“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!
