[FONT="]In Matthew 9:37-38, the Lord Jesus clearly identifies the problem when He said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” Then He provides the solution to the problem when He told His disciples to “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” To me it is quite evident that there were two distinct problems established here. First of all, there was a shortage of labourers called of God and prepared to take the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. Though the harvest was truly plenteous, and the fields were “white (ripe) already to harvest,” yet there were few who willing to go “. . . into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” This was the result of the second problem, a lack of prayer on the part of God’s people. The command, not the suggestion, was “Pray YE therefore the Lord of the harvest, that HE will send forth labourers into HIS harvest.” It is abundantly clear to me that the labourers come from the Lord of the harvest and not from any other source. It is God, and God alone, Who raises up and calls the labourers to the harvest fields, and it is through the fervent prayers of the saints that their numbers are increased. The labourers will be few when there is a distinct lack of prayer for more men to go and take the message of forgiveness and redemption through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to a world lost in sin and darkness. And keep in mind that when you go to the Lord and ask Him to raise up labourers for the harvest fields, you should always be willing to do it yourself should God so lead and direct. Remember, the Lord Jesus sent into the harvest the very men He asked to pray for more labourers. [/FONT]
[FONT="]When is the last time you and I attended a prayer meeting, any prayer meeting, where voices were lifted up to God crying out to Him for more labourers for the harvest fields. We speak of the need in missions conferences, and there has never been a lack of preaching in missions conferences on the text at hand. But how often do we stop talking about the content of Matthew 9:37 and 38 and get down on our faces before God and plead with Him, both corporately and individually, for more labourers for the harvest? Is it not true that many of our meetings, most of our church services, many of our ministry endeavors, and even what we call our prayer meetings, are actually lacking in real, meaningful seasons of prayer? When is the last time you were in a corporate prayer meeting and heard some dear saint labor in agonizing prayer, crying out to the Lord of the harvest for more Spirit-gifted, God-called, God-sent men who will count the cost, be willing to pay any price, and will go anywhere to tell others of God’s saving grace? Have we actually disobeyed what the Master commanded us to do in seeking Him for labourers, or have we modern Christians generated labourers for the harvest fields some other way, and through our own means and devices? [/FONT]
[FONT="]I am convinced that there is noshortage of labourers amongst our people today. It is my personal belief that our churches are full of un-awakened and un-surrendered labourers. Only the prayers of the saints will move the hearts of those God would choose to send. Even as you bow your knees before God crying out to Him for more labourers for His harvest, it may well be that He calls you, my dear friend![/FONT]
[FONT="]Let us plead with God through thepowerful agency of prayer for more labourers for the harvest fields. May our local assemblies set aside special seasons of corporate prayer seeking the face of God for more true God-called servants who will go to a lost world with the Good News that Jesus saves. May we be obedient to do exactly what Jesus has commanded, not merely suggested, that we do. Let us pray![/FONT] (anonymous)
