THERE JUST AREN’T ENOUGH COTTON-PICKIN’ CHRISTIANS!
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Oct. 24, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
THERE JUST AREN’T ENOUGH COTTON-PICKIN’ CHRISTIANS!
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: John 4:31-42
Text: John 4:35
John 4:35 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.
Introduction: Where we live we have the opportunity to pass by cotton fields on a daily basis. There are hundreds and hundreds of acres of cotton. Much of it has been harvested now. As I saw fields that were white and ready to harvest, I thought of what Jesus said about the fields. I said to myself, “You know, there just aren’t enough cotton-pickin’ Christians in this world.”
Our church needs more cotton-pickin’ Christians! Our Lord wants more cotton-pickin’ Christians! Look with me into our scripture for today as we remind ourselves of the Father’s work for us in this world.
I. THERE IS A GREAT OVERSIGHT
John 4:35 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.
A. It is a mistake to blame the season
B. It is a mistake to blame the setting
C. It is a mistake to blame the soil
II. THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
John 4:35 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.
John 4:39-41 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word;
A. To see results
B. To see rewards
III. THERE IS A GREAT OBSTACLE
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
A. Pursuing our own needs
* The disciples were shopping while the Savior was soul-winning.
B. Procrastinating our own duties
* The disciples wanted to wait for four months.
IV. THERE IS A GREAT OBLIGATION
Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
A. To have a vision of the possibilities
B. To voice our petition – “send laborers”
C. To volunteer to participate
Where does God get his laborers? From volunteers! —>
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.