To Finish His Work

Introduction

Jesus Christ came to this earth to “seek and to save” and you and I are tasked with carrying on that mission in His stead. Luke 19:10/II Corinthians 5:20

In this passage of scripture Christ exhorts His disciples to action. It may be that they had lost sight of their purpose, that they had simply become distracted from the mission, or that they were not giving proper attention to the need at hand, but whatever the case Jesus sought to stir their hearts and to motivate them to labor to reap the harvest that lay before them.

Based upon what we have seen in our world over the last several weeks and months we know that there is a:

Ripe Harvest waiting to be reaped (Vs. 35)

According to the most recent statistics around 31% of the world identify themselves as Christians. This means that 69% of the world’s population identify with some other religious affiliation or are non-religious. This amounts to around 5.3 billion people.

There has never been a larger harvest in the history of the world. How many of these people are searching for the truth and could be reached with the gospel?

In 1990 85% of Americans identified themselves as Christians while in 2019 the number has dropped dramatically to 65% of the population. We as believers are evidently doing a poor job of reaching the next generation for Christ. Around 115 million people identify themselves with something outside of Christianity or have no religious affiliation at all. 1 in 4 adults 18-22 claim no religious affiliation.

The fields are ripe for harvest not just around the world but right here in America.

Our world is in a state of unrest and turmoil like we have never seen and in light of this we know that there are many who are looking for answers, looking for hope and peace in the midst of the chaos and you and I have the answer that they need.

How many people in America and around the world are searching for the truth? How many have watched their faith fail them as they have dealt with the fear and turmoil that has gripped the world over the last several months.

How many have paused and taken time to consider their own mortality over the last few months? How many people are more receptive now to hearing the gospel than they have ever been?

There is no question that the harvest is ripe in the day and age in which you and I live. There are likely millions and maybe even billions of people who would be willing to listen to someone tell them about Jesus Christ and the gospel right now.

So many believers have been waiting for the right season to share the gospel, well the time is now! Let’s not miss the momentous opportunity that has been handed to us to give the gospel and to bring men and women into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Yet if the harvest is to be reaped there is a:

Requirement for Labor (Vs. 36a)

Today the harvest fields are larger than ever before and there is yet a tremendous need for laborers who will enter into the harvest in fields foreign and domestic. Luke 10:2- the harvest is great but the laborers are few.

There is still a great need for men and women who will enter into the harvest fields and reap the harvest. There are areas across America and around the world which stand in great need of someone who will faithfully sow the seed of the Word of God.

The harvest is ripe but the question remains who will enter into the field to reap this bountiful harvest?

The problem is that the majority of professing Christians are not even attempting to sow or reap so that the harvest does not waste.

Illustration- farmer who allows his field to ripen but never enters into the field to harvest the fruit the field produced.

There is certainly a harvest to be reaped right here in Clovis, NM, but if we are to gather in the fruit of this harvest we must sow the seed of the Word of God and strive to reap the harvest by leading people to Christ.

It is our responsibility as a church and as individual Christian to strive to reap the harvest for Christ in our community

There are other harvest fields that are ripe for reaping such as the Navajo nation where Bro. Barnett is laboring to sow the seed of God’s Word and to reap the harvest there.

There are foreign fields where the harvest is ripe and there are men and women that God has called to go to sow the seed and reap the harvest there.

There are many fields that you and I may never visit but we can provide prayer and financial support to those whom God has called to go to these fields.

We should have a vision for reaching the entire world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and we should do whatever God instructs us to do to see people reached with the gospel message.

The harvest will not happen without believers becoming involved in the work! We must each follow God’s leading and give and go as He would have us to. God may never call you to leave your home and family to go but He has certainly called you to go into the community where you are with the gospel. You may never be able to give thousands of dollars to missions but you can give something to support those who are called to leave their family to reach a people that need to hear.

If we will each do our part:

Rejoicing Among the Laborers (Vs. 36b)

If we will go out into the field that God has called us to, and we will give to support others who are going to the field that God has called them to, then we will one day be able to rejoice together over the bountiful harvest that God has blessed us with.

There is surely a bountiful harvest to be reaped but we must labor together in the fields as God gives us opportunity in this life if we expect to be among those rejoicing over the harvest that is reaped.

You may sometimes be the one who reaps the harvest that others have sowed and you may sometimes be the sower who sows the seed that another will one day reap but either way we can rejoice together in the fact that we have done what God has called us to do and we filled our role in the harvest.

Psalm 126:6- doubtless come again with rejoicing. For those who will be faithful to do what God has called them to do there will be a time of rejoicing, sadly many will instead be filled with regret because they missed the opportunity that God gave them to labor in the harvest fields.

Luke 15:10- there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents and turns to Christ.

What a joy it is to be able to play even a small role in bringing sinners to Christ. Oh how we ought to rejoice that God allows us to have any part in such a wondrous work!

Will you be among those rejoicing? Have you done what God has led you to do? Are you going here in your community to give the gospel to those who are yet lost? Are you giving to support those that are have been called to go to another people to reach them with the gospel?

Will you instead be filled with regret because you failed to go and tell others about Christ, and you failed to give as God was leading you to support those who are leaving all to follow the call of God upon their lives?