THE FIELDS ARE WHITE READY FOR HARVEST BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW
Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661
Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org
OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”
Nobleton Community Church
Date October 20, 2024
Text Matthew 9:16-38
Pastor Paul Lehmann
In `Matthew chapter 9, last week we saw Jesus sitting down to eat at a table with tax collectors and sinners. The scene is set in a bustling marketplace in Capernaum, a town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meats fills the air as merchants call out to passersby, trying to sell their goods.
Among those gathered around the table with Jesus are Matthew, also known as Levi, a tax collector who left everything to follow Jesus, and other individuals who were considered outcasts by society. They had come to be in the scene after hearing about Jesus’ teachings and witnessing His miracles. Despite the disapproving glances from the religious leaders and the whispers of the crowd, Jesus welcomed these individuals with open arms, showing them love and acceptance.
As they sat together sharing a meal, Jesus used the opportunity to teach a valuable lesson about the new way of life He was bringing. He spoke of not putting new wine into old wineskins, illustrating the need for a fresh perspective and openness to His teachings. The imagery of the wineskins bursting if filled with new wine was a powerful metaphor for the transformative power of Jesus’ message and the need for hearts and minds to be renewed to receive it fully.
What is Matthew 9:16-17 about?
When we look at this verse, we see that Jesus is using the metaphor of new wine and new wineskins to teach us a valuable lesson about growth and change. We need to be open to new ways of thinking and living as we experience growth or spiritual transformation, just as new wine ferments and expands, requiring a new, flexible container like a wineskin that can stretch and adapt.
Imagine pouring fresh, bubbling wine into an old wineskin that is rigid and brittle – it would burst and spill out, wasting the precious contents. Similarly, if we try to contain the new things that God is doing in our lives with our old, rigid ways of thinking or living, we risk missing out on the blessings and opportunities that come with growth and change. Jesus is reminding us to be open to new possibilities and not be constrained by our old habits or beliefs.
So, as you reflect on this verse, consider what new things God may be doing in your life. Are you willing to let go of old ways that no longer serve you and make room for the new? Your growth and transformation may require a willingness to embrace change and adapt to the new things that God has in store for you, just as new wine needs new wineskins.
These verses from Matthew 9:16-17 are part of a larger dialogue where Jesus responds to questions about fasting. He uses two vivid metaphors to illustrate his point: a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins.
In the first metaphor, Jesus speaks of the impracticality of placing new, unshrunk cloth on an old garment. The new cloth will shrink, causing the tear to worsen, highlighting the incompatibility of the new with the old. Similarly, in the second metaphor, new wine must be put into fresh wineskins as the fermentation process requires flexibility. Old wineskins, being rigid, would burst, ruining both the wine and the container.
These metaphors echo the theme of renewal and transformation found in other biblical passages. For instance, 2 Corinthians 5:17 emphasizes that in Christ, we become a new creation, shedding the old ways. Ezekiel 36:26 speaks of God giving us a new heart and spirit, replacing the old, hardened one.
Today, these verses challenge us to embrace new ways of thinking and living as followers of Christ. They urge us to let go of outdated habits and mindsets that are incompatible with a life transformed by Jesus.
To illustrate this point, imagine trying to run the latest software on an old, outdated computer. The system would struggle and fail, much like trying to live a new life in Christ while clinging to old ways. If a man is trying to overcome an addiction by embracing a new community and lifestyle further illustrates the need to let go of the past for true transformation.
Jesus’ metaphors in Matthew 9:16-17 call us to wholeheartedly accept the new life He offers, leaving behind the old ways that hinder our growth. This passage encourages us to be open to God’s transformative work in our lives, trusting that His ways are superior to our own.
Imagine your work habits—sometimes, sticking with old ways doesn’t cut it for new challenges. Jesus talked about new wine in old wineskins; it bursts, right? Just like outdated methods at the office can hold you back. Open your heart to new ways of experiencing faith, like upgrading your tools for efficiency in your job or spending quality time with family. Are you ready to let God’s fresh power transform your life and renew your spirit?
We’ve been talking the last few weeks about the greatness of Jesus Christ and the miracles he has performed. As we continue to look through chapter 9 we see him again performing healing miracles, and even raising a girl from the dead.
In verse 18 a leader of the synagogue came to Jesus about his daughter who was sick, and while he was gone she died. He came out of desperation. A faith that was hopeful. Nothing else had worked for him When Jesus got to the house where the flute players and mourners were there, they “laughed” and mocked Jesus when he told them to leave, she was just “sleeping.” But they left and Jesus healed her and raised her up to life.
The woman with the issue of blood crept up behind Jesus in the crowd and touched the hem of His cloak Some might think like the commentator William Barclay, that hopeful persistent, dogged type of faith.
We have in the Old Testament Elisha took Elijah’s mantle in 2 Kings 2:9the mantle that had fallen from him and struck the water, it divided and he crossed over.
Then in Acts 5:14-16 (NIV) people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by, so that they might be healed
. Then again in Acts 19:11-12 we read: “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out from them.
Today we must pick up the mantle of God’s power. We may cry out; “where are the miracles today?
We have to be about the work God calls us to do. He has given each of us spiritual gifts and a work to do. For him and his healing power flows through us as we do the work How many miracles in the book of Acts was surrounded by prayer?
Peter and John went to the temple at the hour of prayer
The elders at Antioch were praying and fasting and the Spirit spoke.
Paul and Silas probably prayed every night at midnight—one night they were in jail
While Paul preached the Spirit fell.
The power of the routine is that God meets us at appointed times and in these appointed ways. If we are not there doing the work we will not see the miracle God has planned. If you long to see the interruption of our plans by the Spirit, we need to be faithful to the plans we have made. All of us are called to share the word (preach the word), make disciples and honor God with the work of our hands.
Paul said in Col. 3:17; 23-25 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
How can we reclaim the mantle of Elijah? The mantle represents a passionate pursuit of the Lord himself—not power, not influence, not even integrity. Let us strip away all the garments of selfish ambition and modern thinking, and take up the mantle and strike the river that blocks our way. The shadow of Peter and the handkerchief of Paul for us is only possible as we allow the Lord to build us in his image, and we submit and surrender our complete being to him, and obey him and submerge ourselves in the truth and power of the Spirit, and give ourselves to the poser of prayer.
As Jesus moved about surrendered to the will of the Father, in obedience to the call and mission of establishing the kingdom on earth, doing all the miracles we read about and then some. He did this with love and compassion. Sometimes that is lacking in what we do. May we ask for this in our ministry, in order to accomplish all the Lord is asking and expects from us.
At the end of this chapter in verses 37 and 38 we read about the waiting harvest.
Here is one of the most characteristic things that Jesus ever said. When he and the orthodox religious leaders of his day looked on the crowd of ordinary men and women, they saw them in quite different ways. The Pharisees saw the common people as chaff to be destroyed and burned up; He saw them as a harvest to be reaped and to be saved. The Pharisees in their pride looked for the destruction of sinners; Jesus in his love died for the salvation of sinners.
But here also is one of the great Christ truths and one of the supreme Christian challenges. That harvest will never be reaped unless thee are reapers to reap it. It is one of the great basic truths of our faith and life that Jesus Christ needs US. —BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. He wants people to hear the good news of the gospel. He is not willing that anyone should perish. He doesn’t want to send anyone to hell in spite of the fact that some people believe that. ( People send themselves to hell when they refuse to put their faith and trust in Jesus as their Savior.) But they won’t hear the gospel, unless we tell them. “Both across the street, and around the world.”
Even if we say, okay—I’ll just pray for more workers. Very good , especially to go overseas. But prayer is not enough. A person might say, “I will pray for the coming of Christ’s Kingdom every day.” But in this case especially, prayer without works is dead.
Martin Luther had a friend who felt about the faith like Luter did. He said he would stay back at the monastery and uphold Luther’s hands in prayer, and Martin Luther would do all the work to bring about the Reformation. So they began that way. Then one night back at the monastery, he had a dream. He saw the world as a huge corn field, and there was Martin Luther trying to harvest it all by himself –a lone reaper… .He woke up and saw the truth in a flash, I need to help Martin. So he left the monastery and went out to help with the harvest.
So it is with us.. It is not enough to pray. It is not enough to give our money. Christ wants everyone of us to be involved with the harvest—praying and giving and GOING.
If the harvest of people will ever be accomplished, we must be committed to be one of the reapers.