By Tom Shanklin
"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching
in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on
them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep
having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest
truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore
the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into
his harvest." Matthew 9:35-38, KJV.
Jesus was motivated by the needs of those around Him. He looked
for ways to help them, to heal them, to comfort them, to mend
them. Jesus was all about people, and bringing the love of His
Father to them.
As He ministered to the people, he saw the great needs. They fainted
and were scattered abroad, like sheep without a shepherd. Things
have not changed all that much in 2,000 years. Today, the multitudes
also are fainting and scattered. They are scattered about by all
the philosophies of this world. . . humanism, idolatry, perversion.
They are scattered about by every demon-inspired religion, by
New Age spirituality, by sensuality and the pursuit of money.
Many are just scattered about by their own needs and problems,
such as poverty, sickness, and emotional bankruptcy.
When Jesus saw the great needs around Him, He realized that He
could not touch all the people. Help was needed, laborers, Gospel
workers, to take the message of the kingdom to the people and
to heal them. His response was first of all to call His disciples
to prayer. "Pray the Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers
to the harvest."
I find this very enlightening. Every God-intiated plan begins
with prayer. There are many good scriptural prayers that we could
pray, but when Jesus saw the needs of a sighing, dying, crying
humanity, he called for one prayer. He said, "Pray for laborers!"
He did not tell them to pray for psychologists. He did not say
to pray for social justice. He did not say to pray for an overthrow
of the political system. He did not say to pray for the economy
or the health care system. He did not even tell them to pray against
the devil or against the spiritual forces in that region. He did
not even tell them to pray for the scattered fainting sheep. No,
He said to pray for somebody that's willing to do some work, somebody
who will preach some Gospel. Pray for somebody that's got some
get-up-and-go to get with the program and bring the Gospel to
the world.
This is the great need. Workers! Workers! Workers! Workers to
go! It is estimated that 1.2 billion people in our world have
not yet heard the Gospel. In India, over 40 percent of the people
have not yet heard. Workers! Workers! Workers! Workers are needed!
He said pray the Lord of the harvest that He would send laborers.
You see, this is something that God must initiate. God must speak
to your heart, and you must listen and respond. When this happens,
you will be changed. He will empower you. Lives will be changed.
Nations will be changed. When you hear and obey the calling voice
of God, there will be miraculous results.
"Pray the Lord of the harvest, that He would send. . ."
Moses' ministry began in the presence of God at the burning bush
when he was sent by God to deliver the people.
Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up. He heard his voice saying,
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I,
Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:8, KJV.
The Apostle Paul was sent to the Gentiles "To open their
eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light." Acts 26:18,
KJV.
"Pray the Lord of the harvest." Pray for somebody to
hear and go. You see, God's plan is always a man or a woman. He
uses people to help people. It's not about programs, or organizations.
These are just tools. It's about somebody who knows God telling
someone else about Him. Freely you have received, freely give.
The answer to the needs and problems of this world is not just
political action or social justice. The answer ultimately is Jesus.
Only the Gospel can truly set men free. "For I am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek." Romans 1:16, KJV.
Jesus called His disciples to prayer. Then He gave them power
to cast out devils and heal the sick. He sent them forth with
a message of the Kingdom of God. "And as ye go, preach, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely
give." Matthew 10:7, 8, KJV.
You may not be called to preach the Gospel in a distant land,
but you are called to take the Gospel to your world. Your mission
field may be your own neighborhood, your own town, your work place,
to reach your family or friends. Jesus will endue you with power
through the baptism of the Holy Spirit to heal the sick, cleanse
the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils. Yes, you can exercise
authority and set the captives free. You can let them know that
the Kingdom of God is near them. You can let them know about the
Savior, about the Good Shepherd, who will guide them to green
pastures. . . pastures of peace, joy, healing and freedom from
sin.
You can make a difference in this world through your prayers,
through your witness, and through your giving. God will empower
you to be bring Good News to the fainting, scattered sheep of
this world. You can tell them about the love of the Father and
a Savior who died on Calvary. and Who calls them to repent and
receive the forgiveness of sins. You can, in Jesus name!