Our series entitled INFLUENCE on Sunday mornings has been fantastic …
So far we’ve learned that Jesus categorized our influence saying, “You are SALT of the earth…” (Matt 5:13) — meaning that we are the preserving influence of the world! Last week we learned what it meant when Jesus said, “You are the LIGHT of the world a city SET on a hill …” (Matt 5:14-16) –that every Christian is strategically positioned where they are to influence by DOING works that help people see what God is doing on earth, and help connect the dots of who the Father is.
Now, Jesus continues to identify the way His followers, Influence. He calls the disciples the “few laborers” in the Harvest with more needed to help! He said that “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Acts 9:31-32)
Will you take a stand and say, “Count me in as one of the few laborers in the Harvest in this generation to your glory!”
Many are the critics. Many are the carnal. Many are the doubters. But few are the laborers! Will you be one of the few?
What is a Laborer?
A laborer is a part of the hands and feet of Jesus in our generation helping people physically, emotionally and spiritually in planting the seed of truth, and helping people come to Christ! And, every Christian is NEEDED in the Harvest field!
How can you help?
This week we’ll be learning …
#1 The laborer Influences by praying to the Lord of the Harvest for more laborers
#2 The laborer Influences by ploughing the field of their generation with good works
#3 The laborer Influences by planting the field with the seed of the Gospel, preaching and teaching
#4 The laborer Influences by pouring into the field by taking an active interest in others with the love of Jesus Christ
#5 The laborer Influences by leading others to Christ in gathering a harvest
#6 The laborer Influences by discipling the harvest that is gathered
“The evangelistic harvest is always urgent. The destiny of men and of nations is always being decided. Every generation is crucial; every generation is strategic. But we cannot be held responsible for the past generation and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one. However we do have our generation! God will hold us responsible at the judgement seat of Christ for how well we fulfilled our responsibilities and took advantage of our opportunities.” Billy Graham
Thoughts on being a laborer
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:13
Why Are We To Do This!
First, the fourfold character of the Christian life requires it.
I think a Christian ought to be at least four things.
First, the Christian is a pilgrim; on a journey: passing through this world to a better one. How can a man or woman travel swiftly and safely unless their garments are properly prepared for the journey And the pilgrims to Zion must gird up the loins of their mind if they are to reach their destination.
A Christian is, next, a, racer; running in a race, and wants to win the crown. They have started for the goal, and the prize of His high calling is glittering before his eyes; they must heed the command, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind.” How can you run with endurance the race set before you if you do not “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset you”? If entanglements are to be avoided, the garments of the racer must be tightly girt about them.
Moreover, the Christian is a warrior. How can you overcome any foe if we have not put on His armor, and is not well clad for the struggle! How shall he fight while our movements are impeded by loose garments’ You know what the old soldier said to the Duke of Wellington when he was asked whether he had been at Waterloo. He said that he had, and then the Duke enquired of him, “Suppose that battle had to be fought again, how would you like to be dressed!” The man answered, “If I had to take part in that fight again, I should like to be in my shirt-sleeves.” There was great common-sense in that reply, and it may teach us a useful lesson. A Christian does not fight well for his Master unless they get, as it were, into shirt-sleeves, and puts off all dignity, and everything which binders him from rendering effective service, and doing the most they can do for Christ.
Beside being a pilgrim, a runner, and a warrior, a Christian is a laborer; he is called to work in his Master’s vineyard.
Now, if a Christian does not gird up the loins of the mind, thye will be a very poor laborer, and will show a very bad day’s work when the sun goes down; so again I say to you, dear friends, pull yourselves together. With such holy work to do, endeavor to do it at your very best. Remember, also, the greatness of your task; that should make you “gird up the loins of your mind.”
The Christian life is no child’s play. To bear testimony for Christ is no trifle; and if you wish to win souls, as I hope we all do, brothers and sisters, we cannot do it unless our spirit is braced up to the very highest point by the grace of God. Our work is such as might have filled an angel’s heart, and it did fill our Savior’s hands, so see to it that it is done in the best possible style.
The next reason why you should “gird up the loins of your mind” is because of the slimness of our strength, even in the Spirit.
We have so little power in ourselves that we cannot afford to waste an ounce of it,
We can do all things in Christ – but if we have not girded our mind – taken all thoughts captive- our strength will wane.
If we are ever to thresh the mountains, there must be no wasting or throwing away, even inadvertently, of any of the little force which we have. If we would be mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds, we must look well to our spiritual strength, and never waste an atom of it.
Besides that, remember the readiness of our foes. If they can trip us up, by laying hold upon a garment which is trailing behind us, they will do so. If it be possible for us to be vanquished, we will be vanquished; for we have enemies who watch us with eyes full of venom and malice because we belong to Christ. Satan can not read your mind- but he has a great scouting report on you and me- he knows our tendencies- what we do when. And like a roaring lion- he ever seeks to devour.
Wherefore, “gird up the loins of your mind,” and see that you put not any advantage in their way, or they will be quick to avail themselves of it.
Recollect, also, the misery we endure when we are not in a right condition. If our minds are not girded up, and you feel as I do, you must be very wretched.
Whenever I feel that I cannot pray as I wish, I am very unhappy.
When I come to Church here, and cannot join heartily in worship,— well, I have to groan in the chorus somehow or other, but I am not “EVEN” satisfied with doing that.
When I feel at all wandering from God, and my heart is getting astray from Him, I am not happy, I cannot be. Oh, no! Blessed be God, when he made us, he made us so that we could not rest anywhere but in himself. It is not different, born again, or not- our hearts can not find rest unless it is with Him.
If the Lord be with us, we are merry all day long, and we can praise and bless His holy name. There is no fasting for us while the Bridegroom is with us.
Wherefore, brothers and sisters, do not be content to be in this sad, loose, lax condition; but “gird up the loins of your mind.” May the Lord, in His mercy, enable us all to do so! And be the laborer, the salt and light He so requires. GOD HELP US!