“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20
The past Sunday we talked about the importance of sharing the Gospel with others. There are several aspects involved in doing this, including…
Prayer
Meeting People
Caring for People
Having Spiritual Conversations with People
This is not a command for just some special people in the church, it’s for all of us. So, I talked about two things we call all be doing to help us to be doing this in our lives. I wanted to follow up with you on those two things both as a reminder, but also so you would have the details where you could use them.
The 10:02 Challenge
The 10:02 Challenge is a simple challenge, but one which is both effective (because prayer is effective) and helps us to obey Jesus.
“And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” – Luke 10:2
The concept of the challenge is this. In Luke 10:2, Jesus told His disciples there are lots of people out there ready to hear the Gospel (the harvest is plentiful), but there aren’t many people to send out to share the Gospel (the laborers are few). So, we should pray earnestly that God would send more laborers, more people out to share the Gospel.
Set an alarm on your phone or some other device for 10:02 (morning, evening, or both). When the alarm goes off, stop what you are doing and pray that God would send people to share the Gospel and that many would hear the Gospel and believe.
Just so I’m being completely open with you…just know, you likely may be one of the workers God sends out into the field. Jesus told His disciples to pray this right before He sent them out to do it.
BlessEveryHome.com
BlessEveryHome.com is a simple way to start praying for your neighbors as well as to start being intentional about meeting your neighbors and having spiritual conversations with them. Here’s a brief overview:
I hope you will join me in this effort. I have signed up and started praying for my neighbors and am going out and talking with my neighbors. You can, too.
“He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.“ – Apostles’ Creed
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2
Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All power in heaven and on earth has been given Him. He rules. What a wonderfully comforting and emboldening truth. The one who has overcome death and hell, the one who for the joy set before Him died on the cross for you, rules all things.
You’ve heard the saying, “I’ve got friends in high places.” Well, you have a friend in the highest place. As Romans 8:31 puts it:
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
What can we face, that God cannot handle? Even death, itself, has lost its sting for us because of Jesus Christ.
How boldly can we now go forth?
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20
As you wake up each morning. Remember that the one who sits on the right hand of the Father, almighty, is with you. Whatever struggles you face, He is in it. Whatever opportunities arise, He goes before you. You can live in His grace and freedom knowing that Jesus is able to deliver on all His promises.
This enables us to find rest…rest from worries and rest from our works. This allows us to live lives of praise. For He is truly worthy.
“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” – Psalm 29:2
Jesus, my Lord and my King,
All glory, laud, and honor are Yours. You are holy. You are mighty. You are eternal. May the prayer of my heart and the words of my lips ever praise Your name.
Amen.
If you have a few minutes, I invite you to listen to one of my favorite songs, Is He Worthy.