. He's going to do it. 781 00:46:37,840 --> 00:46:40,600 We've been praying for the last 10 over the last 10 years since 782 00:46:41,200 --> 00:46:44,160 started pastoring Northside for laborers and God has answered. 783 00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:46,360 We've sent out one man to Africa, trained him, send him 784 00:46:46,360 --> 00:46:48,040 out. We recently sent out a man to 785 00:46:48,040 --> 00:46:50,720 the other side of the country to take over a small work that 786 00:46:50,720 --> 00:46:54,120 needs a pastor. We have several young men going 787 00:46:54,120 --> 00:46:56,000 through our Bible college ministry at the moment and we're 788 00:46:56,000 --> 00:46:57,680 looking forward to seeing what God is going to do with them. 789 00:46:58,360 --> 00:47:01,880 One at least has a definite calling on his life and and and 790 00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:04,560 and others, you know, open to what God would would do. 791 00:47:04,760 --> 00:47:07,200 And and you say, well, isn't it? That's wonderful, but it's 792 00:47:07,200 --> 00:47:09,640 because of prayer. We've been praying God's raised 793 00:47:09,640 --> 00:47:13,440 up laborers use us as a church. We want to send forth laborers, 794 00:47:13,440 --> 00:47:15,760 Lord, and we want to be a part of what you're doing. 795 00:47:16,520 --> 00:47:21,480 So if you will pray for souls, you will probably be more 796 00:47:21,480 --> 00:47:24,480 willing to go out and try to reach souls. 797 00:47:27,200 --> 00:47:28,880 We need to put legs to our prayers, don't we? 798 00:47:29,360 --> 00:47:35,000 We need to go. We commanded both to pray ye and 799 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:43,680 go ye, pray ye and go ye. So never underestimate the 800 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:49,600 place, the part that you can play in reaching souls for the 801 00:47:49,600 --> 00:47:54,840 Lord Jesus Christ. And so helpers for the harvest 802 00:47:54,840 --> 00:47:58,160 field. We need helpers for the harvest 803 00:47:58,440 --> 00:48:01,480 field. And we need the Lord's heart for 804 00:48:01,520 --> 00:48:03,080 the harvest field. Do you have a heart for the 805 00:48:03,080 --> 00:48:05,680 harvest field? I trust you do. 806 00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:08,120 Let's have every head bad and every eye closed. 807 00:48:08,120 --> 00:48:11,840 Do we have a heart for the harvest field? 808 00:48:15,360 --> 00:48:17,720 Would you surrender and say, Lord, here am I, send me. 809 00:48:20,080 --> 00:48:24,600 Maybe you need to be willing say, OK, Lord, I'll take that 810 00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:27,960 step of faith, even though I'm I'm afraid I'll take that step 811 00:48:27,960 --> 00:48:30,240 of faith and join the solemn efforts of the church. 812 00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:37,640 Lord, I'll be a part of of this church's missions giving Lord, 813 00:48:37,640 --> 00:48:41,240 I'm willing to do something on the local church team. 814 00:48:41,560 --> 00:48:43,800 I'm willing to pray and to give and to go. 815 00:48:45,640 --> 00:48:49,720 Do you have that heart, the heart of the Lord Jesus for the 816 00:48:49,720 --> 00:48:52,280 harvest field. Now you're willing to play your 817 00:48:52,280 --> 00:48:56,240 part and to be used of God as we seek to reach the World. 818 00:48:56,240 --> 00:48:58,640 For Cross pastor, you come and finish us as you feel it. 819 00:49:01,160 --> 00:49:02,320 Amen. Let's send our seats with our 820 00:49:02,320 --> 00:49:07,000 heads bowed and our eyes closed. I know that as a church, we do a 821 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:10,080 lot and we we do a lot in this area. 822 00:49:10,080 --> 00:49:13,760 But can you do more? Do you pray the way that you 823 00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:17,440 should? That's, that's something that 824 00:49:17,440 --> 00:49:19,400 we've been emphasizing a lot more recently. 825 00:49:20,360 --> 00:49:22,680 Do you pray the way that you should be praying for, for 826 00:49:22,680 --> 00:49:26,520 souls? And do you see them or like you 827 00:49:26,520 --> 00:49:29,600 mentioned, you're just busy running around trying to do the 828 00:49:29,600 --> 00:49:31,680 things that have to be done. That's one of the reasons why we 829 00:49:31,680 --> 00:49:34,240 have the card contest. It makes you think about it. 830 00:49:34,960 --> 00:49:38,320 And hopefully you didn't stop this the second the card contest 831 00:49:38,320 --> 00:49:39,720 got over. Hopefully you're still giving 832 00:49:39,720 --> 00:49:42,320 out those cards. Hopefully it's a habit and it's 833 00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:44,680 something that you you need to consciously think about. 834 00:49:44,680 --> 00:49:47,800 It's something that you need to consciously do because we are 835 00:49:47,800 --> 00:49:49,600 busy and we do have a lot of things going on. 836 00:49:49,880 --> 00:49:53,440 But are you, are you doing everything you can the cause of 837 00:49:53,440 --> 00:49:57,040 Christ here abroad and everywhere in between? 838 00:49:59,840 --> 00:50:01,440 Father, we thank you so much for the message. 839 00:50:01,440 --> 00:50:03,840 I pray that you would just continue to allow her to speak 840 00:50:03,840 --> 00:50:05,280 to our hearts. And I pray that you'd help us to 841 00:50:05,280 --> 00:50:07,720 respond to the message in a way that's pleasing to you. 842 00:50:08,400 --> 00:50:11,320 Thank you again for all you do for us in Jesus name, Amen. 843 00:50:11,360 --> 00:50:13,680 As the piano plays, If God spoke to your heart, tonight you come.