Pray, Then Send or Go: Reflections on Matthew 9:37-38

"Then he said to his disciples, ‘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.’"
Matthew 9:37-38
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus gives us three ways to reach the lost: praying, sending, and going. The one command is “pray earnestly.” It’s one word in the original; it has the connotation of pleading for something. We all have the responsibility to plead for the lost, praying specifically that the Lord would send out workers to reap a harvest of lost souls. They are there ready to be “reaped.”
This type of pleading prayer is set in the context of Jesus going from village to village seeing the people that were like “sheep without a shepherd” (v. 36). Christ had compassion for the lost and he was asking for his disciples to have that same kind of compassion. In essence, Jesus is calling the disciples into a Gospel partnership as they plead with the Lord for harvest workers. So, prayer is the essential first step in reaching the lost. It’s a joining of our pleading with the compassion of Christ. Are our hearts burdened for the lost? If so, then we must pray. If not, we must pray even more, that God would give us the compassion and concern for those that are separated from the Good Shepherd.
Though it starts with prayer, it does not end there. Jesus is calling the disciples not only to pray but to be involved in sending as well. Though we pray for the Lord to do the sending, he uses us in the process. This is what John speaks about in 3 John 5-8. The Lord uses us to send people who are going out “for the sake of the name” (3 John 7). It’s a partnership where some will be the senders and some will go. All will pray, some will send, and some will go. Those are the options that are implied in Matthew 9 and those are the options we have before us. Our sending may happen through our prayers. It may happen as we sacrificially give of our financial resources. And then many will be called to go, to work in the harvest fields, to bring lost sheep back to their shepherd, the Good Shepherd. We all must pray. We all must either send or go. As John Piper has said, we can “go, send, or disobey.”
What is God calling you to do? Are you open to sending? Are you open to moving out of your comfort zone and going? Today, there are over seven billion people in the world. Only one-third claim to be followers of Christ, that means there are at least 4.7 billion people who are heading to an eternity separated from the Good Shepherd. Even more disheartening is that almost three billion of them have no opportunity to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ. They live in a community where no viable, reproducing church has been established (the 41.3% unreached). People still need to go, to cross cultural boundaries, some of which have never been crossed. People still need to send, to make a way for others to go. And we all need to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.

Written by Matt Smith

“When your church family gathers together as a group of needy people and share food with Jesus at the center and with Jesus as the provider, you glimpse God’s coming world right here, right now" -Tim Chester

Prayer Walk (12/14)
On December 14, 2013, at 10 a.m., we will be having a prayer walk AGAIN through the EAST DURHAM Community!

The walk will be a total of 3 miles.  We will be having prayer and praise as we journey through the streets!

Its going to be an awesome time AGAIN – and we are presently connecting with all the local churches to come and be a part!

We will meet at Joe's Diner 2102 Angier Ave, Durham, NC @10am, on Dec. 14th

The goals are
1. Communicate to God by prayer walking
2. Connect to people by announcing our Christmas Community Free Breakfast At Joe’s Dinner, @10am, on Dec. 21st
3. Commit by proving our willingness serve the community

4. Christmas Wish list providing tangibles or non-tangible things (3 things)

Christmas Community Free Breakfast At Joe’s Dinner (12/21)
A FREE breakfast is being served on Saturday Morning December 21 from 10:00A.M. until 12:30 P.M.  The WHOLE COMMUNITY (East Durham) is invited to come for breakfast.  Again – There is NO CHARGE for this breakfast.  It is FREE!!! (We are asking every member to give 20 dollars or MORE for this cause)

Call [919] 539-8492 for more information.

The service will be held at Joe’s Dinner (2100 Angier Avenue ) from 10:00am-12:30 p.m.

DISCIPLINE A BROTHER BACK INTO RIGHT STANDARD WITH GOD

My reaction to a ministry leader who has fallen into sin would be to use the recipe laid out in the Word of God in efforts to discipline and to help restore him spiritually. I believe that the New Testament is the guide for us to use to reconcile any fallen brother back into the right standard with God. The Book of Matthew distinctly describes how an individual or the church should respond to a fallen brother or ministry leader. This response encompasses a process of discipline. Today, millions of churches have forgotten the importance and usage of the Word of God in church discipline.

The purposes of church discipline are for the spiritual restoration of a fallen brother, the subsequent strengthening of the church as a whole, and for glorifying the body of Christ. When a brother in Christ is rebuked and he turns from his sins and is forgiven, he is reconciled back in the right standard with God, along with the right fellowship with the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the response to a fallen brother requires active discipline—a step-wise process, which Jesus has set forth in the book of Matthew (18:15-17). This process includes: (1) steps to be followed by the individual, whom the leader has offended or who knows of the leader’s sin; (2) if there is no reconciliation, the process of discipline moves to a plural level where witnesses are used to confront the leader who has sinned; (3) if needed further action involves the church body; (4) finally, if the faults of the leader are not resolved—he is to be treated as an outsider.t
The bible states, in Matthew 18:15-17, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.


MEET WITH THE BROTHER PRIVATELY
The primary step of church discipline begins on an individual level and then moves to the plural level and dimensions of the church body. Matthew 18:15-17, says, "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back but if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”2
Meeting with your brother privately and pointing out his fault is an unknown discipline within the present church. The church has become very unconsciously inactive. We have allowed the most extreme and unwarranted behaviors in the church to go on without any consequence and this has destroyed the unity and the purity of the church. Our failure to approach our brother with his sin has caused a hindrance in the unity of the Body of Christ.3 Furthermore, the failure to discipline has caused a complacently among church membership and responsibility. Church discipline starts on an individual level, and our biblical response for the purity of the church should be to confront the fallen brother privately. Despite biblical warranting, private confrontation in the church has been regarded as wrong and, some how, has been reflected as a negative or judgmental response. Nevertheless without private confrontation, this primary step in discipline has become neglected, and this has led to us losing the sense of community and mutual responsibility for one another.3 Scripture supports restoration in that, “we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”4 Often we have given excuses such as, "Well, it's not really any of my business, is it?" Discipline is costly because my brother's business now becomes mine.

MEMBERSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISCIPLINE

Members of the church have failed their responsibility because they frequently quote, but have misinterpreted the scripture: Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged."4 It is imperative to understand that God’s Word is the judge, and our lack of understanding has certainly put hesitancy in the hearts of many in regard to dealing with sin in the membership. I believe the fear of rejection has deterred us from correct discipline because we only anticipate in our minds what a faulty leader will say to us: "Mind your own business. You have no authority to tell me what I can and can't do. I am the leader" This anticipation of rejection and rebuttal has led many people to fear approaching a church leader concerning sin in his life. Talking directly about personal sin with an offender is difficult; it makes us feel uneasy and uncomfortable; however it is our biblical responsibility. To fulfill this responsibility, private confrontation should be done with gentleness, in love, out of compassion, and seeking to encourage3; the major purpose for private confrontation is to resolve the problem without fueling unnecessary gossip and restoring the brother.
MEET WITH THE BROTHER WITH OTHER WITNESSES
Secondly, if the private confrontation doesn’t work or is unsuccessful and the brother continues to sin and refuses to listen to the one who has confronted him privately—the next step is to approach the brother with one or two more witnesses. In some cases this can be very difficult because the lack of biblical understanding from other believers within the church. Some witnesses will simply want to ignore the problem, and feel in time it will go away. They will say things like: "…give him time to heal, or so that he can deal with the problem.” I believe the lack of haste responsiveness by the witnesses gives time for the brother to become callous towards the sin and the church. The witnesses goal is to discipline and it is not time to compromise or negotiate, discipline has to be demonstrated so that others will not stumble. In addition, the two or more witnesses have to know the consequence of the punishment before meeting with the brother, so there will be no confusion during the period of confronting him. I have been in a situation where we attempted to discipline a brother, and the witnesses begin to stall from fear of driving the person away, especially if the brother is a major financial contributor to the church. However, discipline was to be granted, while others were convinced it was too harsh. The witnesses’ purpose of talking to the fallen brother is so that “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.”2 In other words, the witnesses are present not only to confirm that the sin was committed but, in addition, to confirm whether or not the sinning brother has repented.

Following these steps, if the two or more witnesses were not successful—it is the responsibility of the church leadership to bring about a reprimand to the accuser, openly.

This has to be done with Godly wisdom, but reprimand is strongly recommended. This step tends to be neglected because usually the guilty brother is not faithfully attending church. Damages can be made within the church without the believer showing up, so there has to be a public announcement and often this process is fearful among leadership because of the fear of legal reprisal in the form of lawsuits.3 I believe pastors struggle with this step because of the false concept of discipline and their observation of past personal abuse. In their minds discipline is associated “with heresy hunts, intolerance, oppression, harshness, mean-spiritedness, self-righteousness, legalism, etc. Many cases pastors are related to this fear of being labeled a cult and being too strict toward their members.”3 The responsibility of the appointed leaders is to openly or literally name the person and his sin from the pulpit to the congregation in love. Scripture confirms open reprimand, which it states: “An open rebuke is better than hidden love!”2
HARSHED DISCIPLINE TO THE BROTHER

Finally, treat him as an outsider if the fallen brother doesn't repent. Sit him down from his appointed duties or put him out of the church until he does repent. This will allow the church to maintain a true relationship and keep the commandments of God. Jesus taught that discipline is the key to discipleship. Jesus said to the people who believe in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings.”2 The real question of discipline and discipleship is whether we will apply the Biblical discipline in our churches today.

In conclusion, I am an advocate of biblical discipline and if you are aware that a ministry leader has fallen, we should use the New Testament to guide our fallen brother into right standard with God. The process starts with the offended individual confronting the brother privately. If no result, then we should confront him with two or more witnesses and if this does not work—the church should openly rebuke the brother’s sin. This will allow the reconciled leader to yield the fruits of holy living, holy correction, and holy purity. Lastly if the brother continues in sin, the church’s responsibility is to ostracize the fallen brother from the fellowship of the church.1 The Church should seek God for mercy for our fallen brother in hopes we can restore him back into the fellowship.

Bibliography1.John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 16–23 (Chicago: Moody Press, 1988)
2.The Living Bible, Paraphrased (1971). Wheaton, IL, Tyndale House
3.“Reflections on Church Discipline: "Article," Enjoying God Ministries 27 (Sep 07, 2007): enjoyinggodministries.com/enjoying-god/reflections-on-church-discipline/
4.The Holy Bible, New King James Version (1982). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. This is based on the Authorized Version of 1611, commonly called the King James Bible

CAN YOU SPOT A “CHURCH DATER?” –THE PROFILE OF ONE WHO DATES THE CHURCH

1. A “me-centered” attitude. They go to church for what they can get

—social interaction, programs, activities. The common question of the “church dater” is, “What can church do for me?”

2. A “church dater” is Independent. They go to church because that is what Christians are supposed to do.

They are careful to avoid getting involved too much, especially with people. They don’t pay much attention to God’s larger purpose for them as a vital part of a specific church family. They go through the motions without really investing themselves.

3. A “church dater” tends to be Critical. They are short on allegiance and quick to find fault in their church.

They treat the church with the consumer mentality—looking for the best product for the price of Their Sunday morning. They are fickle and not invested for the long-term, like a lover with a wondering eye; they are always on the hunt for something better.

(These three points taken from, Joshua Harris-“Stop Dating The Church!” –Chapter 1- page 16-17)

Why Is the Church Important?

When it comes to the Christian life, the question of the church’s importance is
perhaps one that is too often overlooked. How often do we stop and think, “Why
is the church so important? What is the purpose of the church?” The answer to
such questions will provide us both direction for how churches should build the
body of Christ and encouragement to be faithful as we play our part in it.
In this lesson, we will explore the critical role that the local church plays in God’s
glorious purposes, as well as the overall vision of this particular local church.
We will find that our relationships with other believers are a tremendous means
of blessing, both for ourselves and others. God never meant for us to live the
Christian life alone. Instead, he gives us the marvelous privilege of traveling on
this journey together.

A. The ultimate purpose of the church is the glory of God.
1. The Bible clearly reveals that mankind stands in rebellion against God.
However, throughout history God has made himself known to people, called
them to himself, and gathered them together to worship him and bring glory
to his name. Because the church is uniquely God’s, we are to be distinctly
different from the world.
Exodus 19:4-6: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and
how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if
you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured
possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall
be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

2. Believers living after Christ came to earth have the even greater privilege of
joining together to enjoy and proclaim the pinnacle of God’s saving acts: the
death of Christ on the cross for our sins.
Ephesians 1:3-8: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for
adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the
praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In
him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us...”

B. The church’s role is exclusive.
The church is God’s chosen means for carrying out his purposes until he
returns. He has ordained no other organization or structure for this purpose.
Matthew 16:18: “...I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.”
1 Timothy 3:15: “...if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the
household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress
of truth.”

C. Our true nature as the church, and as Christians, is corporate.
Throughout the history of redemption, God has been acting to save a people,
not a disconnected group of isolated individuals.
1 Peter 2:9-10: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of
him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were
not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received
mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
There are many aspects of the Christian life that we typically think of as
involving our personal relationship with God: our response to the gospel, our
growth in godliness, our love for doctrine, and our empowerment by God’s
Spirit. While all of these things are critical for our personal lives, it is possible
to understand them, incorrectly, as involving only our personal lives.
It is a key assumption of New Testament teaching that the Christian life is to be
lived out in relationship with other believers in the context of the local church.
Although we enter into a relationship with God as individuals, we nevertheless
enter into something greater than our own individuality: the church—the
community of God’s people.

Used by permission of Covenant Life Church.

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).

10 Things to Pray for Your Wife by Jonathan Parnell | January 3, 2013

Our hunger for God will not be confined to our closets. As we know him and delight in all that he is for us in Jesus, our joy in him reaches beyond personal experience on a quest to be reproduced in others. One of the simplest ways we realize this is by taking serious how we pray — by wanting and asking for others the same things we want and ask for ourselves.
It is a beautiful thing — a miracle — when we become as invested in the sanctification of others as we are in our own. And, of course, the best place to start is with our spouses.
So men, here are ten things to want from God (and ask from him) for your wife:

1. God, be her God — her all-satisfying treasure and all. Make her jealous for your exclusive supremacy over all her affections (Psalm 73:24–25).
2. Increase her faith — give her a rock-solid confidence that your incomparable power is only always wielded for her absolute good in Christ (Romans 8:28–30).
3. Intensify her joy — a joy in you that abandons all to the riches of your grace in Jesus and that says firmly, clearly, gladly: "I'll go anywhere and do anything if you are there" (Exodus 33:14–15).
4. Soften her heart — rescue her from cynicism and make her tender to your presence in the most complicated details of dirty diapers and a multitude of other needs you've called her to meet (Hebrews 1:3).
5. Make her cherish your church — build relationships into her life that challenge and encourage her to walk in step with the truth of the gospel, and cause her to love corporate gatherings, the Lord's Table, and the everyday life of the body (Mark 3:35).
6. Give her wisdom — make her see dimensions of reality that I would overlook and accompany her vision with a gentle, quiet spirit that feels safe and celebrated (1 Peter 3:4).
7. Sustain her health — continue to speak your gift of health and keep us from presumption; it is by blood-bought grace (Psalm 139:14).
8. Multiply her influence — encourage and deepen the impact she has on our children. Give her sweet glimpses of it. Pour her out in love for our neighbors and spark creative ways to engage them for Jesus's sake (John 12:24).
9. Make her hear your voice — to read the Bible and accept it as it really is, your word... your very word to her where she lives, full of grace and power and everything she needs pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
10. Overcome her with Jesus — that she is united to him, that she is a new creature in him, that she is your daughter in him. . . No longer in Adam and dead to sin; now in Christ and alive to you, forever (Romans 6:11).

And then a thousand other things. Amen.