Prepare.

Introduction:

Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest.”

Recap: A harvest of souls - lost finding Jesus.

1: Expect. oligos - plentiful [ripe]! antennas up

2: Gather. YOU go, gather harvest. Lead to Jesus. Relationship Broken, Jesus Restores

3. Feast. Give them BACK to God. Disciple others!

Nxt Wk: Q+A! — TODAY: Prepare...

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season…

"prepared", ephi'stemi — to be available or ready for a certain function or service.

Ready for action !

Stand by, US Reserves... ready to go when Nation calls (in season & out).

Assumes there are different seasons in our life of ministry/evang... called to have what it takes; step in where needed, when needed

Gardening metaphor >> credit: P.Jared

Not EVERY season is gardening season! Even after we collect the fruit of the harvest, we need to be ready out-of-season...

Many things to do before you even plant a seed (let alone crop)!

Some seed requires starting b4 plant

Till the ground

Tend it , fertilize it, CARE for it...

"What worked well, what didn't work well last season..."

Sunlight (Beth)

Harvest is only once per year... lots of preparing for gardeners!...

How do You Prepare Yourself?

Prepare your Tools

Prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually

Talking with God - series on The Prayer

Devoting TIME to do so... Tell Him, Ask Him, listen to Him.

"Can't hear god's voice"... how tuned in are you to how He speaks?

When last time u asked Him to speak; looking for a response?

TONIGHT. Sitting in wait for God. Giving time to Him. Focus.

Bible

Learning how the Bible is laid out?? (Zephaniah, Romans)

Learning who likely wrote the words you're reading...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God  may be thoroughly equipped for every good work

Know: Script. is transformational?! AMEN?

"God-breathed". God's breath contained within!

Just sitting and reading His Word can breath life into your soul. And we don't do it!

Too busy, tired, stressed, relaxed, overwhelmed?

God's Spirit speaks & can help in those areas. Just read it. Don't even have to study it all the time.

#anecdote [[Chrono. Bible Plan]]

2Tim: SO the servant of God may be EQUIPPED. Ready! Preapred!

Spiritual Gifts

The Church needs people walking in the Giftings.

MyCrossRoad... Class102

Took test? ... have you used it?! Discovered more, others who operate?

1 Corinthians 12:28-31 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Have you taken any time to grow your giftings??

Not as mysterious or nebulous as it sounds. (Indiana Jones)

Not as straightforward as a fb quiz might make it seem either. lol

Ever considered the way you are wired & asked God to take over? Use you in that?

To be effective when it's Harvest time (or not)... at moment's notice... keep Prayer, Bible, Spiritual Gifts fresh!

Prepare with Others

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Koinonia, Community, Church! Family of God.

Small Groups; Men's/Women's/Wed Nite Bible Study

allelon - 100x in NT, "one another"; We CANNOT do life alone and call ourselves a Christian! [Disclaim: boundaries, wisdom]

Not hang on for long, just add one thing:

Be authentic.

Romans 12:9a Love must be sincere.

means, "the same now as it will be later; same public as private"

3 things sinc. = wisdom, faith, & love [in NT]

Prepare for Winter

Silent, still, dormant? (forget what those sound like)

#anecdote Turkey season upcoming: Woods, hunting - remember quiet, cold, amazing could hear! // but also sadness (hybernation, death)

Sometimes relat'p w God feels dormant, quiet, unfeeling.

a) doesn't mean He isn't there; b) maybe test - to seek Him more, grow deeper, know Him better!; c) requires perseverance

“The times when we don't want to do the hard work is when we really need to…”

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Like the ground in which we plant, we too require regular maintenance!

We need to be renewed!

Ask: Where am I at in the off-season?

In the winter, things decompose, die...

Things have to break down! Natural cycle of life.

WHEN it breaks down, we need to be working for what's coming...

Look Ahead!

Keep your head up!

Philippians 3:13c-14 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

God can take those doubts or fears or lack of trust, insec. & compost them!

Composting -- garbage, inedible, redeemed into healthy SOIL, extra nutrients

STRAIN TOWARD! PRESS ON! PULL HARDER!

Seek and you will find! Knock! Ask!

We merely need to keep our heads up. Keep looking to Jesus. Keep straining and striving and pressing on....

Let God take the death that you might be experiencing and spread it in your life to become the healthy soil for the next season of your life/ministry.

Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

May we, in the valley shadow death, prepare!

Pray. Stay in the Word. Seek Him for Gifts. Together!

James 5:7-8 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.