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<Previous Message Next Message> Tuesday, October 20, 2015 ![]() We pass this old stone farmhouse is in a remote part of Lebanon County. The blue-green trim on the stone house especially caught my attention! We see many stone houses throughout this part of Pennsylvania, surely an influence from the early German settlers. "The Blessing Of The Cooperative Harvest"
![]() "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field" (Matthew 9:38). "The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor" (1 Corinthians 3:8). This last Sunday we had a missions emphasis in our church with missionary speakers both Sunday morning and evening. Sunday morning we heard from Mike and Lori Cassel who are church planters in Mexico and in the evening Jonathan and Becky Owen (pictured on the left). Jonathan teaches at a Bible School in Africa. Following the service they visited with Notsen and Toby Ncube, a pastoral couple from Zimbabwe, who live up the road from us and also attend our church while Notsen furthers his theological studies here in the U.S. As I watched them visit together I considered a powerful spiritual principle I've pondered over the years; the blessing of the cooperative spiritual harvest. ![]() Harvest is a busy time for farmers and they are accustomed to working together to get the job done. We have especially observed this in the Amish culture as they often help each other out during the planting and harvest season. After all there is a specific window when the harvest must come in for most crops or they will spoil in the fields. ![]() ![]() Today the harvest remains plentiful and the workers are still few. We need to be among those who hear God's call and participate in the harvesting of souls. It is truly a privilege to play a role in the spiritual harvest! Whether it's impacting an individual or a group, it's a source of great joy to see people respond to God's love. I know of many whom I am working with in the spiritual harvest but there are many, many others whom I will never meet on this side, yet we work together for the salvation of many. One of the vital truths I have learned in ministry is the principle of the cooperative harvest. Jesus commissioned His church to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. His great command was not spoken to them as individuals but to the entire group. Although we certainly express this obedience individually we must remember that the fulfillment of the Great Commission requires a cooperative effort. This is demonstrated in the reality that some plant and others water. For many years missionaries labored in Latin America with little visible success. Surely they faced great discouragement at the harsh living conditions and sparse response to their ministry. But, as you may already know, we have seen remarkable revival in Biblical Christianity in this part of the world this past generation. Are our present missionaries more devoted to God? Do they pray more? I hardly think so! The faithful work of those who went before us sowed the seed for the present harvest. Jesus told His followers: "One sows and another reaps is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor" (John 4:38). While some are reaping a harvest of souls other countries and regions that have had missionary activity for many years remain very resistant to the Gospel. You may presently be sowing or you might be reaping. Remember the cooperative harvest: one plants, one waters, and another harvests. We are indebted to many who serve in the great Gospel Commission with us. We are likely planting and harvesting at the same time, although at times the planting is more prominent; at other times the harvesting is. Stay faithful in whatever role you play in the harvest! ![]() One may have the joyful privilege of leading an individual in a decision to follow Christ with a prayer of repentance and faith in Christ, but many others have had a part both seen and unseen. There are those who planted seeds before the decision to follow Christ and there are those teaching and discipling after the decision. A dedicated Sunday School teacher, a praying aunt, a careful translator, a generous contributor to a gospel ministry, a Christian songwriter, even that one who might have been mocked and rejected several months earlier when he or she tried to witness. Consider those who have a part in the discipling and spiritual formation of believers as we grow together spiritually in preparation for the final harvest. What's your responsibility in the cooperative harvest today? Let us each be found faithful! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() Note: Many years ago we wrote a special article dealing with the cooperative harvest titled, "Not In Vain". ![]() "Band of Brothers" - My brother, Pat, (center right) brought over a few of the men from his church in Easton, PA, and stayed overnight last Friday night. We fed them a hearty breakfast before they returned to their men's conference in Camp Hill on Saturday. Today I
received some farming advice from Darrel, son of Galen, whom we referred
to in the message. Darrel now continues the farm work on the
multi-generational Martin Family farm which has been in operation for
well over 100 years.
![]() One of my favorite harvest photos was taken about ten years ago of Darrel, along with his girlfriend, Kelly, who is riding in the combine with him. Darrel and Kelly got married in 2008 and now have one son. We wonder if he will continue to work the family farm! Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Field of Souls" Video Wayne Watson "Bringing In The Sheaves" Video The Mansion Singers "We'll Work Till Jesus Comes" Video Homecoming Singers To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) ![]() Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials) 1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only. 2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print. 3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.) 4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.) 5) Print! Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2015 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |