Harvest Priorities- by Bishop Travis Gore
Summer 2024 ISSUE | 4 minute read
Intro: Created in 1947, the Doomsday Clock, located at the University of Chicago, is a symbolic timepiece showing how close the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists believes we are to the end of the world. Midnight marks the theoretical point of annihilation and the end of the world. As apocalyptic threats rise, the hands of the clock move closer to midnight. Last January, for the first time ever, the clock was set 90 seconds to midnight.
I am not suggesting in any way that we rely on this instrument as our guide to how close we are to the end of time and the return of Christ, we have God’s Word for that. However, I am as confident as I’ve ever been that Jesus is coming back for His church soon. Before He returns, we have much work to do as it relates to the harvest.
When Jesus left the first time, He gave us a mandate to fulfill while we waited for His return. We call it the “Great Commission.”
Depending on what you read, we’re told that 42% of the world's population, a little over 3 billion people, have yet to be reached. Right here in America, 30% of adults describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or nothing in particular. There are harvest opportunities all around us. If we’re not careful, we will miss what’s right in front of us!
If we are going to be a church that is harvest-ready, our hearts must beat for the harvest. How do we prepare for the harvest?
1. We Pray for The Harvest.
In Matthew 9:38, Jesus admonished His disciples to “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” We’ll never get a heart for something we don’t pray about. We’ll never have an opportunity to participate in something we don’t pray about. We’ll never make a difference if we don’t pray about it.
2. We Position Ourselves for The Harvest.
John chapter 4 reveals the story of Jesus and His encounter with the woman at the well. In verse 8 of that same chapter, the disciples have left to find food. When they return, they are shocked to see Jesus talking to a woman. He uses their desire for natural food to teach them a few lessons about the spiritual harvest.
· Harvest Perspective- Lift up your eyes and look.
· Harvest Posture- The fields are already white. It’s a NOW posture.
· Harvest Priorities- They were sidetracked in Sychar. They had gone dutifully to Sychar, driven primarily by their appetites. If we’re not careful, like the disciples foraging for food in Sychar, we’ll miss our mission because we’re so caught up in our ministry assignments, aspirations, and achievements.
Jesus reminded us in John 9:4 that the night is coming when no man can work. We must be about our Father’s business of preparing for and reaching the harvest.
Bishop Travis Gore
State Ministries Director
Virginia Church of God State Office