When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"Matthew 9:35 (The Message)
Jesus noticed that the harvest was plentiful, but there were not enough willing people to bring in the sheaves.
How often do we do this now. The harvest is still plentiful, the seeds have been sown and the crops have grown, but they begin to fail because no one is willing to bring them in.
The few that are can't harvest everyone. We don't have combine harvesters to bring in the harvest in a day.
When Jesus saw how much a harvest was needed, He demanded that His disciples get on their knees and prayed for more harvesters.
Are we doing that? Are we harvesters? Do we come on our knees, lifting up holy hands, asking God to renew our servant hearts? How often are we giving the harvest to God? How often to we get down and plead God to help bring in the harvest?
The reason I'm asking these tough questions, which are for me as well, is because our harvest celebrations didn't seem to harvest anyone... At Kingdom Kids (children's ministry) we pushed this weekend, we offered extra points, prizes etc... if they came along. I know that a few of my team were really, praying on their knees that God would bring them in. However there weren't enough 'harvest hands' bringing the children in. That saddens me, if fact I have been very tearful, because some people don't come with me and don't get on their knees and plead God for more harvesters.
I know that this ministry has such potential and God has shown me two pictures, one of what it could be and one of what it will become if people don't commit. That effects the whole church. It could be amazing, exciting time if we allow God to lead us, if we begin to harvest for God, so many miracles could and will happen.
My hope and my prayer is that God will send we more harvest hands, 100% committed to God's vision. I pray that God will give me the drive and determination to see this vision become reality and that the team will take ownership of the vision, off the children, of the harvest and start walking towards God's plan.
Please pray with me on this.
2 comments:
We are - but you can only lead a horse to water - we sow the seed and have to wait for them to be ready - if we pull up too early the plant will die - we re-pot in God's love at His time. Keep praying for miracles and you will see them in His time - get dispondent and you are listening to Satan. Pray for your team as well - they will not change if driven too hard but will change as God opens their hearts and minds and spirits with His vision and mission for the children
Be encouraged that we are sent into the fields to work but harvesting is the business of the One who is Lord of the Harvest. We don't have to bring them so much as point the way...
...and sometimes the person who sows the seed has to leave the watering to others, and never sees the fruitfulness that results.
Enough harvest analogies. Kingdom building is God's business - our privilege is that He graciously lets us join in.
God bless you as you continue to serve Him there in Ashford.
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