Preparing For The Harvest

Preparing For The Harvest

Matthew 9:35-38

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A story is told of an English traveler that so loved the wild flowers that grew at the sides of the lanes and in the fields of England, that when he went abroad he would fill his pockets with the seeds and (as (he went he would) scatter them broadcast.Each and every day there are opportunities for sowing the seed of God in some heart; it may be some simple word, some kindly act.Just a line in a letter we write, or a text we quote, and the seed is sown and some life is blessed.¡XA. Lindsey Clegg, in Youth with a Capital Y.

When speaking to the Corinthians Paul said "I have planted, and Apollos watered but it was God Who gave the increase. - Over the past couple of weeks we have been examining the importance of evangelism. Evangelism could be described as "sowing the seeds of the Gospel".

We are to till the soil... We are to sow the seeds... We are to work the ground... We are to water those seeds, but it God Who will give the increase. I am convinced that this year is going to be a great year of harvest here at Stockdale! From the scripture that we have read here in Matthew Chapter 9 we find that there is potential for a great harvest but there is also a GREAT PROBLEM... few laborers.

When you examine the wickedness of the world in which we live...When you see the evil that surrounds us it is clear that there is a great work to be done. If you are actively involved in this or any other church you are also aware that there are only a handful of people willing to roll up their sleeves and labor in the fields. The goal today is not specifically to recruit more laborers (though that would be an added blessing)

For the next little while I would like to consider the proper actions of those who are ready to get to work and participate in the harvest of souls. Our task today is sort of an "On The Job Training Program" for Kingdom Workers. The time for us to harvest is now... Jesus told His disciples in - John 4:35 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.

- Those fields are ripe and ready today. With that in mind I would like to take some time today and preach on the thought " Preparing For The Harvest" We will see three things that we must do as laborers in the Lord's field:

i. We Must Visualize

ii. We Must Agonize

iii. We Must Evangelize

- Let's begin in verse 35 with the fact that:

I. As Laborers We Must Visualize - v35

It is vitally important that we see the needs around us and then we must MEET THOSE NEEDS! We must see what Jesus saw! - He saw sheep without a shepherd! We must feel how Jesus felt! - He had compassion on the multitude! We must do what Jesus did! - He ministered to their needs!

Evangelism does not have to be an organized church "program"...But evangelism MUST be intentional! We must see people for what they are... lost souls in need of a Savior! We must comprehend the consequences of them dying without Jesus... they are destined for the Lake of Fire! We must realize that we have the information that they need to rescue them from that fate! If we are going to reap a harvest of souls then we a church must VISUALIZE!

We must see:

A. The Mission Field - v35a And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,

When we think about a "mission-field" many times we think of some place in a far away country. Places such as:

Nicaragua

Uganda

Ecuador

Columbia

Haiti

and many other places in Africa, Asia South America and all over the world. And it is true that these places are "mission fields". But let's not overlook the fact that there are places that are virtually un-reached here in America!

- The North American Mission Board estimates that there are 259 million people in the U.S and Canada who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through their "Send North America" initiative NAMB seeks to plant churches in 5 regions and 32 cities here in North America. Thankfully through mission giving we are able to participate in this great mission. (and there are opportunities for us to participle beyond a monetary gift.) There are countless opportunities for us to be involved in National and International missions. But we cannot just give money every now and then and think that we have fulfilled our responsibility when it comes to the mission-field.