One of my New Testament readings this morning was in Matthew 9 talking about ‘the harvest is plentiful, the laborers few’. It’s easy to observe the advancement of false religions in our country. It has become quite vivid for me over my 89 years of life. The body of Christ clearly has the single true answer to the moral and spiritual need for all Americans and around the world. It’s the gospel. I believe it was Barna who recorded a statistic that is quite telling. Several years ago I was reading that at least 80% of people who call themselves Christians in America have never shared the gospel with another soul. While many churches preach the gospel, this would indicate that very few are teaching the body what the true gospel is and how to share it.
When you’ve been equipped to share the gospel in any circumstance that you find the need, you are prepared to advance this message into the audience to which you are speaking. A laborer in God’s harvest field needs these tools to be an effective worker.
I would like to share something that happened this morning. I was at the Cooper Aerobics Center. I had finished my workout and a 46 year old man that I met several years ago there came up to me and started whispering. He said this has been an incredible year for me. He said, what you shared with me years ago I have never forgotten. But about a year ago, I had this awakening, and I trusted Christ in a hotel room where I was alone. I started weeping, but I felt like all the sins in my life had been lifted off me. For this past year, it has been a true spiritual growth for me. Not without issues. My family who is not of a Christian background are concerned about me. But I’m going to stay strong and pray for them.
A young man standing next to us overheard it and said ‘that message will preach’. After my friend got a hug from me and he walked away, I struck up a conversation with this young man who turned out to be a Christian. He’s a father with three children under the age of six. We discussed the fatherhood ministry. I offered and he accepted to receive the book on fatherhood. He was very excited. That was his first day to ever be at Cooper and he just happened to be standing next to us. Coincidence…I don’t think either one of them are.
Frankly, I don’t know exactly what I shared with my friend several years ago, but God used it in some mighty way to help lead him to salvation. We have these moments in our life. Do we take advantage of them or walk away from them? The weather and sports are fun and non-threatening, but sharing truth is our calling. Now, let’s end by focusing on the Matthew verses.
‘And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest”’ (Mt. 9. 35,37,38). Jesus, our Lord, our true model, spent his kingdom days sharing the gospel, healing and teaching. And before he ascended back to the right hand of his Father, he said ‘go and make disciples’. Maybe it starts with sharing something in his truth with another soul, under whatever circumstance you find yourself. Paul wrote in Corinthians that ‘he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth’. He goes on to say, ‘for we are God’s fellow workers’. Your wages will be eternal according to your labor. If you don’t know how to share the gospel, send me a note, we’ll fix that right away!!