SOMETHING WE NEED TO SEE--John 4:35
Introduction: The Lord is sharing with His disciples the need to harvest at the right time. When wheat is ready to be harvested, the tops of the grain will turn white.
If it is not harvested at that time, it will rot and be of no use.
The Lord encourages us to look around us at the people ready to be harvested.
THE WOMAN AT JACOB’S WELL NEEDED:
i. SALVATION
ii. A SAVIOUR
iii. SATISFACTION
WE CAN NOTICE HOW READY THE PEOPLE WERE TO HEAR FROM:
a. VS. 39 “MANY BELIEVED”
b. VS. 41 “MANY MORE BELIEVED”
c. VS. 42 “NOW WE BELIEVE
Before we go we must SEE some things personally in our life.
WE NEED TO SEE…
I. THE LOVE THAT IS IN THE BIBLE
A. LOVE FOR THE OUTCAST (LUKE 6:32, 35)
B. LOVE FOR THE OFFENDER (GALATIANS 6:1)
C. FOR THE OBEDIENT “WE ARE NOT IN COMPETITION”
ILLUSTRATE: Show me a church where there is love, and I will show you a church that is a power in the community. A few years ago a little boy attended a Sunday school I know of. When his parents moved to another part of town, the little fellow still attended the same Sunday school, although it meant a long, tiresome walk each way. A friend asked him why he went so far, and told him that there were plenty of others just as good nearer his home. "They may be as good for others, but not for me," was his reply. "Why not?" she asked. "Because they love a fellow over there," he replied.
If only we could make the world believe that we loved them there would be fewer empty churches, and a smaller proportion of our population who never darken a church door. Let love replace duty in our church relations, and the world will soon be evangelized.
II. THE LAW THAT IS IN THE BIBLE
A. THE LAW OF SIN (ROMANS 6:23; GALATIANS 6:7, 8)
B. THE LAW OF THE SAVIOUR (II TIMOTHY 4:1; II CORINTHIANS 5:10; REVELATION 20:11-13)
ILLUSTRATE: Moses gave 365 prohibitions and 248 positive commands.
i. DAVID REDUCED THEM TO 11 IN PSALM 15:1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
ii. ISAIAH MADE THEM 6--ISAIAH 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil
iii. MICAH BINDS THEM INTO 3 COMMANDS-- MICAH 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
iv. HABBAKUK REDUCES THEM ALL TO ONE GREAT STATEMENT: HABAKKUK 2:4-Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. The just shall live by faith.
III. THE LIFE THAT IS IN THE BIBLE
A. THE LIFE THAT IS IN CHRIST (JOHN 14:6; JOHN 6:47)
B. THE LIFE THAT CAN BE CLAIMED
1. A LIFE OF FORGIVENESS
2. A LIFE OF FRUITFULNESS
3. A LIFE OF FULNESS
ILLUSTRATE: LOOKING AT LIFE OUTSIDE THE BIBLE, THERE ARE SEVEN AGES OF MAN:
1. SPILLS
2. DRILLS
3. THRILLS
4. BILLS
5. ILLS
6. PILLS
7. WILLS
ILLUSTRATE: LOOKING AT LIFE IN THE BIBLE, I THINK ABOUT THE LIFE OF WILLIAM BORDEN: In 1904 William Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school a millionaire.
His parents gave him a trip around the world. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people.
Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.”
When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: NO RESERVES.
Turning down high paying job offers after graduation from Yale University, he entered two more words in his Bible: NO RETREATS.
Completing studies at Princeton Seminary, Borden sailed for China to work with Muslims, stopping first at Egypt for some preparation. While there he was stricken with cerebral meningitis and died within a month. A waste, you say! Not in God’s plan.
In his Bible underneath the words No Reserves and No Retreats, he had written the words NO REGRETS.
Conclusion: THERE ARE MANY AROUND US TONIGHT WHO ARE RIPE TO HARVEST. WE NEED TO GO AND GIVE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF SALVATION. THIS WOMAN SIMPLY TOLD WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER AND A WHOLE TOWN BELIEVED. DO YOU SEE THE FIELDS? THEY ARE RIPE TO HARVEST. WHO WILL GO FOR THE LORD?
