Pray Ye Therefore
The sermon emphasizes the importance of prayer in moving missionary work and awakening the hearts of men to the gospel.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the transformative power of prayer in advancing missionary work, urging believers to pray earnestly for the Lord to send laborers into His harvest. He highlights the necessity of asking God to stir the hearts of individuals through the Holy Spirit, compelling them to share the gospel and awaken to the urgency of reaching the lost. Simpson reassures that God is responding to these prayers by bringing forth those who feel the urgency of the mission. He encourages persistent prayer, suggesting that as prayers ascend, divine intervention will follow, bringing about a closer realization of the Lord's return. Ultimately, he calls for a fervent desire for God's work to be accomplished through prayer.
Text
Prayer is the mighty force that will move missionary work. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38). We are asking God to touch the hearts of men every day by the Holy Spirit, so that they shall be compelled to go abroad and preach the gospel. We are asking Him to awaken them at night with the solemn conviction that the heathen are perishing and that their blood will be upon their souls. God is answering that prayer by sending persons to us every day who feel that the king's business [requires] haste (1 Samuel 21:8).
Beloved, pray, pray, pray.
And as petitions rise to the heavens there will be a period of silence in heaven, and the coals of fire will be emptied out upon the earth, and the coming of the Lord will begin to draw nearer. Pray until the Lord of the harvest shall thrust forth laborers into His harvest. Send the coals of heavenly fire, From the altar of the skies; Fill our hearts with strong desire, Till our prayers like incense rise.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Power of Prayer in Missionary Work
- A. Prayer is the mighty force that moves missionary work
- B. We are asking God to touch the hearts of men to preach the gospel
- II. The Call to Prayer
- A. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:38)
- B. Pray for the awakening of the hearts of men to the gospel
- III. The Answer to Prayer
- A. God is answering that prayer by sending labourers into the harvest
- B. The coals of fire will be emptied out upon the earth
Key Quotes
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38)” — A.B. Simpson
“God is answering that prayer by sending persons to us every day who feel that the king's business [requires] haste (1 Samuel 21:8)” — A.B. Simpson
“Send the coals of heavenly fire, From the altar of the skies; Fill our hearts with strong desire, Till our prayers like incense rise.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We should pray regularly for the awakening of the hearts of men to the gospel.
- We should pray for the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into the harvest.
- We should pray with strong desire, asking God to fill our hearts with a burning passion for the gospel.