My
dear devils, it is a privilege to be able to reflect with you for a few minutes
on the Great Commission we have received from Our Father Below.
Before
we come to our text this morning, though, we must face facts. The Enemy’s
followers are stubbornly obedient to his supposedly ‘great commission’ and
reports from many parts of the world are enough to put fear into the heart of
the stoutest tempter.
There
are some encouragements of course. We have great success in encouraging the
thought that repetition counts for more than definition. Incessant talk about
mission need not trouble the heart of the meekest tempter if it is never
defined. Indeed there is great sport to be had seeing what harmless activities
can be smuggled under that label.
Nevertheless,
in some quarters The Enemy’s Word holds fast and they not only concern
themselves with the true mission but (most regrettably) they have also been
taught by that Word to pray for workers for that harvest field. This is most
serious. As we know, The Enemy takes strange delight in this and indulges his
infantile children in a most unseemly way.
What
then is to be done? You might think the answer lies in distracting them from
this task but I say let them pray. Indeed, our text today teaches us not hinder
the little children. Turn with me to Mark 9:38.
You
recall the context: The Enemy’s Son has sent them out to spread the Bad News but
when they return they give the most wonderful report:
“Teacher,” said John,
“we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop,
because he was not one of us.”
Delicious isn’t it?
Do you see? We have nothing to fear from His disciples praying Matthew 9:38
prayers if we can teach them to think Mark 9:38 thoughts. Workers can go into
the harvest and have very great success, but it is no matter. Because their
labours can produce a very great harvest for us. All we need to do is sow that
thought: “not one of us.”
In every patient and
congregation there will be ample material to work on:
As The Enemy gathers subjects
from different cultures and classes (where does this perverse love of diversity
come from?!) it is a simple matter to awaken old loyalties and rivalries.
As
his subjects gather themselves to work in some area of the harvest field let
them think that only their methods are proper, or that their small corner of
some field is really the whole. Let them acknowledge only their efforts as ‘strategic’
(may Our Hellish Father bless the demon that first brought that thought to
their minds!) and let them pray, but only for their labours. That way,
with only a little effort, they can pray for His glory but all the while seek
their own. If we only remember these things, we can be of good cheer, for the
harvest will be plentiful.
Amen.