Jennifer A. Miskov, Anaheim, California
Today, we have been given an incredible opportunity to shine the hope of Jesus to the world. Following the 2020 pandemic and shut down, people are desperate for hope and connection with the living God. There is a new grace and a fresh invitation to receive the Gospel now more than ever before. God has entrusted our generation with stewarding this unique time in history, this time set apart for harvesting.
Jesus' words about the harvest are important for what God wants to do in 2021 in this unique kairos moment we find ourselves in.
"Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35 NIV)
The Greek word used for harvest here is "therismos," which means "harvest" and "the act of reaping." Figuratively, it means the act of gathering people into the Kingdom of God. This word comes from the word "therizo" which is translated as "reap" and is found in Galatians 6:9: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
The word used for reap comes from the primary root word "theros" which means "to heat" or "summer." This is the word used in Mark 13:28, when Jesus says, "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near." In other words, at the heart of "harvest" is the essence of turning up the heat, because the summer season is coming to reap a bountiful harvest.
We Are in a Kairos Moment
Kairos is one of the Greek words in the New Testament for time. It is translated as the "right time, a set or proper time, opportunity, due season, short time, or a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for" (see Strong's G2540).
The following Scriptures below use the word "kairos" to describe time.
"'The time [kairos] has come,' He said. 'The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'" (Mark 1:15 NIV)
"Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time [kairos]?" (Luke 12:56 NIV)
"For He says, 'In the time [kairos] of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time [kairos] of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.'" (2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV)
Seizing the day, harvest time, Esther being born for such a time as this, and us stepping into this moment we were born for all tie into the theme of a kairos moment of time. Another way to describe kairos time could be to recognize that it is a special window of opportunity. There is an anointing upon a kairos season in a heightened way. More is available, possible, and accessible during this time than in others. There is radical and unexplainable acceleration that happens in kairos moments. (Photo via Unsplash)
Kairos and Harvest
Another word also used for harvest in the Greek is "karpos" which means "fruit." It is interesting to note that there are several consistencies of kairos time being linked to the harvest, or even being translated as "harvest time" within multiple uses of the word.
"At harvest time [kairos] he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit [karpos] of the vineyard..." (Luke 20:10 NIV)
"Let both grow together until the harvest [therismos]. At that time [kairos] I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn." (Matthew 13:30 NIV)
Might there be a specific God-appointed kairos time to bring in the harvest like it says in Matthew 13:30? And what if that time is now?
In farming, there is a time for sowing and time for reaping. If the harvesters don't collect the fruit during harvest time, it could die off. Might God have been waiting for a fullness of time to bring in a billion-soul harvest with one concentrated sweep into the Kingdom? And do we have eyes to see that the ones and twos entering into the Kingdom right now are the first fruits of a massive, incoming, billion-soul harvest that has already begun?
Jesus says in Mark 4:29, "As soon as the grain is ripe, he [the seed sower] puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." What if this is a now word for us today? What if our world post 2020 is ripe, ready to be reaped? What if we are currently in a kairos moment and have an opportunity to reap a radical harvest for the Kingdom of God for such a time as this?
What Will We Do with Our Window of Opportunity?
The Israelites were freed from bondage in Egypt with radical signs and wonders, including watching the Red Sea part before their eyes (Exodus 14). They were led by a cloud by day and fire by night. Then they had another kairos moment, a window of opportunity to take their Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb came back from spying the land with a positive faith-filled report (Numbers 14). The other ten spies spread fear throughout the camp because they chose to focus on the circumstances rather than see things through God's perspective. The Israelites then had a choice in this window of opportunity. They could immediately respond to God's invitation to take the land, keeping their eyes on Him and trusting in Him, or not.
Instead of stepping into all that God had for them in this unique and special kairos moment in time, the Israelites partnered with fear and hesitated to move forward. Then, when they finally attempted to obey God's command, that window of opportunity had closed, and it was too late. Their delayed obedience was actually disobedience. A whole generation still survived in the desert while eating manna from Heaven, however, they missed out on stepping into the fullness of their destinies. Rather than enter the Promised Land, which was their truest destiny, a whole generation died off in the desert. They didn't recognize the kairos moment they were in. There was a tragic loss. They were never given that opportunity again.
Today, God is giving us a window of opportunity to respond to the crisis of our day by demonstrating to the world that Jesus is the answer. He is commissioning us to bring hope and healing during a time of tragedy and devastation. We are in a kairos moment of decision (Joel 3:13-14). If we fail to respond in this hour, we may have to painfully wait and watch as our generation dies off before God can raise up a new remnant to swiftly respond to His leading for such a time as this.
It's Time to Take Your Place
God has entrusted us with this unique season, this kairos moment in history, to bring in and steward this ripe and incoming harvest. He has entrusted us to carry hope to the hopeless, peace to the fear stricken, and healing to the brokenhearted. He has given us the opportunity to extend the invitation to share the love and transformative power of Jesus with the world in a time when there's no other hope. He has repositioned us to be in perfect alignment for what He's pouring out all around us—His new wine in increasing measures and a harvest of souls like never before. (Photo via Pexels)
Because the revival we've been praying for our whole lives is imminently upon us and is already here, there is a need to position ourselves to steward the incoming billion-soul harvest well. We can only do this with and in family. We don't have much more time to prepare our nets before they will be nearly bursting at the seams, beyond full capacity.
We are in a kairos moment. The harvest is ripe. Get your nets ready.
Everyone has an important part to play in this incoming harvest and we can't do it alone. Some of you had a tough year and need to spend some time in God's presence and with healthy people, allowing God to heal and restore your soul so that you will be able to pour out from a place of overflow. Others are ready to dive in and will begin reaping the harvest. Still others will be needed to steward and disciple the incoming harvest in family. Some will have the resources to invest into the harvest at this time.
Ask the Holy Spirit how He wants you to partner with this incoming harvest, what your unique role will be, and then take some risks in this kairos moment and see what God does. You might be surprised by how much He will use your one little act of faith in this unique season.
5 Practical Keys to Help You Steward the Incoming Harvest
1. Remain full of the oil of His presence. Cultivate intimacy with Jesus so you are deeply connected and can immediately respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
2. Get connected with a burning tribe of Jesus lovers so that you can stay burning and welcome the incoming harvest into a family.
3. Write down a list of at least 5 people you can begin praying for to know Jesus.
4. Be intentional to reach out to love, share your testimony with, and offer to pray for some on your list.
5. Reach out to others you know who are already bringing in the harvest; sow into them, serve them, partner with them, learn from them.
"...The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." (Luke 10:2)
You were born for such a time as this! This is our time to shine. Here we go!
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Jennifer A. Miskov
Jen Miskov Ministries
Email:Â info@silvertogold.com
Website:Â www.Jenmiskov.com
Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D., is a revival historian, author, writing coach, and itinerant minister who loves to lead people into life-changing encounters with Jesus and invite them to receive a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire. She founded the School of Revival which is a mobile intensive school as well as an online school to raise up revivalists around the world. She also regularly facilitates "Writing in the Glory" workshops around the world and online to catalyze authors to write their first books. Jen is ordained by Heidi Baker with Iris Global and currently teaches adjunct for Vanguard University in CA, and The King's University in TX. She received her Ph.D. in Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies from the University of Birmingham, U.K.
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