LABOURERS FOR THE HARVEST

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

Truly, the nations are ripe and the doors are wide open. The hearts of men are really fainting because of the unfolding events or happenings, failing predictions, surprises, and the unexpected are the order of the day – politically, economically, geographically etc. the harvest is plenteous and opportunities abound to bring in the harvest. However, in the midst of all these, something is obvious, we are either not seeing the opportunities or we lack the will to pay the price. Before I come back to how our eyes can be opened to the opportunities or have the will to pay the price, let me elaborate more on the PLENTEOUS HARVEST and OPPORTUNITIES.

China and India accounts for one third of the present world population from recent records. That is a really big fraction, and they have little or no gospel influence, vast majority know nothing about JESUS, by the time you add that to the vast number of unbelievers in other parts of the world, you can imagine the mass population heading for hell. This becomes very frightening when you know that the world’s population is increasing at an alarming rate present. There is no nation or continent in the earth that is not experiencing population increase.

Our present challenge as a church is that, we have refused to become flexible in the hands of God. While we are still relying on the conventional pattern to bring in the harvest, satan has almost successfully caged it. God is counting on the unconventional and new strategies to bring in the harvest. This is war, so there must be constant upgrading of strategy. Is it any coincidence that the two most populous nations in the world are presently one of, if not the two most travelled nations in the world presently?

China, for instance is attracting the world to it through its trade, innovations and their experts are being sought out all over the world. It’s regarded as the No.1 export nation in the world of goods and man power.

India is now a place people go for medical attention, further studies. Growing up, Paris used to be the place for holiday, now DUBAI in the United Arab Emirate, has taken over for ‘holiday makers’, shopping etc. That’s the zone that poses the stiffest opposition to the gospel, yet a free trade zone. The whole world is now a global village, there’s hardly any part of the world you cannot travel to for one reason or the other by air, water and in some cases, road and the internet connects you with the world, in addition, telephone services have being made a lot easier.

These openings and connections are divine and they are for us to take advantage of for kingdom advancement. The days of conventional missionary activities cannot get the job done, every member of the body must arise with a SENT MENTALITY and through every opportunity to connect and enter, be the light that will shatter the darkness by the wisdom and power of God, turn hearts from darkness to light, from the power of satan to God. (Mk. 16:15, Acts 26:18)

Back to where I left off initially, the opportunities abound far more than what I have highlighted, we can’t see unless our inner eyes are opened, the task of bringing these harvests is not for weaklings, babies but labourers. Labour is not for children but men. The Lord turned to His disciples (CHURCH) not the government, Politicians etc and said we need much labourers not church goers, members but LABOURERS for these plenteous harvest. Why LABOURERS? It is because, to bring in the harvest is work and He gave a clear prescription on how to recruit the labourers. He said to His disciples (church) pray to the Lord of the harvest. So, if this plenteous harvest will not waste, the solution and take off point is PRAYERS.

However, Jesus did not only clearly state that the real need for the harvest were labourers but that the labourers (men, workers, toiler, teacher) are few, small etc. that is,

• Many professing Christians but very few with a clear sense of purpose and responsibility
• Many people but few workers with the vision of God and committed to the vision
• The work on ground, bringing in the harvest is not for a select few but for MUCH, MANY, ALL because the harvest is MUCH, PLENTEOUS, GREAT. Everyone, part of the body has a vital role to play. It is for strong and determined labourers, not weaklings.

If Jesus’ prescription is PRAYERS, then you can be sure that satan will fight us from praying through other activities, distractions, weariness, lukewarmness etc (Mk.4:15) or even when we pray, we pray the wrong prayers for the wrong reasons. We must however note that anything of God that will last and stand the test of time must be birthed and sustained in PRAYERS. For example, STRONG MEN (Matt.9:38), WORD (Acts 6:4), PRAISES (Acts 16:25, 2 Chron.20).

Only Him, the Lord of the harvest can send forth (force out, thrust out) labourers by ENVISIONING and EMPOWERING them and as such, we must rise up to His call to pray which means it’s His desire to but without us asking Him, He won’t (that’s serious, what a connection, responsibility). For this kind of prayers to be effective, they are usually

• Corporate: Ps.110:3 (thy people) Acts 2:1
• United- One accord: Acts 2:1, Ps. 133:1-3
• Fervent- Extremely hot, intense
• Focused: Clear direction
• Consistent: Maintain momentum
• Continual: without ceasing, stop or interruption

Actually, from scriptural research, I discovered that Prayers that have always turned a generation to God, cause revival, reawakening etc also had these characteristics.

Scriptural references – Joel 2:15-18, 2 Chron. 20, Acts 1:14; 2:1, 12:5-12

It’s time for the body of Christ (corporately, individually) to rise up to the burden of her head and honour His call to pray. We should be actively at work on this assignment now with a great sense of urgency. It should become our LIFE MISSION. He is not just the head but also Lord (Master) of the church. 

See the vision of His church.

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon my altar, for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Is.56:7

But see what we turned it to;

“And said unto them, it is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matt.21:13

We must remember He said;

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” Matt.24:14

Without our actively and continually praying His prayer request, that cannot be fulfilled.

LORD OF THE HARVEST, SEND FORTH BY THE HOLY GHOST LABOURERS INTO THE HARVEST IN JESUS’ NAME.

MARANATHA!