A Call to Work

MATTHEW 21:2

A. "SON, GO WORK TODAY IN MY VINEYARD"
  1. In reading this text I feel especially impressed:
    1. By the endearing name "Son".
    2. It is a high honor to be a son of God - 1 Pet. 2:8-11; Heb. 12:6-9; 1 John 3:1-3; John 1:11-13
  2. We become sons:
    1. By believing in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ - John 1:12; Gal. 3:26
    2. Through the new birth - John 1:11-13; 3:3-6; Rom. 8:11-16
    3. Through the adoption into the family of God - Eph. 1:5
B. A CALL TO WORK -- "GO, WORK"
  1. It is a pleasure for a son to work for his father:
    1. The Son of God considered it a joy to work for His Father -
      1. ". . . wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" Luke 2:40-52
      2. "I delight to do thy will, O my God . . ." - Ps. 40:8
      3. "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." John 9:4
    2. Every child of God is included in this call to work -
      1. We are co-workers with God - 2 Cor. 6:1
      2. We all are a part of the royal priesthood - 1 Pet. 2:9-11
      3. Had King David been busy working in God's vineyard, he would never been tempted to take another man's wife.
  2. The sphere of work: "In my Vineyard"
    1. The vineyard is, in the first place, the church of God. Compare Isa. 5 with Matt. 21:33-43
    2. The church of God has a wonderful program and plenty of work for all God's children - Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8-10
    3. It is a great honor to know that when I take part in the activities of the church I am answering the call of God to work.
C. THE TIME TO WORK: "TODAY"
  1. This indicates that our opportunity to answer the call of the Lord to work in His vineyard is limited -- "today":
  2. Our Saviour recognized the fact that the time to work in God's vineyard is very limited: John 9:4
  3. That proves that there is always an end to the time of service:
    1. There was a limited time for Noah to work - Gen. 6:3; 7:1-6
    2. There was an end for Lot's opportunity to work in Sodom - Gen. 19:1-19
    3. The story of the ten virgins, too, shows that there comes an end to every effort - Matt. 25:1-12
  4. The Bible gives special emphasis to the limited time for attempting to win souls for the Lord:
    1. ". . . today if ye will hear his voice" - Heb. 3:7
    2. ". . . now is the day of salvation" - 2 Cor. 6:1-3
    3. "Thus saith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I heard thee . . ." - Isa. 49:8
  5. The work we are called unto:
    1. Witnessing for God -
      1. "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord," - Isa. 43:10
      2. ". . . ye shall be witnesses unto me . . ." - Acts 1:8
    2. To make known in this sin sick and troubled world the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light - 1 Pet. 2:9
    3. To become fishers of men - Luke 5:10. Soul- winning is the heart of our heavenly assignment.
  6. There is a blessing in working in the Father's vineyard:
    1. Our labors shall not be in vain - 1 Cor. 15:58
    2. They that go forth sowing the seed of truth shall doubtless come again bringing their sheaves with them - Ps. 126:6


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