Mark Driscoll on ABC's Nightline

click the link to see the video

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6746393

The Lord of the Harvest

Im reading a book titled, "The Gospel and Personal Evangelism" by Mark Dever.  In his opening chapter he makes the case as to why we do not share the gospel.  It may be excuses or just plain fear, but the reality is by in large we are not doing well at this.

Later on in the first chapter he gives 12 steps to take in order stop not sharing the gospel.  They go like this: pray, plan, accept, understand, be faithful, risk, prepare, look, love, fear, stop, and consider.  The first one catches my attention most.

All to often we set out on ministry endeavors in our own power.  As well intentioned as those endeavors may be we will not see true success unless we go in the power of God.  The same is true for evangelism and sharing the gospel.  Too often we plan and program instead of seeking the Lord of the Harvest.  Look at what Jesus tells  the disciples concerning this in Luke chapter 10 verse 2...

"And he said to them, the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

A few things strike me about this...

1. The harvest is His not ours

2. The harvest is there and is there in plenty

3. It is an earnest seeking of God that leads us into the harvest

The idea then would be to stop trying to create and manufacture surface level opportunities.  This does not mean that we make no effort, this means that we use time, effort and energy to seek the Lord and ask Him to provide the opportunities and that we would function out of His power and not our own.  When we do that I believe He will send laborers out into His harvest and we will see the fruit of that harvest.