The Context:
· The conversion
of the Samaritan women (v 4-26).
· Her response
to her salvation (v 28-30).
· The result
of her testimony (v 39).
· The disciples’
involvement (v 8, 27, 31-33).
The Text: John 4:31-39
The Church is an institute of
divine origin. A New Testament Church is…
1 Peter 2:9 Ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Ephesians 5:25 Christ…loved the church, and gave himself
for it;..
The mission of the church is revealed
in the great commission:
- To make individual disciples.
- To build up the church.
- To teach all things Christ has commanded.
If a
church is to be what God has established it to be, it is vital that each member
knows and understands the “Will of God” for their
life!
Two reasons why many miss
the will of God for their life: They
are…
1. Hearing
impaired
2. Sight
impaired.
In our text our Savior is challenging His disciples to “Look on
the Fields.”
If
you are to know the Will of God for
your life, you must . . .
1. STOP MAKING EXCUSES: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest (v35).
Those who are CARELESS justify their inaction with
excuses. Excuse = to explain away a fault or an
offense in the hope of being forgiven or understood; it is to seek to remove
from blame; to free from obligation.
Reasons for excuses:
· Procrastination: Luke 9 (let the dead bury the dead)
...a certain man said, Lord, I will
follow thee whithersoever thou goest.” And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord,
suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead
bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
·
Insensitivity: 2 Tim 4 At my first answer
no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be
laid to their charge.
·
Temporal
values: Luke 14 An invitation to a wedding. They
all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have
bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me
excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove
them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and
therefore I cannot come.
1.
I have something else to see (v 18). Lust
of the Eyes.
2.
I have something else to do (v 19). Pride
of Life.
3.
I have something else to enjoy (v 20). Lust
of the Flesh.
You will never know the heart of God while bound by these!
If you
are to know the Will of God for your life,
you must . . .
2.
LISTEN TO THE SAVIOUR: Behold, I say unto you, (v35).
The hearing impaired are unable to recognize
the call of the Saviour. Before
you can look on the fields, you must listen to what Jesus has to say!
Jesus says...
· Everyone needs to be saved! John 3:3 Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
· He is the only way of salvation (John
14:6)!
· Too win the lost we must die to self! John 12:24 Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
· Too be a disciple you must yield your
rights! John 13:16 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord;…
This is why many fail to hear & heed the Great Commission.
If you
are to know the Will of God for your life,
you must . . .
3. SEE WHAT GOD SEES: Lift up your eyes
(v35). Those with Spiritually impaired sight!
God has given physical
and spiritual vision!
·
Lamentations
3:51 Mine eye
affecteth mine heart…
·
Psalm
32:8 I will
instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee
with mine eye.
·
Keep your eyes on Jesus and He will
guide you with His.
Before you Look on the Fields, you must lift up your eyes…
·
For
Salvation: Isaiah 45:22 Look
unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is
none else.
·
For
Service: Psalm 121:1 I
will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. John
4:35 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.
· For the Savior: Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven;
from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
The Lukewarm Church: Revelation 3:18 To the
church of Laodicea Jesus said, I counsel thee to…anoint thine eyes with eye salve,
that thou mayest see.
If you
are to know the Will of God for your life,
you must . . .
4. DESIRE WHAT GOD DESIRES: He that
reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he
that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together (v36).
1 Corinthians
3:8-9 He that planteth and he that watereth are
one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry (field), ye are God's building.
CONCLUSION: Forget about doing God’s will and work until you …
1. Stop making excuses.
2. Start listening to the Savior.
3. See what God sees.
4. Desire what God desires.
Only
after doing these, will you be able to
“look on the fields that are white unto harvest!”
