7 Steps to Harvest:
#1. The Soil.
"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times." Mark 4:8
How we live our lives will affect the "soil" of a person's heart. People need to see the light in us. There's enough strife in the world. They don't need it from us.
#2. Seed.
"It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:31-32
Jesus doesn't care about the depth or the size of the seed. He says for us to just cast the seed. God doesn't say to be selective in this process. Leave the results to Spirit.
#3. Showers.
The Holy Spirit will rain down on the seeds and cause the germination and growth.
"for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” Luke 12:12
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
We can't force it.
#4 The Seasons.
"Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4:35
The harvest is now. If you don't harvest when the harvest is ripe, it will rot in the field. It will be gone, no good. Look for someone who needs harvesting. Harvest is the best time of year.
#5 Servants.
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go." Matthew 21:28-30
Are we the first son or the second son in our actions?
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," 1 Peter 1:3
He has given you what you need to do His work. Get engaged. Just do it. You have got to be wiling to do something. You hvae to watch where you're going (not your feet). If you drop the ball, there is temporary chaos. Do you work.
"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Romans 12:4-8
All of us are different. We all have something to give.We're all gifted to pray. We have immense capability in this room.
#6 Sacrifice.
"Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them." Psalm 126:5-6
Sacrifice is necessary. Time, effort, the things are most important to you will get your time. Everything you need will be provided. First Fruits -- give God your very best. We don't need to see it all. We just have to get to work. It might be seed planting. It might be harvesting.
#7 Sure Hope.
"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness." 2 Corinthians 9:10
God will take care of it. You would not plant if you didn't believe you would harvest. Do the same with spiritual planting. As we gather, we can plant more.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
Get engaged. Get involved. Don't give up. Ever. The harvest is here and the harvest is coming.
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11
Don't lose your first love.
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”" Isaiah 6:8
Here I am, Lord. Send me, Lord! Use Me! Use the gifts in Me. Use Me!