A Heart for The Harvest (Title is link to sermon)
James 5:7-8 (MSG) (7) Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. (8) Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.
The believers of James’ day were eager for the coming of the Lord. They lived in difficult and desperate times, and their hopes were fixed upon the Lord’s sudden appearing.
The people were so impatient for the Lord to come that James wrote to them, encouraging them to be patient unto the coming of the Lord.
In their impatience, they were overlooking God’s purpose.
While they were waiting for the Lord’s return, God was waiting for the harvest.
James pictures God as a farmer who has put a great deal of labor into his crop and is waiting for the harvest.
Here we are today, doing the same thing. I have said it myself, “I just wish the Lord would come!” Amen? Many of you have said the same thing. Usually when the current circumstances in our lives seems like nothing but chaos.
We say those words absentmindedly. There is an overwhelming peace and comfort within us once we have asked Jesus into our hearts. Amen? So, we are like, why not! Just come Lord!
But we must have a heart for the harvest and be patient.
These words of James make it clear that the coming of the Lord is ever imminent.
James also wanted it perfectly understood that God’s purpose, until He comes, is to gather a harvest of redeemed men from every kindred, nation, and tongue.
Once the fallow ground has been prepared and the good seed has been sown we have to wait for the rain to do its slow and good work. Amen?
That rain is the Holy Spirit bringing the miracle of growth to that seed!
The heart of God yearns for the harvest, a gathering of blood-bought men and women. He is not willing that any should perish. He longs to save all men through faith in His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He sends His Holy Spirit to convict individuals of their sins and to convert them through His saving grace.
The earnest desire of His heart is to rescue the lost from the bondage of Satan.
But the harvest is also only possible with it laborers. Amen?
Jesus also declared in Matthew 9:37-38 – “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”
You can feel the passion of God’s heart for the harvest in that verse. Amen? CAN YOU?
Jesus said, in Luke 15:7 KJV I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The truth is, that the church today spends more time feeding the flock than searching for the sinner.
Certainly, it is about time we get serious about reaching lost men and women.
That is our God-appointed task.
The lifeblood of the church is conversion, for God has appointed the local church as the primary vessel to reach the unreached.
If we truly catch the passion of God’s heart for the harvest, we will go forth weeping, bearing the precious seed of the gospel to sow in the hearts of men that are desperate and destitute because of sin.
All our preaching, teaching, and witnessing will not accomplish anything unless our efforts are watered by the showers of the Holy Spirit!
Only the Holy Ghost can melt the heart of the sinner and bring him in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ.
We must have the rain! Amen?
If our hearts are touched for the harvest, then we must become intercessors for the gracious outpouring of the Holy Ghost. We must pray for rain.
Do you have the heart for the harvest?
Have a blessed day.
Comments
Amen. We need more prayer on our knees before the Lord for those who are lost or back sliden. Holy Spirit water our prayers and draw in or back in those whom we so desperately pray for.
Amen!