"Greater Harvest" Fall Conference Takeaways

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