Mathew 9:37-38

Recurrent Thought

Christ devoted-followers must view themselves as harvesters who perform well only when their tasks are bathed in consistent and intense prayer

People who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Saviour are called by different names in the scripture. The scriptures describe them as lost souls, those living in darkness, the blind etc., (Math. 4:16; James 5:4; Luke 15; 2 Cor. 4:3-4.). Those without Christ are also positively called the Harvest (Math. 9:37-38). The People, workers who bring people to Christ, are duly called harvesters. A good harvester understands the task of harvesting and the principles that undergirds the same. The clarity and simplicity of the task of the Harvester is obvious:  We Win Souls, and We Disciple Believers. The Task of harvesting has been delegated to all Christ devoted-followers despite that the majority tend to remove themselves from it

In today’s message we want to appreciate Seven Basics about our identity, tasks and praying principles for harvesters.

1. Perceptive Harvesters Are Fully Aware that the Harvest is Plentiful
   • The reality is that the harvest is by comparison more than the harvesters.
     
     “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Math. 9:37, Luke 10:2)
     John 4:35  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.
      
   • The crises we face is that the laborers, the harvesters are always fewer.
     
     therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Math. 9:38)
      
   • As Church networks we don’t need to fight over believers, because they are many potential ones
2. Effective Harvesters Know that the Task of Harvesting Souls is always an Urgent One
   • Spiritual Harvest is a set of people that are not yet sons and daughters of God. We only become sons and daughter of God by the Grace of God through Faith
     
     The Scriptures in Ephesians 2:8 states that “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
      
   • Harvesters are the ones responsible to harvest the People who do not know the Lord Yet.
   • The Harvest is always ripe and permanently in danger of destruction and spoiling
   • Jesus raised the fact of the urgency of the task when he said:
     
     John 4:35  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.
      
   • It is an urgent task because the harvest in the field is is always in danger of being spoiled.
   • Harvesting is always a time-bound activity Don’t procrastinate, you will find the crops destroyed.
   • Don’t allow the circumstances persuade you differently.
     
     He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap (Ecclesiastes 11: 4; ESV)
3. Harvesters Increase in Number When Believers Pray and Request the Lord
   • The work of harvesting is big for the workers are always fewer than the harvest,
   • The Lords principle for the increase of the harvesters is to pray to Him with a Request for More Workers.
   • Therefore, the Prayer of the Harvester is “Lord send more Laborers”.
     
     The Scripture states “therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Math. 9: 38; Luke 10:2)
4. Harvesters are Connected to the Supernatural through Prayer
   • Harvesters experience overwhelming Spirit-intervention, mostly in Prayer
   • Most times, God orchestrates and provides guidance to harvesters while in Prayer
   • Paul, one of the greatest Harvesters of all times, was given guidance while in prayer. The Lord speaking to Ananias said:
     Act 9:11  And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
      
   • Cornelius, is supernaturally given guidance that shakes the culture of the new movement while in prayer
     Act 10:30  And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
      
   • Peter, acted contrary to his upbringing because of the Guidance he got while in Prayer
     Act 11:5  I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.
      
   • Harvesters know that Supernatural Doors are opened through Prayer
     Col. 4:3  At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison
5. Harvesters Cherish Prayer as an Environment of Healing and Protection
   • Harvesters are ordinary people who work extraordinary tasks of harvesting Souls.
   • Prayer is the place and time through which extraordinariness is passed on to them.
   • While in Prayer, they experience supernatural forgiveness
     Mark11:25  And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
      
   • Through the Power of Prayer, they are Protected from hideous temptations
     
     Luke 22:40  And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
     Luke 22:46  and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
      
   • Harvesters protect themselves through Prayer
     Joh 6:15  Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself
6. Harvesters Pray Better in Seclusion
   • Prayer is an activity that demands the stillness of the heart and mind
   • Prayer is better done in seclusion so that the heart and mind are not distracted
   • Prayer is also better done in the time One’s heart, and mind can be stilled in concentration to Yahweh
   • Harvesters find secluded places and the right time for prayer.
   • Jesus encouraged us to pray in private
     Math. 6:6  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
      
   • Jesus practiced this Principle of Seclusion
     
     Luke 5:16  But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
     Luke 6:12  In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
     Mark 6:46  And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
      
7. Harvesters Recognize the Advantage of Praying in the Spirit
   • The Holy Spirit Helps Harvesters to Pray exactly what God Wants
     Rom. 8:26  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
      
   • Harvesters know that their prayers get power and intensity when they are prayed through the Spirit
   • Harvesters are strengthened in their inner being as they pray more in the Holy Spirit
     1Cor. 4:15  What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

Altar Time

• Lord breathe on me and inspire me to have a plan for consistent Praying
• Lord cause me to regularly pray for the Harvest