"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask

the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers

A certain woman was very talented in the area of dress, coloring and style. She began to help others by recommending certain clothing, how to style their hair, and general pointers on colors and dress. She was most helpful. People noticed a rejuvenation of good feelings, and a more healthy attitude towards life. People who used her services were truly blessed.

As her reputation grew, she went into business. First it was just a consulting service, but then it progressed into a beauty shop where hair styling and makeup recommendations were given and taught. Then she added a dress shop. Then came a charm school. She even expanded to home furnishings, and decorator services.

Naturally she added several employees at each step of the way. She trained them and gave them very specific instructions. She said, "Help me every way you can. Do preliminary work-ups and recommendations for people, but bring every client to me together with your suggestions. I will make all final decisions, and personal program determinations."

One of her counselors was also very talented. He would do the work-ups on clients, bring his suggestions to her, and she would often make different recommendations. She wanted it done according to her philosophy of coordination. She told him it did not mean that his ideas were wrong, they were just different from hers.

He began to by-pass her final approval, and take care of the client's needs according to his own ideas. She fired him.

Jesus said that the Lord of the harvest would send the workers into His field. Our job is to pray! We are to be fellow workers together with God and pray. He will recruit the workers, and send them into His field of labor.

It sounds simple. It is simple. There is a great need. Workers are desperately needed. Recruit them by asking the Lord of the harvest to send them. Pray. Pray for the harvest. Pray for the workers. Pray for the rain. Pray for the reapers. Pray.

Solomon said, "God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes." Eccle. 7:29. It is an all too common characteristic to take a clear, simple direction of God and make it as complex as possible. This makes us feel better when we don't do it. Actually it is not a human characteristic as much as a way the enemy seeks to destroy the good work of God; a way that the evil one uses to get people to do his dirty work and cause themselves to become ineffective and hindrances to the purposes of God.

I recall several years ago a recruitment program put on by one of the mainline denominations. This particular denomination was projecting a shortage of Pastors. The program they developed was to motivate existing Pastors to recruit potential Pastors. The propaganda that came from headquarters said in effect, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. You men are the best ones to see and evaluate pastoral candidates. Recruit them. Challenge them. Sign them up for work in the Lord's harvest."

We can look at this noble, well-meaning program in much the same light as Martha preparing Jesus a lunch He never ordered, and then getting all frustrated because her sister didn't join in the frenzied activities. "Martha, Martha!" You know the rest.

Or, we can evaluate this program as an arrogant, cavalier, flippant approach to the things of God.

Before we deal specifically about prayer for recruitment, let me say a few things about being sent. All Christians are to be witnesses. All Christians are to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks them about the hope that is in them, and they are to do it with gentleness and respect. All Christians are included in the "Go" of Matthew 28. All Christians are included in the "Go and preach" of Mark 16. All Christians have the "ministry of reconciliation" of 2 Cor. 5, and are ambassadors of the ruler of heaven and earth. No one is exempt from these assignments; no one is excluded from the joy that comes with these endeavors.

But, not everyone is sent to India. Not everyone is sent to China. Not everyone is responsible in God to proclaim the good news to the street people in San Diego. Not everyone is sent to Europe, or Asia, or Africa, or America. Not everyone is sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico, but certain servants of God are sent to Albuquerque, and are responsible to God to carry out the specific assignment He gives them in that place.

In Corinth, Paul planted and Apollos watered according to their specific assignments as fellow workers with God in that specific geographic location and at that specific time. Each individual part of the body does the work it is created to do, and not the work of another part. They all work together according to the will and direction of the head, but each one fulfills a specific assignment. Each part is "sent" by the head to do specific functions.

Some parts of the body travel throughout the body. Some parts are very stationary. Some parts do one thing at a certain time, and another function at a different time. The point is that there are specific assignments at specific times for each part of the body. Jesus, the Lord of the Harvest, has specific assignments for His workers at specific times.

If you are in Omaha preaching the good news according to the Bible with great zeal and faith, but God has assigned a place for you at this time in New York, you are out of the will of God. If you are trying hard to harvest, but it's planting time, you are out of synch with God. If you are trying to plant, but the harvest is ripe, you are out of the will of God, and very possibly harming some of the ripe fruit.

God has made everything beautiful in its time. Eccle.3: 11.

The wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

Being sent means being assigned by the Lord to a specific place at a specific time for a specific work. This does not negate "being ready always," or "being instant in season and out of season." Being sent helps us understand being alert and ready, and not neglecting our assignment. We are to be like the men of Issachar during the time of David who "understood the times and knew what Israel should do." 1 Chron. 12:32 May God give us the wisdom to know the times and what we should do.

Grant it Father.

Romans 10 is a tremendous chapter for evangelism, preaching, and faith. Aspiring evangelists gain helpful insight into the dynamic of believing. (That should be all of us.) Here is a familiar portion of that chapter and some thoughts on one of Paul's questions:

How can they preach unless they are sent? The answer is with a lot of practice and education. With high-sounding words and phrases that impress those who hear. They can be trained in debate and speech, in oratory and sermon preparation, in homiletics and exegesis, in isagogics and hermeneutics. They can be dramatic and witty. They can scratch itching ears and take high seats at banquets.

But, in the sense of God ordaining to save men through the foolishness of preaching, no-one can preach unless he is sent! No one can be an instrument to birth another into the Kingdom of God unless he is sent. No one can do effective evangelism if he is not sent.

Jesus was in constant communication with Father. He would often be up and gone in the early mornings to a quiet place where He could pray. He spent the entire night in prayer before calling the twelve. At times He would break into spontaneous prayer or praise to God. He was never out of touch with Father - never was the line of communication broken. His life and example are the perfect pattern of Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing.

The men He called to be with Him, watched Him. They traveled with Him, ate with Him, slept with Him, talked about the Kingdom with Him, listened to His teaching, questioned Him. They shared life with Him.

"Lord, teach us to pray," they asked, "just as John taught his disciples." I think their rational was something like, "We've watched You, and we want, no, we need to be like You. We know how to say the prayers our fathers prayed. We know the Psalms, and how to recite the proper prayers, but Lord, after watching You we realize there is something more. Lord, teach us to pray."

Lord, teach us to pray too.

In response to their request, Jesus again gave them the pattern of prayer. He specified the things they should pray about. I believe the account in Luke was the second time He gave the outline of what we call "The Lord's Prayer". (Actually this should be called "The Disciples Prayer." John 17 would more properly be called "The Lord's Prayer.")

In our typical "religious" way, we have changed the pattern into a mystical, magical incantation that we think will be heard "for our much speaking."

"Our" - not me, my, mine. We're in this together. We are members one of another. Jesus, our elder brother is at Father's right hand and is praying for, and with us. All His people all over the world, as well as the great crowd of witnesses surrounding us, are praying for and with each other.

"Father" - not a stranger, not a cold heartless thing, not an unconcerned individual. Father. Daddy. Abba Father. The one "from whom his whole family in heaven and earth derives its name." The One Who loves us so much He gave His greatest, most priceless treasure -His only Son. Everything about us interests our Father. Nothing is too small, or insignificant in this relationship with our loving Father.

"in heaven" - He is God. He can do anything. He is all-powerful, present everywhere, mighty, glorious awesome, majestic. Nothing is too big for Him. There is no task or project in the world, even the entire cosmos, that He could not accomplish for His family. My Dad can do anything, He's stronger than anybody.

"hallowed be Your name" - Solomon built a temple for His name, yet nothing could truly contain Him. Moses' greatest request was that God would show him His glory. God's answer to Moses was, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence." This is what He proclaimed as He passed in front of Moses, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Ex.34:6,7.

The name of God is holy! Nothing can mar the name of God by itself! BUT, God has placed His name on me. I am His child. My Father's name is mine. I am CHRISTian. My life and behavior reflect on my Father. Holy be Your name in me and through me, in us and through us. The holy, perfect, glorious name of God that cannot be contained by all creation has been made vulnerable because it has been given to us.

There are many names by which God has revealed Himself, all of which are rich in revelation of His nature, and all of which provide tremendous prayer resources. The name stirring in my spirit is Jehovah Nissi - God is my banner.

Father God may the banner of Your name be clear and beautiful over my life. Your banner over me is love. May this banner be unfurled with beauty and holiness to the praise of Your glorious name.

"Your Kingdom come" - His government, the reign of King Jesus, His order, the administration of the mystery of the gospel that the Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ. That every knee would bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

As His servant may His rule and order and government be firmly established in my emotions, my body, my marriage, my house, my garage, my job, my leisure. May His government, order and rule be manifested in all my relationships with my fellow servants of God, and those also who are not of the household of faith.

Rule Lord Jesus, reign over the affairs of all men everywhere!

"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." -not my will, but His. Like Jesus who said, "I have come to do Your will 0 God." "I seek not to please myself, but him who sent me." "I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." "I have not come on my own; but he sent me." "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me."

The picture I have of the heavenly realm is that Father God wills something to be. At His right hand is our Lord Jesus, one like us, Who speaks the Word of the Father. The Holy Spirit, the administrative agent of the Godhead, carries it out through vessels He inhabits. There in the heavenlies Michael and all his angels, Gabriel, the Cherubim and Seraphim, the Elders and the Four Beasts, the thousands upon thousands that attend Him, and the ten thousand times ten thousand that encircle the throne - all of them move according to the will of God like a beautiful synchronized wave. When The Almighty God (our Father) turns toward the right, all of heaven turns toward the right in a harmonious, orderly progression that reflects perfectly the will of God. Then that symmetrical blend of harmony reaches through the thin veil that separates us, and His will is done in a measure through His servants on earth. But there comes a place of discord, confusion, battle and opposition. Like a wave breaking on the shore, or farmland on the edge of wilderness, or a partially raked, leaf-strewn yard.

Opposing forces hinder and fight the will of God. The world system resists. Greed, selfishness, fear, lust, pride, and all the allies of the evil one that are in us and around us fight.

Beloved, His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God will triumph. Satan has been defeated at the cross of Calvary, and he will be defeated here in the earth. The world system will not survive. Be a true coworker with God and pray.

Pray for the will of God in every situation. Pray against the will of the evil one, the world, and the flesh. Pray that God would reveal to you His will that you might pray in every situation with wisdom and clarity and power.

Our desire is to do the will of God. Our desire is to follow Jesus, otherwise we would not be reading this book. A favorite verse from Ps. 37 says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. The big question here is, "Is my desire selfish, or is my desire to do the will of God?"

This is the on]y part of this pattern prayer that deals primarily with physical things. This is the food, clothing, and shelter place. Just before this we are asking for His will to be done. Too often we now slip into the trap of praying for our wills to be done, and our wills according to the flesh are destructive to the purposes of God.

Instead of daily bread, I will for at least six months of daily bread safely stored in the bank, plus many years of daily bread stored away for the "golden years This may be fine, but for most of us it is destructive to our faith relationship with Father God Who loves us more than many sparrows. It is dangerous according to the proverb above because we are now at risk in asking, "Who is the Lord?," or " Who needs the Lord?" Our Creator knows us best, and His desire is to give daily bread.

I desire to know the ways of God, and also to love them. This is tough! If God leads me in a certain venture and $10,000.00 is needed on June 6, when will the $10,000.00 come? Sure! You've had enough experience with God to know that usually it will come on June 6. Beloved, if that's correct, and that's the way God works, then we need to learn to love it, and not be anxious about tomorrow. Don't be foolish, don't ignore your personal responsibilities, but learn to love the way our Father gives us today's bread today." Give us today our daily bread."

"Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us." - Forgive us just like, in the same manner, according to the same way that we forgive those who sin against us. Forgive me for my pettiness just like I forgive those around me who are petty. Forgive my selfishness just like I forgive those around me who manifest selfishness. Forgive my rebellion and self-direction just like I forgive those who reject my authority and the place You have given me and do things according to their desires and not the clear directions I have given them. As! Just like! In the same way!

Help! Stop! I don't want to be forgiven in the way I forgive, but according to the grace of God. I want the kind of forgiveness that comes from Calvary where the world's sin-bearer said, "Father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing".

I need His nature. I need His heart of love towards others. I need His ability to not have to get even. I need His forgiveness and a new heart, a new life, a new nature.

First of all beloved, remember that God loves to forgive sins. It exalts the work of Jesus. Father God loves to give honor to the Son Who has done the great work of salvation. He has paid for sin, forgiveness is available, and it pleases our God to forgive. It delights Him to forgive sin for Jesus sake. It pleases our God to apply the Blood of the Lamb. It pleases Him when we come humbly for washing and cleansing.

Remember also that God despises dealing with those who try to justify themselves. It dishonors the work of Jesus. (In fact God won't deal with such a person beyond a limited time and a limited amount.)

Whenever we withhold forgiveness from a brother or sister, we are declaring that we want to live under a different system. The Kingdom of God is based on the will of Jesus. There is only one rule and government in that Kingdom.

The King has commanded, "When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone) forgive him, so that you father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mk. 11:25. The King said, "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent', forgive him." Lk. 17:3,4. Like the apostles we too cry, "Lord, increase our faith."

The key for this pivotal area of forgiveness is the exchanged life - Jesus living in me. The mystery of "Christ in you the hope of glory." The reckoning of myself dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ. Being crucified with Christ, yet living - not I, but Christ in me.

Jesus did well in forgiving His enemies, I have had trouble here. Jesus did well in loving those who persecuted him, I have not. Jesus was able to turn the other cheek, I have hit back. Jesus has forgiven huge debts, I have kept long, hard accounts of pennies, and demanded payment in full, with interest.

My hope is Jesus. My only chance is Jesus. My salvation is Jesus.

Jesus, come, and rule in me. Jesus come, and live in me and forgive through me. Jesus, love through me, and honor Father through me. Jesus, come and live in us, Your Body, and cause love and forgiveness to flow throughout the Body, and also to the rest of the world.

"And lead us not into temptation." - temptations, trials and tests. What a great deal of confusion there is in this matter.

God give us a generous portion of Your wisdom without finding fault as You promised.

That prayer is encouraged from the first chapter of James. This chapter refers to trials or temptations three times, in three different ways. The same word is used in each instance. Twice in the noun form as a trial or test, and once in the verb form as tempted, or tried, or tested.

The first time James says, "Count it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." Why? "Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." 1:2-4.

Then he says, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." 1:12.

In the very next verse he says, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death." 1:13-15.

Twice it's good, and once it's bad!

I approach trials, tests and temptations as the same thing from different perspectives. Sometimes God does it like He did for Gideon. He tested the men so that only the highly disciplined would be in the three hundred through whom He routed the enemy. Usually the trials or temptations are the things that are common to all men. The evil one, our mortal enemy, through our own evil desire seeks to kill us by using the same test for his evil purposes.

Here's what I mean. Suppose I lose my job, a trial common to all. The response of faith is, "Hallelujah! Thank You Lord. Whatever comes of this, I know that You are living in me, and You love me, and desire my good. I know You work all things for good, and I now have a tremendous opportunity to be faithful and grow. I receive this situation as an opportunity to persevere and keep my eyes fixed on You and my place with You now in the heavenlies. I count it pure joy to see how You will order my steps in this journey. Deliver me from the evil one."

The response of God is something like, "0 boy, Frank is really facing a trial. I desire to give him a crown of life and this will help. I love him, and he is my child. Come on Frank, hang in there. I can do more than you can ask or imagine by the power at work within you. You're not alone. You can make it. You can come through this with a fuller and deeper understanding of our relationship, of My life in you. This is really exciting. Come on Frank."

Now comes the bad response to the situation. The evil one says, "Aha! Now I've got that wretch. I hate him, and this is a great opportunity to destroy him. I'll wreck his testimony. I'll bring the seeds of doubt and despair into full bloom. I'll marshal my forces to attack him at every hand. I'll kill him."