THE FINAL HARVEST TIME IS APPROACHING
OR
A SPIRITUAL MISSION IN FULL SWING
SUNDAY NOV. 11, 2018
Scripture To Consider:
“The woman said to Jesus, ‘Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come here.’ The woman answered and said, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You have well said, “I have no husband,” for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you have spoke truly.’ The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.’”
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’” John 4.15-26
Something To Consider:
The woman at the well was not any different than many of us. She was looking for convenience in not having to come to the well day after day to draw water. Jesus on the other hand was looking to show compassion. He was looking to offer her and the Samaritan people a change of heart and lifestyle. Jesus is still looking for those who are willing to be changed and then trained.
Being changed and trained requires our coming to the well of His living water, the water of His Word, on a daily basis. Leaders in training must not merely be looking for conveniences. True spiritual worship is not convenient, for the way of the cross is not convenient but mandatory!
The Samaritan woman first addressed Jesus in the previous lesson as a Jew. Then three times she called Him Sir, a term slightly more respectful. And finally reaching deep within the reservoir of her reasoning she said, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” Who is it that we see Jesus as being? Who is it that others perceive Him to be while looking closely at our lives?
For the truth is that our actions are not being overlooked by others. In moments of extreme pressure or at times of cruel opposition, do our lives reflect the love of God or do our lives and actions reflect the sinful flesh of our past? Jesus wants to show compassion over condemnation! What about us? And if you are like me, many days I must return to the cross of Christ for more forgiveness!
Jesus had an opportunity to condemn this woman at the well based on her past and present lifestyle. But Jesus did not preach condemnation, but rather He showed this spiritually imprisoned person compassion. Many in His place have fired away with both barrels full of carefully loaded condemnation. Maybe you have been on the receiving end of that shotgun blast mentality. At close range it leaves a most bitter taste in the mind and heart of both receiver and sender. Jesus chose to show her compassion. Jesus, I’m convinced, would say to us today, “Now go and do likewise!”
More Scripture To Consider:
“And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He [Jesus] talked with a woman; yet no one said, ‘What do you seek?’ or, ‘Why are You talking with her?’ The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ‘Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’ Then they went out of the city and came to Him.”
“In the meantime, His disciples urged Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’ But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat of which you do not know.’ Therefore, the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do 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 labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.’” John 27-38
Something Else To Consider:
In the culture of that time, it was unusual for a man to speak to a woman in public. But Jesus was a man of many means in reaching others with the good news of the gospel. His mission was far more important than man’s traditions and excluding cultural customs. His mission on this particular day called for a casual conversation with a Samaritan woman of a somewhat questionable background. His mission was to seek and to save the lost. This woman and many of the Samaritans were to benefit from His fulfilling His mission in progress. His sights were set on Samaria!
The same is true in every culture and generation including this generation which may prove in time to be the final generation. How important is it then for us to consider the fact that the final harvest time is approaching? How important is it that Christ’s final spiritual mission may be in full swing? Jesus said in Matthew 24.27, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
The final coming and harvest of souls will take place in a moment of time. The final spiritual mission of Christ will come to fruition in the twinkling of an eye. Will we be found by Jesus worthy to escape God’s wrath upon the wicked? Have we made our plans to endure to the end and to experience salvation according to Jesus? Are we willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and truly follow Jesus? If not, we will not escape the wrath of God, according to Jesus.
Something More To Consider:
The Samaritan woman, filled with anticipation at the possibility of Jesus being the Christ, left her water pot and hurried back to the city. To a woman in that day, a water pot was a most precious and prized possession and surely not something to be left behind. And yet, this highly valued vessel was left at the well, while this new convert went to spread the word about a Man who had told her all things that she had ever done.
What is it that we may be called upon to leave behind for Christ’s sake? What is it of value to us that we may be asked to relinquish in order to benefit from the final harvest time that is fast approaching? What spiritual mission may be in full swing in our own lives as we draw nearer to what may be in hind sight considered the last days?
These are important questions to be considered and not simply empty words used to lengthen a lesson of a lifetime. If we are the final generation according to Jesus’ parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24.32, and the count down to the final spiritual mission began in 1948, as the tiny cluster of Jewish immigrants from around the world began returning to what became the rebirth of the nation of Israel, what will we be found by Jesus doing?
The final harvest time is approaching and every day brings us closer to the closing of the history of man’s violent and cruel rule upon planet earth. What role will we play in the final spiritual mission that is indeed in full swing even now?
A Few Final Words:
Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” His food, His nourishment, His necessity, was to finish His work that the Father had given Him to accomplish. Therefore, more important than Jesus eating, was His doing the will of His Father in heaven and finishing His work here upon the earth. Doing and finishing God’s work and will here upon the earth in accordance with His Word should be every true believer’s purpose for living.
Every generation has been in need of laborers looking to eternity, willing to do God’s will while playing an important part in finishing His work here on earth. What is your part? What is my part? What is our part together? True Christ-like spiritual leaders and leaders in training who have an eye on eternity look well beyond earthly rewards, in attempting to do the will of God by laying up treasure far beyond their richest imaginations.
But what is the will of God for us while waiting for the final harvest time? Paul, in Romans 12.1-2 gave us some very good and sound advice. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, we pray for open doors and opportunities that we may present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices to You and Your Son. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 