The Harvest Is Ready, Are You?

Introduction

This month we focus on the subject evangelism. A great work of the church.

It’s the sole way God has chosen to imprint His message on the world

Paul saw his task as a minister something God “entrusted” to him. 1 Thes 2:4 “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”

In the spiritual warfare, our only means of offense is the word of God, which must be proclaimed if we hope to see souls saved.

This country is in desperate need of change.

The text comes on the backdrop of a call to consider the cost of true to discipleship!

Now we can see an area that discipleship can apply

There is no greater service than working in God’s great mission.

For those committed to God’s mission - Encouragement to continue the good work.

What’s Happening in the Text (Exegesis)

Luke 10:1 “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.”

Manuscript and witness evidence makes “70” preferred than “72”

Notice the word is placed before the express presence of Jesus*

Luke 10:2 “And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

I have good news and bad news. . .

Good news: The harvest is plentiful - it’s white to harvest (grain when ready to harvest would glisten in the field indicating readiness to pick)

There many people who do not have God in their lives

There are many people who have not submitted to the gospel

There are many people who don’t have hope in this world

The fields are ready, Am I?

Bad news: The labourers are few

What does Jesus say in light of this?

“Pray”

We are not doing it by ourselves - 1 Cor 3:9 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

God gets the glory - 2 Cor 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”

“If all of your prayers were answered in the affirmative, would your kingdom expand...or would God’s?” - Dave Pacheco

“Lord of harvests” - This designation makes it clear that God is the one in control. RESOURCES, STRENGTH, WORKERS, RESULTS. . .Everything leads back to God.

Am I ready to Pray?

Prayer is Powerful - James 5:16-17

Prayer can be done by everyone - 1 Thess 5:17

Prayer acknowledges God’s power and our need - 2 Cor 12:9

What can we pray for?

Boldness|Open hearts for those we study with|Strength|Those who dedicated their life to this labour

Pray for a receptive heart and a bold spirit - God will give the increase!

Who can we pray for?

Spouse, child, neighbour, friend, loved one, colleague, classmate, etc.

The first step we take in this work is actually on our knees - Am I ready to pray?

Luke 10:3 ““Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

“Go” is an imperative - This is not in the category of an OPTION but an OBLIGATION.

Harvest time meant go time. it was a time of opportunity, and you did not want to miss the opportunity.

“lambs in the midst of wolves” - You won’t do this unless it is absolutely necessary, except, that it is!!!

At the mercy of the world

I must turn to God - This has to be my response

This command highlights that this mission is not going to be comfortable or welcomed everytime.

Luke 10:4-6 ““[Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes;] and greet no one on the way. “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ “If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.”

We see the urgency of the call

We see the discmofort it will bring you/others

We also see that God will provide

2 Cor 4:7-8 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;”

2 Tim 3:11 “persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!”

1 Thes 2:18 “For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.”

It’s going to be difficult at times. The joy is that God sees, and will not forget your labour. Luke 10:20.

These verse highlight the need for sacrificing, trusting God’s providence. Not being burdened by the material things, focused!

Acts 20:22-24 ““And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. “[None of these things move me] But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

Am I ready to Go?

We are going with the Lord of Harvest

We go with the one that “gives the increase”

We go in a time that is critical

Luke 10:7 ““Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.”

This is a work and the work will need support. Giving then, becomes necessary.

“the man of peace” - beleiver or one who receives the message peacefully. Point is, Jesus doesn’t leave this unaddressed.

There are things Jesus say pay no mind to but not this.

The labour/labourer is worth the support.

1 Cor 9:14 “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”

1 Tim 5:17 “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

Php 4:15-16 “You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.”

Am I ready to give my time?

Am I ready to give my energy?

Am I ready to give from what I earn?

Everything we say “is mines” is actually God’s and should be used for His purpose!

Am I ready to Give?

BONUS POINT# LUKE 10:20 ““Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”” The joys of the work pale in comparison to the joy of your name being written.

Php 4:3 “Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

Baptisms, restorations, growth, development, but nothing compares to your name being written.

My joy is in knowing God, my relationship with Him

The work doesn’t always have these moments of Joy

Paul and Silas|Peter|Paul “left for dead” Acts 14:19. If my joy is only in the nice moments what happens when the hard momensts come.

Paul said Php 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” - His true desire was Jesus. Php 1:23 “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;”

The Call

#1 - To those who have been labouring in the feild [strength, endurance, not get weary]

#2 - To those that are getting weary [someone still needs you, God still has use for you, God is seeing your effort]

#3 - To those that have not been urgent with this call, God is still calling labourers to the field will you stand up and be counted and get busy bringing the lost to Jesus

#4 - To those who have not obeyed, the reason why we are preaching this today, is you!!! This message is to urgent for you to ignore.