1. THE FOUR FIELDS:
The four fields is a mind map that helps us understand the thinking and actions of Jesus as he went about his ministry. The Four fields originated with him, not us and comes from Mark 4:26-29:
“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain; first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
| Field One: The Ploughed Field | Field Two: The sowing field |
| Field Four: The Harvest Field | Field Three: The Growing Field |
2. THE PLOUGHED FIELD: PREPARATION, VISION AND A PURE HEART
This field is where we sort out why we are going out into the harvest field in the first place. This is where we plough the weeds and rocks out of our heart and life so it is ready to go into the harvest: Luke 8:6-7:Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
It’s where we pick up the heartbeat of heaven for a lost world.
It’s where we find God’s vision for our area.
It’s where we get our passion for souls.
It’s where we plough the weeds out of our life.
It’s where we get our burden for a lost and dying world.
It’s where we sense the Father’s desperate desire to use us to reconnect with his lost sheep.
It’s where we find out exactly what was motivating Jesus for his 3 years of ministry.
It’s where we identify with the Great Commission.
It’s where Luke 4:18-19 , Jesus, own mission statement, becomes our mission statement.
Without this vision of victory and sense of urgency we will never go to the lost.
We will never move on to field two if we have not ploughed field one of our lives.
3. PRINCIPLES TO FOLLOW.
1. Importance
Always begin with the end in mind. The missions message of Matthew 28:18-20 should be the centre of everything we ever do in our Christian community. Therefore field one is the most important field of all (Matthew 6:10)! Our human heart must tune in to God’s heart or nothing happens (John 4:34-36).
A vision of victory, not defeat, is essential (Luke 10:2) All movements start with a vision of victory, so we must tap into God’s vision, both global and local. So ask: What needs to change in me before I can start? How do I die to self? The important thing is to be walking close to Jesus and stay tuned to the whispers of the Holy Spirit.
2. Submission
We must be baptised with water (Luke 3:21) We must be baptised in the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22). A strong prayer life (Luke 5:16) based on Luke 10:2 is the only foundation. We must also always be led by the Holy Spirit, as Jesus modelled for us (John 5:19).
3. Strategy
Jesus was a master strategist, so follow his example: He went specifically to Galilee. First to his household and his village (Luke 4:14-16). Then to others nearby down the hill at Lake Galilee. Then to all the 200 villages in Galilee (Luke 8:1, Luke 10:1). He even mobilised disciples to duplicate and multiply himself across this region. The result was a mass movement of tens of thousands of followers before he went to the cross. Jesus reached his goal in just 3 short years.
- So study your Oikos, list them and pray for them.
- Study the unreached people groups in your local area, your Galilee.
- Who is in need? Where are they?
- How do we get into their world? How do we meet them?
- Strategise with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Once the first disciples have been reached through your ministry they will instantly and instinctively know who to reach and how to reach them as they are insiders to their local area and culture. Make sure you use the key strategy Jesus told us to use (Luke 10:1-17). Just get started!
4. TO DISICPLE OTHERS YOU MUST BE A DISCIPLE
- These are the attributes of a disciple:
- They deny self (Matthew 16:24)
- They have a strong love for Jesus (Luke 14:26)
- They forsake all (Luke 14:33)
- They do not turn back (Luke 9:62)
- They are steadfast in the word (John 8:31)
- They love one another (John 153:35)
- They are fruitful (John 15:8)
- They have paid the price (Luke 14:28-32)
- They imitate Christ (Luke 6:40)
5. ACTION
- Share this lesson with several people
- Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to plough the spiritual weeds out of your life
- Are you willing to fast and pray for the harvest?
- Ask God what his vision is for your oikos (family and friends), and for your Galilee (local area, village or city, workplace, local market etc)