-
Reaping The Rewards Of Others
Contributed by Jeff Pearce on Jul 11, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: REAP WHERE YOU BESTOWED NO LABOUR, SOUNDS GOOD WHERE DO I SIGN UP? TRY THE ALTAR WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS!!
JOHN4:31-38
REAP WHERE YE BESTOWED NO LABOUR
INTRO: JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES
1: MASTER EAT
A) THE TWELVE ASKED JESUS TO EAT
B) THEY WERE CONCERNED FOR THE PHYSICAL WELL BEING OF THEIR MASTER
C) THEY WANTED TO IN ANY WAY HELP AND PROVIDE FOR JESUS HOWEVER THEY COULD
POINT: WE SEE HERE A EXAMPLE OF THE SERVANTS LOOKING TO DO GOOD FOR THEIR MASTER. THE CHURCH SHOULD ALWAYS BE SEEKING TO SERVE THE LORD, ALWAYS WORKING AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DO SOMETHING FOR GOD.
2: I HAVE MEAT TO EAT
A) JESUS DID NOT WANT THE FOOD THEY HAD
B) JESUS WAS MORE INTERESTED IN THE WORK HE WAS DOING FOR GOD.
C) THE DAILY COMMUNION HE HAD WITH THE FATHER WAS ENOUGH TO SATISFY HIS HUNGER. ( HIS SPIRTUAL HUNGER )
POINT: JESUS SHOWS US A VERY IMPORTANT THING HERE IN THE SCRIPTURE. HE WAS SO FOCUSED, AND SET ON DOING GOD’S WILL AND ACCOMPLISHING WHAT GOD HAD SET FOR HIM TO DO, THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO STOP NOT EVEN TO EAT. THE CHURCH AT TIMES CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN THE CARNAL OR WORLDLY ASPECT OF MINISTRY. EX: SUPPERS, BANQUETS, ETC. AND IF WE DO NOT PUT THE LORD IN THE FORE FRONT WE LOSE THE WHOLE MEANING OF WHY WE ARE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING!!
BODY: MY MEAT IS TO DO THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME.
1: THE LORD AN HIS HUNGER
A) THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA NEEDED A SAVIOR
B) THEY NEEDED THE LORD
C) HE WAS THERE AND HE KNEW THAT THEIR WOULD BE MORE WHO WOULD SEEK HIM OUT BECAUSE OF THE WOMAN’S TESTIMONY.
POINT: HIS DESIRE, HIS DRIVE, THE THING THAT DROVE HIS PHYSICAL BODY WAS DOING WHAT GOD HAD SENT HIM TO DO. THE CHRISTIAN WAS CREATED BY GOD FOR GOD. WE ARE EXACTLY THE SAME WE SHOULD SET OUR DREAMS OUR HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS ON SERVIN GOD AND DOING THE WILL OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER.
2: LIFT UP YOUR EYES
A) THE LORD USES A PARABLE OF SORTS HERE
B) THERE ARE YET FOUR MONTHS, AND THEN COMETH HARVEST
C) THIS PROBABLY SIGNIFIES THAT THERE IS NO RUSH OR NO NEED TO GET IN A HURRY.
D) JESUS COUNTERS THIS WITH TELLING THE DISCIPLES THAT THE FIELDS ARE WHITE UNTO HARVEST
POINT: SOME SEE NO NEED FOR URGENCY, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH, WE HAVE OUR SALVATION, OUR PASS, TICKET, FIRE PROOF SUIT, WHATEVER YOU LIKE TO CALL IT. BUT THERE IS STILL A LOST AND DYING WORLD RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH DOORS. THE URGENCY OF TAKING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS IS VITAL. THE FIELDS ARE WHITE THE HARVEST IS READY.
3: REAP WHEREON YE BESTOWED NO LABOUR
A) THROUGHOUT TIME AND HISTORY MANY HAVE COME BEFORE US
B) THE DISCIPLES HAD THE PROPHETS AND PATRIARCHS
C) THE LABOUR THEY LAID DONE SET THE STAGE FOR THE DISCIPLES TO REAP
D) WE ARE REAPING FROM THE LABOUR OF CHRISTIANS BEFORE US
POINT: IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REFLECT AND GIVE THANKS FOR THOSE WHO WORKED AND SOWED IN THE FIELDS BEFORE US. HEAVEN IS OUR REWARD AND JESUS DID ALL THE WORK FOR US TO REAP THE HARVEST OF HIS LABOUR.
CONCLUSION: WE NEED FOOD, BUT WE ALSO NEED COMMUNION WITH GOD. WE NEED REST BUT WE ALSO NEED WORK TO DO FOR THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. MANY HAVE SOWED BEFORE US AND WE CAN REAP FROM THEIR LABOURS, WE SHOULD SOW FOR THOSE WHO WILL COME AFTER US.