Strategies for Harvest: Jesus’ way of Making Disciples
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

The Life of Christ reveals effective strategies for harvest, especially in making disciples.

Mar 3:7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea
Mar 3:8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.
Mar 3:9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.
Mar 3:10 For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.
Mar 3:11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.”
Mar 3:12 But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.
Mar 3:13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.
Mar 3:14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,
Mar 3:15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

Strategies for making disciples in the great harvest:
1. People must hear about what Jesus is doing. We are witnesses to the resurrection power of Jesus, go and tell them what you have experienced. You overcome by the word of your testimony, blood of the Lamb and not loving your life unto death. Rev. 12:11. Weare all called to do the work of an evangelist. If you are waiting fro God to tell you what to do, consider what He has already told you in his word and spend some time in prayer witht eh Holy Spirit. He will empower you to witness again so that the Gospel dynamite is ignited by His power through prayer. Acts 1:8

2. Operate from your identity in Christ. Find your identity in Christ. Jesus operated from His supernatural identity and that is why the spirits were subject to Him and recognized him. Knowing Who Christ is in you also reveals who you are in Christ. It works both ways. It is a reflective revelation that Simon Peter had about Jesus as the son of God, the Christ, the anointed one that God the Father showed him. But by the same token, Jesus revealed Peter that his name has bearing on the rock of revelation that he just had. On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Matt. 16:13-20

3. Make time to make disciples. Be present with them and don’t get distracted from the fulfilling the great commission. Time is the coin of heaven. If there are streets of gold, then gold is not the most precious thing there – once you are in eternity there is no more time on earth. That makes our short time here very rare and precious. Don’t let people or things or worries or condemnations or accusations or false expectations of people wate your time. Be led by the Spirit as sons and daughters of God and redeem your time where. That means we have to say like Moses the man of God:
Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Jesus called those whom He wanted, to be with Him. Being with people is where discipleship takes place. You can make disciples while serving and fulfilling a function. You can make disciples while having fun and showing them how to live life in abundance with the Lord, while exercising temperance. You can make disciples while sharing your natural expertise and giving a spiritual parallel. But in all these cases, you must be present with them and show them you love them by giving them one of your most precious gifts: your attention.

4. Believe God has sent you too! When Jesus sent out his disciples, He gave them power to heal the sick and to cast out demons. You are sent out to preach the good news of the Gospel of the kingdom of God, the power of God unto salvation. Every time you share the Gospel with someone, the Holy Spirit will work with you with signs and wonders following. Stir up your gifts and apply what you have learnt in church and household groups, do what you have seen your mentors in Christ doing and expect the same power of the Lord to operate in and through you to His glory. When God does something amazing and people thank you, you can say politely, “You are welcome, and I give God all the glory!”

Application:
Write down a few names of people that are already in your circles who might be interested in learning something from you – anything.
Start praying for them and spending time with them.
Share a spiritual truth with them as the Spirit leads and see how they respond.
If they are interested in learning more gently lead them deeper with the Lord and explain the discipleship process to them and the benefits it has brought in your life.