Thoughts for Life: #88 Your Prayer Can Reap World Harvest

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- There is no more urgent concern in heaven today than for the church to complete its task of world evangelization. God wants a full house for the wedding supper of His Son to His bride, the church (Matt. 22:1-10; Luke 14:16-23).

Christ's return will be delayed until all people everywhere have heard the Good News, but the inadequacy of our witness and harvesting can delay His coming (Matt. 24:14). (Google image, World evangelism)

The task of world evangelization is primarily dependent on witness and prayer. Prayer must prepare the way for evangelization. Prayer must saturate and cover the work of evangelization. Prayer must follow up and conserve the fruit of evangelization. Only as the church prays will there be sufficient harvesters giving themselves to world evangelization and world harvest (Matt. 9:38).

There is tremendous waste in gospel efforts concerning harvest: (a) Only a small part of God's people are involved in seed-sowing. (b) Only a small part of the seed sown germinates. (c) Only a small part of the seed that germinates continues to grow until it produces harvest. (d) Only a small part of the actual harvest is fully utilized.

The purpose of this chapter is to point out some of the strategic ways in which your prayer can play a vital role in this task:

1. Through prayer you can join any team God is using.

2. Your prayer can water the harvest.

3. Your prayer can cultivate the harvest.

4. Your prayer can change the attitude of rulers. Their attitude is at times crucial to many aspects of Christian ministry and the Christian church.

(Chapter 25, pp. 186-187, italics added for emphasis)

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Let's pray-

Father, may we begin to understand that the main concern of heaven is for the church to complete its task of world evangelization. Your desire is to have a full house for the wedding supper for Your Son to His bride, the church.

This will be delayed until all people everywhere have heard the Good News of Christ's death, burial and resurrection for their salvation. The task of world evangelization depends primarily on witnessing and upon prayer to saturate and cover the work. Prayer must follow up the harvesting by churches who give themselves to world evangelization and world harvest.

May our getting involved with world harvesting increase the volume of the increase of productivity in winning and establishing souls for the kingdom. Teach us how to get involved, and open doors of opportunity to make our prayers useful in this task.

We ask this in the name of Jesus for His glory. Amen

Today's Bible verses-

Ps. 91:1-4 (NIV) “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart . . . ”

1 Peter 1:3, AMPC “Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Quotes for today-

~ Wendy Speake- "When you put down your phone, it's easier to lift up your eyes. And when you lift up your eyes, you see not only your family and your friends, but also the glorious display of a praiseworthy Creator. Every peach that grows in our backyard, with its thin velvet skin holding back the sweetest juice, is God’s glory just waiting to be tasted. In every stream that runs cold over smooth stones, God’s laughter can be heard. In every thunderclap, God’s creation gives Him a rousing round of applause, inviting us to do the same."

~ Mary Southerland- "Every day you and I choose where we will invest our time. We plan and schedule everything from hair appointments to lunch with friends, but we sometimes fail to schedule the most eternal activity in this life, spending time with God. Do you need the power to live your life above your circumstances? Are you desperate for the peace and balance only He can bring? Do you long for a relationship that will energize you to carry the burdens and passions of this life? Then it is time to take inventory of the demands upon your time and begin sitting at His feet."

(p. 184, Hope in the Midst of Depression)

Words of wisdom-

~ The Lord knows what's around the corner, and as He directs what happens, we can depend upon Him to guide what happens. Though we don't always know why we end up doing and being where we are, in time, we find out. Faith helps us trust in His plan for us without question.

For the fishermen & women-