ARE YOU A HARVEST HELPER?
World Missions is hindered by a labor shortage. There is, however, no shortage of harvest – only harvesters. Jesus said, “The harvest is great but the laborers are few.”
The modern concept of discipleship is inferior to that of the early church era. Each convert of the early church was encouraged to be involved in evangelism.
Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”
In our generation, if we are to evangelize every creature, we must mobilize every believer. The Good news? – God has a plan!
#1. GOD’S PLAN FOR THE HARVEST:
Is A Spiritual Plan. Acts 1:8 “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:…”
The Personnel – “Ye”, meaning Spirit filled believers.
The Power – “Receive power” to evangelize.
The Promise – “Ye shall” (Read Ephesians 5:18).
Is A Simple Plan. “Ye shall be witnesses.” A witness…
Speaks what they have heard. Acts 4:20 "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." John 4:29 "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?"
Shows what they have seen. John 9:25 "He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
Shares what they have experienced. 1 John 1:1-3 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Is A Specific Plan. Acts 1:8 "…in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
We are to go into… Jerusalem (our city); Judea (our country); Samaria (neighboring country); the uttermost part of the earth (the whole world).
Is A Simultaneous Plan. "Both" means at that same time. This will take…
A Universal Effort to reach "every creature".
A United Effort – Acts 2:42-47.
An Unselfish Effort to accomplish the task.
#2. GOD’S PLEA FOR THE HARVEST: Matthew 9:38 "Pray ye there-fore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest."
Why Is There A Labor Shortage In The Harvest?
Indifference: Matthew 9:38 "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
Defiance: Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
Insurgence: Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
Resistance: John 15:26-27 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."
What Is The answer?
Romans 13:11-14 “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:… 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
#3. GOD’S PROMISE FOR THE HARVEST: There are five divine promises associated with our Missionary Mandate.
His Presence:
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore,…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
His Protection:
Mark 16:15-20 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
His Provision:
Luke 24:45-49 “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
John 15:26-27 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”
His Peace:
John 20:18-21 “Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
His Power:
Acts 1:8 “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:…”
Prepared by
Pastor Kevin Burden
Carter Creek Baptist
For Sunday AM, Oct 21, 2007
