AVAAT

A VERSE AT A TIME

TOPIC: RIPE FOR HARVEST

TEXT: John 4:34-38

KEY VERSE: Then another angel came out from the temple and cried out in a loud voice to the one who was sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, because the time has come; the earth is ripe for the harvest!” Revelation 14:15(GNT)

Every great harvest starts with a planting season; the farmer sows the seed in faith and patiently waits for the earth to yield its increase. The Lord determines when the grain is ripe and ready for harvest because nature is under His control. Jesus compares life in the Kingdom of God with the agricultural process of planting seeds.

Jesus went on to say, “The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field. He sleeps at night, is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and growing. Yet he does not know how it happens. The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit; first the tender stalk appears, then the head, and finally the head full of grain. When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle because harvest time has come. John 4:27-29(GNT)

In our labour in the kingdom, we need faith to believe a harvest will come from every effort, obedience, and sacrifice, and we must wait in patience until we see the harvest come. How long we have to wait before we see a harvest depends on the type of seed we have sown and the nature of the soil. In the parable of the sower, the farmer scattered the same seed on the same day, but the harvest was not the same because of the hearts of those who received the word.

 But other people are like seeds sown in good soil. They hear the message, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.” Mark 4:20(GNT)

We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient and so receive what God has promised. Hebrews 6:12(GNT)

Jesus taught his disciples the error of postponing the harvest to a future date because of a lack of discernment. God creates harvest opportunities. It’s important to recognize and seize the opportunities God presents us. When we make excuses and postpone our obedience, we risk losing the benefits and blessings these opportunities can present, just as Jonah opted to run from Nineveh when God had seen an excellent opportunity for harvest. 

You have a saying, ‘Four more months and then the harvest.’ But I tell you, take a good look at the fields; the crops are now ripe and ready to be harvested! John 4: 35(GNT)

The people of Nineveh believed God’s message. So they decided that everyone should fast, and all the people, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth to show that they had repented. Jonah 3:5(GNT)

Jesus spoke about people fortunate enough to reap the harvest without sowing seeds. It is a sign of favour to be able to reap where you did not sow, and God provides these opportunities as well. Favour teaches us that sometimes we may receive blessings that we did not necessarily earn, but we should still be grateful for them.

“Just as the Lord your God promised your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he will give you a land with large and prosperous cities which you did not build. The houses will be full of good things which you did not put in them, and there will be wells that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant. When the Lord brings you into this land and you have all you want to eat, Deuteronomy 6:10-11(GNT)

Jesus proclaimed that during his time on earth, the harvest of souls was abundant and ready to be gathered. Even now, it is more crucial than ever to take action and collect a harvest for the Father, who has planted his son as a seed on the earth, to have many individuals become his children.

Jesus said to his followers, “There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them. Matthew 9:37(ERV)

God—the one who made all things and for whose glory all things exist—wanted many people to be his children and share his glory. So he did what he needed to do. He made perfect the one who leads those people to salvation. He made Jesus a perfect Savior through his suffering. Hebrews 2:10(GNT)

The secret is that by means of the gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God’s blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6(GNT)

Let’s not miss the opportunity to reconcile men to God and bring in the harvest of souls. The time is now, and the earth is ripe! Use your voice, blog posts, podcasts, and skits to put in your sickle and reach millions on social media. Abiding in the word, praying, and listening to the Holy Spirit will yield a harvest. Let’s be proactive in bringing people into the loving arms of our Lord. Remember, the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.

Reflection Questions

1.”What has God spoken to you about the harvest of souls? 

2. What is preventing you from intentionally joining the harvest force?

 3. What insights has God given you about people as the harvest? 

4. With whom will you share this message about abiding to bear fruit?”

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash