Most nights as I’m tucking my two children into bed, one will ask, “Daddy, will you tell us a Billy story?” Each Billy story starts with, “Once upon a time there was a little boy named, Billy!” Billy stories are about a young boy who goes on fun and wild adventures. He goes camping, skydiving, bull riding and so much more with his two friends, Doug, and Roadie. Now Doug is a little slow and always starts his sentences with, “Ahhhh, hey Billy!” Roadie is a surfer who drives a van and has a California surfer tone, “Ah righteous dude!” I’m relaying this to you because everyone loves a good story, and it is part of how we can effectively accomplish our current assignment. Let me explain.
Luke 4:35 says, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields (people), for they are already white for harvest!” Jesus was bringing awareness and urgency to His disciples concerning the condition of the people. I’ve written this statement before, but I want to remind you of what the Lord spoke to me concerning our present season. The Lord said, “There is an urgency and required attention, alertness for the body of Christ to know and understand the time and season we are living in. It is a time of acceleration and application.” Everything the enemy is doing right now is to pull us off our assignment and distort that which is most important and affects the eternal state of individuals.
We must be, as Jesus said, “…about our Father’s business.”
There are three areas that I believe assist us in harvesting or soul-winning for Christ. The first step, as I have previously mentioned, is to become a great storyteller. In Mark 5:18-20 we read of the final words that Jesus spoke to the man formerly known as the madman of Gadara. The man who had been demon-possessed was vastly excited to continue his newfound relationship, but Jesus had a different plan. Mark 5:19 reads, “However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” Now I want you to remember that last statement concerning compassion as it will play a role later in the letter.
Each of us has a story, some have a colorful past and others may be more like me who have known Jesus our whole lives. No matter the intensity or stability of the past, our future is the same. I want you to hear this next statement. No one can preach Jesus like you! You cannot be duplicated, emulated, or replicated. Your story reveals an aspect of God’s glory that has never been seen before, it’s your glory story! Your life experiences, hardships, and breakthroughs are points that are used to bring awareness to Jesus and change someone’s forever! You don’t have to have had a legion of demons cast out of you to be effective for the kingdom of God. Your, if you will, Billy story, of adventure or hardship is all that is needed to shift someone’s eyes to the truth that will set them free.
I want to challenge you with a thought concerning other people’s stories that may be unfolding right in front of you. Galatians 6:4-5 (NLT) reads, “Pay careful attention to your own work (story), for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else, for we are each responsible for our own conduct.” I believe we have too many plank inspectors at times and not enough speck attenders. (Matthew 7:3-5) One should never look at the weakness or failure of others’ stories for the purpose of comparison but rather for compassion. Harvest declines in the atmosphere of criticism and comparison.
Matthew 9:36-38 says, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” Notice that Jesus didn’t criticize the people and talk about how wrong they were and how they were making stupid decisions, rather He loved them. True compassion will compel you to action that brings about God’s will.
The second step to being a great harvester is recognizing your God-given support.
Matthew 3:11 reads, “I indeed baptized you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Man, I like that fire part! This fire does not condemn or consume but rather purifies, making holy for the empowering of accomplishing, through you, God’s will. This fire is called anointing. It is God’s ability coming on flesh to do what only God can do. We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit with power, boldness, and ability! We need the Holy Spirit’s help!
The last part of becoming a great harvester is to build community around you. I heard once, if you ever see a turtle on top of a fence post, one thing is for sure, he didn’t get there by himself. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two are better than one.” It goes on to say in verse 12, “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” It’s the power of agreement and where there is commUNITY, there will be productivity!
I’ll end with this. John Wesley of the Methodist movement said, “Give me ten men that love God and hate sin and I will change the world.” Together we can see the greatest revival of souls that the world has ever witnessed ending this season, when the trumpet sounds, with a victory cry.