Shalom,

After all of the years of reading the Bible through our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, I truly learn something new every day! What I learned today gives me a whole new perspective on praying for the Harvest! Matthew 9:36-38 gives this very familiar charge!

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest .KJV

So, I know that many of us have been praying consistently for the LORD to 'send' those laborers out into the Harvest! BUT, when I looked at the Classic Amplified Bible, I saw this!

37 Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord of the harvest to force out and thrust laborers into His harvest.

"Send" from the KJV Bible is actually the Greek word "ekballo", which means: to eject, to cast out, to drive out, to send out, to compel one to depart, to command or cause one to depart in haste, to draw out with force, to lead one forth with a force which he cannot resist, to throw out, to lead forth. Now there are some pretty forceful words right here! No longer do I have the picture of us sweetly saying "Lord, send the Harvesters out"! I am reminded of this from Matthew 11:12:

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. KJV

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize — a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. AMP

SO, I will begin to pray with much more intensity as I declare "LABORERS, COME FORTH"! And I fully expect that the LORD Who instructs us to do this will answer with equal and abundant force Himself as He draws them out with intensity! All done in and through His abundant LOVE. He is passionate about the Harvest! Remember, He desires that NONE should perish! This is vital to the heart of our Father! So let's get more serious about the Harvest than we have ever been, knowing that we cannot even compare to HIS intensity! Don't hold back now. GO FOR IT! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "GO"!

Shalom in Him!