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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.

Familiar Scriptures:

Matthew 9:37
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Matthew 9:38
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Luke 10:2 (same as Matthew)

Matthew 13:30, 39

Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Mark 4:29

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Revelation 14:15
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

Without a doubt it is conclusive that we are in the last harvest of the earth!

There will be a day come when like Jeremiah declared,

"The harvest is past…….."

The time to reap the harvest will have passed and the events of the conclusion of the ages will unfold.

If your family is going to be saved it is NOW!

If you have unsaved children the time to reach them is NOW!

If we are going to reap the harvest of the end it is NOW!

Mark4:29

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

An even more serious day is approaching when as Joel declares,

"……..the harvest of the field is perished."

It will be a terrible day when the harvest remains un-reaped but the ancient prophet declared the day would come when the harvest will lay in the field un-harvested.

2 in the field………one taken, the other left!
2 at the mill……….one taken, the other left!

It's about the HARVEST today. Harvestime is more than a song. It is reality.

Harvest time brings great joy not only to the harvesters, but to the sowers as well.

It is the most awaited time for farmers who with hope expecting much fruits for their much labor. The word harvest in the Bible reminds us of many unforgettable things and its significant usages will stir our awareness to take a closer look on many areas of our lives. It makes us aware concerning the principle of sowing and reaping.

What the Lord said to His disciple is a very important passage in the Bible, especially to all mission-minded local Churches of today.

- Indifference is a fruit of questionable philosophy

- Indifference blunts our awareness

- Indifference blurs our spiritual vision

- Indifference obscures our way to success

- Indifference subdues our real purpose

- Indifference robs our opportunities

Indifference provokes our hearts to go astray, but charity shows the big difference.

A Paradigm shift is underway in America. America is entering a post-Christian era which is not only alarming but unthinkable!

Our Country…From a "Church-culture" to a "Mission-field" (Kennon Callahan)

Did you know?

Since 1991, the adult population in the United States has grown by 15%.

During that same period the number of adults who do not attend church has nearly doubled, rising from 39 million to 75 million - a 92% increase!

• The United States is the third largest un-churched nation in the world.

• North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing.

• Seven out of 10 people in North America do not know Jesus Christ.

• The United States is now the 13th largest receptor of Christian missionaries in the world.

• Only 4 percent of Americans have a biblical worldview.

• More than 80 percent of all churches in the United States are plateaued or declining.

• We lose 72 churches per week in America.

• We gain 24 churches per week in America.

That's a net loss of 48 churches per week.

• Half of all churches last year did not add one new member through conversion growth.

• While the U.S. population grew by 11.4 percent over the last 10 years, church growth declined by 9.5 percent. In other words, we are not even reaching our children. George Barna.

• By the year 2010, more than 100 million Americans will look elsewhere than church for spiritual direction.

• Evangelical churches have failed to gain an additional two percent of the American population in the past.

• The church to population ratio is also declining for every 10,000 Americans…
1. In 1900 there were 27 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
2. In 1950 there were 17 churches for every 10,000 Americans.
3. In 1996 there were 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans.

Without a question it must be realized that we are in the last harvest.

Jesus said, the harvest is the end of the world.

In early prayer Saturday morning I felt strongly impressed by the Lord that we were in "the last harvest"! It is a rather sobering thought.

When you think of harvest you think of farmers.

- Everything rises & falls on the harvest.

- Will they keep the farm another year?.... Depends on the harvest.

* A farm can only go on so long without a harvest.

• It can become a "hobby farm"

• A hobby Farm does not need a harvest to exist.

Afraid many of our churches have become ... "hobby churches".

You see everything depends upon the harvest at harvest time!!

- Other things become secondary.

The harvest waits for no man.

Matthew 9: 36-38 & Luke 10 ...... Talks about the harvest!

Harvest time was the happiest time of the year in Palestine (Ps.126:5-6)

It was marked by many religious festivals & feasts.

SHOW ME A CHURCH WITHOUT HARVEST AND

I'LL SHOW YOU A CHURCH WITHOUT JOY!

Jesus is not pleased with:

1. Fishing without catching (Luke 5:4-11)
- Ever fish like that? ... boring!!

2. An empty banquet table (Luke 14:16-24)
- go into the highways & by ways .. compel

3. Sowing without reaping (Matt.13: 3-9)

4. Fig tree with no fruit (Luke 13: 6-9)
- green leaves & shade were not good enough.

5. Lost sheep not brought into the fold (Luke 15)

6. Lost coin not sought & found (Luke 15)

7. A good harvest that is not reaped (Matt. 9: 36-38)

8. Proclamation with no response (Matt. 10: 14)
- Not just hearers but doers ... shake dust off & move on!

PRINCIPLES OF THE HARVEST (Matthew 9: 36-38)

1. We Have a Tendency To Postpone The Harvest.

First principle of the harvest: IT IS READY NOW ... WE JUST HAVE TO SEE IT.

2. The Harvest Is Plentiful (Matt. 9:36,37)

Joel 3: 13, 14 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

236 times in the Bible word multitude(s).

The shortage is not found in the harvest! It is in the labourers.

Wherever there is darkness .... there is harvest!!

3. The Harvest Is Valuable

- The harvest is Not likened to sand, pebbles or grass …… BUT FIELDS.

- Again the existence of the farm depends upon the harvest!

Not just numbers .... people!!!

Not just multitudes of numbers ... multitudes of people!!

4. The Harvest Is Ready

Gallup Poll : Over 6 million people "What would it take to get you to church?"

#1 Answer: Someone to ask me to attend.

5. The Danger Of The Harvest

- Lies in the last few principles : Readiness ... Value ... Plenty ...
- Reap now or never.

WHY? Time of harvest will end ... what's missed is lost!!

6. The Workers Are Few (Matt. 9: 37)

- Some are reaping all they can ... But it is not enough!
- Jesus believed that results are proportionate to means used.

You can use a combine on the corn.

It's people that harvest people.

7. The Workers Are Special (Matt. 9:37)

- Labourers ..... Those who don't mind getting their clothes dirty or wrinkled.
- Got enough Forman ... bosses ... counters .... etc.!

8. Ask The Lord To Send Workers (Matt.9:38)

"Pray to the Lord... OF THE HARVEST"
- It's His.
- He knows it.
- He cares more than us about it.

9. Go When You Are Sent (10: 1,5)

- How many times have you been sent when you are praying.

Back in the days of the CB radio I traveled Route 13 to our church campground in Indiana and went through a little town I can't even remember the name of. I would listen to the CB chatter at night as I traveled late and always heard one man in this little town. I usually chatted with him on the way through. My CB handle in those days was the "shepherd"(I think?) Long story short: Our van broke down in front of this man's house although I did not know it was the man on the CB. We were able to talk to him about the Lord. He made a commitment to the Lord and it was not long after that time that he passed away.

THE POINT: GOD WANTS TO SEND YOU……ARE YOU LISTENING?

The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the
construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would
be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them
this question, "What are you doing?"

The first replied, "I'm cutting stone for 10 shillings a day."
The next answered, "I'm putting in 10 hours a day on this job."
But the third said, "I'm helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London's
greatest cathedrals."

I would like to ask us today: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?