Yeargin- Lift Up Your Eyes
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Theme of Looking Towards Missions Conference
What is my role in reaching people
How can I be more effective in reaching people for Jesus Christ
What does it mean to have a world wide outlook
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.
idiomatic expression they used in those days; to say there is no sense of urgency
Relax, we got four months
It’s no big deal
we don’t have to care about that now
Jesus is stating something people would say to bide their time
in other words; I want you to see something that you are not seeing
you can see it, you ought to see it, but you are not seeing it
I want you to lift up your eyes
It is right in front of your face
Something I am good at finding
Finding the milk another story
my wife with a voice of frustration
“it’s right in front of you”
“it’s not here”
this is the frustration that Jesus is having with his disciples
The Samaritan village people are on the way; the Samaritan woman Jesus has just dealt with is gathering many and bringing them to Jesus
The disciples have just come from the city buying groceries
but they did not see those people as harvest ready
They did not see those people as in need of Jesus Christ the Messiah
They did not see that Samaritan woman as someone needing Christ
THey were just too busy doing there stuff
What Jesus is saying is; you can say I have time for that and this, but if you open your eyes it is right in front of your face
I) The example that Jesus set (vs 7-27)
I) The example that Jesus set (vs 7-27)
Jesus unlike human leaders today never asked others to do what he was not first willing to do himself
Jesus always shewed the way and then went the way
like what it says in the book of acts
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
see the order there
Jesus was willing to do, and then teach other people to do what he had already done
Leadership is not this; pointing
Leadership is this: follow me
Jesus was saying follow the way that I am walking
follow me, not go but follow
He is setting the example
Look right in front of you, and see what you have not been seeing
for 27 verses Jesus has been dealing with the woman of Samaria at the well
You know the story
Jesus has been ministering in Judaea with the disciples, They are not apostles yet, they have not been formally called
with the disciples, They are not apostles yet, they have not been officially called
there are not 12 of them yet, there are only 6
Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip and Nathaniel
the others have not been called yet
They have been ministering in Judaea and this isthe early part of Jesus ministry
for four months; John the Baptist and his disciples are ministering and Jesus and his disciples are ministering
After four months John the Baptist gets arrested
After four months John the Baptist is going to jail
and he is never going to get out
At this time Jesus decides he needs to go back to his hometown area of Galilee
Judaea is down south, and Galilee is 80 miles north of Judaea
Right smack in the middle is Samaria
Typically the Jews would not go through Samaria
THe Jews would want to get to Galilee from Judaea but wouldnot want to go through Samaria; why?
We do not like the samaritans
Samaritans are half breeds; half jew and half something else
We are prejudice
we have no dealings with the Samaritans
The feeling was mutual; the Samaritans would have no dealings with the Jews
In fact the only time they would deal with each other was in buying and selling
other than that; we are not marrying each other, we are not friends with each other, we are not hanging out with each other, we do not go to parties with each other
we do not like each other at all
In fact when the Jew would want to go to Galilee from Judaea he would avoid Samaria altogether and go to the river jordan valley, up the river and then cut back in
a time wasting route
but at least I do not have to deal with those grimy Samaritans
but Jesus
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
And he must needs go through Samaria.
john 4:
Jesus unlike the average Jew of his day was not ruled by prejudice
Jesus unlike the average person had a heart for everybody
and when he got to a place in Samaria called Sychar
Outside of the city is a little well called Jacob’s well
and there Jesus sat on the well
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
he sat on the well because he was tired
Jesus was all God but also all man
the hypostatic union as we call it
as a human being he got tired just as you and I get tired
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus sat on the well; he is tired and worn out
He sat on the well and the disciples went into town
Why? for what purpose?
Not for ministry, we minister in Judaea
We are going to go minister in Galilee to our countrymen
Never crossed their mind for any other purpose other than to buy some meat
never crossed their mind that the Samaritans would also need the Messiah
they went and did some grocery shopping
in the mean time Jesus talked to the woman at the well
and Jesus told her Give me to drink
And she answered him
John 4:
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
if you knew who I was you would ask me for water
she answered I think sarcastically oh give me some of that water (vs 15)
Then Jesus began to ask her some questions about her life
and she thought he is a prophet
she finally realizes he is messiah
shes convinced
she leaves her water pot there; that was the whole reason that she came
When Jesus gets in your life he changes your purposes
Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
you need to see him for yourself
This is the example Jesus set
he is going to tell his disciples in just a minute
But he did not ask them to look at something that he was not looking at himself
because Jesus set the example
he put his purpose over prejudice
he put his cause over his comfort
ye he was tired, ye he wanted some r+r, yes it would be easy not to talk to people
he understood this was a lost soul, and someone who needed desperately his touch, and entered into her life
it confused the disciples
And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
this was unbelievable to them
why would a jewish teacher be speaking to a Samaritan woman
a social fo paux
Yet none of them turned to the woman and asked her what seekest thou of JEsus
and no one went up to Jesus and asked Jesus why are you talking with her
they did not enter the conversation, they did not ask any questions
they had been at the changing of the water to wine
they were amazed when he went to Jerusalem when he drove out the money changers at the temple, when he over turned the tables and drove out the animals for sale
who would do that
so they already know that Jesus does some things that we do not understand
so we are going to observe and learn to figure this out
Notice verse 28
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
look at what John makes note of
she left her waterpot
that is what really got the disciples attention
they see her talking with Jesus; but they do not ask any questions
then they see her leave and leave behind her waterpot
and they are thinking what is going on? They have not heard any of the conversation
they do not know what she has learned about Jesus
all they know is that they see Jesus speaking with someone he is not supposed to
then they see this lady leave without her waterpot
and they think why would this lady come out of town to a well and talk with someone she should not be talking to and then leave behind the water pot the whole purpose for which she came?
why?
especially when you consider that they had done the exact opposite; she had left town to get water and returned without water, they had entered town to buy food and returned from town with food
they fulfilled their purpose
but Jesus had given her a higher purpose
then he turns to his disciples and says hey I want you guys to lift up your eyes to something higher and see what I am seeing
because your seeing this
responsibility, daily agenda, priorities, your seeing grocery shopping, your seeing meal time
okay lift up your eyes
I want you to see what is right in front of you
and what is right in front of you are people with spiritual needs and you are not seeing it
The Example that Jesus Set
but not only do we see the example that Jesus set but we see ...
II) The Answer that Jesus gave (vs 28-34)
II) The Answer that Jesus gave (vs 28-34)
so remember we have seen the example; without saying a word Jesus has already given the example
Jesus has already taught us by the way he was living that the truth he is about to give us is indeed valid
now look at verse 28
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
verses 28-30 that is her back in the city
look at verse 31
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
in the mean while...
so while she is making her way back into town
while she is telling everyone about Jesus
while she is trying to get people to come out and see Jesus at the well
while all that is going on
let’s look at what is going on
his disciples prayed him
what is their priority
what is their agenda
this to them was a reasonable request, a strong encouragement from the disciples
after all they had all come to that well, and was that not the purpose they had all left him at the well and gone into town was to get some food?
and in verse 6
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
he was tired
so if I am walking with Jesus and he is tired, we would say Jesus you sit down and rest here, we will go into town and get some refreshments, we are your followers and comforters we will go and do the work you rest
so they went into down, dealt with the grimy Samaritans, got our groceries, came back and now it’s Jesus it’s time to eat
here we are
watch Jesus answer
vs 32
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
time to have some food! he says I have food
i have food that you don’t know about
and they are scratching their head
Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
peter is looking around saying I don’t see the drive through
Andrew is saying I don’t think Papa John’s delivers this far
what’s going on, we don’t see any
where did he get food?
Jesus is speaking on a spiritual level and they don’t understand that
they are speaking on two different levels
the words do not mean the same things
every married man knows that:
you first get married and you ask your wife; how are you doing; and she says I'm fine and you think okay great she doing good
she’s not fine!
but the words do not mean the same thing
Here jesus is speaking on a different level
here he is speaking about spiritual meat
watch it in verse 34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
what i need for energy
what do I see
what do I see about the answer Jesus gave them
A) the Misunderstanding
A) the Misunderstanding
we talked about that he gave them an answer that they did not get it
so often in life we searching for direction from God; and he gives us an answer and we don't get it
we are reading our bible and we think; I don't get it
until there is further explanation
So we see the misunderstanding but also
B) the Metaphor and Meaning
B) the Metaphor and Meaning
So why would Jesus say I have ‘meat’; why would that be the metaphor
let me give you this
I think one of the reasons is because
meat; think about the will of god that is what his meat was
meat is something for which we have a hunger
meat is something for which we have a hunger
we eat what we have a hunger for
God works into your physical body a hunger
no one has to tell you to eat unless you are sick
your body tells you i need energy, i need food
people that have diabetes feel that low sugar
so he is saying i have a hunger for the will of God, I have a hunger to honor God, I have a hunger to follow God
what about you?
is there a hunger in your life
a burning desire in your heart; i want to follow Christ, I want to glorify God with my life, I want my life to reflect His priorities
I do not want to spin my wheels
I want to make my life count
what is your meat; what you hunger for
also what satisfies us
also what satisfies us
you have eaten and your satisfies
turkey coma after thanksgiving
what satisfies you?
Jesus said I am satisfied to do God’s will
God’s will is what ultimately satisfies
people Chasing the wind eccl 1
if i get this, if i go there, if i meet him, ill tell you what then I will be satisfied
but the crazy thing about the flesh is the more you feed it the less satisfied it is
you get what you want, but you don’t want what you got
the only thing that brings lifelong satisfaction is the will of God and his blessing
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich,
And he addeth no sorrow with it.
the only thing that truly satisfies is the will of God
So Jesus says this is my meat is the will of God
what I hunger for
what satisfies me
meat is what I need
meat is what I need
we say I’ll tell you what we really need
Ill tell you what our church really needs
I’ll tell you what I really need
no people need to follow God
thats the big need you have in your life and i have
to know God and to follow him
the greatest piece of knowledge I can have is to know his will
and the greatest thing I can do is to do the will of God
I delight to do thy will, O my God:
Yea, thy law is within my heart.
it is in my heart
it is what I want
just like when you wake up you are hungry
Jesus is saying every single day I am wanting to do the will of God
its my meat
THis is the answer that he gave
Not only was it the example that Jesus set but also the answer that he gave
misunderstanding initially
then the meaning was given
then he describes it as his Mission
C) The Mission
C) The Mission
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
so the implication here is in order to do the will of God I must first know the will of God
so the meat is to know the will of God
to do the will of God
and the meat is fulfilling His Work
so Jesus said; hey if you want to characterize my life in three points here it is;
I want to know what God wants
I want to do what God says
I want to be faithful to the END
That is why it is imperative of us as bible believing christians to get our nose in the Bible and say speak oh Lord
Lord I want to know what your word says
I want to follow you
I want to honor you
I want to be faithful to you
that’s my meat
Am I as hungry for God as I am for food?
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,
And floods upon the dry ground:
I will pour my spirit upon thy seed,
And my blessing upon thine offspring:
you know what are problem is ? no one is thirsty for God anymore
no one is thirsty for the will of God and the word of God
were full
were full of our own junk food
we dont want to sit at the table because we have already loaded up on junk
we feel horrible and our spiritual bodies are in ill health
what is your meat?
What keeps you going day by day?
It is the Example he set, it is the Answer he gave
and then notice lastly it was the Illustration he used
Illustrations in a message are the windows
they let the light shine in
Jesus was the king of illustrations
he used parables; stories so that people could understand
he would give the truth
but then he would illustrate the truth
he set the example (vs 1-27)
he gave them the answer, that they understand somewhat don’t understand
so now to further clarify what he wants them to see that is right in front of their face
he gives them a illustration
lets look at
III) the Illustration Jesus gave (vs 35-36)
III) the Illustration Jesus gave (vs 35-36)
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.
hey don’t you guys have that expression
that laissez faire
it’s not urgent, its not a train wreck, no big deal
isn’t that what you say
what I am saying is you have to look and see differently
lift up your eyes
right now!
right now the fields are ripe and ready for harvest
they are thinking it was great we did some ministry in Judaea and that was trememndous, and now were on a break and in a few days we will be in Galilee and that will be good we will minister again soon up there among our people
and Jesus said stop, stop! you can do ministry right now,
it is not something you have to put on a calendar for next week or next year
open your eyes right in front of your face
Notice how the Illustration expands
the Illustration expands
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
what does harvest work entail
if I really get involved in reaching people for Jesus Christ; what does that work entail?
what does it look like?
The bible gives us some descriptions here
first of all it shows us it is
rewarded work
A) a rewarded work
A) a rewarded work
you want to reach people for Jesus Christ; Jesus said I will reward you for that
“And he that reapeth receiveth wages...”
we reward people in life for what we think is valuable
you show me what you reward others for and I will show you what you hold as valuable
you show me what you want someone to repeat in their life; reward them for it
I understood that principle early on training my two dogs I had
you reward the behavior you want repeated
but not only it is a rewarded work
B) it is an eternal work
B) it is an eternal work
“and gathereth fruit unto life eternal...”
you are not just spinning your wheels
you are not working on something that in a 100 years will not be around or make a difference
no you are doing an eternal work
you are affecting things that will last forever when dealing with people for Christ
this is not sand castle
built sand castles as kids
ice sculptors- McCall ID
my daughter has skills on etch a sketch
it’s beautiful; until the tide comes in, or the sun comes out or in my daughter’s case; until you shake it
sometimes people do beautiful things in life until you shake it
sometimes there are beautiful things in life until the sun comes up
that is what life is; it is a vapor
That is what temporal priorities are; they are like sand castles
they are like ice sculptures
The Bible says that when we get involved with people that are right in front of our face; the Bible says that is an eternal work
it is a rewarded work
it is
C) A unifying work
C) A unifying work
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
the one you never met who invested in this person’s life before you ever got there
the one you never met that was praying
the one before you that watered and fertilized along the way for the gospel to germinate
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
he that soweth
he that reapeth
they will rejoice together
when we all have a mindset to reach people we are all one big team
were one big team
see what’s right in front of you
A satisfying work
the bible says in vs 36
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
I think everyone in this room if asked what are you looking for in life you would say; to be happy
I want to enjoy life
The Bible shows us here that there is joy when you have a mindset to reach people
the things in life that you think will bring happiness
usually tease you on the front end and disappoint and lie to you on the back end
but the things that are right to do usually are sometimes challenging on the front end but satisfying on the back end
the things that are right to do for God are the things you look back on and say I am so glad I did that
when it comes to reaching people for Christ there is none that would ever regret what they did to reach someone
I'm so glad I did it
that is what God teaches
the illustration he uses
So what is the take away?
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
I sent you
look at what is in front of you
do you think all the people and fruit we saw in Judaea were all are own efforts?
No John the Baptist he has been preaching for months and months the gospel of repentance and people have been thinking about it
we came in and got to reap where others sowed
I’m saying we have to see the responsibility that is right in front of your face
What’s my take away?
What’s my take away?
if I am going to see what is right in front of my face I am going to have to
realign my priorities
realign my priorities
for the disciples there priorities were buying groceries, getting back on the road, getting the job done
and Jesus said stop, stop
your daily priorities what you think they are can cloud you from your true purpose
you have to see higher than that
so realign your priorities
reassess prejudices
reassess prejudices
we all come into Christianity with some baggage
some of us grow up with a redneck view, or certain hobby group view
we only look at a certain group or we like to only communicate with those we are comfortable with
news; no one is better than anyone else, no one is worse than anyone else
we are all in the same condition; we need Jesus
we have to re-evaluate our prejudices
to say I want to reach whoever is right in front of me
Rednecks
that was James taught in
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
we are all in the same need of Jesus Christ
rich or poor
male or female
skin color
makes no difference
I want to reach who is in front of me,
so we need to realign our priorities, reassess our prejudices,
remember your purpose
remember your purpose
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
His purpose statements
remember our purpose
why?
because lesser goals can dominate our lives
we all have our bucket lists
lesser goals can dominate our lives
bucket lists
we have retirement goals and plans
Im all for it but
do not let lesser goals dominate your greater and grander purpose
God put you here in time and space and put people in front of you
see them
see what is right in front of your face