Most of you, even if you didn’t grow up on a farm, have heard the common cliché: “Make hay while the sun shines.” This old agricultural adage refers to the reality of farmers having to cut, bail, and store hay while it is dry. If the hay is harvested wet, it will develop mold be unfit for feeding the animals. This proverb was first recorded in John Heywood’s A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, 1546:

Whan the sunne shinth make hay. Whiche is to say.
Take time whan time cometh, lest time steale away.

Ironically, as early as 1673 it was cited in a non-farming context in Richard Head’s glossary of the language of thieves and beggars.

Jesus didn’t coin this phrase, but he certainly taught the principle, especially when he was teaching about ministry. Today’s Scripture reading is a case in point. As he sends 72 of his followers into ministry, he uses farmers as a metaphor for ministers and harvest fields for the souls of men and women. This whole passage is about making hay—that is, ministry in the Kingdom of God.

This section is rather long and quite complex. To help us navigate our way through this hay field, I have summarized Jesus’ teaching into nine bullet points, each highlighting a principle for ministry. Let’s take a look at them!

1. The Call and Collaboration of Ministry (1)

We already saw how Jesus commissioned his twelve disciples for ministry back at the beginning of Luke 9, and now he extends that same call to his “other” followers here in chapter 10. This verse shows that ministry in the Kingdom of God is not limited to “elite” disciples; Jesus calls every one of his followers to ministry. Also, notice how he sent them two by two. He probably did this because Jewish culture required two witnesses to validate legal testimony, but also for companionship, collaboration, and accountability.

This verse reminds us that all Christians are called into the ministry. Every church member is a minister! Every parishioner is a priest! You don’t have to have a seminary degree to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! You don’t have to be ordained to pray with someone! You don’t need any special talents or abilities to invite someone to church!

Like the 12 apostles, God still calls some people to enter full-time vocational ministry as pastors, missionaries, etc. I wish more of our young people would consider a career in ministry. It is a wonderful way to spend a life. (I am still mesmerized by the fact that I get paid to study the Bible, preach sermons, plan worship, give spiritual counsel, and a variety of other ministry tasks. I have the best job in the world!) But as we have learned through our faith and work testimony series, others are called to minister in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, offices, shops, and factories.

Where has God called you to minister? Do you do it within a community that provides companionship, collaboration, and accountability?

 

2. The Opportunity for Ministry (2)

Even as he sends these 72 into ministry, Jesus declares that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, and then he tells the group to pray for the Lord to send more workers into the harvest field. God had already prepared many souls for entrance into the kingdom of God, but there weren’t enough ministers to go and share the good news.

Folks, the harvest is still plentiful in 2015! There are still so many people (all around the world and right here in our own communities) who don’t know Jesus Christ. They need to know how deeply their sin has affected them, what Jesus has done for them, and the hope, joy, and peace they can have! But who will tell them? Are you willing to labor in the Lord’s harvest fields? Will you pray that the he will send more workers?

3. The Dangers of Ministry (3)

As Jesus sends these workers into the harvest fields, he wants them to be aware of the dangers. He compares them to little lambs going into a wolf den. By this, he means that ministry often involves dealing with rejection and hostility.

This was true in the early church, when the enemies of Christ often made murderous threats against his people, and when most of the apostles became martyrs. It was true in the days of African missions, when missionaries packed their possessions in a coffin. Not expecting to return home, they were planning ahead for burial. The peril still exists today wherever we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ministry always carries the threat of difficulty, danger, and death. (Ryken 515)

 

4. The Urgency of Ministry (4)

It seems strange that Jesus would send these ministers into the field with the command “carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.” Why didn’t he want them to take any provisions? Why wouldn’t he want them to be polite if they met someone on the road? Jesus said these things to underscore the urgency of ministry. He didn’t want them to be bogged down by baggage or get distracted by pointless discussions. The harvest was plentiful; they needed to make hay while the sun was shining!

Every time my family goes on a trip, I take the opportunity to preach this verse to my wife. For the life of me, I can’t understand why she needs luggage as large as the Titanic or why it takes her three days to pack for a two day trip. It only takes me ten minutes!

There is still an urgency to ministry today. Our time on earth is so short and there are so many people who still need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Let us not get bogged down or distracted by trivial things!

 

5. The Model for Ministry (5-12)

In verses 5-12, Jesus lays out a model for ministry. When they approached a house, they should first pronounce a blessing of peace. If they were welcomed, they should stay in that same house and eat and drink what the host provided. While there, Jesus instructed them to focus on the ministries of healing the sick and preaching that the kingdom of God has come near. If their ministry was rejected by a particular house or town, Jesus told them to simply shake off the dust of that town off their feet and move their ministry along to another place. They should let God judge them according to his will and timing, which would be even fiercer than the fire that fell upon the city of Sodom back in Old Testament times.

Jesus’ model for ministry is still applicable today! When we minister to someone, let us approach them in a spirit of peace and a desire to bless them. Be willing to spend time with one person or family. Invest in building a relationship them. Attend to their physical and spiritual needs: care for the sick and tell them about how the kingdom of God has come near through Jesus Christ. Be content with whatever they give you in return. If they reject you or your message, walk away and let God deal with them! This is how we should conduct our ministries today!

 

6. The Rejection of Ministry (13-16)

After Jesus unfolds his model for ministry, he offers a warning, particularly to those towns and villages that rejected the gospel message. Chorazin and Bethsaida were Jewish towns that had witnessed enough of Jesus’ miracles to inspire faith, but these towns largely rejected his ministry. If his miracles would have been performed in the pagan gentile towns of Tyre and Sidon, they would have evokes mass faith and repentance. Even the Jewish town of Capernaum, where Jesus centered his ministry, was in jeopardy of going to hell.

The people in these towns had every opportunity to trust in Jesus for their salvation, but they rejected him and refused to repent from their sin. Everyone who rejects Jesus’ messengers, rejects him. And everyone who rejects Jesus, rejects God. Rejecting God and his salvation, will doom a person to eternity in hell.

These warnings still ring true today! The only way to avoid the unbearable judgment of hell is by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and repenting from your sin! Have you done it? Friends, let me give you some advice: make hay while the sun shines!

 

7. The Adversary of Ministry (17-19)

When the 72 returned, they were eager to tell Jesus that even the demons submitted to them in his name. This statement draws attention to the fact that Jesus has complete power and authority over demons and the powers of darkness. In fact, he uses this occasion to teach them about Satan, the adversary of ministry. Jesus personally witnessed Satan’s eviction from heaven. Satan was originally a beautiful and high ranking angel, but he led a rebellion against God. The Lord banished him and his fallen angels from heaven and sentenced to roam on the earth. Ever since, Satan and his demons have been actively working to deceive human hearts, destroy souls, and ruin ministries. But Jesus gave his followers the power to tread on these snakes and scorpions (a metaphor for Satan and demons) and to overcome the power of the enemy.

We live in a time and culture that vastly denies the existence of Satan and demons, but don’t be deceived! They are real and they are still on a mission to wreak havoc on people’s lives today. We see their influence all around us: murder, rape, abuse, addiction, suicide, infanticide, and genocide. But when we walk with Jesus and minister to people in the name of Jesus, we have power to overcome the evil forces and liberate people from spiritual bondage!

 

8. The Joy of Ministry (20-22)

Nevertheless, Jesus did not want the source of their joy to be their power over evil spirits, but rather that their names had been written in heaven. When a person truly repents from their sin and puts their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, their name is recorded in the great registry book in heaven, which reserves their place there. This is the ultimate source of joy—a joy that can sustain people through the dark nights of life and the difficult days of ministry.

During that same hour, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, expressed his joy to the Father, the Lord of heaven and earth, for making the gospel accessible to those who would come to him in a simple and humble childlike faith. He was so overwhelmed with the triune joy that he praised the Father out loud for giving him this ministry of revealing the will of the Father.

Even though a life of ministry contains danger and difficulty, it also filled with unimaginable joy. Just as Jesus himself experienced, there is great joy in being led by the Holy Spirit to reveal the purposes of the Father. And no matter what happens in ministry, the hope of heaven fills our hearts with joy—for we are able to say, “My place in heaven is already reserved, and I will live in perfect peace someday!”

So, I ask you: Is your name recorded in the registry book of heaven? That is—have you truly repented from your sin and put your faith in Jesus?

 

9. The Blessing of Ministry (23-24)

And finally, Jesus concludes this teaching about ministry by pronouncing a blessing on his 72 followers. They were blessed because they got to see the Messiah and hear his teaching in person, and they had the privilege of partnering with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in kingdom ministry. Many of the prophets and kings of old desired this, but they did receive it.

It is indeed a wonderful blessing to be used by God to minister to others. Whereas the 12 apostles and 72 followers had the special blessing of being with Jesus while he was on earth, we have the privilege of ministering with the written Word of God, the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, and 2000 years of church heritage. Let us appreciate all of the blessings God has given us and use them as we go to our harvest fields!

 

Well, now that we know a little bit more about ministry, let us make hay while the sun shines!