Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples that the Harvest is plenty, but the labourers are few. He urged the disciples to pray that there could be more workers to gather the harvest. (Matthew 9:35-38) Throughout the history Lord has sent His workers into the vineyard and continues to recruit more as evident in the Parable of Workers. (Matthew 20: 1-16) The Master recruited workers four times: at 9 AM, then at noon, 3 PM and 5 PM. If one day is considered as the whole period of church history, then it denotes four eras.
1) Early church Era (0-450 AD): After His resurrection Lord appeared to disciples and gave them the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20) Lord before ascension promised the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who will empower believers to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) The twelve Apostles, the New Testament church and subsequent era could be considered as those invited to work at 9.00 AM.
2) Middle Ages (451 – 1451 AD): The next batch of workers were invited at 12.00 Noon. The mediaeval church era could be compared with workers who were invited in the second round. The monasteries (monks and nuns) were the remnant, faithfully holding on to faith and sharing the faith.
3) Reformation & Modern era 1451- 1914 AD: The era of reformation, protestant movement and modern missionary movement could be compared with workers invited at 3.00 PM. Kenneth Scott Latourette, a historian, considers the period of 1800-1914 as the Great Century when the gospel reached the nook and corner of the world, embracing many cultures, languages, nations and people groups.
4) Modern & Lay movements: After 1914 the world was drastically changed, and mission efforts were challenged intellectually, socially, nationally, culturally, religiously and ideologically from all nations around the world. At that time God raised many lay movements (like Operation Mobilization, Youth With A Mission), local church movements, marketplace movements, tent makers, business as missions…to continue His mission. This could be compared to workers invited at 5.00 PM.
Am I one involved in His Vineyard?