Compliments of the season.

Welcome to 2025 with great joy and excitement. God is good, all the time.

Today, I will talk about empowerment for the harvest. We were created for a purpose, and that purpose wasn't for us to come to the earth and eat different meals in the world and stay healthy just like. No, we weren't for that.

We were empowered for the great commission, which is in the Book of Matthew 9:35-38, which says:

St. Matthew 9:35 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.
St. Matthew 9:36 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.
St. Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;
St. Matthew 9:38 Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

These verses of the scripture talk about how Jesus went to places to spread the gospel and do miracles. As he was going, he saw a multitude of people and was moved with compassion to deliver and set them free.
And then, this is Jesus Christ calling us to take responsibility as laborers. That's why the Bible says the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. The harvest is the lost sheep and the laborers are the believers.

In 2025, allow God to prepare you and equip you for the lost sheep. Some people are out there, tasting for righteousness but no one to help teach them the word that will help them to live comfortably with God and man. There is one thing for God to prepare you and there is another thing for you to avail yourself of empowerment. This empowerment will not come from anywhere, but the Holy Spirit, wisdom to bring the lost sheep to sheepfold. Even the Bible says, go and I will be with you. Jesus Christ was empowered or endued with the Holy Spirit and he went into the cities, preaching, healing, and setting the captives free. This is what the Holy Spirit can help a man do when he or she is available for the master's use.

In this year, we should prepare ourselves for the work of the kingdom, trying possible ways to fulfill the purpose of God on earth. God wants the believers as laborers to be plenteous this year, drawing men of darkness into the marvelous light of God.

Characteristics of laborers God will recruit

Availability
A laborer or laborers must present themselves to be used by God, through services, especially in the vineyard of God.
Willingness
Not by force service. Be willing to do it, not by payment. A lot of young people in the church are paid for the service of the lord. Some of them will come to church and play instruments. In the end, they bargain the price of what they will take back. This is not willingness and they might not be blessed.
Faithfulness
You have to be faithful in your place of service. Serve him faithfully and serve others faithfully. Joseph maintained his integrity in Potiphar's house, till he was ordained as a king.
Responsiveness

Be ready, and be alert, so that when God calls, you will respond speedily.

Teachability

Let your heart be open and simple to be disciplined by God

What are believers' responsibilities as they go out to the lost sheep?

St. Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
St. Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

If you start from verse 5 of this passage, you will understand that, Jesus gave His disciples instructions on where to go and where not to go.

Jesus told them when you go,