THE LABORERS ARE FEW!: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 21ST JULY 2018

MEMORISE:

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:8

READ: Luke 10:1-9

After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

MESSAGE:

Prophet Isaiah had the rare privilege of having a vision where he witnessed what was going on in the palace of the Almighty God (Isaiah 6:1-8). The setting he observed was a kind of conference with the hosts of heaven in attendance. God threw a simple question to the multitudes present, which should ordinarily not be much of a challenge to them. 

The Lord asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The seemingly little hesitation that followed God’s question before Isaiah responded was not an act of rebellion by angels or the host of heaven; rather, there was hesitation because this question was not meant for them. If angel were supposed to take up the assignment, it would have come as a command instead of a question. 

The privilege of disseminating the good news of the kingdom and propagating the gospel has been expressly assigned to human beings by God. the term ‘evangelism’ therefore refers to spreading the gospel, and the one doing this work is called an ‘evangelist’. The duty of an evangelist is to function as spokesperson for the Church in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. 

Just as God was searching for someone to take up the assignment in today’s memory verse, He is still searching for faithful people who will relentlessly participate in spreading the gospel today. Will you say yes to him?

The need for evangelists today is further amplified by these words of the Lord in Luke 10:2b:

“The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”

The gospel is needed more than ever before in this world of sin, where immorality pervades everywhere and the pursuit of worldly pleasures is taking over the Church of God. god expects us to walk worthy of our calling and election as children of God (Ephesians 4:1-12). He has endowed each individual in the body of Christ with gifts to function in at least one of several offices, as apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers. 

Therefore, it is not only pastors and altar ministers that are called to work in God’s vineyard. Everyone who is genuinely born again is called to do the work of an evangelist by spreading the good news of the gospel all over the world (2 Timothy 4:5). Understanding this fact is very necessary if we desire to please God, fulfill our purpose on earth and receive the best from God. winning lost souls and making them disciples is the whole essence of Christianity.

ACTION POINT:

How many souls have you won to Christ this year? Open your mouth and allow God to fill it with words to those that are perishing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 1-3, Matthew 5:21-42

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE.

1. Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.

o Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.

2. Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.

3. Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.