Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Sabbath evening message at the Carleton ConferenceGod has a great program for the evangelizationof the world. This program stretches out through allages, reaches to all nations, and involves all classesof people. It is an extremely costly program, for itcost God the life of His own Son. It is a great programof love — unfathomable love for defiled,defiant, depraved sinners. This great enterprise isa tremendous task, requiring many workers, muchtime, and tremendous energy. Jesus calls this agreat HARVEST.In this great mission of mercy our Lord haschosen to use men. He could have spoken daily fromthe mountain as He spoke to Moses, warning mento take heed with His great thunder and lightningand the shaking of the earth. He could have writtenHis message in the sky or on the walls of our homesas in Daniel's day. He could have sent an angel toevery man as He sent the angels to Lot. He couldhave even used beasts to speak, for He spoke in thisway to Baalim. But He didn't. God chose mainly toreveal His great program of mercy through men.He chose to use men to manifest His great love toa sinful and dying world. He chose to redeem menand through them to make known the salvationpurchased by Christ. He has made us ambassadorsof Christ, stewards of the Gospel, messengers of theKing. What a great privilege! We serve the greatestEmployer. We are in the greatest of all organizations.We are involved in the most tremendousprogram conceivable. We are entrusted with thetask of bringing mercy, peace, hope, and joy to aworld full of despair and dread.Three times Jesus speaks of this great enterprise,but each time with a little different emphasis. Thefirst that we will consider is Luke 10:1-2. Jesusappointed seventy men and sent them into everytown where He expected to go. Then He said, "Theharvest truly is great, but the laborers are few:pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that hewould send forth laborers into his harvest." As westudy the context of this passage we see that —I. God Wants Men who will Deny Themselves andEndure Hardship for Christ.In Luke 9:51-56 we read that Jesus steadfastlyset His face to go to Jerusalem. He was going toGod Wants MenRev. Gene W. Spear, Kobe, JapanScripture: Luke 9:57—20:24.face the blasphemy, the malice, the cunning hypocrisyof the Jews. Even along the way He wasrejected by the Samaritans. James and John wantedto call down fire from heaven. But Jesus bore it allvery meekly. It is difficult to be rejected, reproached,rebuffed, and yet remain messengers of mercy.In Luke 10:57-58 we read of a man who cameand said, "Lord, I will follow thee whithersoeverthou goest." But Jesus explained, "Foxes have holes,and birds of the air have nests: but the Son of manhath not where to lay his head." It is hot so easyto follow Christ as this man thought.When Jesus commanded another man to followHim, the man said, "Lord suffer me first to go andbury my father." But Jesus replied, "Let the deadbury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdomof God." Serving Christ sometimes involves forsakingfather or mother or family or friends.Another man said, "Lord I will follow thee, butlet me first go bid them farewell, which are at homeat my house." But Jesus replied, "No man, havingput his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fitfor the kingdom of God." The task is so importantthat there can be no looking back or turning backeven temporarily.When Jesus sent the seventy out to preach Hetold them in only a few words what to expect. "Goyour ways," He said, "behold, I send you forth aslambs among wolves." And what do wolves do tolambs?But Christ did not send these men out helplessand alone. Daily He was with them providing fortheir physical and spiritual needs. He even gavethem authority to kick off the dust of their feetagainst any city that did not receive Him. He alsotold them, "He that heareth you, heareth Me, andhe that despiseth you, despiseth Me." What a tremendousauthority! What a terrific responsibility!And Christ's provision and power were sufficient.These men came back rejoicing greatly and saying,"Lord, even the devils are subject unto us throughthy name."Yes, the task is very great. It is too great for us.But when we die to ourselves and live with Christ,when we trust His promise, "Lo I am with you al-COVENANTERWITNESS