SEASON OF HARVEST

The year is gradually counting down. In no distant time, we shall come to the end of this year. 

So far it has been awesome, wonderful, glorious, terrific, fabulous and it has been God all the way. God's faithfulness has been proven beyond doubt in our lives. Without much ado, we are in the season of harvest.

What is a season? A season can be described as a period characterized by a particular circumstance or feature. 

It is a particular period known for certain events. For instance, in this part of West Africa, Nigeria to be precise, when it continues to rain from March to September, we say it is the rainy season. And, when it stops raining and we continue to experience a lot of sun and hot weather conditions from October to February, we say it is the dry season.

Moreso, the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" from this scripture, we can say the season is a period when you go through a certain thing. For instance, as a married man or woman, there was a period when you are not married, that was a season. After the marriage, there was a period when there was no child, that was another season. But, today, you are fully married, not only with your partner but with your children. You are currently in a different season of your life. And, as you can see, none of the seasons lasts forever.

However, this means, if you are going through some stuff right now, it will only last for a season because no season lasts forever. Perhaps, you are jobless right now, it can only last for a season. If you are married without children today, it is only a season of your life. Whatever the situation may be, no season lasts forever. 

In the same vein, harvest is an expression, show or proof of result, outcome, yield and returns after a period of labour. The season of harvest, therefore, is a season of accountability.  

Exodus 23:16, "And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of thy labours, which thou hast sowed in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field".  

There are three important points about the harvest from the scripture just quoted above;

Firstly, harvest always comes with a feast or celebration. I prophesy therefore, it is your season of celebration in the name of Jesus.

I remember when we were growing up as little children, we are always excited to see the month of December. Did you have the same feelings while growing up? The reason why we felt like that, we could not explain. But, one thing we knew was that it is a period of celebration. A period when they buy us new clothes, we visit places and our relatives mostly out of town. It is a time we have different programs in the school, church and even in our communities. It was such an unforgettable season of our lives as children! 

Secondly, there is a period of labour before the harvest. You have laboured in different areas of your endeavour from January to this moment, it is your time of accountability. May you never labour for others to eat, May you eat the fruit of your labour in Jesus name. 

Thirdly, the season of harvest is usually at the end of the year. The term harvest is better understood by farmers. As a farmer, it is well known that most farm crops especially cash crops like cocoa, palm kernel, bitter cola, are usually harvested during this period of the year. It is a time of accountability for all that the farmer has done in a year. 

I'm sure this principle applies to other areas of endeavour as well. Studies have shown that most mega supermarkets and shopping malls in the world make the highest percentage of their annual sales during Christmas and at the end of the year. Even if you work in an organisation, there is always a reward in terms of harvest at the end of the year (They call it an annual bonus in some organisations). As this year comes to an end, may you never lose your harvest, May you never lose your reward in the name of Jesus.

WHAT TYPE OF HARVEST ARE WE EXPECTING?

1. Harvest of answers to prayers: If you have been praying, there shall be evidence of answers to your prayers. 

Matthew 6:5-6, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6, But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly". 

In Daniel 6, Daniel was a man that laboured so much in prayer. However, he received the harvest of his labour when he was thrown into the lion's den. 

1 Samuel 1:13, "Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken". 

Hanna was another example, she was so much lost in prayer that only her lips moved, her voice was not heard and she was mistaken for a drunkard. But, in a due season, her harvest came and she had evidence of answered prayer. If you have been praying, I came to announce to you, it is your season of answers to prayers in Jesus name.

2. Harvest of bountiful profits to labour:

If you have laboured from the beginning of this year to this very moment, there shall be a harvest of bountiful profit to your labour. In Luke 5, Peter had laboured all night without any results. However, having surrendered his boat to Jesus, his season of harvest came. Jesus simply told him to go one more time, he did argue with the Lord but he eventually yielded to the advice of the Master. The encounter turned around his life, the outcome was life-changing and a remarkable one at that.

Therefore, if you have been working from the beginning of this year, perhaps, you have not been able to get any results for all your labour, all you need to do is to surrender your boat to God and watch out in this last month of the year, it shall surely be your season of turn around in the name of Jesus.

3. Harvest of reward for every divine task that has been carried out:

If you have been faithful to every divine task that has been assigned to you, there shall be a harvest of rewards for your obedience and service to the kingdom. 

In Matthew 25:14-30, The parable of the talents shows us that as many as put to work, every empowerment received regarding the divine tasks assigned to them made more profit according to the talent given and were all duly rewarded by the Master. 

Therefore, if you have been faithful to every divine task assigned to you as a worker, evangelist, pastor, prophet and member of the body of Jesus Christ, there shall be a harvest of double portion for your obedience and faithfulness in the name of Jesus.

4. Harvest of promotion to every temptation that was overcome:

If you have overcome every temptation that came your way, there shall be a harvest of promotion for your victory over Satan and the flesh. 

Genesis 39:1-23, Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wife while serving his master in Egypt as a slave. However, Joseph was able to overcome the temptation because he fears the Lord. Although he was dearly punished for not yielding to the fleshly temptation of Satan, his harvest was never denied him. He became the prime minister in Egypt even as a stranger in a strange land.

Job 1:6-12, Job also faced a terrible temptation from Satan having had so much wealth and Satan told God that Job never loved Him for nothing, but because God has built a hedge round about him and have given him so much wealth. Satan was therefore permitted by God to tempt Job and confirm that it was not because of the aforementioned. Everything was taken away but Job remained faithful to God. Job 42:10-17, at the end of it all, Job receives the harvest of promotion and everything he lost was restored back to him in double folds. 

Therefore if you have overcome every temptation that came your way, there shall be a harvest of promotion for your victory over Satan and the flesh in the name of Jesus.

WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

1. Believe that God still perform miracles

2. Pray your harvest to reality; 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing"

3. Keep working, don't stop. 

4. Continue to trust in God. 

5. Do what Peter did in Luke 5, surrender your boat to God, obey divine instructions and receive your harvest by faith.

CONCLUSION

It is your season of harvest saith the Lord. Receive the word of God by faith, go and come back with testimonies in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.