There Is A Harvest

There is a harvest that God desires to bring in across this nation of the United States of America.  Because things do not look so good in this nation right now I hear many saying they think it is not long until the Lord returns, which may be the case. But quite frankly, I personally believe we have many years yet before the Lord returns.  Whatever the case may be there is much more to be done before His return.

It is not a time to just wait around to be “raptured” out of here. I get the sense that many are just waiting to be taken out of here before it gets really bad here in the USA. I don’t understand why people think that just because things are getting a little rocky here that it is time for the rapture.  It has been pretty bad for a long time in many other countries. 

Now is the time to take a stand and to bring in the harvest.  It is time to intercede for the harvest to be brought in.  It is time to work in the harvest fields as diligently as we ever have.  So when things get bad or we are “raptured” out of here more people are ready.

Matthew 9:36-38 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; ³⁸ Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

I think the conditions that Jesus saw as recorded here…multitudes were tired and scattered about as sheep without a shepherd…..describe much of the USA, even within much of the church.  There is a plenteous harvest to be brought in and I believe the admonition of the Lord is the same today.  Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.   Then be ready to be one of those laborers, because we see in the next chapter Jesus empowering and sending his disciples out into the harvest fields.

 

FELLOWSHIP

1 John 1:7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

2 Corinthians 6:14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:  for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion hath light with darkness?

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

I have heard fellowship described as, at least two fellows in the same ship going in the same direction.  Fellowship means to share things in common with another.  Only Christians share Christ in common and the life lived because of the Spirit living within us.  I think that is what is described in the above scriptures. 

A person who is a believer in Christ cannot have real fellowship with someone who is not a believer in Christ. A person living a righteous life cannot have real fellowship with someone who is living an unrighteous life.  As a believer you are part of the kingdom of light and as an unbeliever is part of the kingdom of darkness.  So the believer and unbeliever are really part of two very different kingdoms that are at war with each other.

When we walk with Jesus, who is the light, we can only have true fellowship with those who are also walking in that same light. This does not mean we cannot have friendships with or reach out to those not walking in light, otherwise we would not have any contact with unbelievers to share the light of the gospel with them so that they can be delivered from darkness. The light in us should overcome the darkness in them.   

A Son of Encouragement

Recently I looked into the life of Barnabas. I would like to be more like Barnabas. I think I would like to have known Barnabas while he walked on the earth and look forward to meeting him in heaven.

Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus. His name was Joseph but he was called Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” (Acts 4:36) This alone tells us that he was a man that encouraged others. He was one who could see the best in others. He would come alongside and help them on the path that God had for them. He did this most notably with Saul/Paul. When we think about the New Testament church we mostly think of Paul. But had it not been for Barnabas, we may not have known much about Paul.

Barnabas was the only one in Jerusalem initially who believed that Saul had a real conversion experience. While others were still cowering in fear of Saul, Barnabas took him under his wing and introduced him to the church leaders in Jerusalem. (Acts 9:27) Later when Barnabas was ministering in the new church in Antioch, he went to Tarsus and found Saul to enlist his help. (Acts 11:25) Barnabas obviously recognized that Saul had the necessary teaching gift for the work needed. From Antioch they were sent out together as missionaries. (Acts 13:1-3) In the early part of their ministry together Barnabas was listed first in references to them, indicating that he probably had a more prominent role. He did not seem to mind eventually taking the “lesser” role in the team. To me this shows humility.

Later Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement about taking John Mark along because of his failure to remain with them on a previous journey. Barnabas chose to work with the young John Mark and let Paul go on with someone else in ministry. (Acts 15:37-40) Again we see the willingness of Barnabas to work with someone that another would not and encourage him in his ministry calling. And again I wonder what may have happened to Mark, had Barnabas not stood with him and had just went on with Paul and left Mark by himself. Would Mark have become the man he did without the support and encouragement of Barnabas? Would Paul have become the man he did without the support and encouragement of Barnabas? It causes me also to wonder if there are people that I have not given a second chance or just wrote off that their lives may have been different had I acted differently toward them.

After the separation from Paul we don’t really hear much more about Barnabas, but I am quite certain there is much more to his life than is recorded here. We will just have to wait to talk to him about it on the other side. I would also assume that we would find more that he encouraged along the way than just Paul and Mark.

We also see from what is recorded in Acts 11:23-24 concerning his initial work at Antioch that “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And so a large number of people was brought to the Lord.” He seemed to have pastoral heart and successful evangelistic outreach. Also according to Acts 13:1, he was considered amongst the prophets and teachers in Antioch. So he really functioned in several different "offices."
In addition Barnabas was one of the early church members who sold property and gave finance toward the work of the ministry. (Acts 4:37)  We see in this also a generous heart