A Call For Harvest

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. - Matthew 9:9

Matthew was a tax collector

• Jews hated tax collectors
• Tax collectors worked for the Roman Government
• Tax collectors were dishonest and collected more than necessary

Jesus saw potential in Matthew

• An Apostle
• Writer of the first book of the New Testament
• Jesus sees potential in you

Your Calling

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

• There are multitudes who are ready to turn to God
• Too few harvesters in the field.

Unite for the Harvest

• The Disciples of Christ had their share of differences
• Matthew and Simon would have been enemies
• In Christ even the worst of enemies become friends

Unity Requires Humility

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35

The Harvest Depends on God's Timing

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. - Matthew 10:5-6

• Be sensitive to Holy Spirits Timing
• Don't get ahead of God
• Trying to force people to accept Christ is not God's will

The Harvest Depends on God's Power

• It is impossible to obey God's commands through human power
• The Harvest Depends on God's Power
• Believers must have the Spirits power to do what Christ commanded

God's Power is for Today

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. - 1 Corinthians 1:7

The Harvest Depends on Pure Motives

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. - Matthew 10:8

• The Gospel is not a business for profit
• Prayers and healing are not to be sold
• Using the Gospel for personal gain corrupts the message and the messenger

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
- 2nd Corinthians 2:17

The Harvest Depends on Wisdom and Gentleness

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. - Matthew 10:16

• Sometimes Christians cause their own problems by ignoring warning signs or breaking laws.
• Jesus expects his followers to use wisdom to avoid problems

The Harvest Depends on Speaking of God with Confidence

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:27-28

The Harvest Depends on Speaking of God with Confidence

God is not withdrawn or unconcerned
He knows each of his children
Not even a sparrow falls without his knowledge

The Harvest Depends on Faithful People

Full time workers
Those that pray
Those that support in giving

Equal Reward

Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. - Matthew 10:41

Teaching notes and audio file created from "Synoptic Gospels: the Life and teachings of Christ" second edition Published by: Global University

Back Pain Back Again, A Lesson from a Chiropractor

I once had the opportunity to visit a Chiropractor for some chronic back pain I was having. The good doctor, adjusted my back and neck. It was really awkward when he wanted to realign my neck. I'll never forget the fear that gripped me as he placed his hands on my head and told me to relax. Relax? How do I relax when this is going to look and sound just like the action performed in all those really macho kung-fu movies where the weaponless warrior snaps his enemy's neck bare handed! "Relax? I'm just a little nervous." I said. "I understand," he replied. "...but if you want the pain to stop, then you're going to have to trust me." He continued, "Close your eyes and relax. I'm going to count to three and then I'll adjust your neck. One...Two..." CRACK, went my neck. "Three." finished the doctor. I was shocked, scared and relieved all at the same time. Shortly, thereafter realizing I was still alive, I noticed that I felt better than I had felt in years. It was as if even my senses worked better. I felt like a new person! I sincerely thanked the doctor and was ready to go take on the world. He responded to my gratitude by telling me that I needed to return next week or sooner to have the whole process done again.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Like visiting a Chiropractor, having an encounter with Jesus can make you feel like a new person. In fact the Bible says that as a part of your transformation, you become a "new creation". Although that is a wonderful topic to explore, I am not going to expand that in this blog post. Here, I'm exploring the idea, that like going to the Chiropractor, an encounter with Jesus should be followed by another visit and sooner is better than later.

Many people have a fantastic meeting with Jesus for the first time in church. Of course you can find Jesus just about anywhere you are willing to search for him. It is my opinion, that a person will find Christ as soon as they search with their heart and become humble enough to realize their need for a savior. This level of humility is often referred to as being broken.

"For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation." - Psalm 149:7 (NIV)

Being broken may sound scary, and it might even feel awkward if it has never happened before. Most people struggle with their own thought process while waiting on the hands of God to realign their life. So, if you have thoughts running circles in your head, you're not alone. Relax, you're about to feel a whole lot better. Many people still testify to the gentleness of God's hand and the release they feel during that re-aligning moment. But, what happens next? What happens when you walk out that door a changed person?

"1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. " - Romans 12:1-3 (NIV)

Just as you would expect to schedule another appointment before leaving the Chiropractor's office you should be thinking about and committing yourself to a follow-up with Christ. The Chiropractor has good reason for wanting you to come back. At first, I thought that my Chiropractor was just interested in my money. The truth was, he was actually more interested in saving me from re-occurring pain and he knew that it wouldn't be long before I needed to be re-adjusted. He explained as follows:

Your vertebrates are held in alignment by the muscles around them. When a back muscle becomes weak or pulled or tightens it will pull those vertebrates out of alignment. The Chiropractor temporarily sets the vertebrates back in their proper place, thus stretching the muscles. Like elastic, the back muscles begin to slowly return to their previous state. Thus, pulling the vertebrates out of alignment again. By continually re-aligning the vertebrates, the muscles are trained and conditioned and eventually no longer pull on the vertebrates.

This is very much like what happens when you walk out the door feeling like a new person or after re-aligning your will with God's. Your lifestyle, and circumstances are like muscles that will pull on your heart and mind and eventually, without continued attention, you will be pulled out of alignment and the whole process starts over again. Don't wait until the pain starts, there is no need to put it off any longer. God will meet with you anytime you are willing to let him. I find that the more I commit some time to allowing God to re-align my life, the less scary, and less awkward it becomes. Three times a day is about what it takes to keep me aligned. With all that alignment going on, life begins to change around you.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters" - Psalm 23:2 (NIV)

Eventually, your lifestyle changes as your day is conditioned to work with your newly aligned life. The pain associated with the pull of the old lifestyle begins to disappear and is replaced with a heightened awareness of your surroundings. You should be able to live and move freely and even help others as you have always wanted too. All those things that seemed impossible before; become possible now that the restriction is gone. When your life is aligned with God's will, you have the peace you have been longing for.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

So what are you waiting for? Why not seek God out right now? Too busy? Not the right place? God is everywhere all the time and He knows everything already. Even a thought in the right direction can set the appointment. Just lift your heart heavenward and think to God, “God, will you meet me? Father, may I have a visit?” Do you need a bridge or something or someone to fill the gap between you and the Father? Do you feel like there is something between you and God? If so, know that Jesus is everything you need. He's your Good Doctor, or the Hand of God. Try approaching this way: “Jesus, will you show me the way to the Father? I really, would like to be aligned with His will. I know, I'm not worthy. I have sin in my life, will you remove it so that I may approach the Father? Will you be my Lord and Savior? Thank you. Amen.”

If this helps you or inspires you please tell someone else. I really would rather you tell someone you know, that you have decided to get aligned with God through Jesus, than for you to tell a hundred people about this blog. The point is you're right with God and that is enough. However, should you feel like leaving a comment here, you are welcome to do so.

All comments are moderated. Be blessed in Jesus' name.

Sowing Generously (Social Security, God's Way)

I was looking for something else today when I stumbled upon this treasure. Have you ever done that? For example, you're looking for that one thing you think you need most in that moment, like a hair brush or something and suddenly you find that other thing you couldn't seem to find before like your old remote. I just had to share the good news. May God speak to you above and beyond my ability.

God, bless the reader.

2nd Corinthians 9:6-15

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."^[a] 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

I like this passage. It reminds me to not doubt the great generosity of God our Father in Heaven. Now, I'm not over looking the first part about sowing sparingly and reaping sparingly. I'm just tickled about what the overall message is. What it says is that you can count on God to back you up. It also says that if you've got a good feeling about something God is asking you to invest in, then go ahead and do it!

Have a look again at verse seven: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." God puts a desire on your heart (not to be confused by peer pressure or marketing), then he expects you to follow that desire.

It's normal to get a vision from God and desire great things. His plans are usually bigger than yours. With that said, let me add something. God will also give you small things or seemingly insignificant things to do. These things might not seem like much fun or appear to be very glamorous at all. He expects you to follow those desires as well. What seems small can be huge in terms of God's scheme. Remember the mustard seed? (Matthew 13:31,32) Nothing is too big or too small for God to use.

More happy thoughts. Verse eight brings God's backing. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Yep, That's my God! God is faithful. I have never experienced God turning his back on me, and I have given him virtually every reason to do so.

Better get a bigger box to hold them there blessings there partner, cause you're sure going to need one. Look at the projections in verses ten and eleven." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

Consider "...the harvest of your righteousness." in verse ten. Just, think on that for a while. I did just now, for about thirty seconds, and do you know what I'm thinking? Probably not, so I'll tell you. (it is a blog right?) I'm thinking eternal thoughts. Thoughts of heavenly treasures. "For where your heart is your treasures will be also." (Matthew 6:19) Folks, it just keeps getting better.

In verse eleven, you see the results of your good management of God's resources. Let me ask you a question here. If you have a business and you trust someone to get something done with your resources, and they do exactly what you gave them to do using all those resources (no more and no less), what would be your most likely course of action? Commend them? Reward them? The next time you need to get the job done, you would more than likely have that person do it again.

After seeing that type of performance time and time again, you might even promote that person to a position that allows them to manage more resources and use your resources within their own discretion just because you can trust them. And here it is in verse eleven. "...you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion..." I hope I emphasized enough the gradual nature of such progress.

This is what I think. If God has put on your heart a desire to do a great thing, then chances are you have shown yourself faithful in some other areas. God will not set you up to fail! He might put you in a position to completely rely on him to make the rest of it happen, but I'm sure his plans are to bless you and others through you.

So what are you thinking? Having some good thoughts? Getting a little giddy inside like a kid about to get on a bike or horse for the first time? Perhaps you feel more like you're about to get on a roller-coaster. To be excited about God's plan is one thing. To be anxious is another. Pray and fast a bit. Take time to let the Lord confirm in your heart, beyond a shadow of doubt, then step out of the boat. Peter said "Lord if it is you, then I will come" (Matthew 4:28) I'm paraphrasing a bit there. What Peter demonstrated should be your attitude as well. Some desires have been with you since childhood. Go there in your heart and look. Ask God about then and now and you will know, that you know for sure.

Maybe you're thinking that none of this is for you. Maybe you wonder how or why God would even consider using you at all in such a way. That's normal too. No worries then, this is for you. God created you. He loves you. He wants you to love him, but he's not going to pry. You have a choice.

Wouldn't you rather someone love you because they chose to do so? So it is with God. We all feel like we could have messed things up from time to time. Maybe when we were young we were shown a pretty picture of Jesus and God in Sunday School, or maybe not.

Perhaps like a lot of people, you just feel like something is missing, like your atomic structure isn't quite balanced. As if there's just a proton or two that needs to be charged. That feeling is there because there is something between you and God.

That thing separating you and God is a lack of forgiveness. All you need to do is ask. It is a free gift from God through his Son Jesus. Jesus said that he is the way to the Father. Just tell him you're sorry, and you don't want to go on living without him in your life.

If your separation is a case where you are having trouble forgiving God, just remember, "...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Long before anything ever happened to you or the ones you love or anyone, God demonstrated his love. Even after all humanity continued to turn their back on God, he gave up his Son so that we would have a way to himself.

Go ahead and get things right, then ask him "Why Lord? Why did you allow it to happen?" and wait for a response. Pray for a response. God will answer you. He is faithful. And be ready for the blessings to fall. God has been waiting for this moment, and he has got something good for you.

You didn't read this by chance. I didn't write this by chance.

If you've made a decision to turn your life over to God, through Jesus, his Son, consider leaving a message. Here's two reasons.

1. It's good to make a profession of faith. That will be a help to you.
   
2. It's an encouragement to me.

Should you choose not to comment, no worries. Go in peace and share the good news!