The Final Hour of Harvest

Sunday 5-3-15  (Gobernador Costas, Argentina)

Scripture reading:     2 Sam 7     1 Chron  17      Ps 2      Matt 20

S.  Matt 20:6-7  At five o'clock that evening he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?'  "They replied, 'Because no one hired us.' "The owner of the estate told them, 'Then go on out and join the others in my vineyard.'  NLT

O.  In Jesus’ parable, the owner of the vineyard went out early seeking harvesters. Jesus chose His disciples to be His first workers early in the establishing of His kingdom.  Again at 9 in the morning He sought others, again at noon, again at 3 in the afternoon and finally in the last hour of daylight He invites still others to join in the harvest. 

A.  Why would the Lord of the harvest seek workers at the last hour?  To me it speaks of the value of the harvest to the Master.  He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)

Jesus also said, “The night is coming and no man can work.” (John 9:4 NKJV)  He makes it clear that the sun will set over our opportunity to bring in the harvest.  There is a fixed time limit and after that it will be forever too late.  He refers to the urgency of the harvest. 

But how can we know when the night is approaching?  Daniel describes “the final hour” in his final chapter: Dan 12:4 “Seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase." NLT  

Two things will mark the final hour, “the time of the end.”  Knowledge will increase and people will be dashing  here and there, travel will increase.  What a clear description of this hour!  

My grandfather did a lot of travel… on horseback… like every generation before him… but in this final hour knowledge has increased and we are all criss-crossing the globe thousands of us at any time of the day, every day.

I consider myself honored to be called into the harvest during the final hour, but I also sense the urgency of my labors.  Harvest-time is passing.  The sun is setting and we have been chosen to complete the task.

P.  Dear Lord of the Harvest, all I ask is the privilege to labor in Your vineyard until Your mighty angel blows the trumpet to either close the age of the harvest or to call me home… whichever.  But I am only one and I have noticed that You are still calling for workers… as the final moments tick by, You call to our youth… “Come and labor in my harvest!”  But Lord, by the time they are prepared to serve you and, with their gloves on, reach Your field, it may be all over.  Yet You call, and call again… because you care about the lost.  You value their souls!  And I am thrilled to see vibrant youth step out into Your fields with enthusiasm to reap a mighty harvest… the harvest of the final hour.  Amen.

Ralph

The following song was written by our first Missions boss… Field Director Melvin Hodges.

Harvest is Passing

By Melvin Hodges

Millions are living in night’s dense darkness

No light to cheer them, no hope or gladness

Bowed down and burdened with none to save

And death awaits them beyond the grave.

Harvest is passing, night draweth nigh

Millions are dying.  Oh, hear their cry!

Then haste, my brother, their souls to save.

Christ to redeem them, His life-blood gave.

Earnest entreaties to gods that hear not

To idols bowing, long years have they sought.

But no one answers their anguished plea

Doomed they pass onward to eternity.

Harvest is passing, night draweth nigh

Millions are dying.  Oh, hear their cry!

Then haste, my brother, their souls to save.

Christ to redeem them, His life-blood gave.

To save, to rescue, the lost and dying

Your all to Christ give, nothing denying.

His voice is calling.  Quickly obey.

And do His bidding while it is day.

Harvest is passing, night draweth nigh

Millions are dying.  Oh, hear their cry!

Then haste, my brother, their souls to save.

Christ to redeem them, His life-blood gave.