Sermon

Matthew 9:35-38

January 25, 2015 IPC Ealing Sermon Podcast

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Amen.
You know, we're going to begin by looking at verses 37 and 38.
!
Before the sermon tonight, we'll look at these two verses.
And I want us to think about these three things.
Number one, the harvest is plentiful.
Number two, the laborers are few.
And number three, God sends out laborers as we pray.
Number one, the harvest is plentiful.
The first point is this.
There is a harvest.
There are the lost to be brought into God's storehouse.
And this is a plentiful harvest.
Jesus talks about this same plentiful harvest over in John chapter 4, verse 35.

John 4:35
He says, do not say there are yet four months.
Then comes the harvest.
Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest.
There is a harvest.
It's a plentiful harvest.
There are people who are ready to believe.
Ready to receive the Lord Jesus.
And Jesus said, I want you to see it.
I want you to see the harvest.
You know, I believe this harvest that God has that he desires to bring in, the harvest that Jesus is talking about here, it's not just the lost in general.
It's not those who might potentially be saved if they believe.
I believe this harvest.
I believe this harvest, the loss that God desires to bring in, are the loss that God has chosen for salvation.
Those who will believe at the preaching of the gospel.
You know, Jesus changes the metaphor for talking about this harvest over in John 10, verse 16.

John 10:16
He's been talking about the harvest to be brought in.
In John 10, verse 16, he talks about a flock of sheep to be brought into the fold.

John 10:16
This is Jesus' words in John 10, verse 16.

John 10:16
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.
I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.
So there will be one flock and one shepherd.
There is a flock of sheep.
There is a harvest that will believe, that will listen to the voice of Jesus upon the preaching of God's word.
Brothers and sisters, let me tell you.
As we engage in the work of God, preaching the gospel, sharing the gospel.
As we, as this church, engage in God's word, sharing the gospel, telling others about the Lord Jesus.
What is our confidence?
Our confidence is that there is a harvest.
There are those God has chosen.
There are those who are his elect.
There are those who, as they hear God's word, will believe and be brought into God's kingdom.
Let me tell you, that is our great confidence.
As we preach the gospels on Sunday.
As we teach children on Thursday nights in youth clubs.
As we have the women's English language Bible class on Wednesdays.
As we have moms and tods, all of the different, on Tuesdays, the evening lunchtime talks.
All of these different things.
What is our confidence as we do this?
As we reach out to people?
As we share the gospel with them?
Our confidence is there is a harvest.
And God is bringing it in.
There are those that God will bring in.
There is a harvest.
I want to read you a verse from Revelation chapter 7 earlier tonight.

Revelation 7 chapter mention
Stuart read from Revelation chapter 5.

Revelation 5 chapter mention
And there are two great passages here that give us a window of the worship that will one day be in heaven.
Let me read you the Revelation chapter 7 version of it.

Revelation 7 chapter mention
This is Revelation chapter 7 verse 9.

Revelation 7:9
After thus I looked and behold a great multitude that no one can number.
From every nation and tribe and people and languages.
Standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
Clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.
Crying out with a loud voice.
Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
two things
Jesus says
there's a great harvest
what does it say right here
there is a great multitude
of people who will
be saved
second thing it says right here
what do you notice from this verse
what just hits you right in the face
as you think about this harvest
as you think about this great multitude of people
that God will bring into his kingdom
it's multi-ethnic
it's multicultural
it's multilingual
you know isn't it interesting
ethnic distinctions
national distinctions
seem to continue through eternity
you know what I believe
is that every ethnicity
when they become a Christian
have a unique way of glorifying God
have something unique to say about God
and what does this seem to be teaching
that God is so great
he is so wonderful
he is so majestic
that it will take
all of the nations
and all of their diversity
and all of their differences
together as one
around the throne
for all eternity
to glorify God
as he ought to be glorified
let me tell you again
this is great
confidence for us
in ministry
this is our goal in ministry
is this verse
not the reason
why we do what we do
why do we do what we do
here in this church
to reach out
to other people
with the gospel
it's that
this verse
would one day be a reality
but not only is it our goal
in what we do
it's also our
encouragement
in what we do
brothers and sisters
this will be one day
this is our great confidence
as we engage
in the work
that God has called us
to preach the gospel
and to share the gospel
first point
there is a harvest
secondly
Jesus says here
the labors
are few
first thing
I want to
want to mention
is
what is God's way
of bringing
in that harvest
it is through
a labor
what is a labor
a labor is someone
that God sends
and preaches the gospel
this is how God
brings in
his harvest
those who will go
and those who will
preach the gospel
those who will share
the gospel
that others may hear it
classic passage
about this
Romans 10
14 and 15
how then will they
call on him
in whom they've not
believed
and how are they
to believe in him
of whom they've never heard
and how are they
to hear without
someone preaching
and how are they
to preach
unless they are sent
as it is written
how beautiful
are the feet
of those who preach
the good news
for this harvest
to be brought in
people must
hear the gospel
and believe it
what does that require
it requires
someone to be sent
someone to preach
it requires
a labor
this is God's way
but what I want you
to notice here
is
there's a problem
and there is a problem
from a human perspective
Jesus presents a problem
but notice also
that Jesus gives
the answer
to the problem
and what is the problem
here
Jesus has said
there's a big harvest
but there's not
enough laborers
there's not enough
people to share
the gospel
and to preach
the gospel
to bring
this harvest
in
so Jesus gives
the problem
but notice that
he also gives
the answer
to this problem
you know
Jesus has just said
there's a political harvest
there's not enough
laborers
what would you think
would be the answer
that Jesus would give
to this problem
you would think
that the answer
with Jesus
the obvious answer
would be
be a laborer
go as a laborer
go and preach
the gospel
is that what Jesus said
it is not
what Jesus said
and this brings us
to our third point
God sends out
laborers
as we pray
you know
in light of the
lack of laborers
what did Jesus
say to do
look at verse 38
he said
pray
earnestly
to the Lord
of the harvest
to send out
laborers
into his harvest
the point I want
to make to you
is this
the bringing
in of this harvest
it is
the work
of laborers
it is the work
of those
who will go
it is the work
of those
who will preach
who will share
the gospel
but it is
equally the work
of those
who will pray
you know
very often
from a human
perspective
we look at
we look at
people who
have become
Christians
and we think
this is because
someone preached
the gospel
and sometimes
we have a slightly
more spiritual view
we think
well God
use these
people
who preach
the gospel
but you know
what that leaves
out of the
picture
it leaves
those
who pray
let me tell you
this great
work
of bringing
in the gospel
it is equally
the work
of those
who preach
and share
the gospel
and do evangelism
and
those who pray
where does
the bringing
in of this
harvest
begin
does it
begin with
those who
will go
does it
begin with
those who
will
preach
no
it begins
with those
who will
pray
for this
kind of
harvest
there's two
kinds of
labors
those who
will go
those who
will preach
those who
will do
evangelism
and
those who
will pray
they're
partners
they work
together
this is
God's
way
you know
I am
thankful to
be in the
church
where prayer
is emphasized
one of the
things I
appreciate
about
Paul and
Claire Levy
is very
simply their
emphasis
on prayer
have we seen
fruit in this
church
have we seen
people come
to know
the Lord
we have
have we seen
blessing in this
church
yes we have
where does it
begin
it begins
when people
pray
you know
it's easy
for us to
think
well I'm
just not
gifted at
evangelism
I'm just
not gifted
at standing
at a book
table
and meeting
people on
the streets
and talking
to them
about Jesus
it's easy
to think
I'm not
gifted to
stand behind
the pulpit
and to
preach the
gospel
maybe I'm
not gifted
at personal
evangelism
it's easy
to think
I just
don't have
a role
to play
what I
do
it's just
not that
important
not according
to this
the bringing
of the end
of the harvest
starts with
people who
pray
labors
are sent
forth
they are
raised up
by God
as people
pray
they are
sustained
by those
who pray
they are
made
effective
by those
who pray
they are
made fruitful
by those
who pray
brothers
and sisters
it is
a partnership
in the
gospel
work
three points
harvest is
plentiful
labors a few
God sends
out labors
as we pray
pretty good
sermon
huh
you know
these are
wonderful
fruits
and these
are things
that we
need to
remind
ourselves
of
again
and again
application
there is
a harvest
let's pray
let's be
willing to
go
this is
what we're
supposed to
do
now let's
just do
it
now that
brings us
to what
I really
want to
talk to
you about
tonight
I tell you
the older
I get
as a
Christian
I'm not
so much
concerned
about what
I should
do
about
knowing
about
what
I'm
supposed
to do
you know
what my
concern
is
my concern
is
how do
I get
the heart
to do
it
how do
I get
the
motivation
to do
it
how am
I moved
to do
what I
should
do
and that's
really what
I want to
talk about
tonight
I want to
spend the
rest of
the sermon
looking at
verse 36
I think
there's
something in
verse 36
something we
can extract
from that
verse
that tells
us how
do we
get a
heart
for the
lost
how do
we get
a heart
to pray
for the
lost
how do
we get
concerned
for the
lost
how do
we get
a heart
to preach
and to
pray
to bring
in this
harvest
so look
again
with me
at
verse 36
when he
saw the
crowds
he had
compassion
for them
because they
were harassed
and helpless
like sheep
without a
shepherd
Jesus
is of course
he's our
great example
he's our
great example
in everything
and here
he is our
great example
for us
in compassion
for the
lost
let me
point out
one thing
to you
there's a
connection
here
in verse
36
it said
when he
saw
the
crowds
he had
compassion
there's a
connection
between
Jesus
seeing
and having
compassion
and that's
not just
in this
verse
we find
that three
other places
in the
gospels
here the
other three
Matthew 14
14
he went
ashore
he saw
a great
crowd
he had
compassion
on them
and he
healed
their
sick
Mark
6
34
and when
he went
ashore
and saw
a great
crowd
he had
compassion
on them
because they
were like
sheep
without a
shepherd
and he
began to
teach them
many things
Luke 7
13
this is
Jesus
words
to the
widow
of Nain
after her
only son
had just
died
and when
the Lord
saw her
he had
compassion
on her
and said
to her
do not
wait
Jesus
saw
he had
compassion
and he
talked
Jesus
saw
he had
compassion
and he
healed
Jesus
saw
he had
compassion
and he
fed
people
what was
it
specifically
about
these
people
that
elicited
the
compassion
of Jesus
Jesus
here uses
a sheep
metaphor
he describes
their condition
in terms
of being
a sheep
he says
these people
were like
sheep
and what
did he
see
as he
looked at
these
people
that
elicited
his
compassion
verse 36
he says
they were
harassed
literally
having
torn
skin
these
are
sheep
that
had
been
cut
up
by
rocks
and
brambles
and predators
cut up
beaten up
torn up
he says
also about
these people
in verse
36
they were
helpless
they were
thrown down
they were
prone
they were
knocked down
and they were
so weak
they could
not get
up
and he
says
something
else
very
sad
why
would
they
this
way
why
could
they
not
get
up
he
says
also
they
were
without
shepherds
!
There was
no one
to help
them!
You see
what this
is
this is
imagery
this is
a
metaphor
for their
spiritual
condition
we've
already
made
the
connection
between
Jesus
seeing
and having
compassion
but how
did
Jesus
see
he
didn't
just
see
their
external
circumstances
Jesus
eyes
look
deeper
than
their
external
circumstances
he
looked
into
their
hearts
Jesus
was
seeing
into
their
hearts
and
into
the
spiritual
condition
of
their
hearts
spiritually
where
were
these
people
they
were
harassed
they
were
cut
up
beat
up
torn
up
by
sin
and
guilt
and
religion
there
is
nothing
that
beats
a
person
up
and
cuts
a
person
up
and
tears
them
up
like
religion
religions
of
works
how
good
you
have
to
be
can
you
ever
please
this
God
oppressive
religions
of
works
they
cut
people
up
they
beat
them
up
they
tear
them
up
so
these
people
were
harassed
by
sin
guilt
and
religion
it
says
also
he
says
that
they
are
helpless
here
in
other
words
these
people
were
lost
and
yet
they
were
helpless
they
had
no
power
to
do
anything
about
their
lost
condition
they
owed
a
sin
debt
that
they
could
never
pay
they
were
blind
to
their
sin
and
they
were
blind
to
the
grace
of
God
and
to
the
mercy
of
God
and
they
were
blind
to
God
Savior
and
spiritually
they
without
a
shepherd
didn't
these
people
have
religious
leaders
weren't
there
the
scribes
and
the
Pharisees
the
religious
teachers
of
Jesus
day
weren't
they
the
shepherds
for
these
people
yes
they
were
the
shepherds
but
they
were
not
true
shepherds
they
were
false
shepherds
they
knew
nothing
of the
grace
and
mercy
of
God
instead
they
just
laid
more
and
more
heavy
burdens
upon
the
backs
of
these
people
these
people
were
like
sheep
without
a
shepherd
they
were
needy
they
were
blind
they
were
helpless
and
what
was
Jesus
response
he
had
compassion
on
them
you know
something
I love
the word
here
for
Jesus
compassion
the
image
in
this
word
compassion
this
is
not
the
compassion
that
you
have
in
your
heart
this
is
the
compassion
that
you
have
in
your
stomach
in
your
guts
in
your
viscera
have
you
ever
heard
anyone
say
well
I
had
this
gut
feeling
in
other
words
this
compassion
that
Jesus
had
is
something
that
he
felt
down
deep
in
the
idea
here
is
that
this
is
not
a
superficial
compassion
this
is
something
that
is
deeply
felt
the
idea
here
is
that
Jesus
saw
their
spiritual
condition
he
saw
their
spiritual
pain
and
he
felt
it
and
he
felt
it
down
deep
you
know
the
C
translates
it
correctly
it
said
he
has
compassion
but
I
like
to
paraphrase
from
the
message
it's
not
exactly
a
literal
translation
but
I
think
it
brings
the
power
home
the
message
says
Jesus
saw
these
people
he
saw
their
condition
and
it
broke
his
heart
when
I
ask
you
tonight
is
this
your
heart
of
response
to
the
loss
do
you
see
the
lost
life
Jesus
saw
them
do
you
see
people
in
their
lost
ness
in
their
condemnation
in
their
sin
is
just
the
way
you
respond
do
you
feel
their
pain
where
does
this
kind
of
heart
come
from
now
let me
give you
the
application
for this
whole
sermon
there's
only one
point
if you
only
remember
one
thing
here
it
is
right
here
let me
give
it
to
you
we
get
compassion
for
the
lost
not so
much
by focusing
on our
own
hearts
and our
lack
of
compassion
for the
lost
we
get
compassion
for the
lost
not so
much
by focusing
on the
lost
and their
plight
we
get
compassion
for the
lost
rather
by
focusing
on
Jesus
and
his
compassion
for us
in
our
lostness
I want
to ask
you
tonight
have you
ever
thought
about
your
lostness
do you
remember
what it
was like
before you
knew the
Lord Jesus
Christ
have you
ever
thought
where
you
would
be
if
Jesus
had not
come
where
would
you
be
apart
from
the
work
of
the
Holy
Spirit
in
your
heart
opening
your
eyes
to
God
and
his
grace
and
mercy
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
you
know
this
description
of these
people
here
these
people
who
are
harassed
cut
up
beat
up
torn
by
sin
guilt
and
religion
people
who
are
helpless
who
had
no
power
to
help
themselves
or
do
anything
about
it
this
is a
picture
of
us
apart
from
Christ
we
are
no
different
from
these
people
we
owe
the
sin
death
that
we
could
never
pay
one
day
there
was a
time
when
we
were
blind
to
our
sin
and
blind
to
a
savior
and
blind
to
the
grace
of
God
!
God
you
and
his
heart
was
broken
and
his
heart
was
filled
with
compassion
for
you
you
know
I
want
to
suggest
that
this
description
of
Jesus
compassion
in
verse
36
I
believe
it's
not
only
a
picture
of
the
compassion
of
Jesus
for
these
specific
people
in
this
specific
incidence
I
believe
this
is
a
picture
of
the
heart
of
Jesus
and
the
compassion
of
Jesus
for
all
the
people
of
God. If you know the Lord Jesus, if you're a Christian, Jesus has looked at you in this way.
You say, when did Jesus look at me in this way? I'll tell you when. Before the foundation of the
world, before any of us ever existed, Jesus looked at you and me and all the people of God in this
way. In that great council in eternity past, in the council of redemption, the Father and the Son and
the Holy Spirit and God the Father gave his Son a people who would be his bride. And I believe the
Son looked down the corridors of time at a people yet unformed, a people yet uncreated, and I believe
he saw me and I believe he saw you and I believe he saw all the people of God and I believe that he
saw us personally and he saw us in our sin, in our alienation from God, in our guilt, in our condemnation,
justly deserving the wrath of God, eternally lost, hell bound. And Jesus' heart was moved with compassion
when he saw our lostness. When he saw our lostness, when he saw the pain of our lostness, his heart was moved with compassion.
You know, worst of all, you know what the worst thing? I think the worst thing when Jesus looked at us in our
lostness, it was our helplessness. In our lostness, there was absolutely nothing that we on our own could do about it
to change it. And when Jesus looked at us and he saw our lostness and he saw our helplessness,
his heart was broken. And Jesus said, I will go. I will die. I will save.
Ephesians 5.25, Christ loved the church and gave himself forth. Romans 5.6, while we were still weep,
Christ died for the ungodly. Jesus gave himself in time because he loved us in our sin, but I believe
that Jesus loved us in our sin before we ever were in eternity past. He chose to love a sinful people
because his heart was moved with compassion for our lostness. It was moved with compassion because of our
helplessness. You know something? If you don't have compassion for the lost, I believe it's because you've never
felt the compassion of Jesus for you in your lostness. Or put another way, how does the lostness of people
break our hearts? It's to see the heart of Jesus broken for our lostness. I'll tell you where I am. I don't have the
compassion for the loss that I should have. I don't have the compassion for the loss that I want to have.
But I know where I want to be. And I believe I know how to get there. You know, I believe that two things need to come
together in our hearts for you and I to have compassion for the lost. And one of them is our lostness. The realization
of our lostness apart from Christ. Where we would be apart from him? Where we would be if he didn't come?
Where would we be apart from the work of the Holy Spirit? You know, that's one thing. A realization of our lostness
apart from Christ. But coupled with that, coming together with that, the heart of compassion for Jesus, for his
people, and for you in me. Brothers and sisters, let me tell you, in eternity past, Jesus had compassion on you.
In eternity past, Jesus' heart was broken for you and your lostness. And he came for you. And let me tell you,
when you meditate on that, when you meditate on your lostness, and when you meditate on the compassion and love
of the heart of Jesus, what does it do? Those two things together, it's like nitro and glyphorin.
It's explosive. It's powerful. And what happens? What's the byproduct of that in our lives?
We have compassion for the lost. Those two things come together in our hearts, and we will see the harvest.
Those two things come together in our hearts. We will pray for laborers. Those two things come together in our hearts,
and we will go as God calls.
Let me, like, make just one other application in closing. It's not really related to the passage here.
You know, we've talked about the compassion of Jesus when he died on the cross for our sins.
We've talked about the compassion of Jesus for the lost.
In eternity past, when he looked upon us and saw our need.
Brothers and sisters, if Jesus had compassion, if his heart was broken because of our suffering,
in eternity past, when he saw us as sinners, when he died on the cross for sinners,
what do you think his heart of compassion for you today is like?
Now that you're God's child. Now that your sins are forgiven. Now that you're part of the family of God.
Do you think the compassion of Jesus for you is any different?
Let me tell you, as I meditated on this, I realized how woefully we underestimate the compassion of Jesus' heart for you and me every day.
Jesus' heart was broken for us when we were sinners. What is it today?
It is still broken for us when we suffer.
He is our great high priest. He is a compassionate high priest.
He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.
You know, our temptation is to think, nobody knows, nobody understands.
Oh, brothers and sisters, we have a compassionate high priest.
And he is touched with everything that touches you.
Basically, the application of this sermon is that we are changed by the holy.
How do we become like the Lord Jesus?
How do we become compassionate like him?
It's not by looking at our heart and trying to make it compassionate.
It's not by looking at the lost and even looking at their plight.
It's looking at Jesus and focusing on him and his wonderful compassion for us.
And somehow, as we do that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that changes us.
When you look at him, you become like him.
Let's bow together in prayer.