IT’S HARVEST TIME
Matthew 9:32-38

Introduction:     There is a Church on Brown’s Landing Road today because there is a harvest to bring in. Some say it’s hard in our day to reach people for Jesus. Folks, it has always been hard; people have always been bound up in unbelief. I believe there are untold multitudes of people out there ready to be reached for the Lord Jesus Christ and God has chosen His people (you and me) to bring this harvest of souls in! I believe that there are three qualities that a harvester must possess. Laborers in the harvest are:

I.          MARKED BY ACTION (V.32)

God has called us to get off our seat and on out feet and go out into the world and do something for Him in bringing in His harvest. (Illus: Greatest challenge in the Church today - Outreach vs. Inreach…we must discipline ourselves to keep our eyes focused outward on the harvest fields). There is a natural tendency to begin to look inward…expound. What will this action produce?

A.        People That Are Resourceful

Notice these people are bringing this man to the Lord. Un-named people bringing people to Jesus. (Illus: You bring’em…Jesus will do the rest!)

            B.         People That Will Respond

This man responded! And so will many today. Some are finding the Lord here (expound); just think how many more could be reached if we became people of action! (Illus: Not everyone you invite will come. Not everyone you witness to will be saved…but, some will!)

II.         MARKED BY VISION (VV.33-34)

Notice the strange reaction to this miracle. Your vision reflects the state of your heart and what’s in your heart affects your vision. These men had three problems that affected their vision.

A.                 They Were Petrified (in their religion)

They were too steeped in their beliefs to change.

B.         They Were Proud (if Jesus was right…they were wrong)

They were wrong and they couldn’t admit it.

C.                 They Were Prejudice (they had their own perspective)

They were right and everyone else is wrong. They already had their own idea about religion and what spiritual life was all about and they didn’t have room for God to mess that up. (Illus: “I don’t like the music…it’s too loud etc. God is looking for a people (Church) with vision). Lost people will not act saved…until they are saved! Folks, we need the vision that sees the harvest field. We need to get out there and labor in that harvest field instead of just talking about it!

III.       MARKED BY COMPASSION (VV.35-36)

Jesus teaches us to keep on keeping on in His method of ministry! How do you overcome the “I don’t likes” in the church? Keep your eyes off all the distractions and focus forward and upward!

            A.        The Largeness Of Love

“Moved with compassion” From a compound Greek word that speaks of the “bowels” of compassion. This is the deepest compassion that can be described in human language. Our Lord had a compassion that was deeper than His emotions. What move Him.

B.         The Largeness Of Lostness

Notice the largeness and lostness of that crowd. They were “faint” = bewildered and weary. They were “scattered” = distressed and downcast like someone who has carried a load so long they calloused. They were as “sheep having no Shepard” = that is what it means to be lost! A sheep without a Shepard has no guide, no defenses, they are venerable, and they are doomed! 

Pray by all means! But praying alone is not enough…We have to go! Do we have any harvesters here?

Conclusion:       God calls His people to have a compassion for others that affects their vision and compels them to get up and do something about it! It’s harvest time…let’s not miss it!