A Time and A Season. At the end of the age, the Lord will harvest the church. Yet until that time, we have been called to reach the lost – to make disciples of all nations. And even until now, there have been seasons in which the church – the Body of Christ – has effectively labored appropriately according to specific seasons resulting in a harvest of souls into the Kingdom of Heaven. Even on the individual level, there is a time when someone is ready to be presented with the opportunity to be saved. Ecclesiastes says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:” (Ecc 3:1 NKJ). In the later hours of His ministry, Jesus urged His disciples, “We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). There is a season – a time – even to reach the lost. A time when the fruit is ripe for picking – a time when the harvest is ready.
Let us See an Example – “The Zacchaeus Effect”
Let us look at Jesus’ ministry as an example. After all, He is our pattern and our standard. As Jesus passed through Jericho, a crowd gathered desiring to see Him. A man named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector, was obviously intrigued about Jesus and sought to see who He was. Being short and encumbered by the press of the crowd, he climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He passed by. As Jesus passed where Zacchaeus was, He saw Him and called to him by name! “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5d) – emphasis mine). Here we see an example of the season – the right time for the purpose of God to be accomplished. Zacchaeus would receive Jesus joyfully, repenting and making restitution for his wrongs up to fourfold!
Jesus did nothing on His own initiative. He made this clear. He only went where the Father told Him to go. He said what the Father told Him to say, and He did what the Father showed and told him to do (see John 5:30, 8:28). Nothing more; nothing less. Jesus had to pass through Jericho, for as He said to Zacchaeus, “I must stay at your house.” Oh, that we ourselves would be so keen and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit! Jesus’ cue was not external. He followed the leading of His Father. He knew Zacchaeus without a formal earthly introduction. He knew the time was right for Zacchaeus before He even saw him.
Being Led of The Spirit: Walking In the Times, Seasons, and Purposes of God
We too should know the promptings and the leading of the Spirit and recognize through the Spirit what needs to be done. God determines the seasons and the times as well as His purposes for them. Let us know God! For it is only through knowing Him that we can be in keeping with His purposes within those divinely set seasons and times!
However, often are the times we miss the promptings and leading of the Spirit. Many are the occasions where we are distracted and pulled away from living in the nearness of His presence. Despite our weaknesses or lack of progress in our relationship with God, we are not completely left out in the dark. Thank God, Jesus never missed the Father! We are to follow Him and abide in Him. But how many times did Jesus continue on while we remained shut in within our self-built rooms of convenience, familiarity, and comfort? If we were to follow His lead (through the Holy Spirit) we would be where He is with our daily itinerary. Often, we go our way, expecting that He will follow wheresoever we go and insisting that He bless us in whatever we do. For too many of us, our walk in the Spirit is nothing more than putting the cart ahead of the horse. However, in Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, there were indications of the season and of the time for what should be done. These indicators serve God’s purpose on our behalf as they alert us to take heed and discern what God is doing when we are otherwise unaware.
Recognizing and Responding to External Indicators
Jesus said, “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. Even so you, too, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:29-31). Just as there are external indicators that the kingdom of God is near, there are also external indicators that God is working – in a person’s life or even in societal culture. When we see Zacchaeus climbing the Sycamore tree to see Jesus, it tells us that God is drawing Him: “No man can come to me, except my Father draw him” (John 6:44 KJV). Whether Zacchaeus or someone we encounter or know, there will be indicators that God is drawing them. When we see these indicators it is our queue that we must pray, seek and find God in the situation. We have some catch-up time to do, or some “redeeming the time…” (Eph 5:16 KJV) to do. While it is best to be Spiritually prepared and “readied” ahead of time through prayer, recognizing such indicators God affords us gives us the opportunity prayerfully find the direction of God and connect with His leading during such occasions.
Whether on an individual basis or at a societal level, we must remember that people will somehow demonstrate or communicate that God is dealing with them in some capacity. Again, when we see such things we are instructed to recognize the occasions – the kingdom of God is near. He is close at hand. Perhaps someone expresses to you their interest in spiritual things. Or maybe they ask questions about God, the end times, or the Bible. This is the drawing of the Spirit which the Father initiates, and these are only a few examples. When we have not experienced or are unaware of God leading us regarding such an occurrence with someone or a community – or even society at large, this serves as a divine prompt for us to quickly and earnestly check in with God through prayer and find His leading or instruction.
When Salt Is Not Salt Anymore
What about the societal culture at large? The last massive impact of the kingdom of God on American culture took place during the Jesus People Movement. Yes, there have been pockets of revival here and there since then, but beloved, recent statistics show we have been losing the war on impact.
I am thankful for the moves of the Holy Spirit. Yet true moves of the Spirit in real revival result in two things: The people there become more like Jesus AND the lost are won into the kingdom of God. Such movings of the Holy Spirit and revivals should do more than accelerate attendance at a specific church and certainly should result in new convert-driven growth rather than the transfer growth that typically occurs. Beloved, in the United States as well as the rest of the Western world, there are many strong indicators that we, the salt, have lost its savor. Not too long ago we were able to present Christ and the Gospel to a culture that had a Biblical worldview. That day is gone, more people do not view the world and life through the lenses of a Biblical worldview, and our nations and cultures are being turned upside down in confusion.
While many in Christian camps have been apathetic or at best complacent, there is a remnant of believers who have been crying out to God on behalf of societal culture—for the people who comprise the culture. I too have been looking for God to move on behalf of the bigger picture. Sadly, there have only been hints of it during the pandemic through the arrangement of various city-wide gatherings. And still yet, for the most part, the church became further scattered relying on internet connections instead of gathering together.
Is There Still Hope?
Many have succumbed to feelings that the culture is hopelessly lost. I recently talked to a woman I have known most of my life who asked, “How can we even begin to reach anyone anymore? So many of them do not even believe in God.” The Lord gave me an answer for her: “It’s time we move away from experiencing Christian living as though it were merely a category in the philosophy or religious section of a library or bookstore and become genuine disciples who seek knowing Jesus while living in the demonstration of the power of the Spirit of God.” To reach society and its culture, this needs to happen on a large-scale basis.
But there is more… Good news more—
God has been working behind the scenes – beneath the radar of so many of us. Recently The Barna Group released an incredibly significant poll. The results of this poll reveal the indications of the “Zacchaeus effect” (if you will). Could it be God used the pandemic as a literal spiritual “wake up!” call? I believe so. And if we are not prepared to greet the massive millions who have awakened to climbing the tree to see about God and spiritual things, it is high time and beyond time that we get on our faces before God and let him prepare us and forge within us the effectual working of His workmanship.
The Wind Of Harvest
I am convinced that the next move of God will not be organized, planned, orchestrated, or set forth through conferences or programs by many of the status quo. It will be placed in the hands of the unknown generals and captains (so to speak) of the faith who have not sought wealth nor personal fame and recognition. God will engage Christians whose sole desire is to live as Jesus lived on the earth, whose desire is to bring people to Jesus and lead them into Christlikeness. Their composure will be established in simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus. Their abilities will be wrought through the demonstration of the power of the Spirit.
How can it be that much of the church community is not prepared for the arrival of such a season? Perhaps too many have been asleep in the light, while others have been overcome by hopelessness and futility. Let it not be because of being drunk on excesses! Despite our lack of readiness, according to the statistics, a season for harvesting is upon us! If so, let us make haste and (again) get on our faces before God so that He may ready us and equip us for seeking and saving the lost!
A Culture Ripe for Harvest
John Brown from Fox News put forward this article: “Pandemic left many Americans ‘more open to God; Barna survey finds: ‘Spiritual hunger’” According to the article, 80% of the people surveyed believe in “a spiritual or supernatural dimension to the world.” While many recent polls indicate that there are a growing number of Americans shifting and moving away from Christianity, The Barna Group report revealed in January 2023 that the findings of their poll (Oct. 21-31, 2022) of two thousand adults found that 44% of adults have become “more open to God” as a result of the pandemic. Seventy-seven percent believe in a higher power. Here is the best part: 74% expressed their desire for spiritual growth! This poll found that all generations including the younger generations want spiritual growth and younger generations specifically are also hungry spiritually: 77% = Generation X and Millennials; 73% = Generation Z; 72% = Baby Boomers. (Found at https://www.foxnews.com/us/pandemic-left-many-americans-more-open-god-barna-survey-finds-spiritual-hunger). This article is significant; these are indications “the fields are white… to harvest” (John 4:45g KJV)!
I know God has been prompting many throughout the Body of Christ concerning the condition of the church and our society. There has been a longing for a move of God, and many have wondered if there would be another Jesus People Movement. Some are actively engaged in reaching the lost in their communities. While such pockets of activity are sparse, nonetheless they are there. Despite apathy and complacency, many intercessors have been seeking God on behalf of the U.S. as well as those for their nations. For those who are not prayerfully ready, and for those of us who find these statistics a pleasing surprise: It is time to find yourself seeking to abide under the shadow of the Most High in that secret place of prayer. Here we become more like Jesus, and here we become equipped and qualified to interact with God in the harvest before us. But we must make haste and press in to put on Christ and be clothed in His power!
A Complete Picture of Intercession
Learn a lesson from Reese Howell (one of many). In the book, Reese Howell Intercessor, you will discover that intercession begins in prayer and is completed in action. Through obeying and responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples to “pray earnestly the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2d,e ESV). Shortly after that, He sent seventy of the very ones He instructed into the surrounding areas in pairs after equipping them! It was a divine setup!
Intercession is essential, it is instructed of us and is not an option if we desire growth in Christ and would be equipped to labor for the kingdom. Yet it does not finish in prayer. It is completed through action ordained and anointed by God Himself. In James, we are warned that it is not enough to pray for someone and simply hope for the best. Those who pray will be raised up for action as part of the fulfillment of the need for which we are praying (see Jas 2:16).
Let God Engage You
Please share this news, seek God, and compel others to do the same. Let us reach across organizational lines and let’s come together to seek God so that we may also reach the lost. Harvest season is not forever. The current temperament that has been discovered through this poll will not be a long-lasting condition. Winter will come, and the harvest will be passed. The light has come on, let us pray, and let us be readied and equipped by the Holy Spirit to carry out the works of Him who has sent us while it is light. For the night will come and we won’t be able to continue once it gets dark. Let us go into the fields while the harvest is ripe. Zacchaeus is waiting.
Father, I pray that these words move from our minds and make their way into our hearts. We commit ourselves to intercession and to seeking Your face. Equip us, oh God, for this hour. Help us to realize that You have placed us where we are for such a time as this. Make us holy and fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may be witnesses – engaged in this time and season to reach the lost. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hal Garms eWord Messages 