Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-04-09


great, but the laborers are few: pray
We therefore the Lord of the harvest,
that he would send forth laborers into his
harvest.-Luke 1912.
Working with Christ for the sal
walton of men has been the privilege
of believers since the time He chose
the twelve We learn today that
there were at least seventy more
whom He considered dependable
and worthy to be sent forth. Know
ing how brief was the time before
His death, the Saviour called, COM
missioned, and cared for them as
they weot two by two, personally
to evangelize lin every city and
place"
I. Sent to Serve Christ wv. 1-3).
Prayer is back of the calling of
laborers for Christ God waits for
His people to lay before Him the
need, and to enlist His grace in
moving upon the ones who can best
serve Him. There is mystery here
which we cannot fully understand,
but it is perfectly clear that prayer
is the power which has been given
to the church with which to move"
the hand of God. The reason the
laborers are so few. even in our
day, is evidently, then, because
there has been so little prayer
Observe that the Lord sent His
servants two by two" SO that they
could encourage and assist each 9TH
er. Christian work is best done in
Christian fellowship The ''star per-
former" or the lone wolf may
be acceptable in business or social
life, but he has no place in Christ's
program, unless by His special call
and guidance for some particular
task, such as pioneer work.
He sent them to 60 before His
face"-what glorious place to be!
That means that He was watching
over them, expecting them really to
labor" for Him. But notice also
that in loving thoughtfulness they
were
ii. Sustained by Christ wv. 40.
1t is well when workers go out
that they have proper backing. We
speak of the board which is be-
hind our missionaries. That is right
and proper, but above all there
must be the assurance of the pro-
vision and protection of Christ.
They were not to be concerned
about money. Christ had already
moved upon the hearts of His peo-
pie to see that the laborer had Ibis
hire"-which was food and shelter
". u.
Time is what life is made Of, and
the servants of Christ were not to
waste it in lengthy oriental saluta-
tons ". a., or going from house to
house to be entertained, thus losing
much time and strength.
Nor was he to strive or become
angry if some one did not receive
him and his greeting of peace" ".
81. In any case his word would re-
turn in blessing upon himself ". 81,
and he could 60 on to another house.
The point of all this is that the ex-
pectation of the Christian servant
is from his Master, Christ, whose
business requires diligence and
hocfo IT CaYo
The outcome of such service is re-
vealed in our third point.
iii. Successful Through Christ
wv. II, 21-2D.
The seventy returned rejoicing
that even the demons were subject
to them in Jesus name. He still
has power over the demons of our
day. Would that the church welded
that power more effectively!
While it is a great thing thus to
see the power of God at work, Jesus
told them in verse 20 that an even
greater thing is to have ones name
written in heaven. That means that
we ought to be much concerned not
only about having our own names
written there, but the names of all
those whose lives we touch-at
home, at work, anywhere.
The secret of the disciples vic
tory is found in the statements
which Christ in all humility and hon.
esty made about Himself (vv. 22-24).
He is the one to whom "all things
are Observation-Disclosures in au-
thority and power. The mystery
of His person and work is not some
thing man can think out or fully
comprehend chow foolish have been
the attempts to do it'd for He is
God, The fact that the Father had
revealed these things to the seventy
humble, ordinary men caused Christ
to magnify His Fathers name in
praise and prayer. Spiritual insight
wv. 81, 24) is something only God
can give, and often He can give it
in full measure only to humble and
lowly men. Men like d. L. Moody,
who become spiritual giants, were
usually humble men from lowly
walks who gave themselves wholly
to God" tB. L, Olmstead).