“1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. 2 And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”
“13 for Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
“9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
I grew up in a typical African family where farming was the livelihood of my family. The cultivation of crops involves different stages; tearing down the brushes, tilling the soil, planting the crops, weeding, and harvesting. Every school vacation, my grandmother ensured that everyone in the family (including extended family members) played their fair share on the farm, from young to old, in all these stages, from preparing the soil to harvesting the crops. My handicapped aunty Pauline who was unable to walk long distances, was the cook during these activities. The day before each of these processes, my grandmother will go to or send messages to all the family members to ensure everyone was present. During the harvesting season, my grandmother woke up early before everyone else and walked to the farm. These farms are not short distances either, and after the harvest, the crops were carried on the head and had no transportation. On harvesting days, we had to make at least three trips to the distant farm. Those who were too young to walk had to put away the crops upon their arrival at home. At the end of the day, it was a great experience where we bonded as a family. My grandmother’s house never lacked food, irrespective of the season. Many people in the community were fed at my grandmother’s house.
Like my grandmother, God is still looking for harvesters in the mission fields. God’s farm (the world) is similar to my family farm and all its stages and processes involved to get to the final. Everyone has a place to fit in, so no one can say they cannot find a spot. It is easy to pick up something to do. Missionaries have long done a lot of work in very difficult terrains across the different nations of the world. Some went out of love and compassion for the lost with little or no knowledge of what to expect. Some lost their lives in this process, and some lost family members.
God is asking us to pray for workers (Luke 10:1-3) who will be sent into the fields for harvesting (Romans 10:13-15), and in all, Love is what glues this kind of a job (Romans 12:9-13)
There are different needs in the mission field, such as; prayer for both the missionaries and the field itself, financial and material giving, and active participation by going to the field. The mission needs are always current.
God is the owner of the harvest, pray that he will raise workers for the harvest: Luke 10:2 “And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
There is time for everything. If crops are not harvested at the right time, they get bad and wasted. There is no need to procrastinate and say I will tomorrow or next year. Talk to God and see what he wants you to do. You can give your money, material or time: John 4:35 “Do you not say, 'There are still four months until the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest”.
There is a grace in the mission field. Pray that this grace falls upon everyone connected in the mission field: 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
If Jesus did it then we can as well. The same spirit is upon us. Pray for the grace to imitate Christ in services to the needs in the field: Acts 10:38 “You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him.” Corinthians 11:1-2 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.”
Many missionaries answered this called and faced terrible terrains where some lost their lives for the gospel. Pray for the grace as anyone answers such a call for missions: Ezekiel 2:3-6 “3 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you, and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”
Pray for encouragement and strength, as they face difficulties but will trust the word of God and hold unto it: Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."
Pray that the love of the father will consume the heart of people so they can see the need to go out and to give: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Pray for provision in every aspect; traveling, feeding, accommodation, interpreters, connections, material needs etc: Philippians 4:19: “ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Pray for protection from the enemy who hates the work of God in the mission field: 2 Samuel 22:3-7 “3My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. 4 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. 5The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 6 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. ‘7 In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.”
Pray that even missionary will shine irrespective of the role they play in the mission field. Let the light of Christ shine through their giving: Acts 13:47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for those struggling in identifying their gifts and area of service, that the Lord open their eyes to see where God us leading them: 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Pray that many will open onto the appointment that was placed upon their lives from the womb: Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Pray that people will give to this work according to the conviction in their hearts and nothing else: 2 Corinthians 9 “6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.”
Pray that the Lord will bless every giver who has given into this great harvest of souls: Deuteronomy 15:10 “Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so. And because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand.”