A Call to Work

Theme: Personal Evangelism - God calls for each of us to work in some way in His “vineyard.” He has given us gifts,
talents, abilities and life-experiences that will make our work enjoyable and fruitful.

Scripture:  Matthew 21:28-32/ 1 Peter 2: 9

Hymn: Christ for the World 

I. Son, Go Work Today in My Vineyard

  A. In reading this text I feel especially impressed:
    1. By the endearing name “Son” — 1 John 3:1
    2. The honor of being a son of God — 1 Pet. 2:8-11; Heb. 12:6-9; l John 3:l-3; John 1:11-13
  B. We become sons:
    1. By believing in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ — John 1:12; Gal. 3:26
    2. By being born again — John 1:11-13; 3:3-6; Rom. 8:11-16
    3. By being adopted into the family of God — Eph. 1:5
II. A Call to Work
  A. 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.
      (a) “.... wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:40-52)?
      (b) “I delight to do thy will, 0 my God...” (Ps. 40:8).
(c) “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.
      (a) We are co-workers with God. —  2 Cor. 6:1
      (b) We all are a part of the royal priesthood. — 1 Peter 2:9-11
  B. The sphere of work: “In My Vineyard”
    1. The vineyard is the church of God. Compare Isa. 5 with Matt. 21:33-43.
    2. The church of God work for all God’s children — Malt. 28: 18-20; Acts 1:8-10
    3. It is a great honor to answer the call of God to serve.
III. The Time to Work: "Today"
  A. Our opportunity to answer the call of the Lord to work in His vineyard is very limited—”today” — John 9:4
  B. 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 to Lot’s opportunity to work in Sodom. — Gen. 19:1-19
    3. The opportunity of the ten virgins, too, came to an end. — Matt. 25:1-12
  C. The Bible emphasizes the limited time 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).
  D. God’s call to us
    1. To witness for Him
      (a) “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord” (Isa. 43:10).
      (b) “... ye shall be witnesses unto me...” (Acts 1:8).
    2. To praise Him for calling us from darkness — 1 Peter 2:9
    3. To become fishers of men, the heart of our heavenly assignment — Luke 5:10
  E. The blessing of working in the Father’s vineyard.
    1. Our labors shall not be in vain. — 1 Cor. 15:58
    2. He will bless us with a harvest. — Ps. 126:6; Dan. 12:3; 1 Thess. 2:19, 20