John 4:36
A Christian man from America made numerous trips to the Holy Land and on each of those visits he requested the same Bedouin shepherd for his tour guide. On each visit the man witnessed to the tour guide about Jesus Christ.
The guide wondered why the man was so persistent in sharing his faith in Christ. The man explained to him that they were friends and he simply could not fail to share the way of salvation to one for whom he so deeply cared.
The guide looked at him and said, "I understand now. You do not want to commit the sin of the desert." The man was not familiar with that phrase, so his friend explained. The guide said, “To Bedouins, the ultimate sin is the sin of the desert which is knowing where there is water but refusing to tell others.”
The sin of the desert may well be the greatest sin of churches today. We live in a wasteland of spiritual dryness and despair, and we know where the water of life can be found (John 4:10-14; 7:37-39). To not tell others about it is the sin of all sins!
One thing that hinders true soul winning is that we often fail to do it “together.” What does our key verse say? “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth my rejoice together.”
Set the stage: John 4:3-7, 28-30, 29
Why had the disciples missed that first evangelistic opportunity? I would submit that the disciples missed the evangelistic harvest for ten reasons.
1. The Disciples were Preoccupied with temporal things, v. 8.
When the disciples first went into the village, they were so preoccupied with their own needs they did not think of the needs of others. They were in the “bread” business at the moment. They were in Sychar looking for a Sub-Shop. They were shopping for sandwiches and not thinking about souls. They were so interested in physical bread that they forgot to share the bread of life (John 6:31-35). Preoccupation is our greatest danger, too. We can become so wrapped up in making a living, running a business, raising a family, etc. that we crowd out the eternal things of life. We can so focus on our own needs and wants that we forget about the needs of others. We can become so consumed with the temporal physical of ourselves that we too can forget the eternal spiritual needs of people.
2. The Disciples were Prejudiced, v. 27.
The disciples were more than a little uncomfortable being in Samaria—the Samaritans were not their kind of people. They were of a different race, a different religion, and a different culture. But you do recall that Jesus had them in Samaria on purpose, v. 4. The Jews generally traveled around Samaria. Jesus went through Samaria—on purpose.
Wasn’t it great the Samaritan woman met Jesus before she met the disciples? The word “marvelled” in verse 27 is a verb tense (perfect) that means they couldn’t get over it.
It never entered the disciple's minds that God cared about the Samaritans or that the Samaritans might long to know God. The Samaritans were not their kind of people. On the basis of preconceived ideas and deep prejudice, the disciples were totally blinded to a whole city of people who were anxious to come to the Savior and felt no responsibility toward them.
The fact is we're missing those who are different from us too. Jesus tells us that we are not to miss anyone. In the Great Commission, He commanded: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations..." The Greek word translated "nations" is the word ethnos from it we get the word "ethnic." We are to preach the Gospel to every race, every tribe, and every culture.
3. The Disciples were Procrastinators, v. 35a.
Are there any procrastinators here today? “One of these days I’ll get around to it.” “What’s the rush.” Well, this is the day of salvation. Time is running out…...for people personally.
...for the world prophetically.
"Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4:35). The harvest is today! Every indication is that there are those in our world today who are ready. There is no time to waste. The Gospel message is "Good News" for today (2 Corinthians 6:2). It is only “good news” we if get it to them in time. The gospel is a free gift, but it has an expiration date.
4. It is a Lack of Perception, v. 35b.
As Jesus saw the multitude of people coming from the city. He said to His disciples, "Lift up your eyes and look... " (John 4:35). Why did Jesus tell the disciples to look up? Because His disciples had just been in the city of Sychar buying food and had intermingled with dozens of people, but they apparently had not been concerned for a single person (other than themselves). Now that same village, in response to the witness of a woman, a Samaritan, and a previously immoral woman, people were coming en mass to see and hear Jesus for themselves. The disciples had missed one evangelistic opportunity and Jesus did not want them to miss another.
“Look” means “deliberate looking” (A. T. Robertson). We will never get a vision of God’s work accidentally.
How do we see the masses? New housing additions popping up all around us, traffic jams, long lines at the grocery stores, an hour wait at our favorite eating place, no parking places at Wal-Mart (one older woman said that men were like the parking places at Wal-Mart—the good ones are all taken and the only ones available are handicapped)...all of these mean there are masses around us who need to hear about Jesus Christ.
5. The Disciples didn't see the Person...the individual.
In this story there was a revival in Samaria because Jesus saw one woman at a well and witnessed to her. Jesus always saw the one…
...Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree (Luke 19:1-10)
...the man who was lame for thirty-eight years beside the pool of Bethesda
(John 5:1-9)
...Matthew at the seat of his custom (Matthew 9:9)
...the woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years (Luke 8)
...the man born blind (John 9)
Even amidst great crowds of people—Jesus always saw the one!
6. The Disciples Has Not Learned about the Process of Soul-Winning.
Soul-winning is a process. Jesus used two terms here: sowing and reaping. Paul adds a third later, he called it “watering.”
These are the “laws of harvest.”
· We reap if we sow.
· We reap what we sow.
· We reap later than we sow.
· We reap more than we sow.
· We reap in proportion to what we sow.
· We will reap because God gives the increase.
7. The Disciples did not Value the Partnership of Soul-Winning.
Soul winning is all about “partnership,” finding others with the common desire to share the gospel and see people saved and…. joining in that common work.
· Sunday School teachers….sow the seed in the young hearts of children.
· Preachers...preach.
· Missionaries...go.
· Faith Promise Missions giving...allows us to partner with people all over the world.
8. The Disciples were yet to Learn the Privilege of Soul-Winning.
“Rescue the perishing, duty demands it.” That’s right.
But somewhere we must move from “duty” to “delight.”
9. The Disciples were to yet to Learn the great Pleasure of Soul-Winning.
Soul-Winning is something that produces real joy. “Rejoice”
What brings you joy?
· Luke 15:5 “Rejoice”
· Luke 15:9 “Rejoice”
· Luke 15:24, 32 “Be merry” (2), “glad”
Acts 8:39 The eunuch “went on his way rejoicing.”
Philippians 1:14-18 “I do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”
10. Soul-Winning wasn’t the Priority for the disciples.
We need to be reminded that any church that is not seeking the lost is lost! She has lost her way and her mission. The harvest for souls is ready and its time we got ready.
America is one of the greatest mission fields of the world. Hundreds of thousands of people apply for American citizenship each year. People are still coming to America. Trade, tourism and travel have brought the world to our doorstep.
It's God's business to prepare the hearts of people and He is always doing that. He furrows the hearts of men to prepare them to receive the gospel.
God uses our words and His words, human words and divine words, the word of a witness and the Word of God. You cannot merely live the life and not share the words. We cannot by living a good life tell others of Jesus' atoning death and resurrection, nor of our faith in Him as our personal Savior. Someone has to tell what God has done and what he or she has experienced. That's the secret of a great evangelistic harvest—sharing the message.
· Begin by being Acquainted with the elements of the gospel.
· Be Awakened to gospel opportunities. You can’t take the gospel to the wrong address.
· Become Accountable to sharing the gospel.
· The disciples were doing the work of God.
· The Samaritan woman was God’s work on display.