Tunstall Apo. PM Sunday 17 Sept. 2006.

Place: Tunstall Apo.               Date: PM Sunday, 17th Sept. 2006.

Text: John 4:35-38.                Theme: It is harvest time.

Introduction:                          Reading: John 4:35-38.

          “Jesus said to them, Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not laboured; others have laboured, and you have entered into their labours.”

I have THREE points:

1. Verse 35 its ready to reap.
2. Verse 36 reapers are needed.
3. Verses 36-37 there are rewards for reapers.

1ST POINT: IT IS TIME TO REAP, VERSE 35.

          “Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

          The harvest is ready, Jesus asks us to pray for the harvest.

1. Prayer was crucial. “Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

A. Be in touch with the throne of God.
b. Be in tune with the will of God.

2. The problem was critical.
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.”

a. How encouraging to hear “The harvest truly is plenteous”

b. How disturbing to hear “The labourers are few.”

3. The harvest was crucial.

A.   There was confusion about the time of harvest.

B.   Not four months, BUT now.

C.   Today is the day of salvation, 2 Corinthians 6:2 “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

D.   We must get motivated for the harvest.

a.     Lift up your eyes; see people around you.

b.     Look on the fields; see them ripe for harvest.

c.      Ask the Lord to help you see the harvest through His eyes.

E.    Why is the harvest ready?
People everywhere are troubled, families, boys and girls.

a.     The world is adrift on a sea of immorality.

b.     Religiously the world is confused.

2ND POINT: REAPERS ARE NEEDED, VERSE 36.

          “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”

Having said this to His disciples, He now sends them forth. When you pray for something, it is always well to be willing to do it yourself. When our Lord asked the disciples to pray for labourers, He sent into the harvest these very men whom He asked to pray about it. The problem has persisted to this day, it seems; the need is always greater than the work-force.

Jesus asks us to partake in the harvest. Jesus wants us to have a vision.

a. “Lift up your eyes.”
b. “Look on the fields.”
c. Ezekiel 22:30 “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”

d. God is waiting for you to yield.
e. Are you willing now to say yes?

1.     There is joy in working in an abundant harvest.

2.     Most do not expect to harvest today. Why?
a. They are just holding on until Jesus comes.
b. They have very little witnessing, or soul winning.

3.     We must pray for labourers.

4.     We must become labourers.

5.     What are we doing in God great harvest?

3RD POINT: THERE ARE REWARDS FOR REAPERS, VERSES 36-37.

“And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.”

1. There are wages now. We can work for the now! To buy a new TV, car, or house etc. Which we will all leave behind!

2. Or we can work for the now and the future! The winning of souls for Christ. THERE WILL BE WAGES LATER, Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

CONCLUSION:

1. Who will work in the Lord’s harvest?
2. Who will reach the lost hell-bound world of sinful hurting people, who need to hear and accept the gospel?
3. Who will tell them of their problem and show them the way of escape?
4. WHO WILL share with them Jesus love, compassion and power?
5. Who will warn them of the false Shepherds that lead deeper into darkness?

The Lord needs somebody to go for him, to tell the gospel story. Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”