MATTIE'S CHRISTIAN PAGES

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Chim'sWRITE
10/2/01


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The State Of the Harvest

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"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous" - Matt. 9:37

Many centuries have passed since the Master made this observation about the state of the harvest, yet this statement is as relevant today as if it was made this morning. The harvest truly is plenteous.

I want to quickly point out three implications of this truth in the light of  the urgent task of harvesting the souls in the nations.  Firstly, it implies that the task before us is great.  We need to understand that the Lord's audience lived very close to the land and knew that when a farmer said "the harvest was plenty", it meant that there was going to be a lot of work to do. We only need lift up our eyes to see the harvest fields. There are still over 2,000 unreached ethnic groups in the world. And the population of some of these tribes are in their millions. Like the Kanuris of north-eastern Nigeria and south-eastern Niger, who are over 5 million but with less than 40 known Christians! Or look at the work that stares in our face in the North of Africa and in the Arab world. Or look at countries like France in Europe. Post-Christian cultures with many who do not have access to the living Word.  "The harvest truly is plenteous." .

The second implication of this statement is that we are living at a time of great opportunities to see an unprecedented ingathering of souls from all nations like never before in history. A farmer knows, when he sees that the harvest is plenty, that it is a subject of joy. Because if he can work diligently, he can be sure of gathering in plenty into his barn.

Beloved, we are living at a time of great opportunities. God is shaking the nations and opening the hearts of multitudes to search for him. A great population of souls in all nations are ripe for the harvest. "Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to  reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." Rev. 14:15. All over the world there is actually an outcry for God. It is expressed in different ways. But it has come about as God continues to shaken the foundations of the nations. Researchers tell us today "that millions of devout Muslims are..eager to learn more about Jesus Christ". Ralph D. Winter says "..if we would stop and listen we would hear a thousand voices from around the world almost screaming at us , 'Give us your faith..' " ."The harvest truly is plenteous" .

Finally, this statement also communicates a warning of the risk involved.  Because when the harvest is left unharvested for too long it can go rotten, get stolen, or become harden. Historians tell us this was the case with Japan after she became very open to the gospel following her defeat in World War II. But very few responded to the call to flood Japan with the gospel until it was late. Japan recovered and became hardened.

In Africa especially, I see the danger of the harvest being stolen. Many of the tribes that used to be known as animist are searching for the true God today. I have witnessed situations where leaders in these ethnic groups have literary asked that someone should come and teach their people of the living God. But while the church drags her step about paying the price to reach these nations, Islam is strategically turning them into Muslims. The organized work Islamisation is one of the biggest challenged in the harvesting of the nations of Africa.

Why is the remaining task still so great despite the great opportunities we have? Why are we faced with the danger of losing the harvest? Jesus says it's because "the workers are few". It's not that Jesus does not see the crowds of us that call ourselves Christians. But it is just that he knows that there are very few of us that shares his heart-cry to see the nations worship him. Too few are actively involved in seeing his reign come in all the earth. This is the real problem. It is an individual matter. How much do I share God's heart-beat for the nations? How much am I scarifying to see all the nations praise Jesus? No body else can answer these questions for me or you.

Beloved, the state of the harvest has a lot to do with the state of our hearts.

That all the nations may praise Him,
Chimezie Onyebilanma
cross-cultural missionary with CAPRO in Togo.

To learn more about the cross-cultural missionary work of CAPRO Togo send
any email to caprotogo@bibway.com

To learn more about supporting missionaries please visit
www.adopt-a-missionary.org

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Dear Friends,
Sorry that the postings of Chim'sWRITE have not been regular. I covet your prayers as the demands of our work here in Togo grows. Blessings. Chimezie.

May all the nations praise HIM!