Trusting Jesus: Our Response to the Harvest Need

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest

In every season of overwhelming need, it is vital to remember that Jesus is the true center and hero of the story. The challenges facing the church, whether in ministry, missions, or daily life, can feel insurmountable, but our hope is not found in our own strategies or strength. Instead, our hope is anchored in Jesus, who is sovereign over the harvest and invites us to trust Him. He is not surprised by the magnitude of the need, nor is He anxious about the lack of workers. Rather, He calls us to look to Him, the Lord of the harvest, who empowers and accompanies us as we join His mission. [52:32]

Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Reflection: In what area of your life or ministry do you feel most overwhelmed by the need, and how can you intentionally shift your focus from the problem to Jesus, trusting Him as Lord of the harvest today?

Day 2: The Need is Great, but Jesus is Greater

It is easy to let the enormity of the world’s needs—whether in our communities, churches, or across the globe—overshadow the central truth that Jesus is greater than any challenge we face. The temptation is to let the need “bury the lead,” but Scripture reminds us to lift our eyes beyond the mountains of difficulty to the Maker of heaven and earth. Our help does not come from our own plans or from the size of the challenge, but from the One who created all things and holds all things together. [53:28]

Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

Reflection: What is one specific “mountain” or challenge you are facing right now, and how can you practice looking to God as your source of help rather than relying on your own solutions?

Day 3: The Workers are Few—A Call to Prayer

Throughout history, the church has faced the reality that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. This is not a new problem, nor is it one that should lead us to despair. Instead, Jesus gives clear instruction: our first response should be prayer. We are called to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers, trusting that He alone can move hearts and raise up those needed for His mission. Prayer is not a last resort but the starting point for every need in the church and the world. [01:07:10]

Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Reflection: Who is one person or group you can specifically pray for today, asking God to call and send them into His harvest field?

Day 4: Ask, Send, and Trust

Jesus’ instructions are simple yet profound: we are to ask for workers, be willing to send, and ultimately trust Him with the results. This means not only praying for more workers but also being open to God’s call in our own lives and supporting those He sends. Trusting Jesus as Lord of the harvest frees us from anxiety and compels us to obedience, knowing that He is at work even when resources seem scarce and the task feels daunting. [01:08:50]

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Reflection: Are you willing to say “Here I am, send me” to God today, whether that means serving in a new way, encouraging someone else’s calling, or supporting those on mission? What might that look like for you?

Day 5: Sacrificial Obedience for God’s Mission

The history of God’s people is marked by those who responded to His call with sacrificial obedience, willing to give all for the sake of His kingdom. Whether serving locally or going to the ends of the earth, the call remains the same: to offer our lives for God’s glory and purpose. Even when the cost is high, Jesus is worthy, and He promises to be with us as we go. Let us be a people who respond with open hands and willing hearts, trusting that God will use our obedience to bring hope to a world in need. [01:14:10]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where God may be inviting you to a deeper level of sacrificial obedience for His mission, and how can you take a concrete step toward that today?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered as a family of faith to reflect on the immense need in our world and the unique calling God places on each of us. Drawing from the story of Jesus in Matthew 9, we recognized that the challenges facing the church—whether a shortage of pastors, missionaries, or volunteers—are not new. The world’s complexity, the overwhelming needs in our communities, and the shifting landscape of ministry can feel like an impossible task, much like trying to move an immovable object with too few hands. Yet, in the midst of this, we are reminded that our hope is not found in our own strategies or strength, but in Jesus, the Lord of the harvest.

Jesus, as he looked upon the crowds, was moved with compassion. He saw their need, their lostness, and he did not respond with panic or discouragement, but with a call to prayer. The central truth is that the need does not define us or our mission—Jesus does. He is the hero of the story, the one who calls, equips, and sends. Our help comes not from our own efforts, but from the maker of heaven and earth.

We also considered the reality that the workers are few. This is not a new problem, but a recurring theme throughout church history. The call to ministry is not as celebrated as it once was, and many who serve feel overwhelmed or even discouraged. Yet, God may be raising up a new kind of leader for a new era—one that reflects the diversity and complexity of our world. Immigrants, young people, and those from all walks of life are being called to step into God’s mission in fresh ways.

In response, Jesus gives us clear instructions: ask, send, and trust. We are to pray earnestly for God to raise up workers, to be willing to send our best—even when it costs us—and to trust that Jesus is Lord of the harvest. Our role is not to carry the burden alone, but to participate in God’s mission with faith and obedience, knowing that he is with us always.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is the Lord of the harvest, not us. The overwhelming needs of our world and our churches can easily distract us, but the central focus must always remain on Jesus. He is the one who calls, equips, and sends, and our hope is anchored in his authority and presence, not in our own capacity or resources. [52:32]
2. The shortage of workers is not a new crisis, but a recurring reality in the life of the church. Throughout history, God’s people have faced seasons where the need far outweighed the available hands. This should not lead us to despair, but to a deeper dependence on God’s provision and a willingness to be part of his solution. [55:56]
3. God may be calling a new kind of leader for a new era. The face of ministry is changing, and the church must be open to the ways God is raising up workers from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and generations. Sometimes, those we least expect—immigrants, young adults, or those outside traditional ministry paths—are the very ones God is equipping for this season. [64:16]
4. Our first response to overwhelming need must be prayer, not panic. Jesus instructs us to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers. This is not a passive act, but a bold, faith-filled invitation for God to move in hearts, call people to serve, and provide for his mission in ways we cannot orchestrate ourselves. [67:10]
5. Sending and supporting workers is a sacrificial act of trust. We are called not only to pray, but to release and support those whom God calls, even when it means sending our best and dearest. Ultimately, we trust that Jesus is sovereign over his harvest, and our obedience—whether in going, sending, or supporting—is an act of worship and faith. [68:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:30] - Ambrose Hubs and New Ministry Programs
[45:01] - Personal Story: The Overwhelming Task
[49:23] - The Challenge of Fewer Young People in Ministry
[51:02] - Reading Matthew 9:35-38
[52:32] - The Centrality of Jesus Over the Need
[53:28] - Psalm 121: Where Does Our Help Come From?
[55:56] - Jesus as Lord of the Harvest
[57:09] - The Mission Belongs to Jesus
[57:50] - Jesus’ Promise to Be With Us
[64:16] - A New Kind of Leader for a New Era
[65:51] - The Realities and Challenges Facing Pastors
[67:10] - Jesus’ Instruction: Ask, Send, Trust
[68:50] - The Call to Be a Sending Church
[71:43] - Stories of Sacrifice and Revival
[72:55] - Our Hope Is in Jesus, Not Our Strategies
[74:10] - Prayer: Here I Am, Send Me
[75:27] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 9:35-38 — Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Observation Questions

According to Matthew 9:36, what did Jesus feel when he saw the crowds, and how did he describe their condition?
In verse 37, what does Jesus say about the harvest and the workers?
What specific instruction does Jesus give his disciples in response to the need he sees? (Matthew 9:38)
The sermon mentioned that Jesus did not respond to the overwhelming need with panic or discouragement, but with a call to prayer. What does this reveal about Jesus’ approach to challenges? [51:02]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus describes the people as “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”? What does this say about the spiritual state of the world then and now?
The sermon emphasized that “the need does not define us or our mission—Jesus does.” How does focusing on Jesus rather than the need change the way we approach ministry or service? [52:32]
The shortage of workers is described as a recurring reality, not a new crisis. What might be some reasons for this ongoing challenge, and how should the church respond? [55:56]
The sermon suggests that God may be calling a new kind of leader for a new era, including immigrants and young people. How might this challenge our assumptions about who God uses in ministry? [01:04:16]

Application Questions

When you look at the needs in your community or church, do you tend to feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or hopeful? What would it look like for you to respond with prayer instead of panic, as Jesus instructs? [51:02]
The sermon says, “Jesus is the Lord of the harvest, not us.” Are there areas in your life or ministry where you are trying to carry the burden alone? What would it mean to release those to Jesus? [52:32]
Jesus calls us to “ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.” How often do you pray specifically for God to raise up new leaders, volunteers, or missionaries? Would you be willing to start praying this way regularly? [01:07:10]
The message challenges us to be willing to “send our best—even when it costs us.” Is there someone in your life you could encourage or support to step into ministry or service, even if it means personal sacrifice? [01:08:50]
The sermon highlights that God may be calling people from unexpected backgrounds—immigrants, young adults, or those outside traditional ministry paths. How can you personally or as a group be more open and supportive to these new kinds of leaders? [01:04:16]
Think about a time when you felt there weren’t enough people to do the work needed in your church or ministry. How did you respond? Looking back, what might you do differently in light of Jesus’ instructions to ask, send, and trust? [01:07:10]
The closing prayer included, “Here I am, send me.” Is there a specific area—inside or outside the church—where you sense God might be calling you to serve? What is one step you can take this week to say “yes” to that call? [01:14:10]

Sermon Clips

This is the challenge before us, and today I want to explore what Jesus tells us to do, because he has instructions for us, when the workload, when the task, when the mission seems overwhelming, when the team is small, when the volunteer list is minuscule, when we're wondering if we're the only one, if we're the only one still there trying to bring up the couch from hell from the basement. And spoiler alert, it doesn't start with panic, it starts with prayer. [00:50:32] (38 seconds)

As we look at this instructional story of Jesus's life and ministry, I want to be clear of what takes center stage. In fact, this could be the most important part of this message for us this morning. And I want to remind you of this at the beginning of the message and at the end, because I think it is that important. And it is this. The central point of this story is not the need. It is Jesus. The need can bury the lead, to use kind of a phrase from the news world. The need can bury the lead. Remember, because of where our hope is found. And our hope is not found in simply the need. The hope is found in Jesus. [00:52:32] (47 seconds)

Where does my help come from? The maker of heaven and earth. Jesus is in fact our center. Jesus is the hero of this story. So before we even get into looking at this text, I don't want to bury the lead. And the lead is not the need. The lead is Jesus. The one to whom our need is met. [00:54:28] (25 seconds)

Jesus is the Lord of the harvest. Jesus here speaks as an experienced worker with the plentiful harvest. Jesus isn't speaking from theory here. He has been out trying to meet the needs of a crowd that's overwhelming. And he's healing, and he's ministering, and he's teaching, and the needs and the crowds keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Jesus knows what it's like to be in a context where the need is greater than the human capacity to meet it. [00:55:23] (33 seconds)

This is Jesus' harvest that we are called to ask him to send workers to. Not us to do a better job at doing this. Our call, and we'll talk about this in a minute, is to ask him to send workers. This is not our harvest, and we don't get to have control over it. We are responsible to do our part, yes, but at no point is this our harvest to take glory in, or to look at, or to see with any sort of fear, because Jesus is, in fact, Lord. [00:57:04] (32 seconds)

He gives us his mission, and what does he do as he gives us his mission? He promises to be with us when we do it. Even when there's not enough people to accomplish it, or seemingly enough people. He, will be with us this is the hope jesus is the lord of the harvest. [00:58:22] (24 seconds)

So when you see or hear of or experience a need that's greater than your own when you're charged of a ministry that doesn't have enough capacity to meet the compassionate needs of those around you to meet the mission needs of the church when you hear of the need of the church to have more pastors or missionaries whatever that is we can feel helpless and overwhelmed and afraid but when this happens the first truth i want to share with you from jesus is this don't bury the lead with the need it is jesus's harvest and he is with us we do not have to fear and he will empower us to reap it as he has sown it jesus is the lord of the harvest amen [00:58:46] (54 seconds)

Jesus is clear on what to do here. Ask the Lord of the harvest for more workers. To pray. This seems. Really simple, but it's the first thing that we're called to do, which is in most things, is to pray. So if you don't have enough ministry leaders, pray. The church doesn't have enough pastors or international workers, pray. And what's the prayer? Not that I have to go find people to ask. Ask the Lord to call people. Ask the Lord to show up in people's hearts this morning and to say, here I am, Lord, as it says in Isaiah. Send me that the Lord would move in our hearts to say, I am the person or move in others' hearts to do the same. [01:07:30] (43 seconds)

To ask, to pray for the Lord, pray for the workers in the field and ask the Lord of the harvest for more workers. And then second, to send, to commit to training and supporting as Jesus did. To be willing to send our very best, even our kids, to do God's work, wherever that might be and whatever the sacrifice that might entail. And then finally, implicitly in Jesus' words, is to trust. Trust that Jesus is Lord and this is his harvest. And he's not on his throne worrying or in deep concern. He's on his throne and he knows what needs to get done and he will move. Our job is to ask, to send, and to trust. [01:08:13] (46 seconds)

And a common occurrence in this day was that at chapel meetings, these are true stories. It's quite fascinating. At chapel meetings, which we still do today, but back then they did chapel meetings and had hundreds of people, like a crowd like this of people here all studying to be international workers back then, to go to missions around the world. And graduating students would be commissioned. And when they would go overseas, particularly at this time, there was a movement to Africa, it's sending students there, they would leave and pack all of their stuff in coffins, knowing they were most likely not going to come home. And most of them did not. They mostly died of disease or whatever the case would be of getting some sort of illness they weren't prepared for from water or something that they didn't have some sort of immunization for. But they went overseas regardless to serve. And then they would hear of their classmates. Just imagine this. You get word back the next year of all your friends who graduated, many of which died overseas. And the next year in chapel, they would go do it again. And guess how many people volunteered? More than the year before. And this went on for years. They were so passionate about the harvest being plentiful. And God was moving in the hearts of people to go and share the good news of Jesus all over the world. [01:10:35] (82 seconds)

``Because in Canada and around the world, just watch the news. The harvest is plentiful. The need is great. But as I said in the beginning, I remind you again, do not bury the need, or do not bury the lead with the need, because Jesus is greater. Lift your eyes, look to the mountain. Where does your help come from? It's not going to come from an army coming over. It's not going to come from a strategy. It's not going to come from trying harder. It's going to come from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. It's going to come from Jesus, because this is his harvest anyway, and he is the Lord of it. He is not worried. We do not have to be. We're just called to be obedient, and to ask, to send, and to trust, because Jesus is Lord. [01:12:27] (60 seconds)

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