10:2Luke 10:2

Jesus spoke these words to the seventy He appointed and sent two by two ahead of Him into every place He Himself would come, as lambs among wolves to preach the kingdom of God where He would follow.Ms 55, 1894, par. 1+2 The great harvest is the multitude of needy people everywhere made ready to receive the gospel, for the whole world is the field to be gathered for God.Ms 141, 1902, par. 2–4+2 The laborers are few because qualified workers to reach them are lacking, and Christ Himself as Lord of the harvest commands prayer that He will send forth workers into His own work.HMW 25.3+2 That prayer is to be fervent, united, earnest and continual, and God answers it by raising up worthy men and women and giving His Spirit to capable people to use their gifts in saving souls.Lt 55, 1886, par. 25+4 The call belongs not to ministers alone but to every believer, to go cooperatively two by two, joining gospel preaching with healing and preparing a people for the coming of the Son of man.1T 368.2+4

Jesus appointed the other seventy and sent them two and two before Him into every city and place where He Himself would come, telling them to pray for workers and then sending them out as lambs among wolves.Ms 55, 1894, par. 1 This sending followed the sending of the twelve, with seventy men sent ahead everywhere to preach the kingdom of God and the gospel of truth in every place where He Himself would follow, because the opportunity for missionary work was abundant while the workers were few and many fields and peoples needed the message.ST Dec 10, 1894+1 Leaders are therefore to bring in new men and place them in responsibility as Christ did, selecting those who can come up and obtain an education under direction and learn how to care for the work, rather than passing them by and depending only on the same men used before.Lt 89, 1893, par. 2–4

He spoke as He saw the world's need, with groaning in spirit and yearning compassion as He saw on every hand the poor sheep without a shepherd in their great need, distress and woe.Lt 208a, 1902, par. 24–25+1 He spoke it while finishing His public ministry, journeying slowly from place to place by a circuitous route through many villages to return to Jerusalem after leaving because of bitter opposition from the Pharisees.Ms 55, 1894, par. 3–4 He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem knowing that persecution, denial, rejection, condemnation and a most cruel death awaited Him on the path marked out for Him by His Father, refusing Satan's determined temptation to turn aside, save Himself, wait longer to alleviate distress and stay the tide of evil.Ms 55, 1894, par. 3–4 Laborers must have character specially fitted to endure criticism and contempt from Pharisees, priests and rulers just as He endured.Lt 208a, 1902, par. 24–25

Christ Himself is the Lord of the harvest to whom prayer for laborers is made, and the work of gathering people to God is His own work, great while the number of workers is small.Lt 119, 1905, par. 14–17+2 The disciples were sent ahead to awaken interest and prepare people to receive the truths Jesus would teach.Lt 119, 1905, par. 14–17 Their mission was to proclaim that God's kingdom had come near and that all who received its message and Messenger could enter it, presenting God's truth so people would take hold of the blessings within their reach.Lt 119, 1905, par. 22

The instructions given when He sent them forth are the pattern for work now, even more necessary now than in His time, calling for strong men to be appointed to work in the great centers with many young men and women associated with them to labor humbly in harmony with that pattern, with great ingenuity in presenting the words of eternal life so souls are reached and converted, and with workers themselves thoroughly converted so they present the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness that wins hearts.Ms 25, 1908, par. 2 The work was to be carried out with discernment: giving time and instruction where received, relying on hosts for food and rest, and faithfully stewarding strength and resources so that worthy, needy people could receive the help appointed for them.Lt 45, 1900, par. 44–47

The verse introduces their mission and the instructions for carrying it out, a sacred work requiring faithful, united effort.Ms 141, 1902, par. 2–4 In the setting of the seventy sent by Christ, the disciples were entrusted with His message to the world and actively served despite trials and opposition, and their work was blessed.Lt 119, 1905, par. 23 The field was already ripe for gathering so Jesus sent out the seventy to reap it, and Peter's preaching at Pentecost that added three thousand souls takes up and carries forward that same harvest work.Ms 155, 1904, par. 67–70

The great harvest is the multitude of needy people ready to receive the gospel, moved by God's Spirit and drawn to Christ.Ms 141, 1902, par. 2–4+3 The whole world is the field to be gathered for God, including honest-hearted people in distant lands and fields already ready, and the sending of the seventy was not limited to one people but the light was to reach every part of it.Lt 74, 1892, par. 18+3 Every follower of Christ is to take part in gathering it rather than confining labor to those who already believe.Ms 43, 1890, par. 14–16+2 The mission introduced is therefore sacred work requiring faithful, united effort, with men and women giving themselves to God and working with Christ to take the opportunities before them to lead others to the truth.Ms 141, 1902, par. 2–4+1

This harvest calls for tact and skill so that none are lost, wherever the truth is upheld, including the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.Ms 82, 1899, par. 2–4+1 Numerous religious teachers do not meet the need, for scribes, Pharisees, priests, and rulers were numerous yet unfit because they did not know the Scriptures or God's power and taught human commandments as doctrine.Ms 82, 1899, par. 2–4+1 The few laborers are the lack of qualified workers to reach the multitude, even where experienced laborers remain who should stay in the ranks.Ms 82, 1899, par. 2–4+2 Those in the field may be feeble and worn by heavy burdens, greatly lacking physical and mental strength, so strength must be preserved for the work.2T 116.2–117.1+1

A great harvest requires earnest, sustained effort and a serious work enlisting heart, mind, soul, and strength.Lt 148, 1902, par. 5–6+1 Workers should persevere when there is even a small sign of interest, because Satan resists people leaving his ranks for Christ.2T 151.2 Love for God with all the heart requires love for those for whom He gave His Son, and because redemption has been provided an open door stands before workers through which to bring others into fellowship with the saints.Lt 148, 1902, par. 5–6 The harvest is the great work of preparing a people for the coming of the Son of man and gathering them for the heavenly garner.2T 116.2–117.1+2

Applied to raising new churches, sanctified messengers are to make the last message of mercy clear so souls may be prepared.Lt 265, 1907, par. 10 The harvest of the world is reaped through heavenly instrumentality working together with human agencies under the superintendency of holy messengers from heaven.RCOC 124.3+1 The extent reaped is in proportion to the increase of agencies put to work.RCOC 124.3+1 Well-directed efforts now will have results eternity alone will reveal, as God's providence goes ahead and divine power works with human effort.GW 27.2

The harvest field is supplied with workers through prayer to the Lord of the harvest, for the harvest is great and the laborers are few and the work of gathering converts is large and lacking in workers.HMW 25.3+2 When church members put Christ's precepts into practice and live by His teaching and example, confess their sins to one another and pray to God rather than gossiping about and accusing one another, they become channels through whom He graciously manifests His power for the salvation of souls and for presenting the bread of life to those who need the truth.HMW 25.3+1 The call is urgent because a great work remains to be done in a short time.Lt 15, 1876, par. 8

The prayer is to be fervent, united in heart and sentiment, earnest and regular, with earnest desire and earnest efforts to meet the mind of the Spirit of God.Lt 55, 1886, par. 25+2 It includes fasting and special seasons of prayer, with one day in a month set apart for fasting and prayer for the Lord to raise up workers where efforts to get the truth before the people are feeble and no one is found to do the needed work.Lt 55, 1886, par. 25+2 The laborers sought are hundreds of young men and others who will give themselves to humble, unselfish labor, not ministers only but missionary men and women of good understanding, moral worth and moral backbone who circulate shedding precious light, sow seeds of truth, do thorough work, and organize, visit and discipline churches raised up so they are not left to go to destruction, including a devoted stirring man with tact and discernment who can develop good talent, for fields like vast destitute Texas in moral darkness yet longing for light, dissatisfied, pleading for preachers and hearing gladly where one or two discourses give only a glimmer, and for an entire state left with almost no laborers except feeble ones and excellent new fields where choice souls are ready.Lt 15, 1879, par. 4–5+1

Those who remain at home share in the harvest work by giving themselves to prayer and by speaking encouraging words that hold up the hands of those breaking the bread of life to hungry souls.Ms 42, 1901, par. 7 Their prayers and prayers for ministers follow them like sharp sickles into the harvest field, and those who have received light and opportunities are responsible to witness and help save those who have not heard the truth.8MR 95.2–3+2 Churches are to bear decided witness by also bringing gifts and offerings so those who go have means to labor for souls, since sending laborers requires means to pay their board and wages and keep them in the field, and when stewards use entrusted means for unessential things and needless selfish gratification the work is crippled and cut down here and there and men are driven from the field for lack of support; those who strengthen ministers by sending them in the Lord's name with prayer and means will be greatly blessed.Ms 21a, 1894, par. 4–5+2

The Lord answers that prayer by raising up worthy men who can do good in saving perishing souls, which is the harvest work for which Christ gave His own life.Lt 90, 1895, par. 34–35 Those who see and feel the preciousness of truth will not be satisfied until they share that light with others, giving what they can of means and influence to make truth known, and praying that the Lord will send laborers into His vineyard and send means to carry His work forward, even where neglected fields like those in Australia are ready with much work left undone.Ms 51, 1886, par. 6+1 God alone can place the burden of that work rightly and give His Spirit to capable and talented people so they will use their gifts in His service.Lt 153, 1901, par. 3

The need is urgent because the work of gathering people is increasing as the end draws near, and the last gospel message calls for thousands of well-trained evangelists with earnest ministry in cities and their suburbs, giving added reason to pray for many laborers in the short time for work.STB 409.1–2+2 Prayer for success must not mean expecting results without personal effort and consecration of self to answer calls from vast territories where truth has not yet reached and people are ready to receive it, since people brought partway along by one worker may need further help to complete the work.STBk 76.3–77.1+2

Urgent, earnest calls for labor come nearly every day from many directions while laborers are few, worked down and without rest, calling for petitions to go up in faith to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers and for strength to do the necessary work.Lt 39, 1876, par. 4–5 Prayer is also to be made for a clear understanding of truth, so that when its messengers come their message may be accepted and they may be respected.6T 420.3 Laborers themselves are first to bow before God in humble, earnest prayer and then go forth Bible in hand to arouse people with benumbed senses who are dead in trespasses and sins.Ms 73a, 1900, par. 12

The great work of bringing people to truth and salvation is too large for ministers alone, and the fewness of workers lays the duty on all whose lives agree with their faith.1T 368.2+3 Such believers are to labor wisely and lovingly for neighbors and friends, talking with those around them and urging them to feel the importance of the truth.1T 368.2+3 They must not leave to ministers what God has left them to do, nor wait for ministers while neglecting their own part.1T 368.2+3

No one who stays idle in this missionary work will share the Lord's joy, for workers need daily conversion to God to be fitted for it.Lt 155, 1896, par. 17–20 They need a daily touch from Him, becoming consecrated, spiritual worshipers able to present the precious truths people need, and turning away from fields that call for help is a cause of sorrow.Lt 28, 1893, par. 4 Character must be specially fitted to endure criticism and contempt from opponents as Christ endured it from Pharisees, priests, and rulers.Lt 208a, 1902, par. 24–25 A minister's defects of character and imprudence can cripple his usefulness and disqualify him from the harvest, so workers must be thoroughly converted to present truth with a tenderness that wins hearts.Ms 25, 1908, par. 2+1

Those who see and feel how precious the truth is will not rest until they share that light, giving means and influence to make it known and praying for the Lord to send laborers and means to carry the work forward.Ms 51, 1886, par. 6 Schools are to prepare people for useful service at home and in foreign lands through practical godliness, since gathering souls into God's service is great and workers are few.FE 114.1 Students preparing for missionary work are urged to go out and serve in fields ready for harvest, trusting God to give power from on high.Ms 125, 1902, par. 11 Christ prepared His disciples by sending them into service, and on the same principle young people should begin practical work where abilities develop and seekers are met through reading, singing, and prayer that sows seeds of truth.Lt 154a, 1900, par. 7–8 The urgent need for laborers in the gospel field calls for training young men for ministry by focused, brief instruction in the subjects most necessary for their work.TBC1882 9.2

Christ's plan for supplying laborers is seen in sending the twelve and then seventy men ahead everywhere to preach the kingdom of God and the gospel of truth where He Himself would follow.Lt 89, 1893, par. 2–4 Leaders must therefore bring in new men rather than pass them by and depend only on workers used before, choosing those who can come up to obtain an education under direction and learn to care for the work.Lt 89, 1893, par. 2–4 Ministers increase only slowly where there is no educating ability to train groups to work and supply new fields, so talent must be discerned and set to work through organized training.Ms 83, 1897, par. 8 Perfect work cannot be expected from unused power and uneducated ability, and young men and those newly come to the faith must be given a chance to work even though they will meet many difficulties.Ms 83, 1897, par. 8 Available men and women should be put to work in advancing truth, with responsible leaders recognizing and developing ability, placing learners under experienced workers for training, and encouraging rather than restricting them.Lt 34a, 1886, par. 53

God has the needed material in men and women, and leaders need tact, skill, and wise generalship to see talent, seize it, and put it to use instead of binding about the work to save means.Lt 34, 1886, par. 51–55 That talent is to be educated and disciplined by appointing young men and men of mature age to assist experienced workers in dying churches and new places, learning by personal effort until scores of helpers are fitted as Bible readers, canvassers, and visitors in families.Lt 34, 1886, par. 51–55 Workers are to be thrust out always two by two with as many more as can be rallied to visit families and seek to interest them, with caution and economy never allowed to block progress.Lt 34, 1886, par. 51–55 Mistakes are to be corrected with tender compassion rather than discouragement, for workers need encouragement, and the pull-back policy must give way to the go-forward principle with the work pushed now with far-seeing judgment to warn the world.Lt 34, 1886, par. 51–55

When convicted souls ask what they must do to inherit eternal life, the remedy calls ministers to labor with intensity of desire, perseverance, and faith joined to works.Ms 21, 1889, par. 36–38 They are to make truth plain and reachable rather than preach long discourses that put the food too high for reach, so that God's honor and glory appear and far more is accomplished.Ms 21, 1889, par. 36–38 After the twelve were sent two by two, the seventy were sent ahead through Judea to proclaim the kingdom, showing that piety must be diffusive and the world regarded as the field without distinction between neighbor and enemy among those needing light.Ms 130, 1901, par. 47–48 No church member is to stand apart uninterested, but from conversion every life is under obligation to serve Christ, consecrate its whole influence to unite with the purpose for which He gave His life, pattern His love for fallen humanity, and love one another as He loved.Ms 130, 1901, par. 47–48

The greatness of the harvest and fewness of workers make prayer for laborers inseparable from training children to become useful workers together with God, including colporteur and canvassing work.Ms 19, 1887, par. 23 Because Satan and the forces of the world oppose the saving of souls, every energy must be devoted to planning and training young men and women for missionary service at home and among all nations, tongues, and peoples.Lt 25a, 1890, par. 15 Fields already ready make the need urgent, and men and women are called to prepare by consecration to God's will and earnest study of Scripture, then volunteer humbly under His direction to rescue souls.ST Aug 7, 1884 Sincere work gives experience, fuller understanding of truth, and greater fitness to help people where help is needed.ST Aug 7, 1884

Christ's original plan for gathering the harvest is cooperative labor, with workers sent out two by two as He sent both the twelve and the seventy.Ms 88a, 1905, par. 5+2 No one is to feel it his duty to begin and carry a work entirely alone, but one may carry his part as far as he can and then the Lord sends another to do another essential part that the first did not feel necessary.Ms 21a, 1894, par. 23 Where other gifts in other laborers can be had for the conversion of souls, the worker is to cooperate with them gladly, including church members giving time to teach the Bible to those who do not know it and visiting neighbors in pairs to proclaim His soon coming and minister to those in darkness.Ms 88a, 1905, par. 5+2

The harvest mission joins gospel preaching with healing rather than separating them, for the seventy were sent to preach the kingdom of God with power given to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits.CH 603.1+1 Teaching and healing are never to be separated in God's work, and His commandment-keeping people are to be one with no separation in it.CH 603.1+1 Satan invents every device to separate those whom God is seeking to make one.Lt 39a, 1898, par. 7

Disciples are to go at once as evangelists in little companies doing the work given to Christ's disciples, without waiting for years of preparation and without leaving fields open to truth for the enemy to take before doors close forever.STB 437.5+1 They are to scatter publications, speak the truth to those they meet, pray for the sick, meet need with nature's remedies and not with drugs, care for needs, and teach people how to regain health and avoid disease.STB 437.5+1 Getting books into the hands of all who will read, by a depository for publications in every important place and by someone who appreciates the truth, must be done by others and not laid as a burden on the few experienced preaching ministers, who have all they should do to labor in word and doctrine, preaching solemn truth with exemplary care, visiting from house to house, exhorting, reproving, rebuking, and comforting.1T 473.2 Men arising claiming God has laid on them the burden of teaching others must not enter into other men's labors nor be lifted into responsible positions at once nor expect support independent of physical labor, but must be proved and tried, first laboring in connection with one of experience and wisdom to see whether they are capable of exerting a saving influence.1T 473.2

The church and its institutions are to awaken to the need of the large harvest and few workers, ask God to send more laborers, send workers into the Lord's field, and support them with sympathy and opportunities to develop and grow so their interest in the work does not flag.CEv 33.1+2 The Master watches over workers wherever they serve.Ms 46, 1903, par. 27 This sending and sustaining applies to urgent practical soul-saving work, including house-to-house and canvassing ministry.CEv 33.1+1

The call to labor when the harvest is great and workers are few is met by prayer to the Lord of the harvest to send workers, not by ceaseless toil that ruins health.CH 163.2+2 Jesus speaks these words with compassion to worn-out workers today as He did to His first disciples, and with them invites them to rest awhile after doing their best.CH 163.2+2 Following His own pattern of turning aside from constant activity and contact with human need to seek retirement and unbroken communion with His Father in prayer for suffering, sinful, needy people, they may entrust unmet need to God, who remembers human weakness and knows that people are dust.ST+1

Where interest is awakened and harvesting is to be done, forces should be concentrated together in that place rather than scattered all over the field, with enough men gathered to go through the city at the time and to visit the surrounding counties.Lt 20, 1883, par. 1–8 Inexperienced men should be brought there to be trained in how to work under daily instruction from experienced labor.Lt 20, 1883, par. 1–8

The whole world is the field for the Christian, and no one is to fold the hands in idleness while sheaves remain ungathered.STB 444.2+2 The harvest is great now because countries long closed are opening their doors and pleading for the Word of God to be explained.STB 444.2+1 Kings and princes will open their gates to invite in the heralds of the cross, while the workers remain too few.STB 444.2 Every family that believes the third angel's message is to put forth earnest, untiring efforts to proclaim the truth, and well-directed efforts put forth now will have results that eternity alone will reveal.STB 444.2+2

Europe is a great-harvest field where the workers are small in number and more laborers are urgently needed.HSFM 287.4+1 Many cities there remain unreached by preachers, yet silent messengers have already influenced people.HSFM 287.4 Angels are preparing listeners to receive the warning, and many are longing for light and truth and for help in understanding Scripture.HSFM 287.4 The great harvest also includes new territory opening in the Australasian colonies and the islands of the Pacific.LSEGW 370.2 Where only two or three are serving, hundreds are needed, so every possible effort is to be put forth to train many laborers without delay, and missionaries are to be trained and sent from Australasia into nearby island fields, with students preparing for missionary work urged to go relying on God to give power from on high.LSEGW 370.4+3

In Boston thousands are craving the simple truth as it is in Jesus, and the city must hear the Word of the Lord and the reasons of faith sounded forth.STB 599.3+1 The laborers to be asked of the Lord are those who can gain access to the people there, and those who minister in word and doctrine are to prepare the way and arouse God's people to act.STB 599.3+1 Believers in the East are to arise to this work, including rebuilding the sanitarium for it.STB 599.3+1 In Melbourne and its suburbs the harvest of souls ready to be gathered is great while the workers are few.Ms 23, 1895, par. 13+3 Many are interested in the truth, some are deciding to obey, twenty were baptized, and people are calling for tents to be set up in their localities so they can hear, but workers and money are lacking to keep several tents going in different places.Ms 23, 1895, par. 13+1

The white fields call for voicing Christ's words and for carrying the last message of mercy into large cities and byways, with published light and its royalties used to sustain work in new fields.Lt 83, 1895, par. 10–11 In Texas the vast, destitute field lies in moral darkness yet longs for light, dissatisfied with its condition, pleading for preachers, and hearing the Word gladly where one or two discourses give only a glimmer.Lt 15, 1879, par. 4–5 The laborers to be prayed for with earnest, regular prayer, with one day in a month set apart for fasting and prayer, are hundreds of young men and others who will labor humbly and unselfishly, not ministers only but missionary men and women of good understanding, moral worth, and backbone.Lt 15, 1879, par. 4–5 They are to circulate among the people shedding precious light everywhere, sow the seeds of truth, do thorough work, and organize, visit, and discipline the churches raised up so they are not left to go to destruction.Lt 15, 1879, par. 4–5

In Trenton and all through New Jersey many people and places are ready to be worked, with much follow-up still to be done where interest has been created and with a meetinghouse yet to be built in the capital, prompting the cry for where the reapers are.Lt 226, 1901, par. 11 San Francisco and Oakland are missionary fields that will always need labor, with a present need for two manned tents in each city amid a universal lack of men to do the work everywhere.Lt 11, 1878, par. 8 In Washington many still needed to learn and join the Seventh-day Adventists, and in Rochester the small number of workers in a large field shows the need for labor there.Ms 17, 1889, par. 41–42+1 Neglected fields in Australia are ready with much work left undone, and unworked places ripe for harvest need workers, with the people's means kept available to support the work and send laborers, while God alone can place the burden rightly and give His Spirit to capable and talented people so they will use their gifts in His service.Ms 22, 1903, par. 7+1

Wide territories where the truth has not reached and calls for help go unanswered show the ready, extensive field with too few workers.STBk 76.3–77.1+2 Young people are to prepare, consecrate themselves to the work, and volunteer humbly under God's direction through consecration to His will and earnest study of Scripture.STBk 76.3–77.1+1 Prayer for success and for the truth's success must be joined with personal effort, consecration, and readiness to answer the calls, for results cannot be expected without effort, and sincere working helps gain experience, fuller understanding of truth, and greater ability to help people where needed.STBk 76.3–77.1+3 Forces are not to be centered in one place, but promising young people are to be prepared and sent throughout the vineyard to serve in different fields.Lt 189, 1903, par. 26–27 An entire state left with almost no laborers except feeble ones needs essential church work that large public meetings cannot do, a devoted stirring man with tact and discernment who can develop good talent, and workers sent to excellent new fields where choice souls are ready for the truth.Lt 26, 1883, par. 4–6

All fields are ripe, meaning a great work is to be done in the cities, with calls for help coming from every direction from repentant souls in both Christian and heathen lands.Lt 9a, 1894, par. 8 The need includes a vast field where many long for light but have little preaching, requiring many young men and also men and women who can serve as missionaries among the people, as well as earnest ministry in cities and their suburbs.16MR 69.1–2+1 Neglected parts of the vineyard are in danger by disregarding God's law yet pray for light and are being drawn to Christ, and followers are to join Him in preparing the ground, sowing the seed, and gathering the harvest, with faithful work bringing results that give hope and courage.Ms 64, 1894, par. 12 Unworked fields where souls have not yet been reached are to be entered by small companies under consecrated teachers with wise, careful planning under the Lord's guidance, not fanatical or impulsive action.21MR 175.3 Strong men are to be appointed to work in the great centers, with many young men and women associated with them to labor humbly, presenting the words of eternal life with great ingenuity so souls are reached and converted, while the workers themselves are thoroughly converted to present truth with tenderness that wins hearts.Ms 25, 1908, par. 2