For over a decade and in over 19 nations across Africa, Asia, and Australasia and beyond, I have undertaken apostolic activities and ministered a message to leaders and churches from my heart and the wealth of my experience. My hearts burden has been poured out for Kingdom purpose.
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are four months, and then cometh harvest?Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the field; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth recieveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (John 4:31- 38)
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 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. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:35-38)
Consider and compare the above scriptures with Luke 10:1-2. Jesus made the statement that the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few in the period between the election and ordination of His twelve disciples and the commissioning of the other seventy disciples. Jesus had eighty-two or more labourers (disciples) in the service of the gospel at that time.
At present, there are millions of the Lord s disciples across the nations of the earth. If what we have are not labourers, then they are hirelings. However, the task of advancing God s Kingdom in the earth has not been accomplished yet.
The challenge the Church faces today is not a lack of labourers but a lack of vision for the Lord s harvest.
To teach all nations comes from the Greek word matheteuo pas ethnos , which means to disciple every tribe, race and people group. The Lord Jesus had three years of labour on the earth with eternal impact, yet the Church has made believers rather than disciples over the millennia.The primary assignment and the great commission is not to win souls to depopulate hell and populate heaven but to teach, baptize and disciple all nations. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Apostolic ministry emphasizes and values training and discipleship. The Church is called to make disciples of all nations. Church members will become disciples as they are taught to observe all things in accordance with the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Discipleship programs mature and transition the Church into her prophetic destiny.
The Church has no mission outside the great commission. If our vision is outside the perimeter of the great commission, then it is a great omission. Seek God in context of His mission to receive clear vision that aligns with His purpose.
Our assignment is to teach the nations and make disciples. Making believers and making disciples are different processes. It takes only a moment to make a believer, but it takes years to make a disciple.
Lift up your eyes, and look on the field for they are white already to harvest. The harvest of the Lord is ripe. Vision is essential as we seek to invade the nations of the earth with the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Without prophetic vision people run wild (cast off restraint), but blessed are those who follow <God’s> teachings. (Proverbs 29:18 God s Word Translation).
Keys to Reaching the Nations:
The great commission is not simply an evangelical mandate, but is an apostolic assignment. It is not just to save souls, but to disciple the nations. Salvation of souls does not lie in our hands, but in the realm of the Spirit of God as He draws them into His Kingdom. Let the evangelical work of reaching souls continue even as we understand the commission that it is essentially apostolic in nature. The commission is for those who are sent apostello , the Church.
The goal of the Church is to make disciples of all nations and establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. This apostolic work of maturing the saints brings unity in the faith.
The Church has a prophetic destiny and apostolic purpose. Restoration of the apostolic dimension will refocus the Church on the great commission.
The goal of God has always been the conversion of the nations to His rule and government in the earth. The gospel of the Kingdom is the apokalupsis (revelation) of God. All the nations must be reached and receive divine impartation.
There are keys to the harvest of the Lord in the nations:
Compassion: God will not give a vision for the nations until there is compassion for the people of the nations.
Ambition for the nations will not obligate the Lord of the harvest. Some leaders so not have compassion for the people but seek selfish ambition and gain. The church cries, Come, Lord Jesus! This expression from the Church disregards the salvation of many yet to come into the Kingdom.
At times, underdeveloped nations are deprived of opportunities to hear the gospel of the Kingdom because of this attitude. However, a deep hunger abides in the hearts of those in underdeveloped nations and their receptiveness to the gospel is evident.
True vision is birthed out of a heart of compassion. This is the primary key to the Lord s harvest.
When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them (Mathew 9:36). The motivating force of Jesus passion unto crucifixion was compassion, to see humanity redeemed from sin and death.
It is not permissible for us to live without passion for God s people and His purpose. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. (Mark 1:38)
The passion and consuming goal of Jesus was to preach the Kingdom of God to every town and city. This was His purpose.
Relationship: Relationship is one of the most dynamic keys to the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the nations. Relationship with local ministries and leaders is a strategic instrument. It is wise to carefully develop and nurture right relationship that will advance the purpose of God. It is also wise to reject relationships based on selfish ambition or gain and refuse relationships used as instruments of control and domination.
The process of building relationship requires both work and commitment. The effectiveness of ministry in the nations will be determined by the level of relationship with the indigenous in the nations. An established principle is to identify an indigenous leader or ministry that has an open heart for the gospel of the Kingdom and to build covenant relationship. Covenant relationship is based on trust and commitment. When there is a compassionate heart and covenant relationship established, the Church will affect the nations.
Relationship is costly. Consider the scenario of the house of Saul and the house of David. Jonathan discovered that the future kingdom of Israel was not to be shepherded by the house of Saul, but by the house of David. Likewise, the future Church is not to be shepherd by officials, but by the five-fold ministry gifts. Jonathan pursued the establishment of a covenant with David. So too, the Church is to sincerely pursue covenant relationship for Kingdom purpose.
Resources: Despite the demand for and apparent lack of financial resources, God is sufficient to accomplish the work of the harvest and Kingdom purpose.
There are two areas of concern:
1. Resources (finances) are in the hands of those who are not advancing the Kingdom of God. Redirection of resources into churches, leaders and ministries committed to the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the nations is vital.
2. The challenge is not a money test but a heart test . It is His ministry, His Church, His work and His vision. God will provide the means to accomplish His work. When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, the goal was the Promised Land. In between was the wilderness experience.
God brought about three million people out of Egypt with divine favour (Exodus 12:36). They were rich in silver and gold and there was not one person feeble (Psalm 105:37). In the midst of the wilderness, God tested their hearts and required an offering to build His sanctuary (Exodus 25:1-9). God s intent was that the people knew the Promised Land as a relational place. The wilderness had its purpose and the hearts of the people were prepared (Deuteronomy 8:1-3).
As we respond to Him in relationship, God will prepare the heart of His Church to become an instrument of provision and access for the nations of the earth. Be Prepared to Embrace the Challenges of the Nations: The western nations are different to the third world or underdeveloped nations in heart towards the message of the Kingdom and in challenges faced. It is important to acquaint ourselves with the culture and needs of the people to relate effectively and reach them for Kingdom purpose. The strategies implemented in Asia will be different to those in
Africa and other continents. Seek to hear and discern the word of God for each city
and nation.
Team Work: There is urgency in that which God wants to accomplish in the nations of the earth. Independent ministry is unbiblical and God is raising up team ministry to operate by grace under an apostolic covering. The fullness of the harvest will be attained through vision, understanding and commitment to team ministry. Apostolic teams are pioneers in the nations that seek the establishment of God s purpose in the earth.
The Tool: The Church is the tool in the hand of God to accomplish His purpose in the earth. The Church is to be equipped by the five-fold ministry gifts. Understanding of the function of these gifts and room for their operation in the Body of Christ brings maturity. The present move of the apostolic and prophetic ministry is a dispensational ministry to usher in the reign of the King and the establishment of His Kingdom. The restoration of the apostolic and prophetic ministry, as well as the pastors, evangelists and teachers are a means to the end.
According to Ephesians 5:13, the five-fold ministry gifts to the Church is an “until ministry . The principle focus is on the Kingdom. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done here on earth, as it is in heaven (Mathew 6:10).
The Church is experiencing a leader-shift into the apostolic that will result in a change in the harvest. May the Church receive these ministry gifts and mature to fulfill the great commission.
The Message: God s passion is to recover and restore His Kingdom in the earth yet the Church lacks understanding of the message. The Church has proclaimed the gospel of salvation with a focus on getting the people to heaven rather than bringing heaven to earth. The message is key to accomplish God s purpose (see Luke 4:42-43 and Revelation 11:15).
Gathering of leaders alone will not establish Kingdom purpose and the Church is not called to make decisions but to make disciples. The onus upon each believer and local assembly is to network to reach those in each city and nation with the gospel of the Kingdom. The Church has been prepared in the word and it is time to implement what has been received.
The mandate of the Church is to preach themessage (gospel) of the Kingdom for a witness in the world and then the end shall come (Matthew 25:14). The responsibility of the great commission is an apostolic charge. Apostolic strategies will be revealed and implemented. These will produce reformation in the Church and establish the Kingdom of God in the earth.
The trumpet of God is sounding and the mysteries of God are being unveiled. With a sense of urgency, the call from the heavens awakens the Church to complete the mandate. The Church must receive grace and revelation to fulfill the commission and God s purpose in the earth.
“That there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:6-7)
“There will be no more waiting! In the days when the seventh angel is ready to blow his trumpet, God’s secret will be finished. This secret is the Good News God told to his servants, the prophets.” (Revelation 10:6-7 New Century Translation).
Prayer: This is another key strategy that must be applied for the Church to invade the nations for the Kingdom of God. Effective apostolic strategies for Kingdom reformation are birthed in prayer. Prayer causes God to release His power in full measure. Prayer is the time to seek and find God s will as He reveals unto us His vision for the nations.
