Week SEVEN Laborers in the harvest Matthew 9

Week SEVEN: Laborers in the harvest

Matthew 9 : 37 - 38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. ”

Jesus used the Harvest and crop metaphors extensively in His teaching Matthew 9 & Luke 10 “The Lord of the Harvest” Matthew 13: 30 – The Wheat and Tares Matthew 21 & Luke 20 – Parable of the vineyard Mark 4: 26 – The parable of the seed John 4: 35 – “The fields are white for harvest” Rev 14: 15 – The Final Harvest of the Earth

There are two spiritual harvests In these New testament scriptures: • • The gathering into the kingdom of god – Missions/evangelism The final judgment – reaping the wheat & Tares, & pressing the grapes of wrath There are those who harvest, and those who “Glean” – Gifted evangelists, strategic churches The Harvest refers to the fruit that is ripe and ready

Jesus was also speaking prophetically of Hebrew feasts & Pentecost to come He was telling them that his time was near The wave OFFERING – Jesus’ resurrection 1 cor 15: 20 -23 The feast of Weeks (Pentecost – 50 days)

“Pray the lord of the harvest…” remember the field and the fruit ARE HIS ! HE IS THE LORD OF THE HARVEST, AND LORD OF THE LABORERS - PARABLE OF WORKERS…Matt 20

Matthew 10: 1 -15 The Man of Peace “If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. ” Luke 10: 6

Rahab the harlot – Joshua 2: 1 The gaderene demoniac The woman at the well – John 4 Ethiopian eunuch Cornelius Roman prison guard

1. Persons of peace receive the messenger 2. Persons of peace respond to the message 3. Persons of peace reach others with the message

1. Be a person of peace 2. Connect with others at the boundaries of your circle (Oikos) 3. Get involved in god ’ s harvest

(matthew 28: 18 -20) GO ! … disciple ! “As you are going about your life, into the world, take some people with you and show them different ways God is at work…”