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John 4:34-35

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,
and to finish his work.

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.

CONSIDER THIS:

95 - 100 million totally un-churched in America

180 - 190 million not born again in USA many of which do attend church

If this were a nation to itself it would be third largest people group in the world

1st China
2nd India
3rd USA harvest field

It has been said that the best offense is a good defense……….

HOWEVER:

I would like to reverse the saying for our consideration,

The best defense is a good offense!

Points are scored on offense and right now the score is lopsided in favor of the

opposition. Besides that, it is growing late and darkness is overtaking the day where the game is about to be called.

In our quest for purity we have become 'keepers of the aquarium' rather than storming the 'beeches of reality' to establish a position in which to maneuver to a decisive win. Make no mistake about it, PURITY IS IMPORTANT but so are S-O-U-L-S. We have become so zealous for the Lord huddled back in the cave of archaic reasoning that we continue to play defense rather than taking the offensive posture to reach people.

Sounds rather B - O - L - D, however a bold imitative is what is called for in this late hour. Compromise? It's not necessary! Just grab the ball and run, but the Church says, she don't want the ball. We are content to mark time, run in place, get inspired in another meeting, hold the fort and stay the course.

It's apparent we are seriously behind in our efforts to overtake the opposition. When you get to bat its not a matter of just getting a hit. Put your eye on the fence….it's time. It's DO OR DIE. It's time to give it everything we have got.

Prior to the scattering of the first century church they invested everything before they were scattered abroad. But we debate modern technology and ideology. We fence in the farm rather than expand the horizon. We preach to the choir rather than think out of the box.

We must ask ourselves or better still, let's ask Jesus: offense or defense?

The answer is obvious.

WHERE DO WE START?

"Pray the Lord of the harvest……………." that's too simple. Yes, but are you doing it? I'm not talking about a bedtime prayer but a gut wrenching, hell shaking, soul stirring, devil chasing prayer. By the way - when did you last pray for the world?

"………….send laborers into the harvest." BUT we have work to do at home in the local church.

The last time I looked I believe Jesus said, "Ask and it would be given………"

WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR? That's a good question. By the way, what are you asking for?:

A new job A new car

A new home

Anew dress

Another child

Why don't we modify the prayer to:

Give us souls or we will perish

Give us this nation

Send laborers into the harvest(even if it means we have to train new ones).

Give us finance to accomplish the task

Send prayer teams

Send workers

The Apostle Paul's vision from the man in Macedonia (Come over and help us)

Help us start a home fellowship group in our home - NOW THAT'S RADICAL!

Actually, that's what the early church did.

Church in a house vs. Church in a day!

Just think:

If you have 100 homes in your church what the potential would be: 100 churches.

OH, you only have 10 homes - it's o.k. - that's 10 churches.

W-O-W……………..WHAT POTENTIAL!

Start a Bible study. Who me, duh………………

Can you boil water? Can you make coffee? Can you talk?

It's getting late! MOVE, MOVE MOVE……….RUN, RUN, RUN!

We're trying to score points here.

Let's go back to the basics!

T-H-I-S I-S A B-A-L-L ! DUH, OK COACH!

We need points…………………………….

People:

T-H-I-S I-S A B-A-L-L !

We need converts, you know as in souls…………………………….

We need leaders

We need passionate hearts crying out

Samuel Chadwick

"Go back! Back to that upper room;

back to your knees;

back to searching of heart and habit, thought and life;

back to pleading, praying, waiting, till the Spirit of the Lord floods the soul with

light, and you are "endued with power from on high".

Then go forth in the power of Pentecost, and the Christ-life shall be lived, and the works of Christ shall be done. You shall open blind eyes, cleanse foul hearts, break men's fetters, and save men's souls. In the power of the indwelling Spirit, miracles become the commonplace of daily living."

Example of Samuel Rutherford: a Scottish preacher exiled to the north of Scotland, forbidden to preach, and banished from his home and pastoral charge. Rutherford lived 1600 and 1661. He is said to have been one of the most moving and affectionate preachers of his time. Men said of him, "He was always praying."

Concerning he and his wife's praying, on wrote,

"He who had heard either pray or speak, might have learned to bemoan his ignorance. Oh, how many times have I been convinced by observing them of the evil of insincerity before God and un-savoriness in discourse!"

Example of Henry Martyn: scholar, saint, missionary, and apostle to India. Martyn was born in 1781 and at the age of 24 sailed for India. He died in Persia at the age of 31. It was written of him:

"Oh, to be able to emulate his excellencies, his elevation of piety, his diligence, his superiority to the world, his love for souls, his anxiety to improve on all occasions to do souls good, his insight into the mystery of Christ, and his heavenly temper! These are the secrets of the wonderful impression he made in India"