Then cometh the Harvest...the Wayfarer...8/27/13
Then Cometh the Harvest
8/27/13
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, then cometh the
harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for
they are white already to harvest.”
(John 4:35)
For today’s message, we will examine
the time in which we live, and the urgency to get out the gospel now as opposed
to later.
The time to show God’s love is now, not tomorrow, because there has never been the promise that tomorrow will come for those you love.
We will, once again backtrack to put this message in context.
Here, we find Jesus speaking to his disciples after having had a conversation with a Samaritan woman. Let’s go back to the end of that conversation and pick up there, as the entire conversation is another message in and of itself. We will begin at the 21st verse:
The time to show God’s love is now, not tomorrow, because there has never been the promise that tomorrow will come for those you love.
We will, once again backtrack to put this message in context.
Here, we find Jesus speaking to his disciples after having had a conversation with a Samaritan woman. Let’s go back to the end of that conversation and pick up there, as the entire conversation is another message in and of itself. We will begin at the 21st verse:
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh when
ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship for salvation of the Jews,
But the hour cometh, and now is, when true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship for salvation of the Jews,
But the hour cometh, and now is, when true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which
is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”
(JOHN 4:21-26)
(JOHN 4:21-26)
Jesus reveals himself as the Messiah
to this woman ,who we will see in later verses can’t wait to spread the word of
his coming .To quote president Obama, she was instilled with the “fierce
urgency of now”.
Jesus told her that the dispute on where the most hallowed place of worship was, between the Jews and the Samaritans was insignificant.
It is not where we pray to God that counts, but that we pray and worship in spirit and in truth.
This means with a contrite heart and in full faith believing that the prayer is indeed heard by Him.
His statement that God is a Spirit shows us that God is everywhere, not just on some mountain or in some tabernacle!
This is part of the gospel that we must relay to others so that they understand NOT ONLY how important it is to worship, BUT THAT THAT WORSHIP MUST BE TRULY SINCERE!
The 27th verse picks back up:
Jesus told her that the dispute on where the most hallowed place of worship was, between the Jews and the Samaritans was insignificant.
It is not where we pray to God that counts, but that we pray and worship in spirit and in truth.
This means with a contrite heart and in full faith believing that the prayer is indeed heard by Him.
His statement that God is a Spirit shows us that God is everywhere, not just on some mountain or in some tabernacle!
This is part of the gospel that we must relay to others so that they understand NOT ONLY how important it is to worship, BUT THAT THAT WORSHIP MUST BE TRULY SINCERE!
The 27th verse picks back up:
“And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked
with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? Or Why talkest thou with
her?
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
Come and see a man which told me all that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Then went they out of the city, and came unto him”.
(John 4:27-30)
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
Come and see a man which told me all that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Then went they out of the city, and came unto him”.
(John 4:27-30)
The disciples show their inherent
prejudice against Samaritans, and the prejudice against women which prevailed at
the time, in that they “marveled” at Jesus even having a conversation with her.
They were afraid to ask why, but still questioned this act among themselves.
Today, we sometimes let our prejudices overrule what we as Christians are called to do, which is to witness to ALL mankind about our Savior.
Her sense of urgency showed the faith that she had.
It didn’t matter that Jesus was a Jew, and she a Samaritan. It shouldn’t matter to us today whether a man is of a different color or nationality or even taught as a child to believe in another religion. Our mission is simply to teach and spread the gospel that Jesus came to save all people.
They were afraid to ask why, but still questioned this act among themselves.
Today, we sometimes let our prejudices overrule what we as Christians are called to do, which is to witness to ALL mankind about our Savior.
Her sense of urgency showed the faith that she had.
It didn’t matter that Jesus was a Jew, and she a Samaritan. It shouldn’t matter to us today whether a man is of a different color or nationality or even taught as a child to believe in another religion. Our mission is simply to teach and spread the gospel that Jesus came to save all people.
The 31st verse picks up
again:
“In the mean while his disciples prayed him saying, Master,
eat.
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat?
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Say not ye there are four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to the harvest.
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat?
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Say not ye there are four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to the harvest.
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.
And many of of the Samaritans of that city believed on him
for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did
So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
And many more believed because of his own word;
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that his is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
(John 4:31-42)
So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
And many more believed because of his own word;
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that his is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
(John 4:31-42)
First Jesus is talking to the
disciples, letting them know that His mission was more important than his
physical needs.
He goes on to tell them to “strike while the iron is hot” to use a colloquialism, by telling them to look at the opportunity they have been given to preach the gospel to the Samaritans.
These people were the fields that He referred to as being “white unto the harvest.” He is telling them not to miss the opportunity that is right in front of them by continuing the journey that they had set out upon.
We too need to look at the opportunity placed in front of us daily to witness for Christ. The fields of sinners are full and ripe.
There are people hungry for the good news of God’s love. It is up to us, sinners saved by grace, to let them know that there is salvation, that it is a free gift, and that it is constantly available for the taking if they only ask in prayer in faith believing. (Spirit and Truth)
He goes on to tell them to “strike while the iron is hot” to use a colloquialism, by telling them to look at the opportunity they have been given to preach the gospel to the Samaritans.
These people were the fields that He referred to as being “white unto the harvest.” He is telling them not to miss the opportunity that is right in front of them by continuing the journey that they had set out upon.
We too need to look at the opportunity placed in front of us daily to witness for Christ. The fields of sinners are full and ripe.
There are people hungry for the good news of God’s love. It is up to us, sinners saved by grace, to let them know that there is salvation, that it is a free gift, and that it is constantly available for the taking if they only ask in prayer in faith believing. (Spirit and Truth)
Use the gifts you have and share the
love of our Lord., and the simple but urgent message of redemption through repentance. your message is only the same as the one He preached, nothing more nor less, that we need obey his commandment to love one another and to:
"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
I pray His blessing and favor on all who read these attempts to preach and teach the scripture and that some may find their way to Christ’s grace and love through them. I pray that all assist in the all-important harvest of souls by spreading the gospel to those around them.
For now I conclude with the love of this simple sinner saved by grace through faith in my Lord and his shed blood, for all who read this, only a soldier still and always in His service, and I salute you in the most precious name uttered on earth or anywhere else, Jesus.
"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
I pray His blessing and favor on all who read these attempts to preach and teach the scripture and that some may find their way to Christ’s grace and love through them. I pray that all assist in the all-important harvest of souls by spreading the gospel to those around them.
For now I conclude with the love of this simple sinner saved by grace through faith in my Lord and his shed blood, for all who read this, only a soldier still and always in His service, and I salute you in the most precious name uttered on earth or anywhere else, Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer
the Wayfarer
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