Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, September 9, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

DO WE WANT A GOOD HARVEST?

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:36-38

Text: Matthew 9:37

Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Introduction: In the worst of times, in the worst of political situations, in the worst of moral environments, the Lord Jesus told His disciples that there is a ripe, ready, great harvest out there.

We have called 2001 “A Soul-Winning Odyssey.” I want to encourage each and every member of our church to stop just sitting around the table and to get out into the FIELD. I believe that every Christian has a desire within him, placed there by the Holy Spirit, to win souls. If we are going to win people to Christ, there must be some things to happen:

I. THERE MUST BE PLOWING

Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

A. There must be a preparation

The sower must prepare himself for the task
The sower must prepare the ground for the seed.
Likewise, we who would be soul-winners should prepare ourselves to seek sinners with the gospel.
We should have a good testimony is exemplary lives so that people who know us by observation will listen to us more readily.

B. There must be some perspiration(work)

Farming is not for sissies!
Farmers used to be known for rising long before daybreak and for working until sundown.
They sometimes had tanned skin that was tough like leather from working out in the sun. They had calluses on their hands.
We must be willing to overcome our laziness, aches and pains and realize that soul-winning is more important than any farmer’s crop!
Let’s get up early if we have to! Let’s stay up late if we must. Let’s get soaked with sweat if that is what it takes, or let’s bundle up in the winter, but LET’S GO!!!

C. There must be praying

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Godly farmers have lived who prayed as they plowed, who prayed as they sowed the seed, who prayed as they watered it, who prayed as they waited for God to give the increase!
Let’s pray for power! Let’s pray for direction! Let’s pray for boldness! Let’s pray for open doors!
Let’s pray before go, while we go, and after we go soul-winning!

II. THERE MUST BE PLANTING

Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

A. The seed is provided freely

Psalms 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

B. The seed is pure in content

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

C. The seed is powerful in its potential

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

D. The seed is profitless in the barn

Haggai 2:19a Is the seed yet in the barn?
It must be PLANTED!
Tracts don’t do their task if they stay in the tract rack, the shirt pocket, a purse, or a drawer at the house.
Preaching doesn’t profit if no one hears it.
Trained soul-winners don’t win souls if they never go into homes.
GET OUT THE SEED!
GET IN OUR SOUL-WINNING PROGRAM!

III. THERE MUST BE PRECIPITATION

Psalms 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

After the seed has been planted, it must be watered. One of the ways that we water the seed and the ground that surrounds it is with our tears.

We MUST get to the point that soul-winning STIRS us! We MUST get to the point that we CARE about souls who are lost and going to hell!

A. We must be more stirred about the lost than we are for our political beliefs

B. We must be more stirred about the lost than we are for our own pleasures

C. We must be more stirred about the lost than we are for our own plans and schedules

D. We must be more stirred about the lost than we are for our own physical comfort

IV. THERE MUST BE POWER

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

A. There is power for the sower

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

B. There is power for the soil

John 16:7-8 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

C. There is power for success

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

We have everything we need for a good crop! We have everything we need to win souls! Will you do it?