Harvest | Daily In His Love

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them. Are you listening to the voice of the Lord? Those who truly listen are in the Lord’s hand, because he knows them. Do you believe the Lord knows you? Those who believe know that God is faithful for God cannot deny himself [see 2 Timothy 2:13]. Hearing his voice is to know that he listens to our outburst. Christ has suffered every human pain that we feel, therefore we can come to him in prayer knowing that he hears us and understands us. It was Jesus who said that he knows the sheep that hears his voice. Did you know that the word “voice,” is not only what you hear, but what is being express in the written word. Remember the three different voices in writing, the individual character’s, the authors, and the narrators. Each have their own voice in writing, and we listen to that voice to know their thoughts.

One has to read the whole story to understand what is being said and what it means. God wants his sheep to hear his voice and believe. As humans we must confirm what is being said is the truth. We must have faith and the assurance that God is faithful. Let’s look at what the apostle Paul said in second Timothy.

Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knows them that are his; and, let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
2 Timothy 2:19

The first thing we must realize is that the foundation of God stands firm with a seal that he knows those who belong to him. God is trustworthy in all manner of life. It is God through his son Jesus that gives us eternal life and we shall never perish [see John 10:28]. If we believe our life is made secured under the mighty hand of God, we will know without a doubt that Jesus is who he claims to be. That is why Paul exclaimed, “what can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” None of these conditions can separate us from the love of Christ if we believe in the written word of God. Not even physical death will separate us from the love of Christ. Paul is adamant in his statement when he said, “nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us, [ see Romans 8:35-39]. Those who follow Christ and listen to his voice will never perish or be plucked out of the hand of God. We have this assurance for life. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ.

It is unbelief that keeps some Christians today wandering in the wilderness. Detachment from God and unbelief in him keeps you in the wilderness instead of coming into God’s green pastures. Can we exclaim the same as what King David said, that the “Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters,” [see Psalms 23: 1-2]. We must hear the voice of the shepherd in order to be led to the green pastures and the still waters. Can we stay close to the shepherd and be comforted? One must believe in who He is in order to hear and follow him. It is faith unfeigned in Jesus Christ that the promises of God are made real. We must remember that Jesus said the following.

If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believe.”
Mark 9:23

All things are possible to him that believe. If we feel we do not have faith, we can say like the father of the child who needed a miracle, “Lord I believe; help thou mine unbelief,” [see Mark 9:24]. This father wanted his dumb and deaf child to be healed. Jesus fulfilled the father’s desire and charged the dumb and deaf spirit to come out of the child, [see verses 25 and 26 of Mark chapter 9]. Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief is the realization of trust in who Jesus is. Remember that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith [see Hebrews 12:2]. We must believe that it is possible with God while it is impossible with man. It was Jesus who said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,” [John 10:11]. Who will stay with the sheep when the wolf comes? Think carefully before answering this question. Take a look further down in chapter 10 of John to verse 16.

And the other sheep I have, that are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one-fold, and one shepherd.”
John 10:16

One shepherd of all and one big fold. The other sheep are the Gentiles who are the other nations besides Israel. How amazing is that the words of Jesus would reveal all nations to be in the fold. We must hear and follow Jesus for He laid down his life that he may take it up again. Jesus said that no man can take this away from him. Why? Because Jesus was given this commandment by the father. What was the commandment? The commandments given by God to Israel for the offerings of sins. God did not take pleasure in the burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, [see Hebrews 10:6]. God took away the burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin by establishing a new law through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all, [see Hebrews 10:10]. There is now no more offering for sin because Jesus has fulfilled the offerings for sins.

Let us read and hear the word of God. Let us repent and ask God to change our hearts. Let us serve the LORD with gladness and come before his presence with singing, [Psalms 100:2]. We are sanctified by Jesus offering himself on the cross. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Full assurance without any doubt whatsoever in Jesus Christ. Our inheritance will be made available to those who believe. Just think about the missionaries who go into dangerous places for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The harvest is ripe, and they are called to go and reap the harvest.

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”
Joel 3:14

Just look at the current map of Christian persecution and begin to pray for God’s hand to move upon these nations. Pray for the Christian workers who are staying to help within these countries. Below is the picture of the current world watch list of nations where Christians are being persecuted. This is Brother Andrews organization known as “Open Doors“, who are helping persecuted Christians around the world. Brother Andrews smuggled bibles in the communist counties such as the Soviet Union. Andrews story in the book titled, ‘God’s Smuggler’, is still available today. Check out the web site OpenDoors and read about what is happening today. We can pray and prepare our own heart for the multitudes in the valley of decision. The harvest is ripe right in your own neighborhood. Will you hear the call of the shepherd?

Let us heed the call of the true shepherd and follow him with a true heart of confession, in Jesus’ name, amen.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.“
1 John 1:3

The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye, therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would sent forth laborers into his harvest.
Luke 10:2

Pray for the harvest, said Jesus. Why would we have to pray for the laborers to be sent forth? Jesus states we pray because there are few laborers. Why would there be few laborers? I always wondered about the reality of the truth in what Jesus was saying not only to the disciples, but the seventy who went out into the harvest field. These appointed seventy whom the Lord choose went out two by two together and not by themselves into the cities. Jesus told them to heal the sick and say, “the kingdom of God is near unto you,” [see Luke 10:9]. Is the kingdom of God near you?

Let’s step back and look closely at what it means to pray for the laborers into his harvest. Notice first of all, it is the Lord’s harvest and not our own. Why? Because the foundation is Jesus according to the grace, we each are given by God. Everything is done by faith in Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God is near you because he sent his only Son to be our sacrifice for sins. We must believe that what is said is the truth. It begins with witnessing the works of God. I can testify because I have seen this in action not only in my own life but in the life of others. It begins with a willingness to surrender our lives to the Lord and being able to converse with the Lord through prayer. To commune with the Lord and the father in fellowship.

It is the cry of Andrew Murry who was a missionary sent to South Africa that all Christians would understand the importance of prayer for communion in the spirit with God. To seek every day the calling for prayer and have that closeness in the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Read pastor Murry’s book titled, “With Christ on the School of Prayer,” lesson nine where Murry states, “they must cry to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers.” That is to pray with strong emotion and believe that it will be done. You can download a PDF of his book here With Christ on the School of Prayer. There is no form or showmanship when it comes to God’s work in the harvest field. God will work in churches where prayer and the Holy Spirit have free reign in a believer’s life. There is no competition among different denominations, and rightly so, because we are all laborers together with God.

For we are laborers together with God; ye are God’s cultivated field, ye are God’s building.”
1 Corinthians 3:9

There is no sectarianism when it comes to the work of the Lord. There should be no excessive attachment to a denomination or political party within the church as we are seeing today, for this takes our focus away from Christ. As the apostle Paul told the Corinthians, so does paster Murry state that every believer is a laborer for Christ. We are God’s cultivated field. How amazing is that? To think that you are being cultivated by the Holy Spirit to do good works for the Lord. Many Christians know not that they are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God is dwelling within them. [see 1 Corinthians 3:16]. We carry with us the promised Holy Spirit who is our comforter. As Christians we are never alone. Prayer is essential in that it invokes God to action. Let’s remember the words of Jesus himself who said, “my food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” [see John 4:34]. Whose work are we finishing? Are we doing the will of the Father?

We should think about God’s glory and not our own. We pray because of the great need we see in the world and in our own individual lives. We pray to receive divine intervention and to see the glory of the Lord. We pray for conformation of the word of God with signs and wonders to take place. We pray for God’s witness in our very being in that we belong to Christ and now bear his image. This is full surrender to the Lord.

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.”
Hebrews 2:4

According to his own will, that is God’s will for your own life. The Holy Spirit will bring conviction into our lives as to where we stand in the specific moment of our life. We must be willing and be open to hear and listen to the word spoken in the Bible. Every Christian has a part in the Lord’s harvest. Just look at what Jesus said in the Gospel of John.

Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages and gathered fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
John 4:35-36

Let us rejoice together for the sower and reaper. We are all laborers together with God in Christ Jesus. Have you heard the hymn by Knowles Shaw titled, “Bringing in the Sheaves?”

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Let us sow seeds of kindness, love, and peace, sowing for the Master. Let us pray and believe for the laborers.