5.5.9 "Reach the World!"

"Reach the World!"

Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22
John 4:4-42
Psalm 105:1-15
Proverbs 14:25

"Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields of human souls are ripening all around us, and are ready now for reaping." (John 4:35)

"Vast fields of human souls..." What a description of the need of our world for Christ! It can be very easy to be numbed by constant exposure to the needs of the lost. We are here for a purpose we MUST reach our world for Christ!

This can be an intimidating process. Some Christians have built "witnessing" into this huge thing that they are afraid of. Many only do this as a part of an organized outreach, or only armed w/ tracts. Some are more comfortable with a bullhorn yelling at people about sin than they would be actually sharing the love of Jesus with them. "Witness" is defined as "To be evidence that something has occurred". In this sense, it's more about who you are than what you do. Today's Proverb says, "A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is a traitor."

When Jesus makes this statement about the harvest, it is important to understand what has happened just prior to this. It is the story of the woman at the well. Let's look at the story and how Jesus gives us the model to give others the good news.

1. Purpose is more important than comfort. "...he came to Jacob's Well... Jesus was tired from the long walk in the hot sun and sat wearily beside the well." (4:5,6) Jesus was exhausted from his journeys, but that did not keep him from ministering to others. We need to get rid of our excuses for not sharing the Good News.

2. Establish common ground. "Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus asked her for a drink." (4:7) Sometimes we don't know where to start when talking to someone, but often the greatest connection is found in discussing a shared interest. It can be talking about landscaping with a neighbor, or even the weather with a stranger.

3. Let them know God has big plans. "If you only knew what a wonderful gift God has for you, and who I am, you would ask me for some living water!" (4:10) So many people are stuck on the treadmill of meaningless life. We know that God has come to give us abundant life. We need to be excited about that! We need to let others in on this great hope! When someone has the realization that God knows who they are, and has a purpose for their life, they WANT to hear about it!

4. Bring truth without judgment. "'Go and get your husband,' Jesus told her. 'But I'm not married,' the woman replied. 'All too true!' Jesus said. For you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now.'" (4:16-18) I think the way we often want to handle this is: "you're living with someone... you're going to hell." Yes, we need to reveal truth, but we need to allow the Spirit to draw them into a place where they can respond to that truth.

5. LISTEN to what they believe so you can bring clarity. "'Sir,' the woman said,'you must be a prophet. But say, tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here [at Mount Gerazim], where our ancestors worshiped?' Jesus replied, '... For it's not where we worship that counts, but how we worship - is our worship spiritual and real?'" Sometimes when we share Christ with someone we are so caught up in making sure we SAY the right thing, that we don't take the time to discover the individual's level of understanding. We have this desire to be profound, but what is really important is that we connect to their level of understanding. Then, based on their understanding and not our "wisdom", we need to bring an answer they can grasp.

6. Bring it home. "Then Jesus told her, 'I am the Messiah!'" (4:26) There was a progression to this conversation. Notice, he didn't sit at that well at the beginning, and say, "Wassup? I'm the Messiah, get me a drink." At the right time, he gave the "punchline" to abundant life.

The pattern I've laid out from these scriptures is not the way EVERY conversation needs to be. We need to be led by the Spirit in every occasion. But I think Jesus shows us that it ain't "rocket surgery". We just need to connect with people and be real about what we know.

"The reapers will be paid good wages and will be gathering eternal souls into the granaries of heaven! What joys await the sower and the reaper, both together!" (4:36)

Let's get to work & sow and reap the harvest! We have a Mission to Reach our World for Christ!



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ