Raiders Of The Lost VI
"Principles of The Harvest"
Matthew 9: 36-38 Rev. R. B. Hughes
INTRODUCTION
- When you think of harvest you think of farmers.
- Everything rises & falls on the harvest.
- Will they keep the farm another year?.... Depends on the harvest.
* A farm can only go on so long without a harvest.
· It can become a "hobby farm"
· A hobby Farm does not need a harvest to exist.
Afraid many of our churches have become ... "hobby churches".
You see everything depends upon the harvest at harvest time!!
- Other things become secondary.
The harvest waits for no man.
Matthew 9: 36-38 & Luke 10 ...... Talks about the harvest!
Harvest time was the happiest time of the year in Palestine (Ps.126:5-6)
It was marked by many religious festivals & feasts.
SHOW ME A CHURCH WITHOUT HARVEST AND
I’LL SHOW YOU A CHURCH WITHOUT JOY!
Jesus is not pleased with:
1. Fishing without catching (Luke 5:4-11)
- Ever fish like that? ... boring!! .. Rest? .. You can rest in heaven!
2. An empty banquet table (Luke 14:16-24)
- go into the highways & by ways .. compel: "Grab & pull them in"
3. Sowing without reaping (Matt.13: 3-9)
4. Fig tree with no fruit (Luke 13: 6-9)
- green leaves & shade were not good enough.
5. Lost sheep not brought into the fold (Luke 15)
6. Lost coin not sought & found (Luke 15)
7. A good harvest that is not reaped (Matt. 9: 36-38)
8. Proclamation with no response (Matt. 10: 14)
- Not just hearers but doers ... shake dust off & move on!
PRINCIPLES OF THE HARVEST (Matthew 9: 36-38)
1. We Have a Tendency To Postpone The Harvest.
- Sneak this in from John 4:35
- You say in four months!!
Jesus says: OPEN YOUR EYES!! LOOK AND SEE!! NOW!!!
"Lift up your eyes" ..... WHY? ... They are on yourself!
- Nothing will distract you more from the harvest than your eyes on yourself!!
Not later!!! ..... NOW!! "ALREADY TO HARVEST!!"
"Lift up your eyes" ... YOU HAVE A PURPOSE!!!
First principle of the harvest: IT IS READY NOW ... WE JUST HAVE TO SEE IT.
* Eyes off ourselves ... eyes off the ground ... Look to the fields!
SEE FOR YOURSELF!
*We talked "people of the harvest" last Sunday night*
* Jesus WENT - SAW - FELT - COMPASSION
2. The Harvest Is Plentiful (Matt. 9:36,37)
Joel 3: 13, 14 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
236 times in the bible word multitude(s).
The shortage is not found in the harvest!
Open your eyes ... lift up your eyes ... look on the fields ... white ...
Wherever there is darkness .... there is harvest!!
Try and count the kernels of Corn!
Try and count the grains of Wheat!
The "hobby church" doesn’t see nor need the Harvest!!
3. The Harvest Is Valuable
- Not likened to sand, pebbles ... grass .. BUT FIELDS.
- Importance , significance, worth.
- Again the existence of the farm depends upon the harvest!
Not just numbers .... people!!!
Not just multitudes of numbers ... multitudes of people!!
4. The Harvest Is Ready
- The people of this world are more ready to receive the Good News
than the church is ready to give it.
- If we don’t believe that we will not share the Gospel.
*** Attitude: Nobody wants to hear it.
Gallop Poll : Over 6 million people "What would it take to get you to church?"
#1 Answer: Someone to ask me to attend.
5. The Danger Of The Harvest
- Lies in the last few principles : Readiness ... Value ... Plenty ...
- Reap now or never.
WHY? Time of harvest will end ... what’s missed is lost!!
You cannot harvest when YOU have the time.
- You don’t say in July ... I’m not going to wait for Sept/Oct. .. I have time Now!
Jesus recognized this issue and points to another principle of the harvest!
6. The Workers Are Few (Matt. 9: 37)
- Some are reaping all they can ... But it is not enough!
- Jesus believed that results are proportionate to means used.
You can use a combine on the corn.
It’s people that harvest people.
How did you come to know the Lord?
.0001% .........TV or Crusade
1-2% ............. Cold turkey evangelism
2-4% ............. Church program
3-6% ............. Sunday School
4-6% ............. "Walk-in"
6-8% ............. Minister
74% ............. Friends and relatives
Many spread the "Seed"!! .... How many ask for decisions?
7. The Workers Are Special (Matt. 9:37)
- Labourers ..... Those who don’t mind getting their clothes dirty or wrinkled.
- Got enough Forman ... bosses ... counters .... etc.!
- Those who will go INTO the field!
* You must get close to the harvest
* Go with your sickle! (Word is sharp)
* Picture the man with the sickle ... is the bearer of death!!
* The bearer of Gods sickle is the bearer of Life!!!
God never sent the person who never troubles a mans conscience.
HOW DO WE GET THESE LABOURERS?
8. Ask The Lord To Send Workers (Matt.9:38)
"Therefore" ... Because of this great harvest with one problem
- Motivated by the harvest
"Pray to the Lord... OF THE HARVEST"
- It’s His.
- He knows it.
- He cares more than us about it.
"To send out workers"
- Thrust them out
- Gk: Forcefully push them out
* Same term used when Jesus "Cast out the demons".
Divine Compulsion
Not our doing .... Gods doing
"Into His harvest"
- Again ... "His"
* The harvest God sent His Son for.
* The harvest Jesus died for.
* The harvest the lord wants us aware of.
9. Go When You Are Sent (10: 1,5)
- How many times have you been sent when you are praying.
*** Go through the .. I’m unqualified (Isaiah .. "Woe is me .. undone .. unclean)
*** To the "Here am I, send me!
LIFT UP YOUR EYES ... FIELDS ARE READY ... PRAY .. A SHORTAGE
WANT A NEED TO FILL?
Remember the Spirit was sent not for our ENJOYMENT but for our EMPLOYMENT!
If you become a harvester in Gods fields you will never lack for purpose or something to do.
