This has been a significant week for our church, as over 180 Filipinos and Singaporeans laboured together in the Philippine city of Santiago. The community was served and the Word of God was preached. We believe God for an abundant and abiding harvest of souls through the recently-concluded “Bless Santiago” event.
“The Parable of the Net” is the 7th of the kingdom parables that denotes the last day harvest. It can be linked to the Feast of Tabernacles which is the 7th feast that Israel was called to observe. The Feast of Tabernacles has many names attributed to it – the Feast of Glory, Feast of Joy and Feast of Ingathering. The Church of Laodicea was the 7th church mentioned in the Book of Revelation. It helps to characterise the picture of the End-time Church (Rev 3:14-22).
Matthew 13:47-50 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
The greatest harvest of souls of all time will take place in these last days. It’s essential that the Church is prepared in being able to facilitate the extraordinary harvest at hand. What are some keys in maximising the harvest while ensuring that our nets do not break? The strength of the net will depend upon the strength of relationships within the Body of Christ. This includes church congregations, ministries and leaders throughout the cities and nations who join hands for the kingdom work. We’ve witnessed a picture of this in Santiago this past week. It was an opportunity for a coming together of many aspects of the Body of Christ to supply a “need” and blessing to a city.
Eph 4:16 “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
When every joint is faithfully supplying through serving, there’ll be spiritual growth and advancement. So what’s God speaking to His Church today? All evidence indicates that we’re nearing the period of the end-time harvest. Can we appreciate the worldwide impact that such a revival would entail? Are we prepared and ready for that which is coming? Amos was an Old Testament prophet who provides needed insight concerning the last day revival.
Amos 9:13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed…”
The sower will overtake the reaper. God’s promised harvest makes clear that sowing and reaping will occur simultaneously. The closer we get to the end of the age, the shorter time becomes. The Lord of the Harvest will bring accelerated multiplication and increase to our sowing and reaping. “Bless Santiago” is a reminder of the worldwide harvest at hand. We’ve a responsibility to be engaged because the fields are ripe and the time is short. Will you be counted among the labourers?
John 4:36 “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.”
