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Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007
| The Harvest is Plentiful but the Workers are Few By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
I heard a song on the radio that spoke of G-d’s truth. “Who is going to take
the shield of faith out into the ghettos and witness to the street gangs by the
night? Who is going to be the bold ones to tell the pimps and the prostitutes
that the affection they crave is found in Christ? Who’ll take the breastplate
of righteousness into this countries school and preach holiness to every boy
and girl? Well it is you and it is me who will witness for the savior and be
the light of Jesus to the world. Tell me who will walk strong and tall gird their
loins with truth and stand to say abortion is a sin? Who will confront the
politicians and say in heaven G-d won’t let liars in? Who will take the
helmet of salvation out into Wall Street and teach wealth is more than cars,
diamonds and pearls? It is you and it is me who will take the cross of
Calvary and be the light of Jesus to the world. We are the world’s example
our government won’t teach us how to pray. Tell me when was the last time
you witnessed to your neighbor and told them that Jesus is the way? They
are dying out in Vegas, they think gambling is the answer, in Hollywood they
are lost in lust for fame, the homosexual in San Francisco is trapped in a
vile bondage, and in Miami drugs still play their hellish games. Someone
has to walk this Gospel of peace throughout our nation. Our television
game shows won’t clear out our jails, because its you and its one who will
bear the lamp of G-d. I said it’s you and it’s me we are still called his
disciples.” Who will bring the light of Jesus to the world? The harvest is
plentiful but the workers are few.
Matthew 9:35-36
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every
sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the
multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were
weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
On a bitter cold morning at an inner city church the pastor took special
notice of Ken, a young boy who arrived for Sunday school wearing just a
sleeveless t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes with no socks. After service the
pastor’s wife took the six year old to the church’s clothing closet to pick out
a coat. Then the pastor and his wife drove him and his older brother home.
As they got out the older brother said “thank you for giving my brother a
coat.” The two boys became Sunday school regulars and the pastor had a
chance to visit with their mom and explain the gospel.
Many feel that it is the Pastor’s or church leaders job to reach the lost in
their area. This is wrong! Shepherds do not give birth to sheep, sheep give
birth to sheep. It is every Christian’s responsibility to be part of reaching the
lost with Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them
to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Jesus doesn’t say therefore go to church on Sunday, or therefore go to
Bible study, or therefore go to Christian fellowship events. Jesus said
therefore go and make disciples of all nations. He has commanded each
Christian to do their part. G-d desires our participation both for what it will
mean to our relationship with Him, as well as for the working of His plan to
reach others. It starts with good deeds and acts of kindness. We all can do
those. G-d has made it clear that reaching out to the lost with the love and
gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples is supposed to be a top
priority. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
If we are going to succeed as the body of messiah we are all going to have
to become workers. We are going to have to spend time in intercessory
prayer asking the L-rd to send in more workers. We are all going to have to
embrace the vision and mission that G-d has given the church. We need to
seek full fellowship with Christ in our daily walk, striving to be more like
Jesus, by living a patient, sober, unselfish, godly life that reflects Jesus
within us. We need to access the Holy Spirit for healing through
intercessory prayer, fasting and laying on of hands. The Holy Spirit desires
to use our fellowship to bring the blessings of hope through the ministry of
helps. Matthew 25:31-40 Whatever we do for our fellow brothers and
sisters, whether giving out clothing, food, prayer or the Word of God we do it
for Jesus. The rewards of discipleship is described in Matthew 19:28-29.
Our mission as the church is to comfort, encourage, discipline and train up
people into a clear understanding of who they are in Christ and what their
responsibilities are as Christians. We have to equip the saints for the work
of the ministry by clear un-compromised preaching and teaching of the
Word of G-d and giving people opportunity in our churches to serve. This is
not the time to come to a church to only hear the word; this is a call to
action. The harvest, the hurting, lonely, needy lost people of the world are
plentiful, but those willing to give of their time and talents and finances, the
workers are few. I challenge you to embrace the vision and mission. To
work as unto the L-rd. It is not an easy task and often it comes with many
trials and struggles. But I guarantee the rewards are eternal, fulfilling and
rewarding.
the shield of faith out into the ghettos and witness to the street gangs by the
night? Who is going to be the bold ones to tell the pimps and the prostitutes
that the affection they crave is found in Christ? Who’ll take the breastplate
of righteousness into this countries school and preach holiness to every boy
and girl? Well it is you and it is me who will witness for the savior and be
the light of Jesus to the world. Tell me who will walk strong and tall gird their
loins with truth and stand to say abortion is a sin? Who will confront the
politicians and say in heaven G-d won’t let liars in? Who will take the
helmet of salvation out into Wall Street and teach wealth is more than cars,
diamonds and pearls? It is you and it is me who will take the cross of
Calvary and be the light of Jesus to the world. We are the world’s example
our government won’t teach us how to pray. Tell me when was the last time
you witnessed to your neighbor and told them that Jesus is the way? They
are dying out in Vegas, they think gambling is the answer, in Hollywood they
are lost in lust for fame, the homosexual in San Francisco is trapped in a
vile bondage, and in Miami drugs still play their hellish games. Someone
has to walk this Gospel of peace throughout our nation. Our television
game shows won’t clear out our jails, because its you and its one who will
bear the lamp of G-d. I said it’s you and it’s me we are still called his
disciples.” Who will bring the light of Jesus to the world? The harvest is
plentiful but the workers are few.
Matthew 9:35-36
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every
sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the
multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were
weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
On a bitter cold morning at an inner city church the pastor took special
notice of Ken, a young boy who arrived for Sunday school wearing just a
sleeveless t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes with no socks. After service the
pastor’s wife took the six year old to the church’s clothing closet to pick out
a coat. Then the pastor and his wife drove him and his older brother home.
As they got out the older brother said “thank you for giving my brother a
coat.” The two boys became Sunday school regulars and the pastor had a
chance to visit with their mom and explain the gospel.
Many feel that it is the Pastor’s or church leaders job to reach the lost in
their area. This is wrong! Shepherds do not give birth to sheep, sheep give
birth to sheep. It is every Christian’s responsibility to be part of reaching the
lost with Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them
to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Jesus doesn’t say therefore go to church on Sunday, or therefore go to
Bible study, or therefore go to Christian fellowship events. Jesus said
therefore go and make disciples of all nations. He has commanded each
Christian to do their part. G-d desires our participation both for what it will
mean to our relationship with Him, as well as for the working of His plan to
reach others. It starts with good deeds and acts of kindness. We all can do
those. G-d has made it clear that reaching out to the lost with the love and
gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples is supposed to be a top
priority. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
If we are going to succeed as the body of messiah we are all going to have
to become workers. We are going to have to spend time in intercessory
prayer asking the L-rd to send in more workers. We are all going to have to
embrace the vision and mission that G-d has given the church. We need to
seek full fellowship with Christ in our daily walk, striving to be more like
Jesus, by living a patient, sober, unselfish, godly life that reflects Jesus
within us. We need to access the Holy Spirit for healing through
intercessory prayer, fasting and laying on of hands. The Holy Spirit desires
to use our fellowship to bring the blessings of hope through the ministry of
helps. Matthew 25:31-40 Whatever we do for our fellow brothers and
sisters, whether giving out clothing, food, prayer or the Word of God we do it
for Jesus. The rewards of discipleship is described in Matthew 19:28-29.
Our mission as the church is to comfort, encourage, discipline and train up
people into a clear understanding of who they are in Christ and what their
responsibilities are as Christians. We have to equip the saints for the work
of the ministry by clear un-compromised preaching and teaching of the
Word of G-d and giving people opportunity in our churches to serve. This is
not the time to come to a church to only hear the word; this is a call to
action. The harvest, the hurting, lonely, needy lost people of the world are
plentiful, but those willing to give of their time and talents and finances, the
workers are few. I challenge you to embrace the vision and mission. To
work as unto the L-rd. It is not an easy task and often it comes with many
trials and struggles. But I guarantee the rewards are eternal, fulfilling and
rewarding.
