Praying for global impact
Series: Mission Month
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 6th May 2012
00:00:00 --> 00:00:00 Good morning, everyone.
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 If you'd like to keep your Bibles open there at Matthew 9,
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 we'll be going through that text in just a moment.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 I moved from the country to Newtown, inner west,
00:00:12 --> 00:00:17 to start studies at Moore College at the beginning of 1996.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 I remember one of my first impressions was how many people there were,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:23 in Sydney, that is.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 See, I grew up on a farm, 120 acres between five people,
00:00:28 --> 00:00:32 so my personal space consisted of about 25 acres.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:37 But next door to us was a national park of about 80 acres,
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 and I used to play in there as well.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 But when I used to start to work in there,
00:00:44 --> 00:00:49 I could go for days without seeing a single soul.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 In fact, there were certain areas of the park where I'd worked
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 that if you did see a single soul, it was very odd, very suspicious.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 In fact, they were drug dealers or they were poachers or something like that.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:06 It was really weird to see people in some areas of the park.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:10 It wasn't one of those national parks which was flooded with tourists all the time.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:16 And so in the middle of winter, you could be a whole week and not see a single soul.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 And so I've got 80 acres all to myself.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:23 And if I ever did find a single soul, I'd be more than happy to spend the day with them.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:27 And moving from that kind of environment to Sydney,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:33 I was immediately struck by the number of people and how close everyone was to you.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 One of my first impressions, walking down King Street, Newtown,
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 and pulling up at a set of lights, pushing the button.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 I believed you had to push it six times because apparently I'd changed the lights,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 but it turned out that that was actually just a myth.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:49 That never works.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 It took me 10 years to work that one out.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:57 Standing there waiting to cross the road and all of a sudden this bloke comes straight up and
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 right beside me.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:00 Like we're touching.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 And I'm thinking, is there no more room here?
00:02:06 --> 00:02:12 I have never stood that close to someone without giving them a hug or having a conversation with them.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 And so I did.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:20 I put out my hand and introduced myself to this guy, completely ignored me.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:26 He just looked at me and then looked away and then the light went green and poof, off he went across the road.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 It was a weird experience for me.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 Kind of like standing in a lift in those early days.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:34 We didn't have lifts in Narrabri.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 Or traffic lights.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 Standing in a lift.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:43 It was completely odd for me to have all these people crushed in on me.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:47 And we're standing there in total silence just looking at the numbers.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 Waiting for our turn to come.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 So that we could exit.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 No one saying anything to anyone.
00:02:53 --> 00:03:00 Kind of like an awkward prayer meeting where you're looking at the watch just hoping someone either prays something or this thing shuts down real soon.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 After 16 years of Sydney, it's changed me.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:12 I don't care if someone stands beside me at the light so they don't say anything anymore.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 I'm really grateful when no one speaks to me in the lift now.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:23 There are few things I think more tiring than constant exposure to people.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:30 It is even more tiring when you are constantly serving them or ministering to them.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:35 Mothers with little children have certainly got something to say about that.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:39 I think there's no one more tired than I know than mothers with little children.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 Living in Sydney means that we are surrounded.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:48 We are, in fact, we see hundreds of people every day if not thousands.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 And we are certainly mindful of millions more.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 Especially a rush hour on a train.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 Constantly exposed to people.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 Natalie and I went to the zoo yesterday.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 Took the girls to the zoo.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 We normally go on a Friday on my day off.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 But we went yesterday.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 The whole time there I'm thinking it's going to be busy.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 It's going to be busy.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 It's going to be busy.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 And it was busy.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 I mean, I knew it would be.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 But you couldn't even get in to see the big cats.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:32 I mean, what's the point of going to the zoo if you can't stand there and gawk across at an animal that could potentially eat you and would love to if it wasn't for the glass there?
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 And you could sit there and poke at it and annoy it a little bit.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:39 I mean, what's the point of going to the zoo if you can't get to the big cats?
00:04:39 --> 00:04:44 Well, I suppose you could if you were patient enough with people to stand in line and wait your turn.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 I wasn't.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:51 I am weary of constant exposure to people.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 I'm looking forward to long service leave.
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 And more exposure to people in school holidays in Queensland.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:07 And so is our society, weary of the constant exposure to people.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:21 It's evidenced in a number of ways, but especially in the withdrawal into the comfort and the privacy and the security of our domestic caves.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:30 We treat our homes like fortresses that visitors may approach only with great care.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:35 The market for domestic security systems continues to grow.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 Bars are appearing on windows.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:45 Suburban fences, which came down in the open and accommodating 50s and 60s, have gone back up in the last 30, 40 years.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 Entertainment and recreation facilities are being installed.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 We phone for pizza.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 We can shop from our computers.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:58 We minimise the need to go out as we retreat further and further away from people into our domestic caves.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:09 And the great irony, of course, is that loneliness is skyrocketing as we retreat more and more into our domestic caves.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:23 The other problem linked with that is the emotional burnout from overexposure to people is the emotional exposure to people with issues.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:27 That is particularly heightened for us in the media.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:37 Once upon a time, news of hostility on the other side of the world would take weeks, months even, sometimes even years before we would hear about it.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:42 Now, a few shots are fired in some distant country and we know about it by the nightly news.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:47 And we're already tired from people.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:56 And as we see it again, these issues in the world, our compassion dries up in the face of human need.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:07 Worse still is that we seem to be called on to be compassionate again and again and again and nothing ever seems to change.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:19 We see the ads on TV of starving children and so we get one, two, three World Vision kids and yet the ads keep playing.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:29 There are always starving children and so we harden ourselves a little bit more to the needs of people.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:38 It's much easier to theologise about evil and suffering than to weep over it or to do something about it.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:46 Now, desensitisation to human physical and psychological need flows over into their spiritual need.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:55 This month we're focusing on local and global impact and I want to ask the question, is local and global impact even a possibility?
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 Is it even a possibility?
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 The need is enormous.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:08 Over 55 million people die every year.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 55 million people.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:17 And the vast majority of them into a Christless eternity.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 So many are lost.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 So few are actually saved.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 And yet how many times has the gospel been preached?
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 How many leaflets have we put in letter boxes?
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 How many children have sat through scripture classes?
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 How many mission teams?
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 How many doors are knocked?
00:08:41 --> 00:08:46 And we are told here in Matthew 9 that the harvest is plentiful.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 Is it?
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 Is it really?
00:08:52 --> 00:08:59 See, I think Jesus was in danger of overexposure to people too.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 Look at there in verse 35.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:11 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 Wouldn't it be great to have a couple of Jesus amongst us?
00:09:16 --> 00:09:26 According to one Jewish historian, there were 204 villages and towns in Galilee that Jesus went amongst.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:32 And each of these villages and towns had a population of at least 15 people.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:46 And so even if the actual figure was less than the estimated 3 million people, there was still a significant population called here in Matthew 9, the crowds.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:58 And if Jesus was to speak in two of those villages and towns a day, it would take him four months to get through them all.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:08 Apart from the sheer energy needed to keep up with that pace, there is an enormous emotional drain of serving so many people.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 The crowds, the masses.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 And yet what is Jesus' response to the masses?
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 Verse 36.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:27 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 See, people without Christ are like sheep without a shepherd.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 They will soon run out of pasture and they will die.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:41 Or they will get lost or they will get caught in a bush and they will die.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:49 In the meantime, they harassed, they are bullied, they are bruised, they are beaten, they are helpless, they are exploited, they are adrift.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:56 They are moving as a flock, as a big crowd, but knowing not why or where.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:07 See, the unbelievers you know, your neighbours, your friends, your colleagues, may not on the surface appear to fit that description.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:17 But do not be misled by the shell of assurance, of self-assurance.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:28 See, if you see them with the eyes of Christ, you will realise, you will recognise, you will see sheep without a shepherd.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:36 Behind the sinful behaviours lie frustration and exploitation and despair and hopelessness.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:42 We are so often confused by the shell of self-assurance when we look at people.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:50 In the same way, you would be confused on a Friday afternoon, seeing a sheep standing in the water of a dam.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:57 Late night, the sun's falling down and you think, there's a sheep after a whole long week of grazing.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 Is there taking in the water views, watching the sunset.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:05 When in actual fact, it's stuck in a dam.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 And if I don't go in and rescue it, it will die.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 It's not enjoying the water views.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 It's not about when you see a sheep.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 But it's not about a thing.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 It's not about a thing.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:22 And Jesus' response is compassion because he sees the need.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:34 And the word means to be moved within one's stomach, to have a gut-wrenching feeling of pity towards someone.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:38 it's to have your stomach turn
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 and your emotions moved in the face of human need
00:12:41 --> 00:12:47 do you remember the last time you felt that?
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 do you remember the last time when you felt such strong pity?
00:12:57 --> 00:13:01 I suspect if I grab my baby Amelia now
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 and took all her clothes off
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 and in this cold building later on the floor there
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 and you heard a scream
00:13:06 --> 00:13:11 I imagine you would feel the pity in that moment for her
00:13:11 --> 00:13:17 and repulse at me for doing it
00:13:17 --> 00:13:20 see I remember one such time
00:13:20 --> 00:13:24 I remember the baby of a couple that I married
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27 who had surgery on his heart which went really wrong
00:13:27 --> 00:13:30 it was serious surgery but it was supposed to be routine
00:13:30 --> 00:13:34 and I remember sitting in the room with the doctors
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 and the parents and the grandparents
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 when the specialist said
00:13:38 --> 00:13:43 we're sorry but your son has got a 50-50 chance of survival
00:13:43 --> 00:13:49 I felt like pulling a coin out of my pocket and flicking it
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 I don't like 50-50
00:13:51 --> 00:13:56 they said we're doing all that we can
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 but we just don't know what the outcome will be
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 and the tears just flowed
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 parents, grandparents and even the doctors
00:14:03 --> 00:14:09 I remember going with them and standing beside their baby's bed
00:14:09 --> 00:14:13 I remember the tiny lifeless body
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 filled with cables and tubes
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 so that mum and dad could only just touch the toes
00:14:19 --> 00:14:23 I remember the parents
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 they weren't even able to hold their child
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 I remember the desperate situation
00:14:27 --> 00:14:31 I remember the knot in my stomach
00:14:31 --> 00:14:35 I have to ask myself
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 do I feel that pity
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 for my unbelieving neighbours
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 and friends and strangers
00:14:41 --> 00:14:46 and I think that my friends is our first need
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 is it not from this text
00:14:47 --> 00:14:51 our need is to feel compassion
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 because of their need
00:14:52 --> 00:14:57 if we misdiagnose the condition
00:14:57 --> 00:15:03 we won't be pleading for the right solution
00:15:03 --> 00:15:07 our need is to have the compassion of Jesus
00:15:07 --> 00:15:11 compassion is a work of grace in our hearts
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 it's not the product of works
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 it is the product of prayer
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 earnest prayer at the throne room of God
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 fill me with compassion
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 give me love
00:15:20 --> 00:15:25 have you become desensitised
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 to the crowd of shepherdless sheep
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 around five years ago
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 in this country
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 64% of the population
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 had a nominal adherence to Christianity
00:15:35 --> 00:15:39 less than 25% of those people
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 actually went to church regularly
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 that is less than 16% of the population
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 went to church regularly
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 and even if we assume
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 that the 16%
00:15:50 --> 00:15:53 who attended church regularly
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 we were committed to Christ
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 that means there's a full
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 which I think is a fairly wild assumption
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 there is a full
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 84% of our fellow citizens
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 who make no pretense
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 of knowing Christ
00:16:05 --> 00:16:12 at 149.32 seconds
00:16:12 --> 00:16:16 on Wednesday afternoon this week
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 the population of our country
00:16:18 --> 00:16:22 was 22
00:16:22 --> 00:16:27 84% of that is about 19 million people
00:16:27 --> 00:16:34 19 million sheep without a shepherd
00:16:34 --> 00:16:38 that's the need
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 these people
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 no matter how good they are
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 or how bad
00:16:44 --> 00:16:47 are not saved
00:16:47 --> 00:16:54 19 million sheep
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 without a shepherd
00:16:56 --> 00:17:05 19 million who cannot know
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 the ultimate meaning of life
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 they cannot have
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 a purified
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 clean conscious before God
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and without Christ
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 they have no eternal hope
00:17:14 --> 00:17:17 there is the need
00:17:17 --> 00:17:21 and our need is to feel compassion
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 because of their need
00:17:23 --> 00:17:26 and as we begin mission month
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 we need to be praying for compassion
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 more than anything else
00:17:29 --> 00:17:34 when confronted with the crowds
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 Jesus doesn't just see hopelessness
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 and need though
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 he sees potential
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 see it there in verse 37
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 then he said to his disciples
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 the harvest is plentiful
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 but the workers are few
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 you see Jesus saw an amazing potential
00:17:50 --> 00:17:53 the harvest is plentiful
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 the metaphor changes here
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 unbelievers are not just sheep
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 who are in trouble
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 they are also wheat
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 that can be harvested
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 you see we need to see
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 with the eyes of Christ
00:18:03 --> 00:18:06 to not only see the lostness of people
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 but also to see
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 with his eyes
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 to see the expectancy
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 and the hopefulness
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 of the harvest
00:18:12 --> 00:18:15 do you look at your neighbours
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 and your colleagues
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 and your friends
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 and your classmates
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 with the real sense
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 that here is a potential follower
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 of the Lord Jesus
00:18:23 --> 00:18:28 it has probably been so long
00:18:28 --> 00:18:31 since the Lord has used most of us
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 to lead a person
00:18:31 --> 00:18:34 from unbelief to faith in Christ
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 that we actually wonder
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 whether there is any potential left
00:18:37 --> 00:18:40 we still know
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 that there is a terrible lostness
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 in the world
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 and we still feel
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 some compassion
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 when we let ourselves
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 think about it
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 but potential
00:18:46 --> 00:18:49 we wonder
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 could there ever be
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 a harvest time
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 in my life
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 after so many years
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 of fruitlessness
00:18:56 --> 00:19:00 well the answer
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 is
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 resoundingly
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 yes
00:19:02 --> 00:19:06 when Jesus said
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 in Luke 18
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 that it is hard
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 for rich people
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 to enter the kingdom
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 the disciples responded
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 well who then
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 can be saved
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 it seemed
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 at that moment
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 for the disciples
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 that Jesus
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 was taking away
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 all potential
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 for harvest
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 for them
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 but actually
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 what he was doing
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 was laying
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 a new basis
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 for the potential
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 he answers them
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 what is impossible
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 with men
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 is possible
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 with God
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 you see
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 notice here
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 in Matthew 9
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 whose harvest
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 it is
00:19:35 --> 00:19:38 it is his harvest
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 he is the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 lord
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 of the harvest
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 the king
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 of the harvest
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 the boss
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 of the harvest
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 and it is
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 his
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 harvest field
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 it is his
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 paddock
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 and it is
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 his crop
00:19:50 --> 00:19:53 it's not ours
00:19:53 --> 00:19:58 and if we are
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 going to have
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 a harvest time
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 at St Paul's
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 it will not be
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 because there are
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 so many competent
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 communicators
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 it won't be
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 because we
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 door knock
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 ten times more
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 than we do now
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 it won't be
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 because we have
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 organised ourselves
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 well
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 the harvest we want
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 is impossible
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 for us
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 to do
00:20:17 --> 00:20:21 new birth
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 birth is a miracle
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 you see my friends
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 in case you are
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 confused
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 or a bit
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 cynical
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 our goal
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 is not
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 a big church
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 our goal
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 is not
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 impressive
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 statistical
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 charts
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 our goal
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 is to see
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 God
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 do
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 the impossible
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 through failures
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 like
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 me
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 and you
00:20:45 --> 00:20:50 that is the way
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 it has happened
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 in history
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 and that is how
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 it will happen
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 again
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 in God's
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 time
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 he will
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 perform
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 the miracle
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 of harvest
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 and it will
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 be marvellous
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 in our eyes
00:20:59 --> 00:21:02 what then
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 should we do
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 should we
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 begin with
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 training sessions
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 to multiply
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 the number
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 of evangelists
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 should we
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 develop a
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 major recruitment
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 strategy
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 should we
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 build a few
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 strategically
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 placed
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 bible colleges
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 or should we
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 begin by
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 establishing
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 two or three
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 international
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 foundations
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 to help
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 pay for
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 everything
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 that we
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 want to
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 do
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 at some
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 point we
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 may need
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 to do
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 all those
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 things
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 but get
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 this point
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 they are
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 secondary
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 steps
00:21:31 --> 00:21:34 considerable
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 effort
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 needs to be
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 poured
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 into the
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 primary
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 step
00:21:38 --> 00:21:41 action is
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 demanded
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 and Jesus
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 calls for it
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 in verse 38
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 asks the
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 lord of the
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 harvest
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 therefore to
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 send out
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 workers into
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 his harvest
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 field
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 in sync
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 with his
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 compassion for
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 the lost
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 Jesus calls
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 us here to
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 beg
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 God
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 to plead
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 with God
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 to send out
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 workers into
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 the harvest
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 field
00:22:04 --> 00:22:07 you see I
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 still remember
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 the gut
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 wrenching
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 pity
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 and sorrow
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 that I
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 felt for
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 that baby's
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 dad and
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 mum as we
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 stood around
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 that hospital
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 bed
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 I used to
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 go to the
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 hospital and
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 sit with
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 them and
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 pray with
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 them most
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 days and
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 cry with
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 them for
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 most days
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 I remember
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 pleading with
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 God like I
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 have never
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 pled with
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 God
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 I remember
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 on one
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 occasion
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 being barely
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 able to
00:22:36 --> 00:22:38 hold it in
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 as I
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 walked through
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 the hospital
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 foyer out
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 to the car
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 park and
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 I remember
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 opening my
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 car door and
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 hopping in my
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 car and I
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 could not
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 hold it in
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 any longer
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 I remember
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 grabbing hold
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 of the steering
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 wheel and
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 sobbing and
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 pleading with
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 God to
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 save
00:22:58 --> 00:23:03 pleading with
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 him to
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 save
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 life and
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 I remember
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 by the time
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 that I got
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 home pleading
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 with God all
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 the way home
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 in such a way
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 that my shirt
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 was wet with
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 tears
00:23:15 --> 00:23:23 the word here
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 is to
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 plead
00:23:24 --> 00:23:27 it's to
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 beg
00:23:27 --> 00:23:32 that the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 Lord of the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 harvest will
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 cast out
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 workers
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 begging God
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 to throw
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 workers out
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 into the
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 paddock
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 literally
00:23:41 --> 00:23:45 the begging
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 is linked
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 with compassion
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 it comes out
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 of compassion
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 it is the
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 action that
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 follows the
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 feeling of
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 compassion
00:23:51 --> 00:23:54 isn't it
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 strange though
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 for a thing
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 to plead
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 for God
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 to raise
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 up workers
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 it is
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 strange that
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 the farm
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 hands
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 should be
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 told to
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 beg the
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 owner of
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 the farm
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 to send
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 out more
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 workers into
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 the harvest
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 surely
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 Jesus doesn't
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 mean to imply
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 that God
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 doesn't know
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 that there's a
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 shortage of
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 harvesters
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 or surely
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 he doesn't
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 mean that God
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 doesn't care
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 whether the
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 harvest comes
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 in
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 why then
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 are the
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 farm hands
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 told to
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 beg the
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 farmer for
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 more help
00:24:30 --> 00:24:33 I think
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 something very
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 important is
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 happening here
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 there is one
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 possible answer
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 and it may be
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 the only answer
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 certainly the only one
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 that I could come
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 up with
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 God has
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 willed
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 that his
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 miraculous work
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 of harvesting
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 be preceded
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 by this
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 kind of
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 prayer
00:24:50 --> 00:24:55 before he
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 does a
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 great work
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 he moves
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 his people
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 to pray
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 greatly
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 for that
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 work
00:25:02 --> 00:25:06 I wish
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 I could
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 say that
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 I've always
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 been faithful
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 to this
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 call to
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 prayer
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 to my
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 great shame
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 I have
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 not
00:25:13 --> 00:25:17 but I'm
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 convinced
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 that the
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 really great
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 issues
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 before us
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 will be
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 settled
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 on our
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 knees
00:25:23 --> 00:25:26 that doesn't
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 mean we
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 don't do
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 anything
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 except
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 prayer
00:25:28 --> 00:25:31 it does
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 mean
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 it does
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 mean
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 that we
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 should do
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 nothing
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 without
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 prayer
00:25:37 --> 00:25:41 it is
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 true that
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 God often
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 uses means
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 it is also
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 true that
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 we often
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 focus on
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 the means
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 and forget
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 the really
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 significant
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 work must
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 be God's
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 work
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 otherwise
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 it will
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 all come
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 to naught
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 Jesus'
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 compassion
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 issues in
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 prayer and
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 in a call
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 for us
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 to pray
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 and it
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 may be
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 that if
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 we fail
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 to pray
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 it is
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 because
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 our
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 compassion
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 is
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 defective
00:26:08 --> 00:26:11 or it
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 may mean
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 that we
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 are
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 compassionate
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 but we
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 are
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 naive
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 and we
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 have
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 misdiagnosed
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 the real
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 problem
00:26:20 --> 00:26:23 that is
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 we don't
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 clearly
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 understand
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 the
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 utter
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 plight
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 of the
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 lost
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 lost
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 and if
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 this is
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 the case
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 if we
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 don't
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 truly
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 understand
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 the
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 utter
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 plight
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 of the
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 lost
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 we
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 will
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 throw
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 all of
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 our
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 efforts
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 or the
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 vast
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 majority
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 of our
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 efforts
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 into the
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 secondary
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 solutions
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 even the
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 best
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 secondary
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 solutions
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 that we
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 can find
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 and we
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 will spend
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 our time
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 arguing
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 over
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 the
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 best
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 secondary
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 solutions
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 that we
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 can find
00:26:58 --> 00:27:01 while not
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 pleading for
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 the primary
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 solution
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 pleading for
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 God to
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 do his
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 work
00:27:06 --> 00:27:09 and so
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 my friends
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 we begin
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 mission month
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 2012
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 and the
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 global
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 task is
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 huge
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 the needs
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 seem endless
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 the local
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 task is
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 huge too
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 forget about
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 the global
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 task
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 the local
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 task is
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 huge
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 I want
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 to talk
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 about
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 harvest
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 time here
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 at St
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 Paul's
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 because if
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 we are
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 not engaged
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 in harvest
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 time here
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 at St
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Paul's
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 I want
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 to be
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 frank with
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 you
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 we will
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 never be
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 truly
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 engaged
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 with harvest
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 time in
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 Africa
00:27:35 --> 00:27:38 we will
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 never be
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 truly engaged
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 with harvest
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 time in
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 Africa
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 in fact
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 I said
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 to you a
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 number of
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 months ago
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 one of the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 signs of a
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 declining
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 church is
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 that we
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 actually put
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 our efforts
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 into harvest
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 times in
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 Africa and
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 everywhere else
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 rather than
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 our local
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 local harvest
00:27:55 --> 00:27:59 we have a
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 mission objective
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 of 500 in
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 attendance by
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 the end of
00:28:02 --> 00:28:06 2012 and
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 our mission
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 objective is
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 not to steal
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 sheep from
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 someone else's
00:28:09 --> 00:28:12 paddock but
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 for lost sheep
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 to find their
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 shepherd
00:28:14 --> 00:28:18 our objective
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 is for people
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 to be rescued
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 by the Lord
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 Jesus so let
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 me be
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 absolutely
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 frank with
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 you if
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 by the
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 end of
00:28:25 --> 00:28:27 2014 we
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 have 600
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 people in
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 services every
00:28:30 --> 00:28:32 Sunday but
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 our records
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 show that we've
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 only baptized
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 people in the
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 last three
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 years about
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 20 people in
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 the last three
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 years I would
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 sit back and
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 say we have
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 not succeeded
00:28:41 --> 00:28:46 I will not
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 call it a
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 success
00:28:48 --> 00:28:51 even though it
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 will look like
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 it
00:28:52 --> 00:28:56 let's pray
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 about harvest
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 time at
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 St Paul's
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 I don't know
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 what God will
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 do amongst
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 us I don't
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 know if
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 2012 or
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 13 or
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 14 is the
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 season of
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 harvest amongst
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 us it may
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 not be I
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 know as your
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 pastor that I'm
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 not broken
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 enough yet and
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 I'm not
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 yielding enough
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 yet and I'm
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 not compassionate
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 enough yet and
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 I'm not praying
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 enough yet maybe
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 we have to wait
00:29:19 --> 00:29:23 until 2025 but
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 maybe not
00:29:24 --> 00:29:28 firstly we must
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 pray for our
00:29:28 --> 00:29:31 own hearts I
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 read an
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 interesting article
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 this week that
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 said atheists
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 give to need
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 because of
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 compassion and
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 Christians are
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 motivated by
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 doctrine or
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 reputational
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 concerns
00:29:44 --> 00:29:48 atheists give
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 because they're
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 moved in the
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 gut with
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 people's needs
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 we do it
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 out of duty
00:29:52 --> 00:29:58 and our
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 praying can be
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 the same
00:29:59 --> 00:30:01 turn up to
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 prayer meetings
00:30:02 --> 00:30:04 run through the
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 prayer sheet
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 for this next
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 month we
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 pray for global
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 mission because
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 we ought to
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 rather than
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 pleading with
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 God because
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 of the vast
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 needs rather
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 than because of
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 compassion
00:30:19 --> 00:30:22 and so pray my
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 friends that our
00:30:23 --> 00:30:25 hearts my heart
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 senses the need
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 feels the
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 compassion
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 sees the
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 potential and
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 stays fervent in
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 pleading with
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 God to throw
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 out worker after
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 worker after
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 worker into the
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 harvest field
00:30:41 --> 00:30:44 secondly pray for
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 persons you know
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 outside of
00:30:46 --> 00:30:48 Christ that they
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 might come to
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 their shepherd
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 there is a power
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 at our disposal in
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 prayer that we have
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 only begun to tap
00:30:54 --> 00:30:56 and I'm praying that
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 all the members of
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 our church apply
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 themselves to
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 prayer this month
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 to pray to
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 plead earnestly
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 as if your
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 nearest and
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 dearest were
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 desperately ill
00:31:10 --> 00:31:12 amen