An ice storm just descended on DFW here in Texas so we’ve spent a week under a thick layer of ice, so earlier this week I filmed a short video from home for our teams exploring an instruction Jesus gave the disciples about prayer.
Obviously one of the first passages that comes to mind when we think about prayer is the Lord’s prayer and for those of you who may be familiar with our global weeks of prayer you may remember some of what God has revealed through that passage recently, however today I want to pick up on another passage and another instruction from Jesus in regard to prayer.
Matthew 9 v 35 – 38 says;
“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to His disciples, The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.”
There is so much noteworthy stuff in this one short passage, Jesus traveled, he did not wait for people to make a pilgrimage to him but he actively traveled throughout the villages of that area, it is important we leave the four walls of our churches and actively share the Good News throughout our neighbourhoods, towns and cities. Jesus healed every kind of disease and illness. There is no disease or illness you may encounter as we travel throughout our areas that Jesus cannot heal, and He has given us the authority to proclaim healing in His name over every disease and illness wherever we go. He had compassion, our assignment to spread the Good News about the Kingdom wherever we go is not from a place of conquest or control but a place of compassion. But finally in the context of prayer Jesus makes this statement – The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.
How many of us feel a little uncomfortable when we reflect on this statement. Have we gotten this a little backward in our culture war with the world? How many of us feel like the harvest is minimal rather than great? How often do we position ourselves in prayer asking the Father to send more workers to join with us? How many of us position our self in life to call more workers to join with us? As I reflect this passage makes me think of another occasion the disciples found the harvest, so to speak, to be plentiful. Some of you may be familiar with Luke 5 when Jesus invites Simon later known as Peter to come follow him. As Jesus finished teaching Luke notes;
Luke 5 v 4 – 7
“He said to Simon, Now go out to where it is deeper and let down your nets to catch some fish. Master, Simon replied, we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again. And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat and soon both boats were filled with six and on the verge of sinking.”
In some translations the word partners is translated as friends. And here is my challenge for us this month. It may not seem likely or urgent, it certainly didn’t in Simon’s context but let’s take God at His word and step out in faith that what Jesus said is true, the harvest is great. Let’s be obedient to His instruction and pray the Father would send more workers into His fields but also like the Simon, James and John let’s actively raise a call for help for more workers to join with you on our teams spreading the Good News about the Kingdom and healing in Jesus’ name in our schools and neighbourhoods throughout your areas!