See The Harvest Field

DON’T YOU SAY “IN FOUR MORE MONTHS THE HARVEST WILL BE HERE?” “I'M TELLING YOU TO LOOK AND SEE THAT THE FIELDS ARE READY TO BE HARVESTED”. John 4.35 091907 131304

The other day, at our Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, we were excitedly giving testimony. All testified to the grace of God that we had experienced in our lives over the years. Everyone was overjoyed because they had found Jesus Christ. Most of them had come to the Lord from ‘non-Christian’ backgrounds, worshipping idol gods!

I was struck with amazement when one of them, a man in his forties, talked about the seriousness with which he has been praying for the salvation of his parents and family members since his conversion. He said that every Friday, he has been fasting and praying for them for many years. Now not only his parents are saved but most of the others in his family are converted! I thought that he had been possibly fasting one meal on a Friday! When asked, he said, “Not one meal but he fasted all three meals on Fridays!”

This brother had caught the spirit of evangelism of Jesus! Food was of no concern! Souls were precious to him! Very much like Jesus! Neither his busy business nor his crowded personal agenda made him put away his deep concern for the salvation of precious souls!

Jesus purposely went through Samaria so that He could witness to the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well in the city of Sychar. He and the disciples who walked from the Judean countryside to Sychar that morning were exhausted and hungry. The disciples went to the city to buy food. Jesus was resting, sitting by the well. Then came the woman. Though tired and hungry, He wasted no time to testify to her about ‘the Living Water’ that could quench her thirst forever!

All over Judea the farmers were saying, “There are four months to the harvest!” They were sitting and waiting for the harvest, doing nothing – waiting for the 4 moths to pass by! Jesus told His disciples not to be like these farmers. He said the HARVEST OF SOULS was always ready. He warned them: ‘Only if you lift up your eyes will you see men and women in dire need everywhere!’

What were they supposed to do then? Jesus told the disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” As they began to pray, Jesus called His twelve disciples and sent them out to testify and minister to the people in His authority. He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (Mt 9.36 – 10.1).

Friend, you must pray as never before for the perishing souls all around you wherever you see them! They may not appear to be ‘perishing’ and may even be ‘enjoying their lives!’ Don’t be misled by the devil. You must begin with agonizing prayer. Then go in the power Jesus has given to you and witness and minister to the people in whatever way you can!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, grant me the passion and compassion You have for the needy and lost. Help me to pray passionately for the people around me and minister to them in Your power. Amen.