THE VISION
As I drove across the state for
Fall Conference, I was impressed that God was preparing the
ministers of the Michigan District to bring in a greater harvest than we have
ever seen.
My eyes were open, but I “saw” a
picture of a combine at work in a field of wheat. As it moved forward, rotating
blades, wheels, sieves and elevators worked together to cut, thresh and clean
the grains all at the same time. Chaff blew out a pipe in the back and precious
seed was transferred to a waiting vehicle.
The combine represented the
ministers and ministries of the District working together in a new way.
THE APPLICATION
These massive harvesting machines received their name from their function: they combined different operations
into a single process. From this natural example we can see a spiritual concept at
work – united efforts yield tremendous results!
When God’s servants unite for God’s
purposes, the church is empowered to roll out into the great end-time harvest with
the efficiency of an anointed spiritual "combine" (see Psalm 133:1-2,
AMP).
Consider this: Only 200 years ago, 90 percent of our nation’s population worked the land; today, only 2 percent. Why? In large part because modern machinery and methods have made a farmer’s work exponentially more productive.
We live in an automated, mechanized world. In the same way contemporary farmers don’t use hand tools like scythes on poles to bring in the sheaves, today’s church has access to more efficient methods, as well.
HINDRANCES TO THE HARVEST
The health of the farmer is obviously
an important factor of the harvest. There are other elements to consider as
well. Months of tilling, planting and fertilizing could come to ruin if bad
weather or natural disaster strikes the field.
Scripture calls Satan the
"prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) and the "god of
this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). It was Satan who brought the calamity of
"fire from heaven" upon Job's sheep and servants (Job 1:16) and the
"great wind from the wilderness" that caused the house to fall on
Job's children (Job 1:19). As believers, Satan has no authority over our
lives, but we cannot downplay his impact in the world around us.
COVERING THE HARVEST WITH PRAYER
What could protect the Lord’s
harvest from the adversary’s attacks? Again, I saw a picture: a
canopy of prayer over the state.
What is critical to every ministry
and every department and every work? First of all, prayer (1 Timothy 2:1).
As a District, we have ramped up
giving and implemented new ideas. In equal measure, I
believe, we must ramp up prayer.
A NETWORK OF PRAYER
On the bar on the right of this
article is a link to a map of the Michigan District. I encourage you to click on it and look across this segment of the North American mission field God has called
you to serve.
ØPray for your neighboring pastors.
ØPray for the areas that have no
established churches.
ØPray for our leaders and preachers.
ØPray for Bible study teachers
and evangelists.
ØPray for the hearts of the lost to
be open to the things of God.
Below are some prayer points inspired by the "Greater Harvest" conference. I hope you will join me in creating a canopy
of prayer over Michigan.
Prayer points:
- Pray that we learn better than ever to work together as a
well-oiled machine, prepared and united to work the fields of the Lord.
- On a combine, problems with the bearings are the most common
problems and can stop work from going forward. Pray that our bearings would be
in tact.
- Bearings facilitate desired motion by constraining motion. Pray the Lord keeps each one of us in our divinely
appointed positions and faithfully performing the tasks He has called us to.
- Bearings minimize friction between moving parts. Pray that
God helps the ministers and ministries of the District work together without
resistance – without dissension or conflict because of differing ideas or plans.
Pray that our hearts would be knit
together for Kingdom purposes.
- Pray that God would teach us to utilize contemporary methods and
mechanisms to enhance our efforts and build His Kingdom on the true gospel of
Jesus Christ.
- Pray that our harvest workers are continually strengthened
with physical, spiritual, emotional and financial health.
- Pray a canopy of prayer: protection for the laborers,
protection for the harvest not yet brought in – taking authority over the power
of the god of this world and every evil distraction and scheme designed to halt
the work of God.
- Pray that as the farmer prepares his equipment for harvest,
God would prepare us to go out into the fields fully equipped with our bearings
greased, belts tightened, air in the tires, gas in the tank, and blades
sharpened.
THE HARVEST IS WAITING!
Lori Wagner
Michigan District Prayer Coordinator
