The Waiting Harvest

Gospel of John  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Last week we looked at the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. We saw Jesus sharing the Gospel even with those who were looked down upon in his culture. This week we will see that his labors were not in vain and indeed there is a great harvest of souls here as many in the town recognize him as the Savior of the world. I find it interesting that the Jews recognized Jesus power and even his authority to some degree but failed to recognize him as Savior and Messiah as these Samaritans did. In this story we see a harvest of many souls come out of the conversation Jesus had with one person. That one woman who many would have ignored influenced the entire town to come and hear him and many more believed because of it. You never know the influence one person can have on the world. So how do we become harvesters of souls for God? I believe this story gives us three reasons we are not seeing results from our efforts to “seek and save the lost.” Look with me at John 4:27-45
John 4:27–42 ESV
Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Passion for the Lost

The first reason we are not seeing a harvest is that we do not have a passion for the lost. We are so self-centered, worried about our careers, bills, families, health and other worldly concerns that the spiritual state of our neighbors never even crosses our minds, until we come to church. Its not an issue of whether we think we should or not but rather we are not passionate about it and our passions determine our actions. I want you to notice the first thing the Samaritan woman does after realizing who she is talking too.
John 4:27–29 ESV
Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”
Notice she left her water jar behind, that part of her daily routine was no longer important. She had found something more important. Instead she immediately goes and begins telling everyone who will listen about Jesus. This is the excitement the passion that we see in those who are new to salvation. They want to tell everybody, friends, family, the gas station attendant, tell them all. We loose that excitement as we age as Christians. We forget the depths of our depravity and thereby forget the wonderful nature of the gift of salvation. The sweetness of his grace and mercy.
Look at her influence, as she talks to the town, it says that they went out to see Jesus, that many believed because of her testimony, and more believed after hearing him for themselves. Why would the town listen to such a woman of ill-repute. I propose they listened because this woman who had avoided everyone for years, who hid her face in shame is now loudly proclaiming Jesus. Everyone wants to meet the one who causes such change. I also submit to you that Jesus is still changing lives today. That Jesus can change the hearts of men and women in our communities and draw all men to himself.
Note that her testimony was not a great speech but rather simply “come and see a man who told me all that I have ever done.” Now Jesus didn’t go through her sins one by one but rather by speaking of her chief sin she knew that he knew all her sin and yet Jesus still spoke to and loved upon her. Her testimony was simple he knows me and my sin and loves me anyway. How great is the love of God amen. Let us not forget what radical changes God has made in our lives that we might be able to glorify him before other that they too may come and see. We do not need all the answers but we must be inviting others to come and see.
This passion is a consuming passion it overrides all other desires. Are you more passionate about football than God, or maybe its hunting, video games, whatever it is your putting it before God, then it becomes an idol. Let us choose today to place our passions in God and his desires.

Satisfied with Earthly Pleasures

Yet all to often we are satisfied with earthly pleasures.
Look at what Jesus says to the disciples.
John 4:31–38 ESV
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Here are the disciples just going through life getting food for Jesus. They come back offer him food and he says its fine I’m full. Who gave him a ham sandwich?
Jesus is trying to get them to understand spiritual things bring greater fulfillment than earthly food. Jesus has just had a rewarding conversation with the Samaritan woman and knows even now many of the town are coming to him because of her. The disciples though are stuck on the physical realm.
This is where many a Christian lives out their days. Our thoughts, our prayers, our hearts and passions are all on the physical. We pray for health and prosperity but forget to ask God for the salvation of souls. We glut ourselves on entertainment and pleasure while many are dying and going to hell. Then we come to church and wonder why it is that our church is dying, why is it week after week no one comes forward. Why is it that we see no fruit, could it be that we do not labor.
Are we like the disciples waiting for a harvest that is ready and waiting to be reaped. Notice he says you say there are four months then the harvest but i say the fields are white with harvest. Could it be are sitting idle when we should be out working the fields. I can tell you that no worldly pleasure will bring such joy as being there when a lost soul comes to Christ. Let us not be satisfied with earthly pleasures but let us look for the joys of spiritual harvest.

Lack of investment

The last reason we are not seeing harvest is a lack of investment. Look at John 4:39-42
John 4:39–42 ESV
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Jesus poured into the Samaritan woman during their conversation. We can clearly the time, the thought and care he gave to her and the effects it had on her life. but notice that when the Samaritans came to him they asked him to stay with them and he did for two days. Remember at the beginning of the chapter we read he had to go through Samaria and I told you I did not believe he had a pressing engagement in Galilee so much as he needed to visit this town. This verse shows his heart for them he stayed two days. This is the first time people are seeing him for his true purpose, so he stays with them and works the fields even more, and notice the effects.
first even more believed in him because of his teachings than what believed because of the womans testimony. More souls are saved.
Second those who believed her testimony came to greater faith, no longer because of what you said but we have heard for ourselves. How wonderful it is to see someone come to salvation but greater still that moment when they know that they know. Their faith is stronger because they have studied for themselves and know it is true.
Third they proclaim him Savior of the world. This is the first time that anyone has said this other than John the Baptist. The Jews who had studied the scriptures for centuries missed him when he came, his own disciples who traveled with him didn’t realize his true purposes, yet the Samaritans after two days proclaim him Savior of the world. These hearts were truly ready for harvest, and Jesus knew it. May God open our eyes to see the harvest waiting all around us.

Invitation

Are you sharing the gospel with those around you, and if not what is holding you back? Do you need to ask God to renew your passion for the lost, that he remind you of who you were without him that you might have compassion grace and mercy for those who are still lost. May he fan the flames of desire to see people saved. Maybe you are simply satisfied with the pleasure of this world, your own struggles and desire for entertainment drown out the concerns for your neighbors salvation? Or do you find yourself offering salvation but pulling away when the work is difficult or time consuming? Whatever the reason may be I pray that today you would repent and ask God to give you a new heart. A heart to see the lost and dying of our community saved. Yet maybe there is one listening today who does not know Jesus and says I have never known the love of God. I too want my life changed, what must I do? The answer is simple admit your sin before God and your own inability to fix it. Place your trust in Jesus that He paid the price for your sin that he is indeed the savior of the world and make him Lord and master of your life. Choose today to turn away from your sin and back to God. As we sing this song of invitation the altar is open, will you come and pour yourself out to God, will you offer yourself up to him to be an instrument for his harvest. Will you choose him today. Come with whatever need you may have and you will find rest will you come?
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