Untitled Sermon (2)

We Must see the Condition

God has commanded us to work in His field, the world, to produce a great harvest of people brought into His kingdom. He said the harvest is plenteous. But what does it take for us to have a bounteous harvest?I. We must envision the harvest.

A. “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

Jesus

B. When we look at a plot of land, what do we see? Dirt? Rocks? Weeds? Work? Obstacles? A farmer looks at that same plot of land and envisions something quite different. He envisions a field filled with grain or some other crop ripe and ready for harvest. He sees the potential of the field.C. Jesus Christ was standing looking out across a sea of humanity and says “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” Did the disciples get the point? Did they see the harvest that Christ was referring to or were they seeing only people with no thought as to their spiritual condition and the state of their souls? Jesus saw the crowds. When we see we often just get a glimsp of a situation. Yet Jesus saw more that the people in the physical he perceived there condition. That is difficult to do. How do we see but see more than whats in our face?

Two weeks ago I was watching How to Get away with Murder. Annalise was trying to help one of the ladies who was in jail with her. SHe wanted to represent her. Annalise who is a expereinced lawyer wanted to help her but really did not understand. See they lady was a drug addicted prostitute at 50 years old. Annalise and her got into some heated dialogue and the lady said you can help me. If you want to help me help the me when I was 13 years old when I was given by my father to men to to use me sexually. I paraphrasing but the impact was enormous. It convicted me. I often see a person if a situation and might even be quick to pass judgement but before I do that I might want to really see them. See them in the moment that lead to their current situation.

D. Christ saw the need• “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

D. Christ saw the need• “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.E. Christ saw the harvest• “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous• Christ saw the magnitude of the harvest - plenteous• Christ saw the potential of the harvest – pray for laborers• I.E. Ezekiel saw only dry bones but God saw a mighty Army.F. We need to see the need. But we also need to see that God can and will meet that need. We must not only see men and women as lost but we must have a heart for the lost, and a deep and burning desire to see the lost come to a saving knowledge of Christ.II. We must prepare the soil for the seedA. Just like a farmer must clear the field and till the soil before he can have an abundant harvest of wheat, we must prepare the soil to receive the seed of the Word of God.B. If you simply scatter seed, some seeds are going to grow and some are not. However, if you put the time and effort into preparing the soil, you will get greater results. Soil must be prepared before it can be planted.C. "Prepare to Meet Thy God"D. “As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.”E. Relationships need to be established because it is by far the most effective way to bring people to Christ. Statistics tell us that the vast majority (75-90%) Christians were lead to Christ by a friend or family member. – Mike Stein, “Reaching Out”F. "The New Testament records tell of forty people, each suffering from some disease, who had been healed by Jesus. Of this number, thirty-four were either brought to Jesus by friends or Jesus was taken to them. In only six cases out of forty did sufferers find their way to Christ without assistance." -Dr. J. Wilbur

E. Christ saw the harvest• “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous• Christ saw the magnitude of the harvest - plenteous• Christ saw the potential of the harvest – pray for laborers• I.E. Ezekiel saw only dry bones but God saw a mighty Army.F. We need to see the need. But we also need to see that God can and will meet that need. We must not only see men and women as lost but we must have a heart for the lost, and a deep and burning desire to see the lost come to a saving knowledge of Christ

.II. Secondly we must have Concern for the harvest

Concern will cause you to want to do something about the situation. It is my concern that motivates me to want to help.

We must prepare the soil for the seed

A. Just like a farmer must clear the field and till the soil before he can have an abundant harvest of wheat, we must prepare the soil to receive the seed of the Word of God.B. If you simply scatter seed, some seeds are going to grow and some are not. However, if you put the time and effort into preparing the soil, you will get greater results. Soil must be prepared before it can be planted.C. "Prepare to Meet Thy God"D. “As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.”

E. Relationships need to be established because it is by far the most effective way to bring people to Christ. Statistics tell us that the vast majority (75-90%) Christians were lead to Christ by a friend or family member. – Mike Stein, “Reaching Out”F. "The New Testament records tell of forty people, each suffering from some disease, who had been healed by Jesus. Of this number, thirty-four were either brought to Jesus by friends or Jesus was taken to them. In only six cases out of forty did sufferers find their way to Christ without assistance." -Dr. J. Wilbur

Thirdly Consider the laborer

I found out that we fall short because we have not considered the role of the laborer. There is a reason laborers are few. Because we incorrectly see what a laborer for Christ is. First and foremost its not just another worker. A laborer for Christ must consider first of they are truly a laborer.

A laborer must seek the “things of Jesus Christ,” such things as truth, benevolence, holiness, entire consecration to the Divine will. The spirit of usefulness is devotion to the things of Christ! Look at

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals, and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house.” If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, “The kingdom of God is near you.” But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you.” Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’”

Our responsibility as Christians we follow the words and commands of Christ!

See when we consider the laborer we will pray for the laborers. This is not the work of the faint of heart. We have to pray that laborers who are true laborers come.

See some folks show up to work with no intention of working. They just showed up. We must show up with the intention to do the work who called us. Jesus i must do the work of my Father while it is day for when night comes no man can work!