Pages

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Workers are Many


“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  (Matthew 9:35-36)

Yesterday evening at Kensington Training Camp, Steve Andrews taught from this passage.  Jesus saw the needs around him and was filled with great compassion - a word in Greek which actually means a heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, visceral reaction.  Jesus knew he’d soon be leaving, no longer able to teach and heal people in person.  He needed help to carry out his work.

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Steve confessed to wondering, even doubting, how the church could meet an ocean of needs with only a pool of resources.  That’s when the Holy Spirit reminded him that there’s really an ocean of resources - and we’re not talking about money, we’re talking about people

Jesus told his disciples to pray for more workers, but then in the very next verse he sends them out themselves.  Hey! (Matthew 10:1)

God expects us to notice the needs around us, to have his heart and compassion, and to be his hands and feet in the world.  He expects us to pray, but not just pray, to also go.  And if we’re not sure where, how, or when…start somewhere.  When we do, the workers aren’t few, but many!

Last night we commissioned 4 mission teams doing just that.  People stepping across time zones and comfort zones as the hands and feet of Christ.  Please pray for them.

And please consider if the Lord may be calling you to lead a team of your own.  If so, I’ve written a blog series to help you get started, and I welcome any questions or comments that you have.
   
Leading Mission Teams:

No comments:

Post a Comment