21 Days of Prayer for the Lost: Day 3

I first heard this verse on a youth mission trip to Brooklyn, New York. We chanted this verse to prepare ourselves before street evangelism. There, I heard my call clearly as a laborer, and have applied this verse to my life. Since that trip, GOD’s given me many opportunities and authority to share this Good News with many. I now have the privilege to share it with our youth, training and developing them as well.

Throughout this verse, we see JESUS referring to multiple people who appeared physically exhausted. Their amazement at JESUS' miraculous healings made them turn towards HIM. JESUS knew HE was the SHEPHERD they needed. At this time, JESUS was training up 12 disciples to take up the torch and spread the Gospel to all the ends of the earth, as we see in HIS Great Commission, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 HCSB)”. The disciples later became apostles. JESUS HIMSELF sent them, but the Great Commission isn’t just for those disciples.

I am training our youth to pass this torch someday, just as our ancestors in the faith did for us. However, I am not the only one given this authority to teach. Anyone who proclaims JESUS as their LORD and SAVIOR has authority to labor in this way. So, I wonder where are the laborers? We hear of many people seeking CHRIST, but only few who teach and share this Good News. As a church body, what are we doing for the Kingdom at hand? With millions of souls on the line, we easily sit on our hands with the business of life, and act like we don’t have time to get out and proclaim to someone.

One of the most uncomfortable parts of my trip was sharing my testimony for the first time in Central Park. Being in High School myself, evangelizing to others was hard. One thing I realized is that there is a spiritual battle at play when discipling and sharing HIS Word. If you let GOD work within you, HE will take you out of your comfort zone, and will give you the opportunity to answer HIS call. This helps you become a laborer to spread HIS abundant life.  The devil hates this and will try to get in your head. Satan may even try to “busy” you from laboring the harvest. Do not let these walls get in the way of you carrying the torch. Pray and prepare yourself with the armor of GOD every day and protect yourself from Satan’s influence. You have authority to teach, but you must do it out of love. Do your part to display the fruit of the SPIRIT and allow others to teach you. Follow them as you lead others, so you are not blindsided.

Things to pray for today:

• Who can you share the Gospel with today?
• How can you join the laborers in GOD’s great harvest?
• Pray for God to raise up more laborers for the harvest!

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.