Open Heaven 3 December 2019 Devotional By Pastor E.A Adeboye – Among The Few Labourers?
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TOPIC: Among The Few Labourers?
MEMORISE:
“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.” – (Matthew 21:28-29)
READ: John 4:34-38 (KJV)
34. Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour; other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 69-72, Micah 7:8-20
MESSAGE:
In today’s memory verse, Jesus tells the parable of a man searching for faithful labourers in His household, and even among His own children. This is indicative of what God does in every generation: always searching for a faithful servant, someone He can depend on, to deliver His undiluted message to the people.
This was why Jesus commissioned seventy of His disciples of preach the good news of the gospel in the surrounding cities, towns and villages He planned to visit (Like 10:1). He gave these discipline, commitment and faithfulness with which He expected them to carry out the assignment.
The truth of the matter is, in all generations, God is always in search of a few exceptional ones among His children who are obedient, trustworthy, reliable and dependable. Such committed labourers are usually set apart for special assignments, especially tasks related to soul winning.
Open Heaven 3 December 2019 – Among The Few Labourers?
I pray that you will be found among these few special labourers in this generation in Jesus’ Name. In Luke 10:2, Jesus acknowledge the vastness of the available harvest and the scarcity of labourers to bring in the harvest. The harvest is a reference to the souls that are ready to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and savior, while the labourers are Christians who are faithfully committed to the task of evangelism or soul-winning.
In saying the labourers are few, Jesus is not necessarily talking about the quantity of labourers only; He is also referring to their quality. In other words, the Lord is talking about the scarcity of genuine workmen who are faithfully committed to the task of gathering souls into the kingdom.
Jesus specifically gave us the parable of the talents to teach the importance of faithfulness in stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30). All the servants put their talents to profitable use except the servant to whom was entrusted one talent, who went and dug a hole in the ground to hide his lord’s money where it would lie fallow.
When their master returned, the servant with one talent was seriously reprimanded. His talent was taken away from him and given as a bonus to someone else. In light of this parable, the Lord expects every one of His children to diligently put their talents and special gifts to profitable use for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
We are expected to be committed to God’s work, of which soul-winning is paramount. You will not be named among unprofitable servants in Jesus’ Name. Beloved, the greatest rewards and crowns in heaven will go to soul-winners.
I therefore plead with you to become a committed soul winner today. As you strike to please God in your stewardship, God will crown all your efforts with success in Jesus’ Name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to be a faithful servant that is committed to soul-winning, in Jesus’ Name.
HYMNAL:
Hymn 15 – Must I go and empty handed?
1. Must I go and empty handed?
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him
Lay no trophy at His feet?
CHORUS:
Must I go and empty handed?
Must I meet my Saviour so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him?
Must I empty handed go
2. Not at death I shrink or falter
For my Saviour saves me now
But to meet Him empty handed
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
3. Oh, the years of sinning wasted
Could I but recall them now
I would give them to my Saviour
To His will I’d gladly bow.
4. O ye saints, arouse, be earnest
Up and work while yet ’tis day
Ere the night of death o’er take thee
Strive for souls while still you may.
Open Heaven 3 December 2019 Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.