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Introduction:
We are living today in the most exciting time of human history. There are more people alive today than there ever have been. There is potential for literally millions of souls to be harvested into the kingdom. Jesus experienced a harvest of souls at Sychar in Samaria. From this encounter with the Samaritan woman we can glean some harvest principles. Seven things we must do to bring in the harvest:
I - Be willing to break tradition (v 27)
i) Jesus approached the Samaritan woman: Although it went against their tradition. He risked being misunderstood, criticized or even giving the appearance of evil.
ii) He expressed his vulnerability to this woman: He asked her for water. This was his life's teaching: being God he became a man.
II - Be open to the Holy Spirit and His gifts (v 29)
i) What clinched the woman's faith? Jesus told her something that he could not naturally know. He was moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. The word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8).
ii) Preaching of the gospel must be accompanied by manifestation of God's power: (1 Corinthians 2:4, Mark 16:20) The power of God manifested is a sign that leads unbelievers to God. It causes them to fall on their faces saying God is among you (1 Corinthians 14:23-25)
iii) She had an encounter resulting in a testimony: The town came to Jesus because of her testimony (v 39)
III - Expect great satisfaction (v 31-32)
i) The harvest was Jesus food: Winning this woman and the village of Sychar was Jesus food. Food is for sustenance, pleasure and health. Jesus was thriving on this food.
ii) We must not settle for second best: The disciples were well meaning but could not see what was happening. Enemy of the best is not the worst but the second best, good things that are not God's will.
IV - Do God's Will and finish His Work (v 34)
i) God's will is to bring in the harvest: It is not His will that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)
ii) Jesus is interested in completing God's will: It is not enough to start but to finish. On the cross He said it is finished. Paul: 2Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
V - Know that now is the time (v 35a)
i) Not 4 months away: In the natural that was so. Some say this was around December the crop that just been sown and harvest was 4 months away near Passover. The harvest is the end of the age (Mathew 13:39).
ii) Others may have sown, we will reap: There had been a foundation even among the Samaritans to understand the gospel. She said Jacob was her father; she knew that Messiah was coming. Jesus was reaping from that. The harvest is the end of the age. Amos 9:13, the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman (v 36b, sower and reaper glad together).
VI - Have vision for it (v 35b)
i) Open your eyes: Disciples could not see it. Pressing needs blinded them from the great thing happening.
ii) Vision is crucial: Without it we perish (Proverbs 29:18). In the natural it is our eyes (Mathews 6:22-23).
VII - Expect to be blessed in it (v 36)
i) Reaper draws his wages: The Lord of the harvest is a good paymaster. We can expect to get great blessing in the harvest.
Conclusion:
Jesus' interaction with the woman at the well teaches us these principles of the harvest. Are we prepared to enter in the harvest, to recognize the time and to devote our lives to the Lord of the harvest? Proverbs 10:5 - He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
