2022-02-06 A Harvest Heart – Pastor Chuck
Have a Harvest Heart!
‘When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them…
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”’
Matthew 9:36-38
Dietrich Bonhoeffer – German theologian and author of several books, including: “The Cost Of Discipleship”
He is best remembered for his political resistance during WW2 to the Nazi regime, which eventually cost him his life, just a short time before the end of the war.
But he said: When Christ calls a man, He bids him, “Come and die”
From the movie: Life is Beautiful, there is a very poignant scene, where a father in a POW camp gives his son instructions, which mean the difference between living or dying
It is so important to listen! To Listen to Jesus!
Listening & following Jesus… Following means “to obey!”
Galatians 6:9-10 don’t get tired doing good!…
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
A great lesson from our own church’s history… Used to be called “The Church of the Way”
The Monday night services became “The Way people” which comes from the Bible:
Acts 9:1-2 “…Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to **the Way**, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
Act 22:4 “I persecuted the followers of **this Way** to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison…”
Many wonderful things are happening in Ottawa, including Sarah Jackson from Love Ottawa, leading the “Pray for Ottawa” online campaign for 24-hour prayer around the clock!
How much I need His Heart! How much we need His heart!
Our hearts are our most valuable thing. What we do with our hearts is so important!
The Workers are Few:
Matthew 9:35-38
“35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
When we see the crowds, are we moved with compassion like Jesus, for the Harvest? That’s the reason He came!
Pray for a mighty army of Labourers for the harvest!
It is HIS HARVEST – His Harvest! And we belong to Him, and we need to have compassion like Him
To have a Harvest Heart! – to pray for the harvest, to become harvesters
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else **guard your heart**, for everything you do flows from it!
We alone are the stewards of our hearts.
This is our responsibility! Guard your heart!!
Our vehicles (our Hearts) don’t run well on fumes!!
Spend some serous time with the Lord to fill up your fuel tank!
You cannot stay in busy mode.
You need a walk in the woods with Jesus!
Release & forgive from the Heart, not just from the lips. Release those from the cage of your heart, because you also release yourself in doing so.
Take time with the Holy Spirit to allow Him to show us where we need His touch in our lives and in our hearts!
Solomon’s dream & prayer: 1 Kings 3:5-12 -> Give Your servant a listening heart” & God’s wisdom
“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
Pray for His Harvest!!
Lord, You are recruiting us, may our hearts say “YES LORD”!