In Matthew 9:35-38 we read: Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”


It was 168 years ago, in York Dutch church on Fulton Street in NYC, where began a great revival. It began with just one man. The Lord directed him to start a prayer meeting. It was held once a week for one hour. Designed for those who were busy, it was midday to make it convenient for those over lunchtime to come in and pray. It met in the Consistory building in the rear of the North Dutch Church. It gave the people an opportunity to stop, call upon God, amid the perplexities incident to their respective vocations. The first day a prayer meeting was held on Wednesday from 12 Noon to 1pm. That first meeting was on September 23, 1857 and it saw saw 6 people present. The following week, the meeting saw 40 prayer members. Then they decided to hold the meeting daily.
Within 6 months, 10,000 businessmen were meeting daily. Within 2 years, a million converts were added to the American churches. This meeting that began in the financial district in Manhattan, spread throughout he state, and then it spread throughout the country. Just think, a million converts added to the churches. One lesson is this: When God asks you to follow him in humble ways, please obey. You never know how He intends to work in your life and the life of others. Also, When God moves in revival, nothing can hold it back. People's hearts changed by God is what really matters. Today we talk about the general theme of the harvest being plentiful and the laborers being few. We have a mess right now in New York City. The situation on the ground threatens to absolutely destroy the city. If God does not miraculously move, the whole city will be lost to a godless religion, not of the Lord. Chaos and oppression will reign. Pray the Lord of Harvest to sent for workers into his harvest field! Participants: Rev. Paul Murphy, Dan Elmendorf