Christian Harvest: Planting Seeds of Faith in a Hurting World

Christian Harvest: Planting Seeds of Faith in a Hurting World What is a Christian harvest, and what part are we meant to play in it? Fall is harvest time. After the hard work of planting, nurturing, and tending, the crops come in. Felice Gerwitz loves the season, even where she lives, where everything stays green all year. There are fall decorations, changing leaves, and pumpkin everything. The spiritual harvest is the harvest of souls for Christ. As a young Christian, Felice wanted to share the good news and see the results. She soon learned that reaping the harvest was never her job. Only the Lord reaps. Our job is to plant the seeds and share the wonderful works of the Lord with a hurting world that is hungry for good news. In this episode, Felice turns to Luke 10, where Jesus sends out the seventy-two, two by two. Most of us can’t leave everything behind and go door to door. But there are other ways to labor in the harvest, and the first one is prayer. Felice tells how repair people working in her home opened up about walking away from church or from faith altogether. Instead of offering solutions, she asked if she could pray with them. Some rededicated their lives to God. Others said, “not right now.” All she could do was plant the seed. Felice also shares the story of an atheist who became a Christian. As a ten-year-old, she was pressured to “accept Jesus” by adults who used fear and threats. To her they seemed angry and judgmental, and that kept her away from faith for years. The lesson for us: invite with openness and love, never intimidation. Felice closes with Malachi 3 and the refining of our hearts. When we truly encounter Jesus, His love overflows and is too hard to contain. We are called to love, to listen, and to be faithful and bold witnesses, especially now, when so many people are sad, afraid, and confused, and ready to turn their hearts back to God. In This Episode You’ll Hear What a “Christian harvest” really means: the harvest of souls for Christ Why we plant the seeds, and only the Lord reaps the harvest Jesus sending out the seventy-two in Luke 10, and what that looks like today Prayer as the first way to labor in the harvest How Felice prays with people who share their struggles with faith An atheist’s story, and why fear and intimidation push people away from Christ Being refined like silver and gold (Malachi 3) Why listening is one of the greatest gifts you can give Why hard times are often harvest times, when hardened hearts turn back to God Ways to Labor in the Harvest Pray. Ask the Lord to use you, then watch for the opportunities He sends. Listen. You don’t need to have all the answers. Be open to hearing and discerning. Offer to pray with someone. Ask the Lord to heal the hurt in their heart. Invite, don’t intimidate. Share the faith with openness, love, and invitation. Be faithful and bold. We are witnesses to the faith, and God gives us the tools we need when we need them. Your turn: Who in your life might need a seed planted this week? Scripture Luke 10:1–5 (read on air) Jesus appoints seventy-two others and sends them ahead of Him, two by two. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2, NABRE) Malachi 3:1–3 (read on air) The Lord comes as a refiner and purifier, refining His people like gold and silver. Memorable Quotes “It was not my job to plant and reap. Only the Lord can reap the harvest.” — Felice Gerwitz “In our hurting world, the people are hungry for good news.” — Felice Gerwitz “All I can do is plant the seeds.” — Felice Gerwitz “Being a good listener is a gift.” — Felice Gerwitz “Now is a time for people to turn back to God.” — Felice Gerwitz Connect A Few Minutes with God is part of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network. Show notes: AFewMinutesWithGodPodcast.com Visit Felice: AFewMinutesWithGod.com This episode is sponsored by Eden’s Table. [add link] Join the A Few Minutes with God Facebook page to share your prayer requests and praise reports: https://www.facebook.com/AFewMinutesWithGod/ If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review so more listeners can find it. FAQ What is a Christian harvest? A Christian harvest is the harvest of souls for Christ. Believers plant seeds of faith by praying, sharing the good news, and loving others, and the Lord brings the harvest. Are Christians called to share their faith? Yes. As disciples, we are sent like the seventy-two in Luke 10. Today that often means praying for and with others, listening well, and inviting people to Christ with love rather than fear. The post Christian Harvest: Planting Seeds of Faith in a Hurting World appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.