TEAMWORK!

We have had some rain, even though this has not been a particularly wet year. The weather service tells us that we are an inch ahead of normal for this point in the year, but I am convinced that most of that has fallen at the airport and not Mesa. Yet we have had the humidity and dust storms, and just enough rain to get the grass and weeds to green up a bit. We have had just enough rain to give us hope.

We have suffered through some dry years in the Lord’s work. But the work is not altogether without the blessing of success. I have had occasion several times this year to journey down to the church building to pull on the waders for a baptism.

Each one of those baptisms represents hard work on the part of one of our members. In today’s society, a lot of what preachers do is add the finishing touches to what some good brother or sister has already done in the matter of teaching. In a lot of cases, you folks have done the planting and I have done the watering – but in every case God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6-7). God is the one who merits the glory when one is converted to him.

Saving souls is often a matter of teamwork. With reference to himself and Apollos, Paul said, "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry, God's building" (1 Cor. 3:8-9). "He that planteth and he that watereth are one." Those individuals who participate in the work of saving a soul work together as a team for effective results. As we strive to bring others to Christ, we would do well to work together and remember what is needed of us.

The first thing – save yourself. When Peter told the Jews on Pentecost what to do to be saved it says of him, "And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation" (Acts 2:40). Of course, Jesus is our savior, God saves us through him. But salvation is conditioned upon our obedience to his will and walking in the light (Heb. 5:8-9; 1 John 1:6-7). God desires everyone to be saved, but will only save those who do what he says. Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). Our salvation is left in our hands. Will we accept the pardon of God offered through Jesus, or will we reject to the loss of our souls? Save yourselves.

The second thing – prepare yourselves. Two things are need to prepare oneself to take part in this work. We must first make up our minds that Jesus rules in our lives. "But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). If Jesus is not noted as our Lord, we will not teach what he wants or when he wants. We must know that he rules. And we must be ready to give answer. When someone asks us why we believe what we believe, we must give book , chapter and verse. We cannot do this is our only exposure to the gospel is the occasional Bible study that some make, one or two sermons a month. Paul said, "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). Preparation takes work.

The third thing – pray for the work. Jesus set a precedent by praying before he set about to do anything. He prayed before he chose the 12, when he was transfigured, when he was tempted, and before his death. He taught his disciples "that they ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). But what are we to pray for? The first answer to that question should be obvious. Just look around you. "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest" (Matt. 9:37-38). If one’s true desire is that the Lord send laborers, the next thing you know, he will answer his own prayer. He will become a laborer. Then we need to pray for courage, not only for ourselves, but for others who participate in this difficult work.. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (Eph. 6:17-20). And we ought to pray for opportunity to do the work. "Withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds" (Col. 4:3). Prayer works. Sometimes we just don’t pray for the right thing.

The fourth thing – set a good example. The power of a good example cannot be overemphasized. Brother J. C. Roady said many times that the best sermons are not preached in the pulpits. Jesus said that his disciples were to be the salt of the earth, lights in a dark world (Matt. 5:13-15). "Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). If the virtues of the Father and the Son are truly reflected in our lives (1 Pet. 2:9), others will see the light and be drawn to it.

The fifth thing – rejoice in the work. Nothing can get the child of God’s attention faster than to hear that someone has been baptized. Jesus said in reference to the salvation of one soul, "I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance. … Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:7, 10). But joy doesn’t just end the process, it begins the process. Do we take note of those who are new in our assemblies, stopping whatever it is that would hinder us to speak to them and tell them how happy we are that they are there? Do we follow up like we should when an opportunity comes our way to teach these people? Are there friends and loved ones who know who we are because of our efforts on their behalf?

When people come into our assembly who are not Christians, teaching them is a matter of teamwork. All of the members here are involved in the effort. Others may do the planting, others may water, but there is always some cultivating the rest of us can do to further the efforts of other members of the team. Look for those opportunities to exercise your talents and the church will grow. We have the truth. But we must live it and share it.