Harvest Time

Harvest Time

John 4:34-38

INTRODUCTION

A. A chapter of surprises.

1. In verse 9 we see a woman surprised that Jesus would talk to her.

a. More people should feel that way today…Unfortunately they don’t.

b. A woman surprised that Jesus knew all about her.

c. One of the most amazing things is that God knows us, everything we have ever done, and still loves us.

2. The disciples surprised that Jesus was not hungry.

a. His mind was no on His physical needs.

b. If you want to drown out your own problems, just begin to minister to others.

c. When we focus upon the ministries of God, we will forget our own physical needs.

d. Jesus said to Satan when tempted…Man does not live by bread alone!

3. The city of Sychar surprised by the changed woman.

a. When God’s grace reaches into the depths of depravity to save a person, the community will notice it.

b. If we want people to notice our church, we have to produce life altering results in the lives of our communities.

c. How do we make that impact? By telling em about Jesus.

4. One of the most important things to our Lord is the harvest of souls.

a. Unfortunately not many are being won today in America.

b. We are experiencing a drought in this country…a drought of Spiritual things!

c. There is less prayer in America that ever before.

d. Less Bible study…even amongst Christians.

e. Less church attendance.

f. There is more apathy in the churches today than there is in the business world.

g. As a result…there is no power in the churches.

h. Lives are not being altered because altars are empty!

5. Which brings us to this question?

a. If the harvest of souls is so important to Christ, shouldn’t it be just as important to the church?

b. Should it not be our main focus?

c. This morning I want to cover three subjects about the Harvest.

d. They are the same three He spoke of.

B. The Lord’s Surprising Message About the Harvest.

1. It’s Harvest Time.

2. Reapers Are Needed.

3. There are Rewards for Reapers.

John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

BODY

A. The Ready Harvest

1. There was a confusion about the time of harvest.

a. Jesus said the harvest is now…not when we think it should be.

b. How many times have we been “fittin to”, or “gonna” witness.

c. Or as soon as we learned a little bit more…

d. Or next year…or as soon as we took that class…

e. All of the good intentions in the world don’t cut it.

f. Jesus says the harvest time is now.

II Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

g. We have to rearrange our priorities to be in line with God’s.

h. We too, have to realize, there is no time like the present for witnessing.

i. We have to pray for the opportunity…then act when it arrives.

2. Getting Motivated for the harvest.

a. Jesus says…lift up your eyes…see the lost world around you!

b. If someone says they don’t see anyone…they haven’t lifted their eyes!!!

c. Just like in Jesus’ day, the fields are white unto harvest all around us.

d. But we have to be watching…looking constantly for the opportunity to tell someone about Jesus and what He’s done for us.

e. We need to focus our eyes upon Spiritual Matters.

f. If we are always focused upon the world, our eyes will be diverted downward.

g. Our focus becomes more upon the problems of this world and less on Spiritual matters.

h. When we are focused upon the world, our spirit suffers!

i. So who is to reap the harvest…we all are!

j. Young and old…new babe in Christ to mature Christians…Pastors to pewsquatters!

k. All of us are to be witnesses for Him…

l. Senior Saints…don’t think your time has passed.

m. You can be effective witnesses too.