05/21/2018
Are you a witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; if so do you witness at home or abroad, and do you ever feel overwhelmed by the task? If you are overworked, and see way too many souls than you can possibly reach, or teach, then listen to the words of Jesus as He tells how to call for help. If you are not witnessing, or going on a mission field, then listen for that call. In all cases pray!
“Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."”
Matthew 9:37-38 ESV
Why was it that Jesus asked his disciples to pray for help in bringing in God’s harvest? I am certain that you have asked yourself this question before when you see such obvious needs, and yet God desires us to come to Him despite His foreknowledge of what is transpiring. Why must we pray for God to provide something that He already knows is a need? In this case, Jesus is asking his disciples to pray for something that is directly of benefit to God, and His kingdom... Why then must they ask?
Last year I gave a speech before my corporation about the meaning of a biblical word... AMEN! This sounds like an odd speech to deliver before a very large public company, but I was using an ancient Hebrew understanding of this word to demonstrate a concept... interestingly it is the answer to the question “ why must I pray for God to send me help that He already knows what I need?” The point I made during my speech, to this largely secular audience, is the same one I make to you now; the word Amen was used to claim joint ownership in a blessing, a prayer, a deed.... and the power of that blessing would be transferred equally to the person who exclaimed “Amen”! Something else also happened at that Amen moment, that moment of claiming joint ownership... a more powerful commitment and effort was delivered by the person who exclaimed Amen and secured joint ownership.
You see, ownership in an idea or task causes us to dedicate greater effort to it because it has become ours... our idea, our job to do, our prayer, and our mission. Suddenly we have gone from working FOR God, to working WITH God! Can you see the difference? God doesn’t want an employee, He wants a partner, a coworker... a son or daughter in the family business. A prayer like that which Jesus asked His disciples to pray... “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Involves them more deeply in the effort of gathering the harvest; it places them on speaking terms with God... even more, it makes them a child of the Master of the Field. Are you willing to say Amen to such a prayer, or even to offer this prayer up yourself?
We pray for many things in our lives, and none of them is a shock to God; He is aware of every need and every situation before we lift it up to Him, and yet He waits to hear our voice. He wants us to join with Him. Sure, He wants our dependence on Him, but not as someone who can do nothing, but someone who can do anything with God!
“But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."”
Matthew 19:26 ESV
When we are partnered with God all things are possible! He is the senior partner, the one with controlling interest in the venture, but still... we are working with Him, and we have a say in the endeavor. Prayer is a conversation, not the request for a decree, but rather an agreement. When we pray we are conversing with God, and then devoting ourselves to His will... the will that we have agreed to, and not one that we have been forced into. We serve God, but we do so willingly, as a partner in His endeavor with us.
Are you ready to have a discussion in prayer with God regarding His harvest field? Are you ready to talk about where you fit in the task of bringing the grain, the souls, into the storehouse of God? Perhaps you have already had this conversation, or maybe you aren’t ready yet. Then again, you might be needed elsewhere, and your prayer involves a different endeavor, a different duty, a different service for the kingdom. Whatever the will is that God has for you... the one you will ultimately want to say Amen too... He is asking you to join Him in it.
“Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.”
John 4:35-36 ESV
So how will you pray today? Will you ask God to give you something without any involvement on your part, or will you partner with Him? Even in those times of immediate need when there seems to be nothing we can contribute, we can... we can raise up our hand so that He can take it, or maybe call out to Him so that we reveal where we are. The smallest of contribution in prayer makes us His partner when we act on it. Say Amen today... right now!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for desiring our prayers, and listening to our voices as we reach out to you. Thank you Holy Father for allowing us a say in the governance of your harvest, and for giving us the privilege of joining with you in understanding your will for us. I think about the prayers of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and His conversation with you regarding your will for Him, and I recall His final agreement with you as He said... “not my will, but yours, be done.” His desire Father was to willingly do your will, and that is my heart’s desire as well. I am not a slave Lord, but a child under your care, and you teach me each and every day to understand your reasoning, and how to partner with you. You instruct me in the planting of your fields, the gathering of the harvest, the birthing of the lambs, the tending of the sheep, the sheering, and thrashing of grain, and the storing up of your good treasure. I thank you for these things, because as an heir and joint heir with Jesus there is a day coming when you will ask me to mind your ventures, and on that day I wish to be ready in your eyes. Encourage me Father to pray, and to listen as we discuss the day’s business of hour kingdom, and of my life. Let me hear your voice in my affairs, and understand that nothing I do is wholly my own, but done in partnership with you. This is my lesson, this is my desire, and you are He in whom I confide my short comings and seek aid in doing your will. Holy , Holy, Holy, are you my God, my Father, the Master of the Field.
And can all say AMEN?
Rich Forbes