If we are to fulfill the great commission, we must become an answer to prayer.
Jesus understood that the task of reaching harassed and helpless people who are separated from God is great. He also realized that his time here on earth was short and his personal ministry was limited in scope by the fact that he could only be in one place at a time. He asked his disciples to pray that God would raise up more workers to join him in the harvest field.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)
The beginning of the larger answer to this prayer occurred on Pentecost Sunday when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples, thereby launching the church’s apostolic / missionary efforts in the world. After the Holy Spirit filled multitudes of his disciples, Jesus’ ministry was greatly expanded, as it continues to this day, but there is still a great need for more workers to respond to his prayer.
By context, in the above passage we understand that Jesus asked God to send people with a shepherd’s heart to help the harassed and helpless who fill our communities. Many of us think that gifted evangelists are the ones who bear the responsibility for bringing in the harvest, but this is not what Jesus prayed.
The Holy Spirit is raising up an army of compassionate people who have the Great Shepherd’s heart to enter the world of lost and hurting with an invitation to be reconciled to God.
In their desperation, many lost and hurting people cry out to God for help. I have knocked on more than one door to discover that the resident had been praying for God to send someone to them. What a privilege it is to be the answer to someone’s prayer! What a responsibility we have when we ask God to raise up laborers in the harvest. Why would we imagine that we are not among those who are called to join him in the work? It is one thing to pray, but quite another to obey.
If our prayers for the lost do not result in our entering the harvest field, we only may be playing at church.
Will you be an answer to prayer? Will you respond to God’s call? Will you enter the harvest field?
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
