Harvest Worship
Romans 10:13-15 "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
I want to take this time to consider most likely the four most potent questions of our day. When the Holy Spirit brings you to this passage of scripture in Romans 10 and presents these questions to you the impact it makes on ones life is both answerable and enlivening. Jesus says in His "Sermon on the Mount", life is more than the clothes we wear, the houses we sleep in and the food we eat (Matt 6:25-34). Coming to the realization that maybe life has been diminished do to the blinding of eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4). Having the light of the gospel of glory of Christ shine on us is both our purpose and privilege.
Unless these questions, How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?, are answered the world will not experience the great love God has for them nor we enter into the fullness He has for us. Let me qualify this with the John 4 passage.
This is often spoken of in terms of worship because of the verses 23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. " and 24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." I agree that this is probably one of the most defining worship passages in scripture but disagree that Jesus is referring to what we define worship to be in terms of service.
What is happening in this text? First of all this text says that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John the Baptist. Then notice that in parenthesis it says, (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples). Something is being said by this. It is not just and accident that these words are placed in the text. John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."(Matt 3:11). This is why Jesus allowed the disciples to do the baptizing because what he came to do couldn't be done until he was the redeemer of mankind. His work at the cross had to be finished and His victory over the grave had to be won, then He could give to man this new baptism into the Holy Spirit and into fire (see Ezekiel 36:25-38).
John 4:31 tells us the disciples encouraged Jesus to eat. This is such an important part of this story. This is why Jesus went one way and the disciples the other in verse four. The disciples had been baptizing and had developed an appetite doing so (John 4:8). This brings us to the lesson of this text. What is food? and What is drink? Jesus comes to the women at the well and asks for drink but only to make a point, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." Notice the passage keeps referring to Jesus as a prophet because he is telling her of what is to come. Then jump down to verse 32 "I have food to eat of which you do not know." Once again Jesus is showing us something beyond "flesh and blood"(Matthew 16:17, Galations 1:16) it is what the Spirit is speaking to the church(Revelations 2:7,11,17,29, 3:6,13,22).
John 4:34 is the the point Jesus is making about drink, food and worship. "Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work". What is it then He is referring to? He would go on to say, "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"(verse 35). Worship is more than a song or carried out in more than just an experience it is a life of labororing in the fields. This is the culmination of this who text….souls. My friend Gary Dyer, Pastor of evangelism at Seymour Harvest Church in Seymour IN always says "there is no greater gift we can bring to God than souls!"
Verses 36-38 Jesus once again prophesies that one would so but then another would reap. He would sow His life and we would reap a harvest! His life would become for us living waters and food that would stop our hunger. We are the reapers, the laborers in the fields that are ripe for harvest. This is the high call of worship! This is the spirit worship that Jesus refers too in both this text John 4 and with Nicodemis in John 3:3-8, "You must be born again.. of the spirit."
Doing the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work is what the questions in Romans 10 are all about. It is followed up by the scripture we love to sing, quote and refer to "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" This is not a literary device it is literal! Transportation in the first century was not trains, planes, and automobiles. These didn't exist until mid 19th to early 20th century. There were horses and boats but the most formable means of travel were scandals, yes people walked and this is what Romans 10:15 is referring to. In Matthew 28:19-20 the text tells us that your life will take you down man roads to many different places and as you go make disciples and baptize them.
A new way of walking! 1John 2:6, a Jesus walk. This is doing the will of Him who sent me and completing His work. Why? John 3:16 For God so loved the world. Why? Because the price that was paid (Jesus Christ) is worth every soul on the planet. Why? Because God deserves to be honored and worshiped and this is the greatest way to worship!
WHAT IS THE ROMANS ROAD TO SALVATION?
The Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the good news of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans. It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation.
The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent. Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives. The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation, Romans 6:23, teaches us about the consequences of sin - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!
The third verse on the Romans road to salvation picks up where Romans 6:23 left off, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:8 declares, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus' death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus' resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus' death as the payment for our sins.
The fourth stop on the Romans road to salvation is Romans 10:9, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved! Romans 10:13 says it again, "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The final aspect of the Romans road to salvation is the results of salvation. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 teaches us, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Would you like to follow the Romans road to salvation? If so, here is a simple prayer you can pray to God. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ for your salvation. The words themselves will not save you. Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation!
Lets pray... "God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I turn away from my sin and place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!"
WHAT IS A TRUE SALVATION EXPERIENCE?
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE REAL THING?
I believe that every conversion is different in some respects, but that there are certain essential elements that are present in every genuine conversion experience. Lets look at these elements?
First of all, in every true salvation experience, faith is exercised.
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."
"to every one that believeth"-Did you notice those words. There can be no salvation experience with-out believing God. Heb. 11:6-"But without faith it is impossible to please God..."
If faith is required, and it is, then where do we acquire it? We are not born with it. What do the Scriptures say? Romans 10:17-"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
So, no one can be saved until they hear the Word of God-the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:13-14, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher?” Notice what is required- A messenger from God, An introduction to Jesus and belief, or faith.
Instead of preaching Jesus today we see even so called "Christian evangelists" using gimmics like giving away presents to people who come forward, and promising trips, or some other thing to "get decisions." We need to be careful. Christ only wants true followers. God is "the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."-Romans 3:25-26
Secondly, I would like to point out that repentance is necessary for there to be a true salvation experience. What is repentance? In the Greek there are words that express sorrow for sin, a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of will. All of these are involved when we truly repent.
We are convicted of our sins by the Holy Spirit. We feel rotten-condemned and lost. But then the light of the Gospel shines upon us, and we see and realize that God truly loves us, and that He gave His only Son to die for our sins, and we turn from sin to God. We beg His forgiveness, and we take Christ as our own personal Lord and Master.
Romans 2:4-"The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance..."
Luke 12:4-"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Has there ever come a time in your life when you were deeply sorry for your sins, and you looked up to God and asked for His mercy, believing in Christ, and trusting only in Him, and what He did for you on the cross and by His resurrection from the dead?
Then, if you have, I believe you can be assured that your "salvation experience" is real.
Was there a definite turning point in your life? Did you become a new creation in Christ.
2nd Corinthians 5:17-"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
There is a "man made religion," but God wants you to have the true experience of His saving grace.
Every conversion experience is different in a sense
- - some are more dramatic
- - some are more emotional than others
- - some are immediately more life changing
I’m asking you today to repent of your sins, and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Invite Him into your heart, and you will have a genuine salvation experience. Then, after you are saved, follow Him in New Testament believer’s baptism, get in a church where you can be taught the truth of God and grow, and lead others, as many as you can to Christ, so that they can receive God’s forgiveness and peace in their hearts.
21 AREAS OF TOTAL TRANSFORMATION
Revelation 21:5
God loves you so much that he will recieve you just the way you are, but His love is so great He won't let you stay that way! Here are just a few ways the Lord wants to transform you.
- FROM CARNALITY TO SPIRITUALITY: Galatians 5: 19-24 The Lord wants to transform us from our carnal and fleshly nature into His divine spiritual nature displaying the fruit of the Spirit.
- FROM FEAR TO FAITH: Isaiah 41 :10-13 Hebrews 10:38 Hebrews 13:5-6 The Lord wants to transform us from living with fear into living a fearless and courageous life through our deep faith in God's goodness and faithfulness.
- FROM BARRENESS TO FRUITFULNESS: John 15 : 2,8,16 Psalm 1:1-3 The Lord wants to transform us from living a barren and useless life into living a fruitful and useful life which is a blessing to others.
- FROM WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH: Isaiah 40:29-31 II Corinthians 12 :9-10 The Lord wants to transform our weakness into strength as we exchange our weakness for His strength by waiting in His Presence.
- FROM CURSES TO BLESSINGS: Galatians 3 :13-14 The Lord wants to remove every curse from our lives and shower us with His blessings because He became curse for us on the cross of Calvary.
- FROM FAILURE TO SUCCESS: John 21 :3-6 The Lord wants to turn our failures into success as we follow His divine directions which enables us to succeed where we have failed in the past.
- FROM SICKNESS TO HEALTH: Matthew 4 : 23-24 Matthew 8 : 14-17 The Lord wants to heal our sickness and grant us good health as He took our infirmities and sicknesses upon Himself on the cross of calvary.
- FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY: II Corinthians 8:9 III John 2 The Lord wants to turn our poverty into prosperity as He had sacrificed His prosperity when He came to this world in order to bless us and meet our needs.
- FROM IGNORANCE TO REVELATION: I Corinthians 2 :9-14 John 8:32 The Lord wants to remove our ignorance and grant us Divine Revelation of what He had prepared for us to enjoy and experience.
- FROM CAPTIVITY TO LIBERTY: Luke 4:18 Acts 10:38 The Lord wants to turn our captivity into liberty and set us free from all the situations that have kept us bound and from all the bondages of Satan.
- FROM SELFISHNESS TO UNSELFISHNESS: II Corinthians 5:15 Matthew 10:37-39 Matthew 20:28 The Lord wants to transform us from living selfishly into living an unselfish life which is a channel of blessing to others.
- FROM CARELESSNESS TO PURPOSE: Ephesians 5:14-17 Matthew 24 :45-51 The Lord wants to transform us from living a careless and aimless life into living a life of purpose and accomplishment according to His unique plan for us.
- FROM SORROW TO JOY: John 16:20 I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 The Lord wants to transform our sorrows into joy and cause us to live a live of joy and happiness which would heal our broken hearts from all hurt and pain.
- FROM PASSIVENESS TO ACTIVENESS: Romans 12 :11 Matthew 20:6-7 The Lord wants to transform us from living a passive life which only receives from others into a life of activeness which reaches out to help others.
- FROM HATRED TO LOVE: Matthew 5:43-48 Matthew 6:14-15 I John 3 :10-18 The Lord wants to transform our hatred into love as hatred is dangerous for our soul and help us love even our enemies and those who have harmed us.
- FROM DISORDER TO ORDER: Genesis 1:1-3 I Corinthians 14 : 40 ,33 The Lord wants to remove disorder from our lives and bring order and discipline into lives which would remove confusion and needless problems.
- FROM STAGNANCY TO GROWTH: Proverbs 4:18 I Chronicles 4 :10 Matthew 25 :14-30 The Lord wants to lift us from a stagnant level into a level of growth and progress and expansion and help us to reach greater heights in our lives.
- FROM DIVISION TO UNITY: Psalms 133 :1-3 Ezekiel 37 :1-10 Acts 2:1-4 The Lord wants to remove division from the midst of us and bring us into unity and harmony which would bring down the blessings of heaven upon us.
- FROM MURMURING TO PRAISE: I Corinthians 10:10-11 Acts 16:25-26 Psalms 34:1 The Lord wants to transform us from an attitude of murmuring and complaining into a life of praise and thanksgiving which would fill us with joy.
- FROM SILENCE TO PROCLAMATION: Matthew 10 :32-33 Acts 1:8 Mark 16:15 The Lord wants to transform us from being silent about the gospel into proclamation and witnessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved.
- FROM PRAYERLESSNESS TO PRAYER: Luke 18:1-7 Matthew 9:37-38 Ezekiel 36 : 33-38 The Lord wants to transform our lives from a prayerless life into a life devoted to prayer for the purposes of God to be fulfilled in our lives.