Kingdom 102: Where Are the Ambassadors?
Jesus made this statement: Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Where are the Kingdom citizens that represent the Kingdom culture in words and deeds? A true and obedient ambassador speaks only of his Kingdom culture and government. He doesn't render his opinion or his ideas. A Kingdom ambassador doesn't try to persuade others what they know to be truth; but live according to their government's laws and principles. They are walking, breathing, living examples of God's Kingdom in action. In doing so, others around them will be affected through their behavior. Keep in mind, the Lord Jesus was surrounded by those who were hungry for the Word. He was surrounded and followed everywhere by crowds of people who were "harassed and helpless"; people who were wandering without hope or direction. They were people who were ripe for the "picking".
Remember, what was true back then in Christ's day over 2000 years ago is still true in our day. They still hover in religion, seeking the Kingdom. Our world is filled with individuals searching for the truth, yearning for the Kingdom of God, while they are stumbling in the gloom of spiritual darkness. There is nothing "wrong" with these people, they are still ripe for the picking.
Please note: The problem doesn't lie with the readiness of the harvest, but with the availability of harvesters. When the Lord Jesus spoke of "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few..." He was speaking not only about quantity of workers, but also quality of the workers as well. You must be filled with His Holy Spirit.
There are many citizens of the Kingdom who should be working in the harvest field who are not, and many of those who are working are not doing a very good job. Why? Because they aren't led of the Spirit. This world is ripe for the Kingdom of God, but we who are the citizens and representatives of that Kingdom are failing in our responsibility to bring in the harvest. Keep this in mind, there were many disciples that followed Jesus, but He only chose twelve.
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
If you notice, Jesus told them where not to go, where to go, what to preach, what to do and He made a point of reminding them "freely received and freely give" One should not have to pay to receive the Kingdom teaching. Giving offerings of one's free will is a blessing of obedience.
Matthew 9:37 Matthew 10:1-15
~~W.R. Luchie
Where are the Kingdom citizens that represent the Kingdom culture in words and deeds? A true and obedient ambassador speaks only of his Kingdom culture and government. He doesn't render his opinion or his ideas. A Kingdom ambassador doesn't try to persuade others what they know to be truth; but live according to their government's laws and principles. They are walking, breathing, living examples of God's Kingdom in action. In doing so, others around them will be affected through their behavior. Keep in mind, the Lord Jesus was surrounded by those who were hungry for the Word. He was surrounded and followed everywhere by crowds of people who were "harassed and helpless"; people who were wandering without hope or direction. They were people who were ripe for the "picking".
Remember, what was true back then in Christ's day over 2000 years ago is still true in our day. They still hover in religion, seeking the Kingdom. Our world is filled with individuals searching for the truth, yearning for the Kingdom of God, while they are stumbling in the gloom of spiritual darkness. There is nothing "wrong" with these people, they are still ripe for the picking.
Please note: The problem doesn't lie with the readiness of the harvest, but with the availability of harvesters. When the Lord Jesus spoke of "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few..." He was speaking not only about quantity of workers, but also quality of the workers as well. You must be filled with His Holy Spirit.
There are many citizens of the Kingdom who should be working in the harvest field who are not, and many of those who are working are not doing a very good job. Why? Because they aren't led of the Spirit. This world is ripe for the Kingdom of God, but we who are the citizens and representatives of that Kingdom are failing in our responsibility to bring in the harvest. Keep this in mind, there were many disciples that followed Jesus, but He only chose twelve.
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
If you notice, Jesus told them where not to go, where to go, what to preach, what to do and He made a point of reminding them "freely received and freely give" One should not have to pay to receive the Kingdom teaching. Giving offerings of one's free will is a blessing of obedience.
Matthew 9:37 Matthew 10:1-15
~~W.R. Luchie
