SEPTEMBER 27
Hey there,
I’m happy you’re here. I just want to encourage you to lean into God’s presence in this moment. He wants to meet with you and strengthen you.
If you’re like me, you’re probably reading these entries in the morning. One prayer in my mind and heart can help shape the course of a whole day. I hope you are using these prayers throughout the day, and that they are changing the way you think.
Recently, I built a table for my house. It has been one of Stacie’s dreams to have a big table. For months on end, we looked for a table and found nothing that would work – both in style and size. Eventually we decided it might be good to build one.
It’s important to know that prior to last November, I was not into building. I barely knew the difference between screws and nails. It’s pitiful. Last year, however, I had a vision to build a desk, and then some bookshelves, and then some more shelves. I have now officially created a mancave at my house.
So, I decided I’d take a crack at a table. It just so happened that my mom was in town, and she is a master builder. In addition, I got help from Filipe on our staff, Stacie, all three of my kids and many others along the way. It was really fun. Each time someone was in the garage with me working, I felt like we were building our future together.
It’s been said “many hands make light work.” It’s also true that the limiting factor to any project is always enough hands. The limiting factor in churches reaching more people almost always boils down to leadership.
Today, I want us to look at Jesus’ words about this particular subject.
One time, Jesus was with His disciples, and large crowds were following Him. Watch what happens when He sees the people.
Matthew 9:36-38 (NLT):
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Jesus specifically made prayer the first step in the work of evangelism. There was a great harvest, and the limiting factor to the harvest was never people’s responsiveness to the Good News.
The limiting factor was and is enough workers. Jesus’ challenge was not to go and try to find more workers, but to first pray. I like this approach, because it helps me realize that God wants to involve as many people as possible in His work. Just like building the table was a family experience, He wants evangelism and the work of ministry to be a family experience.
There is the step of asking, but that comes after the step of praying.
Let’s pray right now that God would send more workers into His harvest field. This is especially true right now, as we are planning some options to regather physically at our campuses on Sunday, October 11!
You might pray something like this…
“Father, I pray that you would send more workers into your harvest fields. I pray that you would stir inside the hearts of our people to use their gifts and talents to make a difference in the lives of others. I pray that you would help there be an abundance of workers so that there can be an abundant harvest for the Church in The Bay Area. I pray that you would bless the regathering of our people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Let’s keep praying!! It really does make a difference.
With love,
Pastor Andy
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Amen!!! Lord we pray for your Church. We pray you’d raise up more leaders and stoke the fire in our hearts to be bold for your name and for your glory. We want to see revival! May you wake up your Church so we can wake up the world to see and know you!
It’s true, prayer changes all things … let’s keep praying.
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