This morning, thanks Chris.
Our reading this morning is taken from Matthew chapter 9 beginning at verse 35 and continuing on into 10 on to verse 8.
So that's Matthew 9 beginning at verse 35 and that's page 974 of the Church Bible.
Matthew 9 verse 35.
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and illness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
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.
Jesus called out, called his 12 disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and illness.
These are the names of the 12 apostles.
These 12 Jesus sent out with the following instructions.
Jesus sent out with the Holy Spirit, but the Lord of the apostles.
Jesus sent out with them and gave them free to heal them and heal them.
Jesus sent out with the Lord of the apostles.
Jesus sent out with them, therefore, to the lost sheep of Israel.
As you go, proclaim this message.
The kingdom of heaven has come near.
Heal those who are ill.
Raise the dead.
Cleanse those who have leprosy.
Drive out demons.
freely you have received
freely give
thanks Chris
let's pray
Father give us
give us hearts
that will listen carefully
to your word today
may words that may
be familiar to us
strike
deep down into our lives
so that we have
a vision
that you have
that we are filled
with your desires and priorities
that they would shape
how we live
and how we go about
our day to day
Father we've come in
to this building in one way
and we want to go out
changed
and transformed
and so we ask that the power
of the Holy Spirit would work in
each of us
individually
and corporately
as a church
and do an amazing work
in all of our lives
may each one
be truly changed today
Amen
well as we
think about what we've seen
on the news
in these recent days
and we see the
desperate
impact of war
and the destruction
it causes
and we think about
our own country
and
our own families
and
troubles that people
are in
we long
to see change
we long
to see transformation
we long
that things
would be different
and I want
to encourage us
all today
to say to us
that we can
all be part
of an amazing
change
an amazing
transformation
in three simple
ways
by how we
see
how we pray
and in how we
obey
in three simple
steps
by seeing
as God
wants us
to see
by praying
the kind of prayers
God wants us
to pray
and by obeying
the commands
he gives us
God can use
us
to bring about
an eternal
change
to the community
we are in
and the world
around us
I truly
believe it
and I hope
that we will see
that this morning
so the first thing
that we're going
to look at
is seeing
forget
all of that
seeing
with compassion
that's the first
thing we want
to think about
when you walk
around Carragoline
imagine you're
going into
to Lidl's
or into Dunn's
or you're driving
through the village
how do you
see the people
around you
maybe you see
them as people
who are to avoid
just in case
they have COVID
maybe you think
of them as
frustrating
because they're
slowing you down
of where you
want to go
or maybe you
just see them
as there to
serve you
to get you
what you need
how do you
view people
well when
Jesus looks
at people
he sees
sheep
look at verse
36
when he saw
the crowds
he had
compassion on
them because
they were
harassed and
helpless
like sheep
without a
shepherd
now sheep
without
shepherds
wander
we don't
have to
know too
much about
farming
to know
that
they get
lost and
they get
themselves
into trouble
they don't
do very
well on
their own
and people
are no
different
in verse 36
he describes
us as being
harassed
and helpless
to be harassed
is to be
overcome with
anxiety and
fear
it's the
consequences
of living a
disordered life
that has been
corrupted by
sin
constantly
overwhelmed
and frantically
trying to
control our
life and our
future
we're not at
peace
always searching
never finding
we live
aimless
and empty
lives
we're
harassed
but we're
also helpless
helpless to
see how
serious the
situation
actually is
helpless to
do anything
about it
because our
sinful condition
means
that we're
in danger
of God's
judgment
and the
problem is
people
cannot
see it
we're in a
helpless
situation
on one of
my mountain
walks
I stopped
to take in
the views
and just
over to my
right
in the
grassy
heather
I heard
what I
thought
was a
frog
it was
kind of
like a
croaking
sound
so I
went
wandering
off to
investigate
and as
I pulled
back the
grass
all I
could see
was this
beady
little eye
looking up
at me
it was a
sheep
almost
submerged
in the
bark
wrestling
and
struggling
well that's
how Jesus
sees people
no matter
who they
are
where they
come from
what their
background
may be
we are
all
wandering
sheep
harassed
because of
sinful choices
and decisions
and helpless
to do
anything
about it
but thankfully
we have a
compassionate
shepherd
because the
response of
Jesus to
these
wandering
leaderless
sheep
is
compassion
again look
at verse 36
when he saw
the crowds
he had
compassion
on them
compassion
is much more
than just
having concern
for somebody
or care
for someone
it's a deep
feeling
that churns
within you
from the
inside
and that
feeling is
not quelled
until something
is done
it's an emotion
a strong emotion
that leads
to action
in other words
it's feeling
a need
and wanting
to alleviate
that need
as one
writer put it
the compassion
of Jesus
is his
spontaneous
reflex
to move
towards
sinners
and sufferers
he is
compelled
into action
he sees
and he is
moved to do
something about
it
you see
Jesus is
the shepherd
that has
come
the shepherd
we all
need
the prophet
Ezekiel
helps us
to understand
this
you can keep
your finger
in Matthew
and go back
to Ezekiel
the prophet
if anybody
has a page
number
that might
help
Ezekiel
chapter 34
anyone got
a page
number
no
different
bible
sorry
866
thank you
Ezekiel
34
and here
God
through the
prophet
Ezekiel
is showing
the damage
that is
caused
to people
where there
is the
absence
of healthy
leaders
where people
do not
have
the instruction
and the love
and the care
of the Lord
we'll pick it up
in verse 4
God is speaking
against those
who've led
people astray
verse 4
you have not
strengthened the
weak or healed
those who are
ill
or bound up
the injured
you have not
brought back
the strays
or search
for the lost
you have
ruled them
harshly
and brutally
so they were
scattered
because there
was no shepherd
and when they
were scattered
they became
food for all
the wild animals
my sheep
wandered
over all the
mountains
and over
every high hill
they were
scattered over
the whole earth
and no one
searched for
them
or looked
for them
verse 11
for this is
what the
sovereign
Lord says
I myself
will search
for my sheep
and look
after them
as a shepherd
looks after
his scattered
flock
when he is
with them
so will I
look after
my sheep
I will rescue
them from the
places where
they were
scattered on
the day of
dark clouds
and darkness
verse 16
I will
search for
the lost
and bring
back the
strays
I will bind
up the
injured
and strengthen
the weak
but the
sleek
and the
strong
I will
destroy
I will
shepherd
the flock
with justice
let's go
back to
Matthew
you see
Jesus is
making it
abundantly
clear
that he
is that
shepherd
he's saying
I know
your sin
I see
your suffering
I feel
deeply
for your
brokenness
and disorder
and I have
come to
meet
that need
you know
as I
watched that
sheep
wrestling
and struggling
as it
slowly
submerged
beneath
the bog
I was
moved
I
reached
down
and
grabbed
a hold
of that
sheep
and
grabbed
a hold
of its
horn
and I
just
pulled
with all
my
might
taking
it
away
from
danger
away
from
further
harm
and
certain
death
these
things
how much
more
has God
reached
down
with us
through
his mighty
hand
through
his
son
Jesus
he has
seen
people
as harassed
and helpless
he has
been compelled
into action
he has
taken
our sin
and died
for us
he has
risen
from
the dead
and given
us
life
he has
given
us
his
spirit
so that
we
might
be
with
him
He has moved towards sinners and sufferers like us
and with compassion he has helped us.
So as we want to see change and transformation in our community,
amongst our families and within this dark, broken world,
we need to see people with the compassion of Jesus.
To stop running around so frantically, running about doing our things
and living my life the way I want to,
but have our eyes open and see people with compassion
and point them to a shepherd who alone can save.
What brokenness there is.
If we have our eyes open, what change we can bring.
So seeing, praying, the next step in seeing change in our world.
Jesus moves from his metaphors, from sheep to one of harvest,
from people who are helpless to a people who are now ready.
Because he tells us in verse 37 that the harvest is plentiful.
As Jesus scans the crowds, he sees not just harassed and helpless sheep,
but now he sees as if it were an orchard full of ripe fruit trees.
A harvest that's ready for picking, which tells us two things.
That people are actually ready to hear.
They're ready to hear the good news about Jesus and his kingdom.
The people that we bypass every day.
They're fed up with empty promises and false hopes that the world offers.
They're tired by the weight of expectation that they put on themselves
and that everybody else puts on each other.
People scrambling as they search for an identity,
longing to be accepted,
striving for some kind of purpose in life
that somebody will say your life matters.
People are harassed and helpless,
crushed and broken,
and they're longing for somebody who would come and say to them,
you have a saving king
who will lift your burdens
and will give rest to the weary.
There is one who will bind up your wounds,
who will strengthen the weak,
a shepherd king who has given his life for you
that he might live.
people are ready to hear that message.
And not only are they ready to hear,
but people are ready to repent.
They're ready to turn from themselves
and turn to Christ
because repentance is the door into God's kingdom.
They just need to know how.
They need somebody to come alongside them
to share,
to tell them of a saviour
that will never fail them,
who forgives all their past
and gives them a secure future.
These sheep
are ready to follow a shepherd.
Rico Tice,
who's an author and evangelist,
put it like this.
He says,
there is an increasing hostility
to the gospel message today.
But something else is going on too.
There's also an increased hunger.
The same rising tide of secularism
and materialism
that rejects truth claims
and is offended by absolute moral standards
is proving to be empty and hollow.
And that means,
excitingly,
more and more people
are hungering
for the content
of the gospel.
You see,
I can become very cynical.
Cynical with the world
and everything that's going on.
But I need to see what Jesus sees.
Rather than a barren land,
we're in a fruitful orchard.
A plentiful harvest.
Well, you see,
if it's so plentiful,
then where are all the new followers
of Jesus?
Wrong question.
There's a problem.
Let's read verse 37.
There's a problem.
He said to the disciples,
the harvest is plentiful,
but the workers are few.
You see,
the problem isn't out there
with people.
The problem is here.
There are few workers.
There's a harvest that is ripe
and ready,
but there are few
who are willing to go.
And what I find
incredible about this is
Jesus doesn't come along
with a big stick
and berate us
and scold us
and say,
I want you to do better
and I want you to do more.
In grace,
he simply says,
look at verse 38,
Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore,
to send out workers
into his harvest field.
Couldn't be easier.
could it?
Rather than knock us down,
Jesus says,
Ask me.
Come to me in prayer
and ask me to raise up
more workers.
Because our priority
to the needs around us
is not to start running
more outreach events.
Our response is not to go
into a big recruitment drive.
It's not to guilt people
into service
or berating them
into service,
but to gather together
and to pray
for new workers.
You see,
this isn't our mission.
We don't get to make it up.
This is his mission.
He is,
verse 38,
the Lord of the harvest.
He's the one
who's sovereign
over all things.
He's the one
that will change
any heart
so that they follow Christ.
And he is the only one
that can change
or move any of us
to do
what he calls us to do.
And so,
through prayer,
we are depending on God
to do what we can never do.
And that is
to send out
workers.
Now,
while we're all called
to go and serve,
and I deeply believe that,
I think there is
a particular need
for full-time workers.
And by that,
I mean pastors,
teachers,
evangelists,
church planters,
people who will
specifically
lead gospel work
and equip
their churches
to do the same.
That's the great need.
There are people groups
all over the world
who remain unreached.
There are towns
scattered
throughout Ireland
without a gospel witness.
Carragaline
is a town
of 16,000
plus people.
It's in need
of more workers.
And how is this
huge need
ever going to be met?
Very simply,
Christ says to us,
ask,
ask the Lord
to provide
and to send out.
So instead of
getting frustrated
and complaining
about the lack
of workers,
pray.
Instead of thinking
it's all up to me
and getting overwhelmed
with all that's
around me,
pray.
Instead of trying
to guilt people
to do more,
pray.
Ask God
that he would
provide workers
and send out
workers.
The third step
in bringing about
the change
and seeing
people enter
the kingdom
of God
is not just
seeing,
not just
praying,
but obeying.
Look at verse 10.
Jesus called
his twelve disciples
to him
and gave them
authority
to drive out
impure spirits
and to heal
every disease
and illness.
It's like
a general
calling his
soldiers
to action
and sending
them out.
Now I don't
know about you
but that's
the kind
of mission
I want
to be on.
Authority
to drive
out impure
spirits,
heal every
disease
and illness.
Grab your
attention,
does it?
In fact,
it gets even
better.
Look at verse
seven.
As you go,
proclaim this
message.
The kingdom
of heaven
has come
near.
Heal those
who are
ill.
Raise
the dead.
Cleanse
those who
have
leprosy.
Drive
out demons.
Freely
you have
received,
freely
give.
Is this
our mission?
Is this
what we're
expected to
do as we
walk out
through that
door?
Could it
happen?
Well,
let's think
about that
for a moment.
first,
the priorities
we have.
You see,
we need to
think about
the miracles
that Jesus
has done.
We looked
at some
of them
last week
through
chapters
eight and
nine.
And the
primary
purpose
of the
miracles
is to
confirm
who Jesus
says he
is.
Have a
look at
chapter
11.
Just have
a look
ahead.
Chapter
11,
verses
2 to
5.
Chapter
11,
verses
2 to
5.
When
John,
this is
John the
Baptist,
who had
baptized
Jesus,
was in
prison,
he'd been
put in
prison because
he'd been
preaching
about
Christ.
when he
was put
in prison,
he'd heard
about the
deeds of
the Messiah,
the miracles
that Jesus
had been
doing.
And he
sent his
disciples to
ask him,
are you
the one
who has
come or
should we
expect
someone else?
Are you
the Messiah?
How do
we know
if Jesus
is God's
King?
Jesus
replies,
verse 4,
go back
and report
to John
what you
hear and
see.
The blind
receive sight,
the lame
walk,
those who
have
leprosy
are
cleansed,
the deaf
hear,
the dead
are raised,
and the
good news
is proclaimed
to the
poor.
You see,
how do we
know Jesus
is the
Messiah?
By the
miracles he
did.
They
affirm and
confirm that
Jesus is
God's
King with
absolute
power and
supreme
authority and
we can
trust him.
That's why
Jesus did
all those
miracles.
Now,
in a
similar way,
Jesus now
gives his
chosen
disciples the
authority to
do miracles.
That's what it
says in 10
verse 1.
He gave
them authority
and we see
these lists of
disciples,
the names are
given to us in
verses 2 to
4.
These are
ones who
would become
apostles.
They were
the first
eyewitnesses
of Jesus
and his
message.
Some of
these very
men would
become authors
of scripture.
Even Matthew
who's mentioned
there,
were reading
his gospel.
How do we
know that we
can trust
Matthew's words
that he's
written down?
The miracles
that the
disciples did
confirm they
authenticate
their eyewitness
account.
disciples.
You see,
this was a
particularly
unique time.
This is not
a blanket
command for
all disciples
of all times.
It's not that
we're to go up
to every funeral
and raise
the dead.
Just because
something is
written in the
Bible doesn't
necessarily mean
it still applies
to us today.
For example,
look at
chapter 10
verse 5.
These 12
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.
He gave them
a very specific
command.
Just go to
the Jews.
Nobody else.
Are we
meant to
follow that
command too?
Well,
clearly not
because Jesus
has made it
clear as time
has gone on
that we are
to reach
all people,
all nations.
This was a
particular time
in history
given to a
particular group
of people.
But yet,
I think it
does set
the pattern
for us,
for mission,
for the
command that
we have been
given.
Because we
are to both
proclaim the
word and
demonstrated
in need.
Proclamation
and
demonstration.
The good
news of the
kingdom is
a message,
it's a
word.
The kingdom
of heaven
has come
near.
Repent.
So we
proclaim that
same good
news.
We tell of
a great
king who
has come.
We must
open our
mouths that
God has
given us
so that we
can speak
about Jesus.
But our
message should
also be
accompanied by
good deeds.
We are to
care for the
most needy,
to help the
poor, to
stand up for
the vulnerable.
We are to
hate evil and
love justice.
We are to
care for the
sick and
dying.
We are to
pray for them
and we can
pray for their
healing.
And if they
are not, we
continue to
care for
them.
In other
words, the
gospel is to
be proclaimed
through our
words and
demonstrated
through our
deeds.
We are to
look like the
message that
we are talking
about.
What's the
point in
talking about
a God of
love if
there is no
action of
love?
What would
it look like
for us to
proclaim the
word and
demonstrate it
in need?
Well, let
me give you
one.
We've seen
the streams
of people
coming out
of Ukraine.
No doubt
many of
these people
are going
to find
their way
to Ireland.
No
home,
no
belongings.
Where would
they stay?
Would we
as a
church,
would you
consider
getting
involved in
opening up
your home
and giving
of your
finances
to
give a
home for
a family?
Demonstrating
love and
good deeds
and at the
same time
trusting that
God brings
people across
our path
that maybe
they could
meet the
King,
the King
Jesus.
God's
love and
God's
love and
love.
You see,
our priority
is clear.
We are to
obey the
command of
Jesus,
our Captain,
displaying the
love of God
through our
lives and
declaring the
truth of God
through our
words.
Jesus.
How are we
ever going to
see change
in our
families,
in our
communities,
in this
world in
which we
live?
Open our
eyes to
see people
as Jesus
sees them.
Pray.
That's why we
meet for our
home groups.
That's why we
gather together
to pray.
and obey
the command
to go.
Get involved
in Rock
and Rooted.
Become a
teacher in
Sunday school.
Pray for
your children.
Not just
that they
will have a
good career
and that
they'll have
a good life
and have
their own
house,
but would
you dare
as a
parent to
pray for
your children
that they
would go
to the
unreached
peoples of
the world.
the harvest
is plentiful.
The workers
are few.
Let's pray.
Father,
there is
so much
need,
but wonderfully
we have
been shown
today through
your word
how that
need is
met.
So would
you start
by changing
us,
changing
me.
Give me
eyes to
see people
as harassed
and helpless.
Give me
eyes to
see people
who are
ready to
hear and
listen.
We pray,
Father,
that you
would send
out workers
into your
harvest field,
convict and
change the
hearts of
people,
raise up
new leaders,
pastors,
church
planters from
within this
congregation.
We pray it
for our
children.
And we
pray,
Father,
that you
would supply
us as a
church with
a new
worker.
prayer.
And we
pray that
together we
would obey
the command
to speak
your truth,
to love
others well,
just as
you have
loved us
and have
spoken your
truth to
us.
Help us,
Father.
We ask
this in
your name.
Amen.
Well,
we're going
to sing.
It's a
task that
is unfinished
because the
Lord Jesus
has not yet
come again.
The task
remains.
Let's sing
this as a
prayer.
Let's sing
this to each
other to
encourage each
other in
all that God
has called
us to do.
Let's sing.
Sorry,
John.
Let's stand
if we can.
Thank you.