Eyes to See the Field
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31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35 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.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
Text Background:
Jesus gets up one morning and expresses to his disciples the urgency of his spirit…
4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
Bible does not record it but I am sure there were some questions because Jews did not go to Samaria...
Roads going to the east and to the west so that Jews did not have to go through Samaria...
Yet Jesus goes to the well and sends the disciples into town so to get lunch.
So he could meet the lady we simply call “the Woman at the Well”.
You know the story...
Disciples come back with full bellies and no converts.
Jesus has an empty belly and a city of converts!
The disciples are worried that Jesus is hungry
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Meat = food or sustenance
Answered their question of who brought Jesus food...
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
My “food” was revealing who I am to these beautiful, hungry people!
Here’s the problem:
Jesus sent the disciples into Samaria to satisfy a hunger they did not understand...
They thought they were at the grocery store to get baloney, bread and some mustard.
They didn’t realize that they were in a city that was starving for revelation!
These people were so hungry that Jesus revealed to these Samarians - BEFORE ANYONE ELSE - that he was the messiah!
She said I know that Messiah must come...
Jesus said in John 4: 26, I am he!!!
Verse 42 the town said, You are the Christ, savior of the World!!!!
Meanwhile here comes the chosen ones...
Back from town with their picnic lunches - skipping along clueless of who Jesus was!
Even the dogs knew...
The whole town knew...
No wonder there would be such revival in Samaria in Acts 8!!
But the ones that should have known, did not!
I can tell you what they were thinking just because people have not changed...
These Samaritans, they don’t want what we have!
It’s for us Jews!
We are the chosen ones after all!
They would not commit...
They would not accept...
They would not change...
They would not...
I met a man and his wife last night who is the COO of one of the fastest growing companies in the US for the past 5 years.
Sat with them at a Memorial Day event.
One of the first questions he asked me; what do you do?
Pastor.
What Kind?
Pentecostal.
Oh I love the Holy Spirit!
We will visit as soon as we get settled!
Walked back to the car; Sis. Alphin said
We have to stop assuming that people don’t want and wont embrace what we have!
This week God has been dealing with me with this thought
What what I do with the discards !
Discards are the unwanted.
It does not matter who or what they are on what their addiction are or life experiences
It does not matter the color of their skin
It does not matter the size of their bank account
It does not matter
Seven days from revival...
What a specific and special week it was. How poor
Here is what was accomplished: Transition
Power of worship
Never again be content to go through another service
Dig, push, make spiritual demands (warfare)
Inward (church) focus to outward (Kingdom) focus
11 yrs ago - 11 voting members in survival mode
Somehow we have never really got past that...
BUCK STOPS HERE… my fault!
Welcoming but NOT evangelis
Everything we do speaks to protecting what we have rather than growing what/who we are.
Park we like to go to
Isolated and convenient
Fallen into “When the church sales” mentality
Let things slide...
What is next?
Not sure...
Sabbatical June 15-19
I need your prayer
What I am sure about...
I’m done with the “When the church sales” mentality.
It’s our move!
All this year has been about our response
Get some stuff done
Raise awareness of guest impressions
Start simple
Pick up your trash
Don’t leave your coffee cups, coke cans, laying around
If you eat breakfast here, throw your trash away
If you see an full trash can, empty it
Brooklynn - sometimes you are a little lax at home… cup left on the sink
Invite your friends to the House of God!
What I need from you?
Examine your heart
Protect your heart
Some things will change
Not being mean to you when rules are enforced
Big brother spirit
Why do they need so much time with the pastor?
Pray for eyes to see the field