HARVEST

“You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.” ‭‭John‬ ‭4:35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Heaven’s

Abundant 

Restorative

Victorious

Existence 

Supplying

Togetherness 

What is the goal of all the planting, watering, and tending God has called us to accomplish? Simply put, the goal is recognition and acceptance of Heaven’s abundant GRACE. The restorative healing power of God’s forgiveness will advance us into a victorious life. Not just a “pie in the sky” fairytale ending, but a truly VICTORIOUS existence that is marked by blessing and fullness.

Fruit of all spiritual variety, blessings that honor and glorify God will become abundant in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit is often representative of water, and Jesus said, His food was to do the will of His Father. God desires to bring healing to this world through us. Scripture teaches that we are the Temple, and that from within us the “Living Water” will flow when we are filled with the Spirit of God.

“In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. … Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭47:1, 12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ezekiel’s vision may take on a fresh meaning if we look at the symbolism through the focal point of restoration, spiritual growth and healing. The world we live in is READY for a revival. The children of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit gather the harvest. Working in unity is the key that will unlock our success!  For generations the work of planting, watering and tending the crop has been done by others. We are being sent to harvest. 

“You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭4:37-38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is a blessing to be able to gather the harvest, but we cannot accomplish the task if we are busy chasing our own desires while we put off God’s Kingdom. I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve grown tired. I’ve been discouraged and I’ve occasionally taken my eyes off the eternal goal; but God always brings His children back, if we learn the lesson and don’t GIVE UP.

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:7-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Heaven’s Abundant Restorative Victorious Existence is Supplying Togetherness! If I may, I’d like to share an illustration from my life as a public school teacher. This happened pre-pandemic so keep that in mind. It is truly amazing how often I need to be reminded where my attention should be focused. Heaven offers us abundant restoration. God promises all who choose to accept citizenship in His Kingdom a victorious existence. His Spirit is supplying togetherness, even when we feel as if we are falling apart.

Students are always interested in how old I am mostly because my hair is white and in the last few years, getting around has become increasingly difficult. A student asked, “Mr. Garlit, how old are you?”

Not being ashamed of my age, I answered the question. At that point, the student asked, “When are you going to retire?”

Because it was a economics class and I thought the topic could lead into a discussion about making good investments, I answered with, “When I was your age, I thought I’d be retired at 55, but because I didn’t make wise investments, I missed that window and will have to retire at 61 or 62.” I was prepared to talk about investments and retirement savings, but what followed made me laugh so hard I nearly fell out of my chair.

The student responded with, “Mr. Garlit, you should just give up - now. You’re never going to make it.”

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:7-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

No matter how many mistakes we’ve made, no matter how many false starts or do overs we’ve gone through, the harvest is ready. God has a plan and purpose in everything. Nothing will stop God from establishing His victory in our lives.

Love is overcoming hate. Blessings outweigh the adversities of life, and redemption is available. Working side by side and arm in arm, we will bring in a harvest of souls. God has ordained and established His promises in us.

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:35-38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The fields are ready for harvesting. God has given us the message of salvation to share. Nations will hear and believe. Working in the harvest is an act of worship. Not that we are earning our blessings. We are simply and completely honoring God.

There is and will be a noticeable difference between the children of God and the world. Praise, worship, glory and honor belong to the Lord. His children will exhibit those attributes. Working in the harvest field inspires reverence toward God. That fact becomes my challenge. How has my life represented Heaven’s Abundant Restorative Victorious Existence is Supplying Togetherness?

“May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭67:5-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We may look back at our lives thinking of hardship and difficulties, but God’s promise is not behind us. God’s promise is before us.

“They that sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭126:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

TEND

““The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Timely

Endurance 

Nurtures

Discipleship

Timing is such a difficult thing to master. When is a response timely? It seems that some ministries get promoted and others get neglected. The same seems true for individuals. Years of my life have been spent in the classroom, and in the pulpit. With the current reality, educational pursuits have taken on more and more of a bent toward social work and counseling. Being timely and encouraging will nourish and build resilience in our friends and family. 

There can never be too much honest encouragement, but when it is not honest, based on accomplishments, and truthful, encouragement can do damage to the overall outcome of discipleship. We all need to be lifted up from time to time. We all need to see ourselves through the eyes of others, and we are all our own worst critics.

“Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry. Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25:11-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When we get the timing right, there is no end to the positive outcomes that will be produced in the lives we are tending. God works in us and we have the awesome ability as well as the responsibility to continually encourage others. What that looks like is different in every situation. God created, appreciates, and honors diversity. The needs we minister to and the encouragement we offer must be crafted by the Holy Spirit to fill individuals with eternal truth. The only non negotiable is sound Kingdom teaching from the word of God.

“For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:9-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Faith must be tested. Just like trees and plants need to face pressure and resistance to fully develop, our faith and the seeds of truth planted within us are strengthened by the tests we endure. The line from an old Christian song sums it up like this, “And if I never had a problem, I’d never know my God can solve them.”

As we nurture one another, God’s provision of grace, and deliverance is revealed. Consider it an opportunity for joy, fulfillment, and a step toward perfection. Pressure produces diamonds and extreme heat purifies gold.

“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Discipleship is a journey not a destination. Spiritual growth is a process not an instantaneous jump into maturity. Tending to the Spiritual growth in a multi-generational Kingdom oriented family requires patience, persistence, and pruning. Patience is cultivated in adversity. Persistence is rooted in confidence and grounded in God’s promises. Pruning is the work of the Holy Spirit as we follow His leading into ALL truth, and allow that truth working through every generation to shape us into the image of Christ.

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Don’t be afraid to tend the patch of ground God has given you. As you plant, water and tend to the needs God has blessed you to notice, He will supply and multiply the harvest. God desires to be seen in the lives of His children.

“Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:52‬ ‭NLT‬‬