THEME: THE GREAT HARVEST
LESSON: SEVEN
TOPIC: Approaching the Harvest with an Excellent Spirit
TEXT: Acts 26:16-17; Matthew 9:37
MEMORY TRACK
In our last lesson, by the help of the Holy Ghost, we saw that what God intends to reap are Children, Men and Fathers. Hence, He gave the seeds that can bring souls into such estate. These seeds that He gave are called “gospels” which are the milk of the Word (for harvest of children), the meat (for harvest of men), and strong meat (for harvest of Fathers).
The Field is Ever Evolving
The field (which is the world) is a dynamic environment, ever evolving to best suit the maturing of seeds, especially the seeds of its god. While the enemy keeps nourishing his own seeds, the Lord of the harvest is also at work to see that trees of righteousness fully mature despite the hostile and adverse environment that the field has become.
Excellent Approach to the Harvest as a Local Assembly
The truth is that the evolution of the field necessitates up-to-date reliance on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and also the honing of various natural skills, employable in the course of harvest. Veritable tools such as visuals, audio jingles, songs, and the likes, can be effectively used as instruments of harvest. This would however require spiritually well built, and divinely inspired content creators, script writers, song composers, equipment handlers, etc., who must imbibe a culture of excellence in delivery while not compromising the standards of the Spirit as they execute various tasks, in line with the agenda of the Lord. It is vital to point out that there will definitely be a whole lot of upgrade in our work ethic, level of commitment and a re-ordering of our priorities, because of the harvest.
The Making of an Effective Labourer (Acts 26:15-18; 2Tim 2:21) – Delivered, Equipped, and Sent:
Any labourer that would be successful in the Lord’s harvest must be built above the things (attractions, distractions) that are abundant in the field. Often times, the subtlety and deception around the field can make labourers who are not properly prepared (harvested) to tangent from focusing on the harvest. The devil may go as far as suggesting alternate deliverance methods to the labourer just in a bid to capture the labourer and make him/her a captive of the field, just like those he/she was sent to. The safe place to be is to stick to the plan, the purpose and the pursuit of the Lord of the harvest.
Prospective labourers should understand that the Lord is not calling us to change the field (i.e. taking over placements and positions in various sectors or expressions of influence in each field), rather His calling is for us to be separated (harvested) enough from the appeal in the field so we can be mighty tools of harvest in God’s hand to bring deliverance to souls captured therein (Luke 4:18-19; John 6:15).
A very notable example of an effective labourer for the Lord’s harvest is Apostle Paul (1Cor 3:9-10). Scriptures shows us that God delivered him from the people and the Gentiles (Acts 26:16-17) Meaning, things in the field that was put there to entrap the Jew and the Gentile was unable to touch Apostle Paul’s soul. This was a major cause of his effectiveness.
Conclusion
To be an effective labourer, particularly in today’s field, we must be higher than the allure of the field, and at the same time be willing to be “all things to all men…” (1Cor 9:22) in order to be granted access to the field. The great harvest is not just to the world (harvesting of spirits) but mainly to the church (harvesting of souls). This however, does not preclude one from being an excellent wielder of the tools of harvest that are employable in today’s field. As a local assembly, we must endeavour to be skilled enough to handle our various responsibilities in such a way, we would be not just an effective harvesting tool, but a secure basket for the delivery of the harvest to Lord of the harvest. May the Lord raise us thus in Jesus name.