The Great Commission or the Great Omission: Why We Must Stop Painting the Barn and Get Into the Harvest

 

The Harvest Is Ready (But the Workers Are Comfortable)

I remember sitting in my living room years ago, the blue light of the television flickering against the walls. At that time, I thought I was doing okay. I was a "Christian," I went to church, and I followed the routines. But something was gnawing at me. My grandmother, before she passed away, had dropped a bombshell on me during a quiet afternoon visit. She looked at me with those wise, aging eyes and asked, "Conrad, did you know angels had sex with women?"

I laughed it off. "No way, Me-ma! That's not in the Bible." She just smiled that knowing smile and told me to look at Genesis chapter six. When I finally opened the Word for myself, without the filter of what I’d been told in Sunday School, there it was. And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. (Genesis 6:1-2 KJV).

That moment was a wake-up call. I realized I had been looking at the Bible through a "theological lens" handed down by tradition rather than the Spirit of Truth. It led me to a radical decision: I threw out my television. I realized I was being conformed to the world and the traditions of men rather than the Word of God. I needed to Open My Eyes to what Jesus was actually saying, not what the modern "church business" wanted me to hear.

We have a massive problem in the modern church. We’ve turned the Great Commission into a Great Omission. We spend our time, our energy, and our "Kingdom currency" on things that don't produce disciples. We are painting the barn, jumping up and down inside the barn, and praying for the crops to grow legs and walk into the building. But that isn't how the Harvest works. We have become lazy workers in a field that is white unto harvest, and it’s time we look at the facts and figures of our "business" to see where the leak is.

In this post, I want to explore why our modern methods are failing and how returning to the Luke 10 model of evangelism can revolutionize our walk with Jesus. We need to move from being "pew-warmers" to being "laborers" who are thrust out into the world.

Main Message

The Business of the Kingdom

Well, oh well, what have we done with the Great Commission? If you were running a business, you wouldn't ignore the facts. If you saw that 99% of your leads were falling through or that your employees weren't holding their weight, you’d step back and evaluate. You’d find the "dead weight" and emphasize what actually works. Now, I know that makes church sound like a business, but in many ways, it is a multi-level marketing program designed to make disciples.

The currency of this Kingdom is Faith and the Word of God. In the book of Acts, it says the Word of God "grew." It didn't say the bank account grew; it said the Word grew. Success in the Kingdom isn't about the size of your building or the quality of your smoke machine. It’s about people being transformed by the words of Jesus.

I’ve been posting some statistics on Facebook and Google Plus lately that have really ruffled some feathers. People get upset when you throw facts and figures in their face because it messes with their traditions. For instance, did you know that in many mass Crusades or "sinner’s prayer" events, the retention rate is abysmally low? Some statistics suggest that as few as 1% of people who make a "decision" actually stay Christians. Ray Comfort wrote about this in his book God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life. We’ve watered down the gospel to "Jesus wants to give you a car and a house," and when life gets hard, those people fall away because they weren't signed up for the Gospel of the Cross; they were signed up for a lifestyle upgrade.

The Traditions of the Pharisees

Jesus had a major conflict with the Pharisees, and it wasn't just because they were "mean." It was because they elevated their traditions above the Word of God. I’ve recently been studying the idea that Jesus was what you might call a "Karaite Jew"—someone who exalts the written Word over man-made traditions. The Pharisees believed that their oral traditions could actually supersede the Bible.

We do the same thing today. We presuppose things when we read the Bible because of the theology handed down to us for centuries. We glaze over verses that contradict our "church doctrine." But the Spirit of Truth wants to break through that. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8 KJV).

Success isn't defined by the world’s standards. You can’t serve God and Mammon. If you’re always worried about how you’re going to pay for a ministry project, you’re putting the physical cart before the spiritual horse. Look at George Mueller. He ran orphanages entirely on faith. He never asked for a dime; he just prayed in his closet, and God provided. That is the spiritual relationship with a Biblical Jesus that I am so passionate about you developing.

The Luke 10 Blueprint

In Luke chapter 10, Jesus gives us a blueprint for how to actually do this work. He didn't just tell the twelve Apostles; the Bible says He appointed "seventy others" as well. That means this is for all of us.

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. (Luke 10:1-2 KJV).

I want to focus on that phrase "send forth." In the original Greek, the word is ekballo. It’s a strong word. It’s the same word used when Jesus "cast out" demons. It means to eject, to thrust out, to expel. It’s almost a violent word. Why? Because we are prone to staying in our comfort zones! We like our coffee, our air conditioning, and our stained glass. God often has to "ekballo" us—thrust us out—through circumstances or persecution to get us into the field where the crops are rotting.

Lambs Among Wolves

I remember a time when my wife, Susan, and I went out to pray for people. It was a cold afternoon, and my stomach was in knots. The "ego" in me was screaming, "You’re going to look stupid! People are going to reject you!" We felt like lambs among wolves, just like Jesus said. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:3 KJV).

We stood on a street corner, just watching people go by. I saw a man limping, looking exhausted. The "business" side of my brain wanted to calculate the risk, but the Spirit said, "Go." We approached him, and I simply asked if we could pray for his leg. He looked startled—a wolf-like glare at first—but then his shoulders dropped. As we prayed, I could feel the presence of the Lord. That’s the thing: the Shepherd is always with the lambs. We don't have to be "tough"; we just have to be obedient.

Jesus told the seventy to carry no purse, no script, and no sandals. This is a reflection of total faith. We spend so much time worrying about "God's bill," but if it's "God's will," He pays the bill. We don't need ten-million-dollar mansions or private jets to do the work of the Kingdom. The laborer is worthy of his hire, and that "hire" is often just a meal and a place to stay while you share the Word.

Personal Reflections

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not perfect at this. I’m still working this out in my own life. There are days when I’d rather stay in my "barn" and paint the walls than head out into the muddy fields. But I look at the compass heading that Jesus gave us, and I see how far we’ve drifted.

I’ve realized that my fear of looking stupid is just pride. We are more worried about the opinion of man than we are about being approved by God. Jesus warned us that many would come to Him on that day saying, "Lord, Lord," and claiming they did mighty works, but He would say, "I never knew you." Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 KJV).

I don't want to be the guy who did "mighty works" within the safety of a church building but ignored the command to "go." I want to know Him—the spiritual component, not just the academic one. Jesus corrected me through the realization that "healing the sick" is the "dinner bell" for salvation. When we venture out on faith and pray for people, and they see the power of God manifested, their hearts open to the Gospel. If we refuse to pray for the sick when we see them, are we truly following His command?

Biblical References

The foundation of everything we do must be the Word. I often go back to the Great Commission in Matthew. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV).

Notice He says to teach them to "observe all things." That means if Jesus told His disciples to go out two by two, heal the sick, and rely on faith, they were supposed to teach the next generation of disciples to do the exact same thing. It’s a chain reaction. If we aren't doing what He commanded, we aren't making Biblical disciples.

In Luke 10, Jesus also emphasizes the "Son of Peace." And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. (Luke 10:5-6 KJV). This shows us that we don't have to force the Gospel on everyone. We look for where the Holy Spirit is already working—the "Son of Peace"—and we stay there. We disciple that person, that household, until the mission is done. This is how Paul worked in the book of Acts. He stayed with people like Lydia, pouring the Word into them. He didn't just collect a decision card and move on to the next stadium.

Key Takeaways

• The Field is the World: Sinners aren't going to walk into a church building any more than a criminal is going to walk into a police station. We must go to them.
• Ekballo Faith: We need to pray for the Lord to "thrust" us out of our comfort zones and into the harvest.
• Currency of Faith: Stop worrying about the finances. If God calls you to it, He will provide the "seed to the sower."
• Healing as a Witness: Healing the sick isn't an end in itself; it’s the "dinner bell" that proves the Kingdom of God has come near.
• Discipleship over Decisions: Success is measured by those who "observe all things," not by how many people raised their hands at the end of a sermon.

Conclusion and Call to Action

We are living in urgent times. The harvest is truly great, but the laborers—well, they’re a bit lazy. We’ve been "painting the barn" for too long while the world outside is starving for the Truth. It’s time to put down the paintbrush and pick up the sickle.

I want to encourage you to develop that deep, spiritual relationship with the Biblical Jesus. Don't let tradition nullify the Word of God in your life. If you’ve been feeling that "tug" to go deeper, to actually live out the Luke 10 model, don't ignore it. That might just be the Spirit of Truth trying to "ekballo" you into your destiny.

If this message challenged you or if you’ve had experiences stepping out in faith like this, I want to hear from you. Please leave a comment on ConradRocks.net or reach out to me on social media. And if you’re struggling with fear or spiritual opposition, check out my book Overcoming Night Terror for more on walking in the authority of Jesus.

Dig deeper and go higher!

Action Items

• Pray for Ekballo: Ask God specifically to thrust you out into a situation where you can share His love this week.
• Go Two by Two: Find a "prayer partner" or a fellow believer and go to a public place simply to be available to pray for people.
• Identify a "Son of Peace": Look for someone in your life who is open to spiritual things and commit to discipling them rather than just "witnessing" once.
• Audit Your Traditions: Read through Luke 10 and Matthew 28 this week and ask the Holy Spirit to show you if any of your "church habits" are actually hindering the Great Commission.
• Subscribe for More: Follow the podcast and blog at ConradRocks.net to keep receiving "Rocks of Revelation" to fuel your spiritual journey.