Vision of Harvest

by Rusty Owens

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, saying, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And he said unto them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in his own authority. But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:6-8

Catching the Vision

At the end of the gospels and the beginning of the book of Acts we see Jesus ministering to the disciples for a space of 40 days between His crucifixion and His ascension at which time He “spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3)
Nothing is said in specific of these conversations, but at the end of His discourse the disciples ask Him an eschatological question. “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Isreal?”vs.6. Jesus very pointedly says it’s not your concern. Then He redirects their attention to what was on His heart, Global evangelism. We find the church so easily distracted from the call of God and constantly involving ourselves with things do not matter. God is constantly redirecting our attention to what is important. We find ourselves majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors.
The Martha syndrome replays itself in the Church time and time again. We find able ministers “cumbered” like Martha in Luke 10:40. The Greek word there is perispao. It means to distract with care. The church is constantly busy with things that Christ has not called us to. We are so distracted with things do not matter that we cannot fulfill what God has called us to. Therefore much of the church goes unfulfilled feeling a constant sense of loss.
“He that reapeth recieveth wages.” Jn. 4:34. Rev. 2:17 speaks of nourishment unique to a select group of people, those who overcome. There is blessing and nourishment reserved for those who find themselves doing exactly what God has called them to do. Near misses don’t count.
We have entered into the arena where good becomes the enemy of best. Jesus did not say to Martha that what you are doing is evil. He said you are “careful and troubled about many things.” Luke 10:41. The greek words are merimnao; which means to be anxious, and turbazo; to crowd and make turbid. Turbulent. That apply describes the church today. We’re so busy serving that we can’t hear Him. We are constantly exchanging doing good over doing what’s best and the payoff is a scrawny malnourished church.

Harvest vs. Revival

John 4:35 says “I say unto you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest.”
The time for harvest is always NOW. As pastors we always think in terms of revival. Lord send us revival. But harvest is not revival. Revival may be a byproduct of harvest, but it not the same as harvest. Harvesting is not dependent on revival, nor is it dependent on a revival atmosphere. It is simply hinged upon our obedience to the great commission.
Harvest is not dependent upon perfect conditions.
“He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth clouds shall not reap.” Eccl. 11:4. Again only one thing is required, OBEDIENCE! The gospel works, our not telling it makes it ineffective. Your best harvesting will be on days you don’t feel like it.
“The Harvest is the end of the age.” Matt. 13:39. We feel an urgency in our spirits that we are at the threshold of a great end time harvest. We also feel pressed for time to get it right. I believe God’s spirit is bearing witness with our spirits that tremendous change is upon us and that He is preparing us for a great time of harvest.