Harvest @ 1st
Introduction: We are living today in the most exciting time in all of history.
Why? Because there’s more people alive today than there’ve ever been.
And before Jesus comes back (which could be at any moment), the
Church has the potential for bringing literally millions of souls into the
Kingdom of God. The title of my message today is: “Harvest @ 1st”
Text: Our text today is found in: John 4:5-30. It’s the story about the
woman at the well (tell the story).
? He went to the Samaritan village of Sychar where He met the woman at the well (vss. 5-7)
? He broke tradition by speaking to a Samaritan woman (the Jews had nothing to do with the Samaritans). (vss. 7-9).
? He told her about living water (never thirst again) (vss. 10-14)).
? She then asked for a drink of the water (vs. 15).
? He read her mail (vss. 16-18).
? He told her that He was the Messiah! (vs. 26).
? The woman left her jar and went and told the entire town that she met the Savior! (vss. 28-30).
Through this true story today we can see that Jesus experienced a harvest of an entire town because of His obedience to His Father through the leading of the Holy Spirit. And this story gives us an example on how we, the Church, can experience a great harvest in these last days too. Using His guidelines, we find that there are several things we must do to make the last days harvest a reality.
Prayer: Let’s pray.
I. The 1st Thing We Have To Do Is Realize There’s A Need To Harvest.
A. Luke 10:2 (AMP), “And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.”
B. We have to see humanity like the Father sees them.
1. There has to be a burden for the lost!
a. We have to be like Jesus!
(1) filled with compassion (expound).
II. The 2nd Thing We Must Do Is Follow His Direction And It’s Automatic!
A. Matthew 4:19 (NKJV), “Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Matthew 4:19 (East-to-read-Version), Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish."
Matthew 4:19 (GNB), “Jesus said to them, "Come with me, and I will
teach you to catch people."
1. Two of the greatest words in the Bible (at least to me) are: FOLLOW and MAKE.
2. In the Greek the word Follow is - dyoo'-the. It means: come here, come now! Websters Dictionary says to follow means: to copy after : IMITATE (expound).
3. The Greek word for Make is - poy-eh'-o – it means: to produce,
construct, to prepare, to appoint or ordain, to make a person do something; to carry out, to execute, to perform (expound).
B. To be a person that “catches” people for Christ is to me a missionary
– that is a person with one and only one mission (to IMITATE Jesus
– Expound).
C. If we follow Jesus, He will MAKE us ministers of the gospel – by
living (showing) the gospel to others – by declaring His good news – and by demonstrating His power
1. Preaching of the gospel must be accompanied by manifestation
of God’s power: (1Cointhians 2:4, Mark 16:20)
2. The power of God manifested is a sign that leads unbelievers to
God (1Corinthians 14:23-25).
III. We Have The Authority And The Power To Do This!
A. Matthew 28:18-19 (NLT), “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have
been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
1. We must be open to the Holy Spirit and His gifts (vs. 29) and use
them with the power and authority we have through Jesus
(expound).
IV. Do God’s Will and finish His Work (v 34)
A. John 4:34 says (NLT), “Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment
comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing
his work.”
B. God’s will is to bring in the harvest: It’s not His will that anyone should miss Heaven!
1. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his
promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient
with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance.”
C. It’s not enough to start but to finish. On the cross he said it is finished.
1. Paul fought to the end to see souls saved and guess what? He
finished what he started. 2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought the
good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
(expound).
V. Know that now is the time (v 35a)
A. John 4:35 (NLT), “You know the saying, ‘Four months between
planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The
fields are already ripe for harvest.
1. The harvest Jesus is talking about here is the last days. +
B. If we don’t do it – no one will (expound)!
2. We have to do it! It’s our mandate! It’s God’s command!
(expound).
VI. And God Has Already Given Us A Vision For It (v 35b
But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for
harvest.
A. It’s important that we don’t lose the vision – without it we die!
1. We have to see it, feel it, taste it, hear it, touch it, and use it!
(expound).
Conclusion: The story of the woman at the well teaches us the principles
of the harvest. Are we prepared to enter in the harvest, to recognize the
time is now? Have you devoted you life to the Lord of the harvest? It’s not too late; you can do it now – right now! Proverbs 10: 5 (NIV) says, “He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
The Good News Bible says: “A sensible person gathers the crops when they are ready; it is a disgrace to sleep through the time of harvest.
The Message says it this way: “Make hay while the sun shines—that's smart; go fishing during harvest—that's stupid.” (expound and close).
