September 2019 – A Great Harvest of Blessing

“Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.” John 4:35,38

We congratulate you for receiving the miracles and the blessing of “And God said” testimonies flowing in already. I know yours will be the next, in Jesus’ Name. In addition, we can expect a great harvest of joy, favor, abundance, overflowing blessing and answered prayers this month, so long as we obey the conditions of harvest.

This month promises abundant life, unlimited riches and hidden treasures in Christ for every saint. It is our special privilege to plunge into God’s inexhaustible storehouse and receive until our joy is full. God is prepared to bless, and we must be prepared to receive too. “…be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of [His] house; and drink of the river of [His] pleasures.” (Psalm 36:8, paraphrase mine). Where the harvest is concerned, it is wise for us to: (i.) set goals (ii.) secure necessary permissions (iii.) sanctify [set apart] ourselves (iv.) support with prayer and finance (v.) seek to get the best (vi.) serve with commitment and dedication, and (vii.) spread news of the program abroad.

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime (not seed-season) and harvest (timing and quantity determined by God, always more than what is sown)…, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). Proper seed planted in proper ground under proper conditions, always produces a proper harvest.

What is Harvest? Harvest is defined as the gathering in of a crop, a time of the year when mature grains, fruit, vegetables, etc. are reaped and gathered; the outcome or consequence of any such effort or series of events. Harvest comes only after sowing. We need to understand, however, that the harvest is always more plentiful than the seed sown. You can count the number of seeds in an apple (seed time), however, it is impossible to count the number of apples in a seed (harvest).

There are seven keys to a Greater Harvest in the Kingdom of God:

1. SEED
2. SEASON
3. SERVANTS
4. SOIL
5. SACRIFICE
6. SHOWERS
7. SURE HOPE

1. SEED: Mark 4:31-32 says, “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.”
2. The first key to the harvest is the seed. Without the seed there can be no harvest. The word of God is the seed that must be planted in the hearts of men.
3. SEASON: John 4:35 says, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
4. The second key to the harvest is the season. Harvest can be done during the harvest season when the crop is ready to be harvested. If the crop is not harvested during the harvest time the entire crop will be ruined. In the kingdom of God, this is harvest season. If we fail to harvest the souls in this time, the entire harvest will be lost.
5. SERVANTS: Matthew 21:28-30 says, “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.”
6. The third key to the harvest is the servants. During harvest time there is a great need for servants. No one should be idle during harvest time.
7. SOIL: Mark 4:8 says, “And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.”
8. The fourth key to the harvest is the soil. Seed sown by the wayside or among thorns or among rocky soil will fail to yield fruit. Only seed sown on good ground will bring forth fruit 30-fold, 60-fold and a 100-fold. Therefore, it is important to prepare the soil by prayer, fasting and effective follow-up before and after sowing.   
9. SACRIFICE: Psalms 126:5-6 says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
10. The fifth key to the harvest is the willingness to sacrifice. God’s people should be willing to sacrifice their time and energy and talent and money and pleasures and comforts to bring in the harvest. So long as people cling to everything they like, and refuse to sacrifice, they will not get wholeheartedly involved in the harvest, if at all.
11. SHOWERS: 1 Corinthians 12:3 says, “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the LORD, but by the Holy Ghost.”
12. The sixth key to the harvest is the showers. Rain is indispensable for the harvest. This is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. All our efforts and labor must be undergirded by the move of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of God, all our efforts will be in vain. Zechariah 4:6
13. SURE HOPE: Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Romans 12:11 further says, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the LORD;”
14. The seventh key to the harvest is the sure hope and confidence we must have in expecting the harvest. All our labor must be undertaken with the firm assurance that God will bless our efforts and we will surely reap the harvest.  

How can you water the seed:

• By speaking God’s word over it constantly
• By putting action behind your prayers
• Do something to get some seed into the ground you desire (Ecclesiastes 11:1; Acts 10:1-4).
• Don’t live to get; live to give.  Rebecca watered a whole camel train for a perfect stranger in Genesis 24:18-20 without hope of any reward.

Case Study:

We shall look at the Samaritan woman Jesus ministered to in John 4:27-42

• In verses 27-30, Jesus turned her sorrow into joy, so much so that she left her water jar in verse 28. Where once she was fixated on literal water, now, after hearing about living water, she became fixated on that instead; so much so that she runs to tell others about it. How about us? What are we excited about? What are we fixated on? What’s more important to us – the material or the spiritual? This woman was excited. She who was once downcast and burdened with her past was now excited and joyous about her future.
• At first there was confusion, then hostility, but eventually, there was joy. At first, she only saw Jesus as a Jew; later, she saw Him as a prophet and finally, as the Savior. Also, before a person encounters us, they may have seen God in a negative light (too harsh or judgmental). Then, through our testimony, they begin to realize that He’s loving and just. We can play a big part in resolving people’s misconceptions. It’s interesting that Jesus told her to go call her husband in verse 16. Embarrassed, she could not do that. It was evident that something had happened to her. Notice that her excitement allowed her to release any hostility towards the townspeople. She could have just stayed at the well, taken everything in and walked away and kept it to herself. She could have held onto her anger and hostility. But no, she excitedly wanted everyone to know. I think part of the reason might have being her ability to tell them, “I’m not a nobody anymore. I found Someone Who truly cares about me.  

Is the ultimate purpose of harvest only for your personal growth? Is it for the growth of your local church? Or is there a larger purpose; a purpose beyond your own life, your local parish and even your community? The answer is YES! The ultimate purpose of harvest is for you to be more effective in your role of advancing the growth of His Kingdom all over the world!

Prayers for the Harvest of Souls (Acts 2:14-42, 4:4):

• Intense worship
• Thank God for bringing many souls into the Kingdom in the past years.
• Thank God for always confirming His word, with signs and wonders, in the lives of the members of the Body of Christ.
• God, arise and let there be more harvest of souls in our churches this year, in the Name of Jesus.
• Father, destroy every evil arrow against genuine repentance among our members, in the Name of Jesus.
• Father! Give us outstanding miracles that will magnetize multitudes into our churches this year, in the Name of Jesus.
• Father, empower Your Word in the mouth of all ministers to bring true repentance in the lives of sinners (Acts 2:37).
• Father, let Your grace unto salvation appear to many this year for the harvest of souls in our churches (Titus 2:11).
• Father, make us Christ’s models of good works that will invite outsiders into the fold (Titus 2:7).
• Father, let every minister of the Gospel be a true light to their communities (Matthew 5:16).