Written Article – Thoughts For Today
The Heart of A Labourer
By Laurence Torr
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Today I was relaxing and meditating
desiring that increase and growth, and that God will send to
me the labourers the faithful ones who will commit the same
message we are teaching, God was reminding me that we
commit to faithful men/women that shall be able to teach
others also
God’s vision and desire is that all men will be saved and come
to a knowledge of the truth
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance
This repentance is a turning to God from *idols* to serve the
living and true God,
I am Desiring increase and growth which comes from God,
Jesus exhorted his disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest
that God would send forth the Labourers,
I am sure Jesus pray to His Father to send for the labourers,
and he was encouraging the disciples to do the same
The labourers are followers, just like the discipled followed
Jesus, and the labourers are faithful ones who receive the
word with meekness and follow the encouragement and
example being giving to them. They are not self led, but Led by God.
Jesus encouraged His followers to go to God, to pray to the Father, and to do the
work that God gave to them.
They did not follow other men’s doctrines, they followed
Jesus right where God had led them and connected to him,
they didn’t go after the pharisee doctrine, they did not go and
check things out with John the Baptist. Although some of
Jesus followers came from John the Baptist and connected to
Jesus.
Despite the disciple challenges and faults and failing they
continued with Jesus and he taught them God’s perspective, as
they drew close to Jesus,
Jesus gave them the keys of the kingdoms, he revealed to
them the parables, those same parables he spoke to the masses
but the masses didn’t understand them.
Jesus would have revealed them to anyone who had a desire
to understand them, but the only ones who had that desire and
hunger to ask him, were the disciples and because they had
desire to know they drew close to Jesus in their fellowship
and he gave them the understanding and meaning of the
parables he spoke.
He was training them and guiding them and helping them, and
when it came time for them to received holy spirit, they were
ready to move with the Father just like Jesus did when he was
with them. They knew what to do they had instruction and
God was working in them and with them.
So now they had a direct connection and access to God
through Jesus Christ accomplished works, Jesus encouraged
them before he ascended to use this power from on high, and
that they were going to be witness unto him, both In
Jerusalem, and all Judea and in Samira and unto the uttermost
part of the earth.
They were not going to accomplish this in their own effort or
ability or strength but by the spirit of God living in them, and
being led by the spirit of God.
Now that we received holy spirit we can do the same works as
Jesus done and greater, we too can move in the same way he
moved.
How did Jesus move? he was led by the spirit of God.
How did Jesus speak? Jesus spoke by the spirit of God.
How Did Jesus Heal People by the spirit of God in him
How did Jesus cast out devils by the power of God dwelling
in him, Jesus’s word was with power and authority
He spoke the words the father gave him to speak, he spoke by
the spirit of God and we are to speak by the spirit of God,
those words God gives us to speak forth to others we bring
people light and faith and hope and healing.
We have an example to follow, Jesus knew the work of
reconciling men back to God could not be done alone. He is
what Jesus Said.
Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was
moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and
were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest
truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Matthew 9:38 pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that
he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
If we desire to see growth and labourers for the harvest, we
would be wise to follow the encourage and instruction Jesus
gave his disciples.
So, we see our beginning point is to pray to and beseech the
Lord of the Harvest we are to pray with desire for the
labourers we give our desire to God that God will send forth
those labourers.
We are to look to God for that one labourer and not go
looking for the labour ourselves with our own effort. God
gives the increase, God adds to the church daily such as
should be saved, it by His grace, which means it is God that
does the work.
How do we know that God has given us a labourer? What
are the qualities of a Labourer for God?
I was sat down with a believer very recently and this believer
was asking me so many questions good questions, and the
answers would flood to my mind very easily and other
questions I was asked, got me quietly asking God for answer,
it reminded me when Jesus was asked by the Scribes and
pharisee’s who had caught a women in adultery, in the very
act, they brought her to Jesus and quoted what the law said
should happen to her and asked Jesus what do you say about
it, Jesus took His time, and once the answer came to him from
God, Jesus spoke forth the answer to them. You can read the
record for yourself in John 8:1-11
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
People may come to you with a question about what the
scriptures say, but God in the perfect time with give the
right way to answer, as we see Jesus answer to the
Pharisees when they told Jesus what the Scriptures said,
He did say yeah your right there go on stone, now he went
to God the source of supply for his answer.
A labourer is someone who really want to know and move
and live for God, they will ask you questions as they desire to
learn and grow so they can walk in truth and be fruit a
labourer will come and seek you out and draw close to you
ready to receive the answer and move with it.
Jesus was asked many questions, and many times answered
their question with a question, and He would also ask people
questions
Jesus was asked………….
“Where do you live Jesus answered come and see”
The disciples asked Jesus why do you speak in parables,
why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first,
they ask Jesus why we couldn’t drive out the demon,
they asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,
Peter asked Jesus how many times shall I forgive my brother
when he sins against me,
They say unto him, why did Moses then command to give a
writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have
forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have,
therefore?
And when the disciples saw [it the fig tree], they wondered,
saying, how immediately is the fig-tree dried up!
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came
unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be?
and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the
world?
“Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the Kingdom to
Israel?”
“Who sinned? This man, or his parents, that he was born
blind?
Nicodemus sought Jesus out by night, he made effort to go
and get his answers he wanted to find out more about Jesus
Nicodemus asked how can a man born when he is old and
how can these things be.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to
him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left
me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
“How is it that you, being a Jew, would ask me being of
Samaria?”
The were great answers and lessons to learn for the one asking
questions, a new perspective, and enlightening answers as
well as challenging responses from Jesus to those that ask.
So we see that the disciples, ask Jesus questions, they grew in
there relationship as they spent time with Jesus, and they
watch Jesus set the example before them, then Jesus put them
to work, by sending them forth to preach the gospel to heal all
manner of sickness and diseases they followed and the
example, and went, they were not perfect but faithful and
desiring to know and understand, they wasn’t resisting the
words of Jesus.
They sometimes must of had doubts, and fears, but they kept
on moving and learning and growing.
The only time they all for sook Jesus was when he was
arrested, but after he was raised from the dead and appeared to
them, they received His final instruction to them to wait for
the promise of the Father, which they receive on the day of
Pentecost, we see through their steadfastness, they received
holy spirit and God added to them about 3000 souls.
We can see these 3000 souls continued in the Apostle
Doctrine, fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayers.
Respect was among the people and many wonders and signs
were done by the apostles, they were now putting into full
practise what they had see their Lord do, being inspired by the
holy spirit in them, no one had lack people fully shared, they
continued in the temple and from house to house, people were
edified and happy they were praising God they were having
favour among the people and God was adding to the church
daily such as show be made whole.
We see through Acts 3 the healing of the lame man and 5000
being added through that one healing, Peter and John were
brought before the council because and the council were
grieved that they taught the people and preached Jesus
resurrection from the dead. Being let go they went to their
own company and reported all that that the chief priests and
elders had said unto them.
They prayed for boldness, the multitude of them that believed
were of one heart and one soul they moved with great power
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon
them they lacked nothing among them, they brought the price
of the things they sold and laid them at the apostle feet every
need was meet and the power of God was in operation
through the apostles preaching of Apostle.
Leaders lead the way; it starts with one person whose heart is
truly turned to God one hundred per cent and are not
conformed to man’s ways or traditions or religious traditions.
We see through Acts chapters 2 – 4 the heart of the Leaders
and those that were joined to them and how God moved
greatly in each person. No organization, but the one body of
Christ the Church of God was on the move.
God adds to the church the labourers, He opens the doors for
us to preach and teach, the new labourers heart receives the
word gladly, they continue steadfastly they continue in the
apostles doctrine, they continue daily, fellowship breaking
of bread and prayers they honour God, with their
substance and with this heart God is able to add to the
church, daily such as are being made whole. but it come
through the sound doctrine first, those words from God that
penetrate the heart, to believing action. And the hearts of
people are turned for idols unto the living God.
So spending time praying and desiring my own new fields and
labourer these things came back to my mind and pondering
the things I have learnt, checking my thinking, where I am,
where I want to be how far can I go with God, examining my
own heart and checking my motives are God motives. We can
see from the life of Jesus Christ and through the book of acts
the Distinguishing qualities of a Labourer for God, these are
just some I have seen and have learnt and God brings these
thoughts back to me
A labourer is will be a faithful one a faithful man or woman,
this is who we are to commit the truths we know and what
God puts into our hearts to speak. A faithful man/woman they
will do and teach the same things. Just like with Paul who
encouraged Timothy
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me
among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful
men, who shall be able to teach others also.
1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus,
when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some
that they teach no other doctrine,
Ephesians 4:13 That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk ye in him:
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in
the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the
head of all principality and power:
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort
and to convince the gainsayers.
Timothy taught the same message he learnt from Paul, we see
when Timothy was at Ephesus, Paul instructed Timothy to
make sure they teach no other doctrine, save that which they
had learnt from Paul…….
The believers in Thessalonica became followers of the
Apostle and Silvanus and Timothy these believers like
Timothy showed the distinguishing quality of labourer.
1Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto
the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father
and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace,
from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you
all, making mention of you in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your
work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your
election of God.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in
word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in
much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were
among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of
the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with
joy of the Holy Ghost:
1 Thessalonians 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that
believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of
the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every
place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we
need not to speak anything.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what
manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to
God from idols to serve the living and true God.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us
from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God
without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God
which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe.
This is God heart and wisdom, the words Paul spoke was
effective in them that believed Pauls words as if they were the
word from God, as if God spoke them Himself to them, it is
those words that produce fruit in the believers that received
them and from them the Thessalonians believers sounded out
the word of the Lord
Paul said, to them ye became followers of us and of the Lord
having received the word in affliction with Joy of the Holy
Ghost.
They became imitators of Pauls example
1 Thessalonians 1:5- 8 and verse 7 it say and your were
ensamples which we know is the Greek Word Tupos which
mean an exact type, they were just like Paul. and were an
example for other believers to follow,
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