Looking out over the fields of the world, I see one major problem. No, it’s not with the crops — the harvest is there. The harvest is not the issue. The issue, according to the landowner in Jesus’ parable, is the lack of laborers (Matthew 9:37-38). Laborers aren’t willing to go to the fields where the harvest is! So, what will it take to reap the harvest before night falls?

To reap the harvest: it’s going to take prayer

Prayer is what the Lord of the harvest commanded us to do. Why? Because He controls the harvest, not the laborers! God commanded us to get on our knees and plead that He cast out laborers into the harvest. If we’re not praying, are we standing in the way of the harvest being collected? If laborers are going to be cast out into the harvest fields, it will come as result of our being obedient in prayer.

To reap the harvest: it’s going to take people

When Jesus spoke about the harvest in Matthew 9:37-38, He said that the laborers were few. The numbers haven’t changed much since then! Only about 3% of disciple-makers today work among the least-reached. To reach the least-reached places of the world, it’s going to take disciples of Christ from all professions who are obedient to the Great Commission. If God calls you to reap the harvest, will you listen?

To reap the harvest: it’s going to take prioritizing

Jesus reminded us three times throughout His ministry that the harvest is not the issue (John 4:35; Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:38). Right before He returned to Heaven, He tasked us with going to the nations. Just to be sure we understood who was asking us to do this, He said, “All authority has been given unto Me…”  (Matthew 28:19-20). Are we willing to set aside everything else to do what God has asked?

To reap the harvest: it’s going to take perspective

If our heads are bent to our tasks and goals, we’ll never lift our heads to see the fields filled with crops ready to be harvested. By focusing on Christ first, His vision for the world will start to become our vision. When we see the power of God to send laborers, we will begin to see the task of going to the nations as a reachable goal.

The harvest is waiting … the Lord of the harvest has told us so. It’s going to take prayer, people, prioritizing and perspective to see it reaped!

 Mark Silvers served with Crossworld in the Philippines for 10 years and joined the home office staff as Director of Mobilization in 2009. Mark’s driving passion is the goal of reaching the the 2.9 billion people in the world today with no access to the gospel. Reply to Mark.