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.
- Notice that verse 35 says that Jesus "went about ALL the cities and villages". The fact of the matter is that we live in the midst of a vast mission-field.
1. Talladega is a mission field
2. Munford is a mission field
3. Oxford, Pell City, Lincoln are all mission fields.
4. The Stockdale community is a mission field
5. Your place of employment is a mission field
6. Your school is a mission field
7. The bowling alley is a mission field
8. The football stadium and the basketball arena are mission fields
9. Wal-Mart is a mission field
10. And for some of you your own home is a mission field!
Wherever you go is a mission field! Wherever there are lost people is the mission field! And as a church and as individuals we must VISUALIZE!! We must look around and see the lost people everywhere we go! And we must see the devastating condemnation that awaits them if they die lost in their sins!
- And when we see the mission field then we must share the message! Notice:
B. The Message - v35b teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
We find in the latter part of this verse that Jesus healed sicknesses and diseases... For that very reason many people followed Jesus and there was always a crowd near Him looking for a miracle. But the fact that Jesus "preached the Gospel of the Kingdom" to them is much more important.
We know that Jesus healed sicknesses...He made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the mute to speak and the lame to walk. We even know that He raised people from the dead. But those were only temporary fixes... one day those who received a miracle would still die and face eternity. Even those who were raised from the dead would one day die again. But through the preaching of the Gospel... many received a miracle that would last throughout eternity! Through the preaching of the Gospel they received the miracle of salvation
- Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
There are people today who are looking for a miracle:
1) Some are looking for a solution to their financial problems
2) Some are in desperate need of a solution to their marital problems.
3) Some are facing a terminal diagnosis and are looking for a solution to their health problems.
And Jesus can solve each and every one of those issues! But there is no benefit in being happy, healthy, and wealthy in this life and then dying and going to Hell! Some people are only looking for a crutch... when what they truly need is the message of the Gospel!
- Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Without the Gospel there is no evangelism! Without the Gospel there is no mission work! Without the Gospel there is no help for those in the mission-field! It is imperative that we share the GOSPEL! In Romans 1:16 Paul said that "the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth"
Let us see the mission field and share with them the MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!! Jesus first shared the Gospel but He also served them and performed many miracles! Consider:
C. The Ministry - v35c and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Ministry involves more than just sharing it involves SERVING! Jesus healed many sicknesses and diseases. Not only did He heal physical infirmities He cast out many demons as well. On a couple of occasions He fed thousands of people. Throughout His ministry Jesus illustrated the importance of service. Jesus Christ was the ULTIMATE SERVANT! - Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
The entire life of our Savior was a life of service. Do you remember when He washed the feet of His Disciples? - John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. -- This was the job of a common slave, yet Jesus humbled Himself and served others. May we never look at a job in the ministry and think that it is below us! Service is vitally important in reaching others for Jesus!
Serving Others Points People To Christ - Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Serving others makes them think, "I wonder why he did that for me?" or "What makes her so different?"¨ Service is proof that we love God and it helps draw others to Him and His Church.
We are never more like Christ than when we are serving others -Philippians 2:5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal¡¦s death on a cross.
Not only should we "Love Them To Jesus" we must love them LIKE JESUS! Listen to the chorus of the Casting Crowns song "Love Them Like Jesus"
Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus
The word "Ministry" comes from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning "to serve" or douleuo, meaning "to serve as a slave." Throughout the New Testament, ministry is seen as service to God and to other people in His name.
We must minister by meeting people's needs with love and humility on Christ's behalf - Matthew 20:26 (Jesus said) ...whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
- An old preacher had witnessed to his neighbor Bill several times. Bill had no time nor desire to hear about Jesus. It came to a point to where the Bill told the preacher if he was going to talk to him about Jesus he would rather not talk to him at all. After some time the preacher saw the man walking down the street. He stopped and offered him a ride. The preacher learned that Bill's truck was not running and he was having to walk to and from work. The next morning the preacher was waiting in his neighbor's yard at 4:30 am to carry him to work. When work was over, there was the preacher to take Bill home. When they arrived the preacher took got out and opened the trunk and he had purchased the parts to fix the truck. While they worked together on the vehicle the preacher shared the gospel with his new friend. A few weeks later Bill trusted Christ as his Savior and Lord. And if you get to hear his testimony you will hear Bill explain how the love and service of an old preacher man lead him to Jesus!
Will you take the time this week to show someone the love of Jesus through service? If we are going to participate in the harvest of souls then we must VISUALIZE! Let us see the mission. share the message, serve in the ministry!
- As we move a little deeper in the text we will see that:
II. As Laborers We Must Agonize - v36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Jesus saw these multitudes and He was intensely moved with sympathy and pity because of their condition. They are described as being "sheep with no shepherd" This was a multitude of people who were utterly neglected concerning the interests of their souls. There was no shortage of people and there was no shortage of problems. As Jesus looked upon their hurting faces He had great compassion as to their situation. Today there is no shortage of people... AND THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS! It is not up to us to judge those people!
It is not up to us to condemn those people! We must realize that we were once as lost as they are now! It is time that we stop looking at the lost world as drunks, addicts, gays, adulterers, thieves, etc.! It is time that we see them as Jesus sees them....LOST SOULS THAT NEED A SAVIOR!!! The only way we will ever see a harvest of souls is if we come to a place of intense burden for those lost souls. We will not see a harvest of souls until we finally grasp the fact that hell is real and people are going there!
It is time that we quit playing the game... It is time that we quit going through the motions...It is time that we stop "doing church"... It is high time that we become the church! We must realize that we are the body of Christ... we are His hands and feet!
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way...JESUS IS THE WAY!
(If we are the body- Casting Crowns)
In order to Prepare For The Harvest... As Laborers We Must Visualize, We Must Agonize and finally we see that:
III. As Laborers We Must Evangelize - v37-38
- Evangelism is defined as the spreading of the Gospel of Christ by public preaching or personal witness. We saw earlier that our message in evangelism must only be the GOSPEL of CHRIST! Now Jesus begins to inform His Disciples of the reality of a harvest of souls.
Notice in verse 37 that:
B. Evangelism Is A Necessary Work - v37a Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous,
Jesus says to His Disciples... "look guys, there are plenty of people who need to hear the message... there are plenty of people who need to be served!"
The mission field is ripe and ready to harvest. Jesus wanted these men to know that there was a great work to be done! Today there are many, many more people in the field today than there was in Jesus' time. And these people are in great need! They are as sheep with no shepherd! These people are on a path that leads to destruction! And today, more than anytime in history EVANGELISM IS A NECESSARY WORK!
- Not only is Evangelism A Necessary Work, we find in verse 37 that:
C. Evangelism Is A Neglected Work - v37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Jesus makes it clear that the harvest is ready. There were people who need to be reached. But He also declares that there was a great problem... there are few laborers to work the fields. That is a problem that is present in 2015! There is a field ripe and ready to harvest, but there are few who are willing to work!
- Vance Havner once said, "The tragedy of our time is that the situation is desperate but the saints are not."
Three weeks before President John Kennedy was assassinated, he said, "Almost all presidents leave office feeling that their work is unfinished. I have a lot to do, and so little time to do it."
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have much work to do and little time to do it. We must give ourselves to it. The times demand urgent action. The gospel is only good news if it arrives in time.(From a sermon by Fred Markes, Bringing In The Harvest, 8/30/2011)
- Do you see the potential harvest?
- Are you willing to do what it takes to work the field?
- Will you see what Jesus saw?
- Will you feel what Jesus felt?
- Will you do what Jesus did?
- May we as a church come together and Visualize, Agonize and Evangelize!
- When we do these things, then we will be "Prepared For The Harvest"
