Harvest Time

Text: Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (06/23/02)

Introduction:   

ILLUS: The Blessedness & Joy of harvest time.   IE. Israel’s Feasts (That’s the goal, the purpose of having a crop).

APPLY: To our life as believer’s – “But gather the wheat into my barn.” Vs.30  It will all come to fruition!!!

C.H. Spurgeon preached a message on that one Phrase.

“BUT” – A word of Separation

“GATHER” – A word of Congregation

“THE WHEAT” – A word of Designation

“INTO MY BARN” – A word of Destination

Chapter 13 is full of parables that illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven.   (A series of seven parables).

This is the only one that is given a word of explanation by Christ. (Vs. 36-43).

The Sower = Christ

The Field = The world / Not the church!!

Good Seed = Believers (Also God’s Word)

Tares = Unbelievers (Also false doctrine, beliefs, ideologies, worldviews etc.)

Enemy = The devil

Harvest = Final judgment

Reapers = Angels

There are bushels of truth in these verses.  My hope is that we can gather in a few kernels, just a few sun-kissed golden grains of truth.

PURPOSE: To emphasize the Lord’s tender care for His own (The Wheat)

His mercies are evident from the planting right through to the harvest – From the cradle to the grave.

I. Deliberately Sown

In the parable of the soils the seed was scattered or broadcast randomly.  In this parable we have a planting that is deliberate and selective.

What does that tell us about the believer’s special relationship to Christ?

A. Believers are Chosen People

Ephesians 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

2 Timothy 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

John 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

1 John 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

B. Believers are planted where God Chooses

The field is Huge – It is the World

God planted us where He did for a reason.  He moves and directs our lives for his specific purposes and within His sovereign control.

Psalms 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

C. Believers are planted in the very best of soil.

ILLUS: LOOK UP & READ Isaiah 5:1-4A

II. Delicately Separated

The enemy attacks….

The attack is through infiltration rather than a direct act of sabotage.

At one time there were only believers in the world (Adam & Eve)

And again on another occasion – (Noah and his family who found grace in the eyes of the Lord).

But Satan infiltrates with his people and his philosophies into families, societies, and even into churches.

“While men slept” – The church is asleep, but Christ is not sleeping!!!

Wheat and Tares must grow together!  Why??

NOW you cannot get away from this fact!!

Believers and unbelievers are in this world, faith and infidelity coexist side by side.

At work, in the marketplace, in the home….

And for a time God allows it.

But Why????

A. For the Protection of the Wheat

ILLUS: Tares are very similar to the wheat – May even have a bud, but no fruit in the bud.

In an effort to pull the tares some wheat would be lost!!

IMP. NOTE: - Tares are not spared or allowed to grow up along with the wheat for their own sakes, but for the sake of the wheat!!

The tares in the end are bundled and burned.

SINNER – your life is good and comfortable and temporarily undisrupted for the sake of the wheat!!

Don’t You See It!??

ILLUS: Sodom & Gomorrah  LOOK UP & READ Gen 18:23-32

B. For the Fulfillment of God’s Purpose

God has a perfect will.

God has a plan for the ages. (EXPLAIN)

From eternity past unto eternity future.

James 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

We would mess it up, and some try, But God’s plan will not be thwarted or disappointed.

Satan’s foul purposes will come to no happy conclusion.

C. For the Full Potential of the Harvest

1). God is not willing for any to perish.

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2). We are still here for one main reason.

The Great Commission

3). Many of Israel yet to be saved.

READ Romans 9, 10 & 11 Sometime

Romans 11:25-26  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

III. Decidedly Spared

Matthew 13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

There may be confusion among  men, but in God’s eyes there is no mistaking His own!!!

A. Salvation is Full

Victory / God’s Will (perfect & complete) / Sufficiency of His Grace /

Hebrews 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

2 Corinthians 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

B. Salvation is Final (no turning back)

Romans 11:29  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

C. Salvation is Forever

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Conclusion:     (Review)

MAIN POINTS

1. Deliberately Sown

2. Delicately Separated

3. Decidedly Spared