Reaching the Harvest
Luke 10:2
"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."
The theme of the New Testament is one of winning souls to Jesus Christ. It starts in the Gospels as we read about the life of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection. It continues when Jesus commissioned the church to reach the lost for Christ. The urgency is revealed in the Book of Revelation when we see that Jesus will come for those who are saved. As Christians we have a great task to reach the harvest of souls. I find in Luke 10 that there are seven things needed to reach the harvest for Jesus Christ.
First, you must see the need. Jesus said the need is "great" but that there are "few" laborers to reach this harvest. You will never be a successful soul winner until you lift your eyes and see the harvest all around you. There is a harvest where you work and live. There is a harvest everywhere you go. Christian, people are the harvest, and you must see the great need of the harvest.
Second, you must pray for laborers. There is a reason why we are commanded to pray for laborers. The reason is so that we will fulfill the Great Commission. It is not just leading people to Christ, but it is also discipling those whom we lead to send out to be laborers themselves. Don't cut your vision short! See the need for laborers and realize that need can only be fulfilled when you wholly follow the Great Commission.
Third, if you are going to reach the harvest, then you must go. Verse 3 says, "Go your ways: behold I send you..." Christian, God sends YOU to reach the harvest. You can see the need, preach about the need, teach about the need in your Sunday school, talk about the need in your church, but the greatest need is for you to go. We will not reach this great harvest unless you go. You must take responsibility and go if the harvest is going to be reached.
Fourth, you must learn to have dialogue with those who need to be saved. Verse 7 talks about going into the house of those who are the harvest. In other words, spend time talking with those whom God sends your way. Simply put, become a person who talks to everyone, and you will find those someone's who are ready to hear the Gospel. When you learn to have dialogue with everyone, then you will find that you will have an opportunity to witness to just about anyone.
Fifth, you must stay focused to reach the harvest. Verse 4 shows us the need of being focused. Don't let things sidetrack you from reaching the harvest. Don't let people get you off message when you are witnessing. Stay focused on reaching the harvest.
Sixth, you must be willing to accept rejection if you are going to reach the harvest. Verse 10 shows us that we will be rejected. Let me be honest with you, everyone is not going to accept you. There will be many who won't want to listen to you. You must be willing to be rejected if you are going to reach the harvest. If rejection will cause you to quit, then you will not be successful in reaching the harvest. You must understand that they rejected Christ, and if they rejected Him they will reject you.
Finally, you must have the power of God to reach the harvest. Jesus says in verse 19, "Behold, I give unto you power..." You will never reach the harvest under your own power. You MUST have the power of God to reach this great harvest.
Christian, this great harvest will never be reached without you. I challenge you to become a part in reaching the lost for Christ. If you are actively a part in reaching the lost, then step up your efforts so we don't lose the harvest that God has given us.