John 4:35 Do you 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!
Do not say. Here we see Jesus desiring to change the focus that the disciples had about the harvest and to change the definition or their world that they had defined by their words which was based on the circumstance that were before them rather than the truth of what was confronting them.
We learnt that our world is defined by our words.
Heb 11:3 nkjv; by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Note Hebrews says that words frame worlds. The life or the world we live in has been framed has been created or formed by words - words that both others and we have spoken and then we have made these words a part of our life.
Words are absolutely vital and that is why we are encouraged to place a watch over our mouth.
Psa. 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Jesus said do not say; why? Because the fields are white unto harvest. We create the world around us by our words and often we hold back from doing things because of this world we have created.
When we look at this subject that Jesus addressed that is the harvest which is white, we would call this in modern language Evangelism.The truth is we are hindered from going forward and reaping because of the world we have created and that world some times looks at the four months until or in other words the circumstances rather than the truth that it is white now.
There is so much fear and intimidation and a tendency to see all the circumstances why it cant be done rather than the truth that God will bless as we see the harvest and begin to do some thing about it. The reason for the fear is that we often see Evangelism as a closing a deal mentality or bring them to a decision rather than sharing what Christ has done and how what he has done has changed our life and is continuing to change our lives.
The disciples’ declaration was that the harvest was at least four months away where as the truth presented by Jesus was that it was ready now. When we are closing the deal orientated that is getting them to pray the sinners prayer, and we should always give them an opportunity to do this, if we are only closing the deal centered and see this as evangelism then we miss the truth that Jesus teaches that WE DON’T GET ANYONE SAVED this is the job of the Holy spirit.
Evangelism is not about closing the deal as I have already labored it is about preaching the gospel and this is what is required of us and should they respond it is a command from the Lord to make them disciples. Winning souls is a great thing but we must remember who does what.
Prov. 11:30 the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
When it comes to the truth about evangelism we have to remove any and all impediments and that includes the guilt that we feel because we are in fear about asking people to give their lives to Jesus because we have been taught the closing the deal is what it is all about.
In Mark chapter 5 we have the encounter of Jesus with the man in the tombs and his deliverance from all that tormented him, the one the bible says dwelt in the tombs of gadarenes and after he was set free he begs Jesus to let him go with him but Jesus had other ideas for him.
Note Mark 5:19; However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.
As you continue to read about this encounter you see that this man who was set free begins to proclaim all that had happened to him, why? Because that is what Jesus asked him to do.
Evangelism is about obedience not so much about closing the deal note what
1Cor. 3:7 says; So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. He who wins souls is wise knowing who does what in the conversion.
Our message about what Jesus has done and it’s effect on us will help change the thinking of people around us it will help change their minds which is an important part of the soul of man. If we can influence the souls of men then we can influence the soul of a city. Our obedience to what Jesus has asked us to do that is share the gospel or share what Jesus has done in us gives the Holy spirit some thing to work with because the bible says in
Rom. 2:4; Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.
Now if we take this seriously that is evangelism is more about obedience rather than closing the deal, we will more than likely remove the four month syndrome from our speech and we will see that it is white to harvest in other words we will see the opportunities that are around us every day and it removes the weight of carrying the load and puts it back in the Lords hands.
Our job is to preach the good news. The first thing we need to define is what is the good news and we need to share it in simple form.
No 1 God loves us. John 3:16 says the God so loved the he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believes in hi should not perish but have ever lasting life.
No2 God has a plan for your life. Jer. 29:11 nkjv For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. The central truth of this plan is that God desires that we have a ongoing relationship with Him and from that relationship a fulfilling abundant life. John10:10.
No 3 There is a problem; we are separated from him because of sin every single one of us because we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. The reality is this we cannot reach our potential while there is a barrier between us and God.
No 4 there is a solution; God sent his son Jesus to do what no other man could do and that was to pay the price that was needed to buy us back from the grip of hell and death. That price required a life and he gave his on the cross, the price required was his death for our life. Now his death secured our release but his resurrection was proof positive that God accepted the price paid.
No 5 Choice is now in our hands; We are now given the choice by the Lord to accept or reject his gift of life. If we accept and believe what Jesus has done then the next thing that we are to do is to turn away from what we were doing and turn to Him, putting it simply we are to surrender our life and we do that by trusting that he can do a better job with our future than we can.
That is the gospel simply put and all of us can do this. The other thing about Evangelism is we are to use our prayer life not so much to pray for souls but for those who would go out and reap the harvest.
Luke 10:2 nkjv says; Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Our response to this should be here am I Lord send me.
Is. 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion,“Your God reigns!”
Jesus says do not say it is four months until the harvest; in other words lets deal with the excuses and be empowered with the simplicity of the gospel and share it and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.
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