Matthew 9:38- 10:1 “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

It is significant that Jesus told His disciples to pray for harvest workers and then He sent them out as harvest workers. Anyone who commits to being a disciple of Christ is committing to be a harvest worker. In the harvest, some wield the sickle, some bind the sheaves, and some thresh the grain. Being a harvest worker doesn’t necessarily mean being “an Evangelist,” but it does mean bringing people to Christ, for salvation and discipleship. Reading the Japanese for verse 1 gives me new insight, because it says, “He gave them authority over unclean spirits. This was for them to drive out those spirits and heal all sorts of disease and illness.” Praying for and operating in healing is spiritual warfare, and it is a powerful harvest tool. It is very hard for someone to deny the reality of God when they have just been healed! As the story in John 9 of the man born blind shows, there are all sorts of reasons for physical and emotional distress, but the vast majority involve some sort of rebellion against God. For us to have authority in those cases, we ourselves must be fully submitted to God. His authority won’t flow through us if we aren’t submitted to it ourselves. God equips His workers for the tasks He assigns them, but those workers must be in right relationship to their Lord for those tools to be effective.

I have been given many powerful tools, but my use of them has hardly been consistent. That’s because my submission to and fellowship with God haven’t been consistent either. I desire that the church members be effective in using the tools God has provided, but I’ve got to lead the way if that is going to happen. I cannot simply lecture from the pulpit, I’ve got to be an active demonstration of what God is saying through me. That puts a lot of pressure on me! If I am focused on myself, the pressure will squash me. If I am focused on my Lord, it won’t be pressure at all, because I will be operating in His power to do His will. With job transfers, we will be having personnel shifts over the next couple of months. I am to lead the flock in praying blessing on those who are leaving and praying for the Lord to bring in even more to replace them. In doing that, I am to remind them that they too are workers, so that together we may bring in a great harvest indeed.

Father, thank You again for all You are doing in and among us. At times I just stand back amazed. There are certainly lessons in it all, and lessons aren’t always pleasant, but I can see some of what You are doing, and it’s exciting. Help me lead and encourage all the believers to anticipate eagerly what You are going to do, so that we may hold ourselves ready and available to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!