Harvest Time

The Laborers are Few

Read: Matthew 9 : 36 - 10 : 4

" the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest send out laborers into His harvest."

Harvest Time

About two thousand years ago, Jesus had clearly state that the harvest are plentiful but the laborers are few. Today is the same. The harvest are plentiful but the laborers are few. We can tell that it is harvest time when the crop is right for picking, we can tell if it is harvest time when we see people who are weary, lost and  wandering start looking for answers on the wrong places.

The Effect of His Work

He Extends His Hands and Reach Out

Read: Matthew 9 : 23 - 35

"And Jesus went about all the cities and village, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people."

The Effect of His Work

Jesus had come to this world with a purpose. His mission is to save the sinners and preach the gospel of salvation, and about the kingdom. His work varied from one ministry to the next ministry. In today's passage we can see how He demonstrate His authority by restoring our life, opening our eyes and enabling us to speak. We will also see how people responded to His work.

Healing and Restoration

At the Helm of His Garment

Read: Matthew 9 : 18 - 26

"If only I may  touched His garment, I shall be made well."

But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, 'Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well."

Healing and Restoration

All of us needs healing and restoration from time to time. We need healing on our external wounds, internal wounds and spiritual wounds. And after we have been healed, we may also require restoration on our life's glory and be replenish of the strength that we may need for our daily lives. Jesus can do both, all we have to do is seek Him and ask.

By His Will Alone

Through His Words Alone

Read: Matthew 8 : 1 - 13

"Jesus out His hand and touched him saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."

"Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour."

By His Will Alone

Most of the times, we prevent a miracle to happen in our lives, not that it doesn't happen anymore, but simply because we have misplaced our faith and trust where it should properly belong.

Be A Good Tree

A few Good Men

Read: Matthew 7 : 13 - 20

"Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

Being a Good Tree

Life is a choice. We can choose to be a good tree or to be a bad tree. Few people choose to be a good tree, for it is hard and full of trials. A good tree needs nourishment, needs trimming and needs grafting ones in a while. But a bad tree grows on its own, though it needs nourishment but it doesn’t requires trimming and grafting, it wants to be left alone on its own accord. He is the master of his soul, the captain of his ship. That's why many people chooses to be a bad tree rather than being a good tree.

Focus on the Essentials

Do not Worry

Read: Matthew 6 : 24 - 34

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"

"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Focus on the Essentials

No matter how many times we are told, we worry most of the time. But if we are careful and read God's word everyday, understand His message and apply it to our lives. God have always been clear with His message. He is faithful, He will provide and He will never forsake us. So why worry?

Work For the Right Reasons

Know your priorities

Read: Matthew 6 : 19 -24

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Build the right foundations

We are all building something in our lives. Either by accident or design, we are headed towards a life we choose to have. Who we are today is a result of what we did yesterday, and who we want to be tomorrow would be the result of what we do today.

The Rewards in Praying Right

God knows what we need

Read: Matthew 6 : 7 - 18

"But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard fort heir many words.  Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need or before you ask Him."

The Model Prayer

Is there an exact way we should pray? Is there a prayer that acts like a magic word? Jesus have clearly illustrated to us what manner we should pray, He told us to pray like the way He have modeled, but He did not told us to pray the prayer He have said.

He wanted us to understand the perspective, the priority and the content on what our prayer should have. There are benefits and rewards of praying right and not saying the right prayer. What we should learn is how to pray right.

God's Secret Giver

Doing Good to Please God

Read: Matthew 6 : 1 - 6

"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed  may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door to pray, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

Resolute Conviction

Adultery, Divorce and Vows

Read: Matthew 5:27-37

"You have heard the commandment that says 'you must not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who  has even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye-even your good eye - causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand-even your stronger hand-causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Reason for Wilderness

Read: Deuteronomy 8:1-20

God often led us through our wilderness in His perfect time and will. For reasons we need to understand,  in order to enjoy the fullness of His blessings. Below are the reasons for such wilderness in our lives to happen.

Delegating Tasks and Developing People

(Moving from Addition to Multiplication in Your Ministry)

"Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."  (- Acts 6:2-3)

Unexpected Team Members

Beyond the Boundaries

ACTS 10:9-16 NIV

"About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat.""Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven."

Building the Right Team

The Choosing of the Seven

Acts 6:1-7 NIV

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables, Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of Spirit and wisdom, We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." This proposal pleased the whole group, they choose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit: also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,  and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread, The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and the large number of priests became obedient to the faith." 

Boldness in Christ

The Believer's Prayer

Acts 4:23-31   NKJV

"And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders have said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: 'Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,' who by the mouth of David have said: 'why did the nations rage and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.' 'For truly against Your Holy Servant Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and people of Israel, were gathered together' to do whatever You hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 'Now, Lord, look on their treats, and grant to Your servants that will all boldness they may speak your Word, 'by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.' and when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness."

Carelessness

Read: 1 Samuel 14:24 - 52

How arrogant we are, when we carelessly carry on our plans without consulting or waiting on the Lord's answer.

Often we neglect to assess our current resources and assets, and identify if we can really move on. just so we thought we can, it doesn't mean we can also accomplish. Often, actions and words without careful considerations, leads to frustrations and failure.