Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
John 12:24 (NKJV)
John 12:24 (NKJV)
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Matthew 13:24-30 (NKJV)
Matthew 13:24-30 (NKJV)
These verses highlighting the “Harvest,” have repeatedly coursed through several powerful encounters and vision recently. Unintentionally, conversations have erupted with a distinct sense towards the “Harvest.” What does this mean? What is God saying and how do we position ourselves for it? We believe God is not only retrieving seed that has fallen to the ground and died (revivals from the past) but harvesting the mature wheat now to ready us for an unprecedented season ahead. It is time to prepare.
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Vision: I saw a strong, mature single grain of wheat suddenly appear. It was so large it took a central position in my field of view. Suddenly, I saw an entire field of grain behind it emerging and beautifully pure, but behind it was a field that was obviously dotted with tares. Some in clusters, but definitely the field was held in the grip of these tares. I sensed the Lord say, “Gather My wheat into the barn, there I shall meet with them, harvest them and sow them into the nations.”
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Retrieving seed from the past: Over the past several weeks, I have been in some situations where I have seen and met up with people from previous revivals and other powerful works. The works had fallen to the ground and seemingly died. But in their midst, I was amazed to see the seed was still there. In fact, it was more refined and beautiful than before. I was humbled to be amongst them as I could feel the wisdom, see the clarity of their vision, the humility in their manner, and sense their confidence in the Lord. In their midst, revival seed that had died, was burgeoning, ready to be released and multiply.
Even more precious is the seed within each person. There is seed God has placed in every believer. Many have faced severe challenges where the enemy has tried to bury the seed, but God is saying do not be dismayed! He is watching over His seed, His Word, to perform it. His desire is to retrieve the seed so that it might live and multiply, John 12:24! As we position ourselves before the “Lord of the Harvest,” He will separate us from the tares of the past, harvest the seed, sow us into the future to multiply.
Harvesting present day wheat:
When a wheat field is planted, the wheat and tares cannot be differentiated. That is why Jesus cautions us not to pull out the tares in early stages of wheat field growth. Such action would damage wheat. They must grow together. Only when wheat and tares mature, can they be differentiated. The tares remain stiff, and upright, however mature wheat bends. What if God is using the growth and intensity of these modern day difficulties, tares, to mature us? The horrific reports of ISIS, and every act of violence, soaring crime rates, drugs, pornography and its repercussions, are present day tares maturing before our very eyes!
Jesus saw the harvest before it happened. He chose the most unlikely of places, Samaria, and the most unlikely of people, a woman, a prostitute nonetheless, to save an entire city. It was here in this hard, despised place Jesus said, “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”
In the midst of the din, do we see, like Jesus, the fields ready for harvest globally? We are living in a time when the sheep and the goat nations will become increasingly identified and clear. The harvest will be key in releasing the identity of these nations. In fact, the tares are so strong in some places the underlying wheat field is hard to see.
Out of the persecution and terrors of the times, a diaspora of now 6o million refugees worldwide is being driven, many of them out of Syria, to our doorsteps. Do we see the harvest being sent to us? Do we see the potential for the fulfillment of scriptures unfolding before our eyes. What if this harvest being sent to us, is wheat readying to be separated from the tares, only to be sent back for the greater fulfillment and prophetic destiny of the Isaiah 19:25 nations, the nations describing the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:2-4. Within the distresses of the immigrant crises, the gangs, drug abusers, and homeless on our streets, is a harvest waiting. Even within the western church, tares of complacency and religious tradition threaten to choke the life and vitality out of the wheat in its midst. But God is using it all to prepare hearts to receive the full salvation and reality of Christ within, the hope of glory.
Now is the time to position ourselves, to allow God to work on our hearts, to open our eyes and ears to the harvest before us. The seven week strategy including a call to fast, is designed to prepare us and help us make the adjustments, the shifts necessary, to see and receive this harvest. “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest,” Luke 10:2.
We invite you to this season to “Position ourselves for the Harvest.”
For prayer guide click here
Even more precious is the seed within each person. There is seed God has placed in every believer. Many have faced severe challenges where the enemy has tried to bury the seed, but God is saying do not be dismayed! He is watching over His seed, His Word, to perform it. His desire is to retrieve the seed so that it might live and multiply, John 12:24! As we position ourselves before the “Lord of the Harvest,” He will separate us from the tares of the past, harvest the seed, sow us into the future to multiply.
Harvesting present day wheat:
When a wheat field is planted, the wheat and tares cannot be differentiated. That is why Jesus cautions us not to pull out the tares in early stages of wheat field growth. Such action would damage wheat. They must grow together. Only when wheat and tares mature, can they be differentiated. The tares remain stiff, and upright, however mature wheat bends. What if God is using the growth and intensity of these modern day difficulties, tares, to mature us? The horrific reports of ISIS, and every act of violence, soaring crime rates, drugs, pornography and its repercussions, are present day tares maturing before our very eyes!
Jesus saw the harvest before it happened. He chose the most unlikely of places, Samaria, and the most unlikely of people, a woman, a prostitute nonetheless, to save an entire city. It was here in this hard, despised place Jesus said, “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”
In the midst of the din, do we see, like Jesus, the fields ready for harvest globally? We are living in a time when the sheep and the goat nations will become increasingly identified and clear. The harvest will be key in releasing the identity of these nations. In fact, the tares are so strong in some places the underlying wheat field is hard to see.
Out of the persecution and terrors of the times, a diaspora of now 6o million refugees worldwide is being driven, many of them out of Syria, to our doorsteps. Do we see the harvest being sent to us? Do we see the potential for the fulfillment of scriptures unfolding before our eyes. What if this harvest being sent to us, is wheat readying to be separated from the tares, only to be sent back for the greater fulfillment and prophetic destiny of the Isaiah 19:25 nations, the nations describing the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:2-4. Within the distresses of the immigrant crises, the gangs, drug abusers, and homeless on our streets, is a harvest waiting. Even within the western church, tares of complacency and religious tradition threaten to choke the life and vitality out of the wheat in its midst. But God is using it all to prepare hearts to receive the full salvation and reality of Christ within, the hope of glory.
Now is the time to position ourselves, to allow God to work on our hearts, to open our eyes and ears to the harvest before us. The seven week strategy including a call to fast, is designed to prepare us and help us make the adjustments, the shifts necessary, to see and receive this harvest. “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest,” Luke 10:2.
We invite you to this season to “Position ourselves for the Harvest.”
For prayer guide click here
