God reveals Himself to us through His Name(s). We understand Him and relate to Him through each one. There are many. We all began this journey of progressive revelation when Jesus was revealed to us as Savior. To understand Jesus as Savior is to have no doubt you belong to Him because of what He did for you. When we truly understand God as He reveals Himself, then we become partakers and imitators of His nature. For example, when I truly know Him as my Healer (Jehovah Rapha), there is complete confidence to walk in divine health. And so it is with each of His Names He reveals to us. Oh, the inexhaustible character of God known through His magnificent Name!
One Name by which Jesus introduced His followers to God is Lord of the Harvest. What do we learn about the Father God through this Name? More importantly, how do we relate to God as Lord of the Harvest?
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” Mt.9:37
I can just imagine the twelve He was preparing to send shared a puzzled expression, asking one another what the LORD had to do with harvest. What and where is the harvest anyway?
The harvest is people. When Jesus looked at broken and needy people following Him He saw lost sheep and harvest. When He observed Samaritans coming out from their village to meet Him because of the testimony of an immoral woman, he saw harvest. Every person who bears the image and likeness of God (that’s everyone) is the fruit of harvest. Those are the ones He is after.
To know and relate to the Lord of the Harvest is to see people like He does. As important as looking is to determine whether a crop is ready to be harvested, I think we can determine more by listening to people to know if they are ripe. We can know they are ready by what they say. How curious and inquisitive are you when you meet people? A good harvester is a good listener.
The harvest is The Lord’s. He is not trying to dispossess it from another or pilfer from it. Our Father has exclusive ownership of the fields (“the earth is the Lord’s”). He knows them like no one else. The times and seasons; seed time and harvest; which fields are ripe and ready; which are fallow and dry; what kind of crop is planted and what yield to expect. Harvest is not the same as planted fields which can look lovely. But the farmer (husbandman), the Lord of the fields, knows when crops are ready to be harvested. The harvest is not just people – the harvest is people who are prepared to be gathered. How much do I love His harvest?
The Lord is active in His harvest. God is on a mission since the beginning of time. His mission ends at His throne when all the harvested souls will worship Him forever (Rev.7). We share with Him in His mission as co-laborers in the harvest experience. The Bible tells us, one plants, another waters, but Lord of Harvest gives the increase. Even when we are gathered into the Kingdom of God, He is continually working in us, for us, with us for fruit in our life. Where and how can I share with the Lord of Harvest in the work of gathering?
The harvest needs harvesters. Jesus taught His followers how to pray but said little about what to pray for. Each time He sent them out on assignment, first the twelve then the seventy, He to directed them to ask The Lord of Harvest to send laborers to work the harvest with Him. Workers are still the greatest need today. Jesus is still asking us to pray. The Father is still sending.
Many today are wondering about the signs of the times and when the Lord will return. James, the Lord’s brother, tells us in his epistle that the farmer (Jesus) is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth (harvest).
“So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lordʼs return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lordʼs return is near.” Jim.5:7,8
Those who are waiting patiently for the Lord’s return should look at the number of people on the earth who have still never heard the Name of Jesus or the glorious gospel. Missiologists tell us there are probably 3,000 ethnic people groups that are not only unreached, but also completely unengaged meaning there is no known active on-site church planting effort underway and few, if any, known believers. “That is over 3 billion people or 42% of the world’s population. There is still much work to be done. This is why we ask the Lord of Harvest to send workers. We live like sent ones ourselves. Be encouraged: it is raining. The Word of God is growing and prevailing and the number of disciples are being multiplied throughout the earth.
How do I relate to the Lord of Harvest?
- Know the harvest is His
- See people as harvest
- Understand He is continually working in His harvest
- Join Him as a harvester, worker, sent one, and
- Pray continually for Lord of Harvest to send workers into His harvest.