More Workers For His Harvest

By Rich Carmicheal

    "And seeing the multitudes, [Jesus] felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest’" (Matt. 9:36-38).

    The Lord is full of compassion toward people. He has a shepherd’s heart, and as the Good Shepherd He cares deeply for us and He gave His life that we might have abundant life (John 10:10-11). He does not want anyone to perish, but wants all people to know the truth, to repent and to be saved (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). He wants His message and love to reach throughout the world (Matt. 24:14; 28:19-20; Acts 1:8), and for everyone to know Him and to grow in His grace and knowledge (1 John 5:20; 2 Pet. 3:18).

    One of our main desires and prayers in the office of Herald of His Coming is that the Lord will work through this ministry to encourage and strengthen you in your relationship with Christ in anticipation of His Return. We hope that this issue (and every issue) of the Herald helps build you up in Christ and in your service for Him. We consider it a tremendous privilege to be joined together with you through the Herald ministry.

    We also long for and pray for the Lord to grant Herald of His Coming the opportunity to reach many more readers. The conditions Jesus described in Matthew 9:36-38 are just as true today. Many people are hurting and in desperate need of others to share with them the truth, encouragement and hope of the Lord. Our prayer is that as He sends more workers into His harvest in these last days, that He will allow the outreach of the Herald to be part of that increase. We pray that He will enable Herald of His Coming to reach and bless more people in more places and in more languages for His glory.

    Would you please join us in that prayer? And would you pray that He will supply strong, solid, clear and timely messages month after month that will encourage, comfort, strengthen, instruct, equip and inspire, as well as correct, reprove, challenge and convict? Would you also pray for His powerful anointing to be upon all aspects of the Herald ministry, including all salvation and revival materials? And would you pray for open doors and divine resources for the work to increase?

The Potential of Prayer

    This issue of the Herald focuses on prayer and serves as a reminder of how much the Lord can do as we seek Him with all of our heart. Prayer is powerful because of who He is and what He is able to do! Because of His omnipotence, He is able to not only answer according to what we ask Him in prayer, but He "is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us"! (Eph. 3:20). As He responds to prayer, our Lord is unlimited in what He can do in our lives, our families, our churches and our nations. "Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee" (Jer. 32:17).

    Prayer is also powerful because the Lord works through intercession. Jesus is an intercessor (John 17:1-26; Heb. 7:25). The Holy Spirit is an intercessor (Rom. 8:26). Numerous saints in the Bible and throughout church history have been marked as intercessors. The Lord searches for intercessors (Ezek. 22:30) and through His Word He calls us to intercession (Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Jas. 5:16). As you seek Him and His will, He will be faithful to respond to your heartfelt prayer for others. "Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me" (Rom. 15:30).