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April 2010 Newsletter

Workers for the Harvest

By Paul Galligan

Driving through South East Queensland [the State where I live] recently, I saw some healthy well-headed sorghum crops standing in the fields. They looked very ripe and I wondered why nobody was harvesting them. In Australia, harvesting is done by big machines and seed crops cannot be harvested unless the atmospheric conditions are dry. If bulk grain has too much moisture in it, it will sweat and rot after being harvested.

After that I dreamt of the harvest. Some of my brethren featured in the dream. I was having difficulty convincing my brethren that the harvest was ready; we must go to work. It is time for maturity because maturity is the time of the harvest.

 

The harvest is the end of the age

Jesus said, The harvest is the end of the age and the reapers are the messengers [angels]  Matt.13:39b. Many people believe that we are at the end of the age for many different reasons, but mostly people tend to believe that we are at the end of the age because of eschatological [end time] signs that they believe are the fulfilment of 'prophetic' Scriptures. Most people seem to have different views about eschatology. It is much simpler and more straightforward to go with what Jesus said about the harvest. We cannot do much about natural disasters and political crises in the nations, but we can get ready for the harvest.

 

The harvest is ministering to the lost sheep of Israel

When Jesus first mentioned the harvest in Matthew 9:37-38, it was in the context of the lost sheep of Israel whom He was looking at and ministering to (v.35-36). Jesus said to pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest  v.38. It was in the context of the multitudes [being] weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd  (v.36), that Jesus appointed the twelve apostles and sent them out. He said to them Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel  Matt.10:5-6. Strictly speaking, the house of Israel equalled the Jews of that time.

 

Ministering to the Samaritans and then to the nations

After the resurrection, when Jesus was telling the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit, He said, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and into all Judea [the Jews] and Samaria [Samaritans], and to the end of the earth [all the Gentile nations]  Acts 1:8.

It was first to the Jews and the early disciples obeyed Jesus in spreading the gospel in Jerusalem (Acts 1-7), but they had failed to go much further. It was because of persecution that some of the disciples [Philip] went down to Samaria to preach (Acts 8:4-5). Later some of the same disciples who left Jerusalem because of persecution, preached the gospel in Phoenicia and Cyprus, but still only preaching to Jews. However, in Antioch they began to preach to the Hellenists  [Gentiles] (Acts 11:19-21). Jesus had set an order: firstly the lost sheep of the house of Israel, secondly the Samaritans and thirdly to the Gentiles.

 

Jesus commissioned the harvest among Samaritans

The harvest was not only to come among the Jews. Workers were needed to go out into the harvest in Samaria. In John 4 Jesus was in Samaria in the city of Sychar. There in the midst of the Samaritans, Jesus again spoke of the harvest. He said, Do not say, there is still four months and then comes the harvest . Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest  v.35. He spoke to the disciples with Him as to ones who would be doing the reaping in Samaria. Remember the reapers are the messengers [angels] , not angels from heaven, but workers that Jesus raises and sends out. The Samaritans had a form of the true religion of the Old Testament. They believed in God and had some expectation that Messiah would come.

 

The church today equals the lost sheep of Israel & the Samaritans

This is important because today the church exists in some form in every nation. [There are underground churches in nations where the death penalty is the punishment for conversion to be one of Christ's.] In the context of the end of the age, 'the lost sheep of the house of Israel' are the countless millions of believers in Jesus who are bound in religious denominations and 'independent' ministries and churches. They are scattered and weary and like sheep having no shepherd. Truly the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. So much ministry is needed to bring the church to maturity - the time of harvest.

 

There are the unreached Gentiles as well

It was not until after His resurrection that Jesus purposely sent the disciples to all nations. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations  Matt.28:19a. There are still many in the nations who have not received a Christian witness. Our brothers in India tell us that 83% of the population of that great nation live in villages and that 500,000 villages have no Christian witness [100,000 villages do have a witness]. Obviously there are huge masses of unreached peoples. In that case the work of discipleship has to begin with preaching the gospel.

 

How do we bring the church to maturity?

What are the workers to do in the harvest?

 Jesus' instruction/commission was Go therefore and make disciples of the nations, baptising  (Matt.28:19a). Why 'therefore'? Because Jesus had just said, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth  v.18. The Great Commission is based on and comes out of Jesus' absolute authority in the earth. Jesus was speaking in His resurrection. He had already been to His Father. He had already completed the work of redemption. He had already cleansed the heavens by placing His blood on the Mercy Seat (Heb.9:11-12 & 24), thus guaranteeing the perfection of the saints (Heb.10:14). Now the apostles that He had trained and commissioned were ready to go to the nations. He was sending them as workers into the harvest.

However, the harvest is much more than evangelism, that is, preaching the gospel to win souls. That preaching is the beginning. The goal is to present everyman perfect in Christ Jesus  Col.1:28b. Let us look at the work of discipleship that the first apostles did.

 

The work of discipleship

 There are six steps that the first apostles took and we need to follow their example.

1.    Preach the gospel, Mark 16:15. The gospel is for every person. The gospel is for all men, (1Tim.2:6). It is God's will for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth  1Tim.2:4 [also 2Pet.3:9].

We are to preach: Jesus the Christ, Acts 5:42, the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus, Acts 8:12& Acts28 30; the unsearchable riches of Messiah, Eph.3:8

 

2.    Baptise those who believe, Mark 16:16a&Matt.28:19b. Baptism is a requirement; an essential part of salvation. Baptism is into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit  (Matt.28:19b). Biblical names meant the actual person and often the name was prophetically revealing an essential characteristic of that person. The important thing here is the name. Baptising means immersing. A loose paraphrase could be 'immersing them into the person of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit'. Who is that person? Clearly the person is JESUS, who is the manifestation of the invisible God, and His name is JESUS. Acts 4:12 tells us nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved . The apostles baptised in the name of Jesus, see Acts 2:38; 8:16; 19:5.

 

3.    Teaching them all things that Jesus taught us, Matt.28:20. Jesus had trained the twelve for three years and He confidently commissioned them to teach all that He had taught them. We are to teach:  

·       the apostles doctrine, Acts 2:42

·       that Jesus is the Christ, Acts 5:42

·       the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 28:31

·       sound doctrine, Titus 2:1

·       with all wisdom, Col.1:28

·       we are to pass on what we have received, 2Tim.2:2

 

4.    Demonstrate real fellowship, Acts 2:44-45 Now all who believed were together and had all things in common ... divided them among all, as anyone had need.  Fellowship includes financial contribution and so new believers need to be taught about giving from the Scripture - tithes and offerings.

 

5.    Breaking of Bread, Acts 2:46. The first church broke bread daily ... breaking bread from house to house.  The apostle Paul taught deeply about the significance of breaking bread in 1Corinthians 11:23-34.

 

6.    Prayer, Acts 2:41-42. Those who gladly received his word were baptised ... and they continued steadfastly ... in prayers.  New disciples need to be taught concerning prayer even as Jesus taught concerning prayer. Therefore we are to teach the Lord's prayer as the pattern of how to pray (Matt.6:9-13 & Lu.11:1-4). Teach the disciples to pray for all men and those in authority (1Tim.2:1-2), and to pray for the saints, with all prayer and supplication in the spirit  (Eph.6:18); and to pray for the apostle and others who have the responsibility to preach and teach the word of God that they may have boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel  (v.19).

 

Fulfilling the commission

When we went to India in early February to teach in pastors and leaders seminars, our goal was to disciple the disciplers; in other words to prepare pastors and leaders to be able to nurture and disciple new believers.

When we went to the Philippines in late February to teach in pastors and leaders seminars the stated goal was 'calling the church to maturity'.

When Bruce and Jean Manning went to India in late February to do a series of pastors and leaders seminars, again they were training the disciplers and calling the church to maturity.

When we go to Africa next week to five nations, it is on our heart to call the church to maturity by preparing workers for the harvest.

 

The LORD of the harvest has His harvest in hand

I began this message by mentioning a dream I had. In the preparation of this message I dreamed a second time and in the dream I was with my natural father - he passed away in 1973. My father was a broad-acre farmer, growing grain crops. In the dream I knew it was harvest time but I was fully engaged in other activities on behalf of my father and I expressed my concern to him about the harvest that was ready. My father assured me that he had the harvest in hand and I should not be concerned. Praise God that He is the LORD of the harvest. It is His harvest and we are to pray to Him and He will raise up workers for His harvest.

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OVERSEAS MINISTRY

Colombia, South America: Brother Alberto Florez continues to teach and preach the apostolic doctrine in seminars for pastors and leaders in Colombia. He will be spending some time in Ecuador before he returns to Australia. Alberto believes the door is opening for Paul to go with him to Colombia later this year.

Africa April: Fri. 23^rd to June 9^th   Paul and Janet will be visiting Lagos, Nigeria; Ghana; Liberia; Kenya and Uganda. This will be a significant time for raising workers for the harvest.

CALENDAR

SHILOH Youth Camp

It is Your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.   Lk 12:32

Date:  Friday 30^th April  Sunday 2^nd May

Depart:  5.30 pm Friday from Withcott Pub carpark Cost:  $20 each

Contact: Pastor Ian Sproule-  0412 87 5722

May: Fri.7^th - Sun9^th  COMMUNITY WEEKEND at SHILOH                                          

        Friday night: 7pm

          Saturday: 10am - 4pm teaching sessions, fellowship lunch

          Sunday: 9.30am Teaching

                            10.30am Worship service

                                             Community lunch

 

June: Fri.11^th - Sun.13^th  COMMUNITY WEEKEND  at SHILOH

          Friday night: 7pm

          Saturday: 10am - 4pm teaching sessions, fellowship lunch

          Sunday: 9.30am Teaching

                            10.30am Worship service

                                             Community lunch

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MID-YEAR APOSTOLIC SCHOOL

This year we are taking the school to Mackay, and then back to Toowoomba.

 

One week in Mackay: Tue.29^th June to Sat. 3^rd July, apostolic school

Daily sessions: 10-11, prayer & worship

                              11-12.15 teaching

                               1.15-1.45 Lord's Table & testimonies

                               1.45-2.45 teaching

                               3-4pm teaching

Tue. 29^th - Fri.2^nd a  Junior school for primary school age and teenagers. There will be teaching & training at both levels in the junior school.

 

One week in Toowoomba: Mon. 5^th to Sat. 10^th July, apostolic school

  Daily sessions: 10-11, prayer & worship

                               11-12.15 teaching

                                1.15-1.45 Lord's Table & testimonies

                                1.45-2.45 teaching

                                3-4pm teaching

                      

 Mon.5^th to Fri. 9^th a Junior school, 5 - 13 years,

 

There are no fees for the schools but you are asked to register so that we can plan accordingly.

Contact in Mackay: Allan & Ethel Millington - phone: mobile: 0407 639 891;  home: 4959 1508