"ROUND 'EM UP, BRING 'EM IN!"

JOHN 4:35-38

The world would like to consider itself beyond any need of God. Self-sufficient, self- guided, self-centered, self-absorbed, the world heads down a self-chosen path, one Jesus called the wide way which leads to destruction. But out there, despite the veneer of sophistication, under the facade of self-confidence is hunger, fear, uncertainty and restlessness. There is a world being pursued by futility and despair. It reminds me of a situation I read about recently. A man lived in an area that abounded with deer and other wild animals. One morning as he was walking across the meadows, he heard the baying of hounds in the distance. As they approached, he saw the object of the chase - a young doe, very weary, her tongue hanging out, and panting with exhaustion. There was something pathetic and appealing in the panic of the deer. The man wondered what, if anything, he could do. Perhaps you hear the cry of the unborn, the unloved, unwanted, and unsaved. What can you do? What should you do? What does Jesus say to do?

• JESUS SAYS TO LIFT UP YOUR EYES: V35:
• As Jesus spoke to the disciples who had returned from their shopping trip, he may have seen some of the Samaritans coming. Perhaps they were dressed in white garments, and their movement caused Jesus to use the field metaphor to represent their readiness form harvest. In order to see them, the disciples had to lift their eyes.
• Jesus said to lift our eyes! And if we are going to see the fields we must lift our eyes from
• Temporalities:
• 2 Corinthians 4:18 "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
• Colossians 3:1-2 "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."
• Selfish interests:
• Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
• I.e. not, "it's my money, my life, my needs, wants and concerns that matter, and when you have troubles, it's your problem!"
• Personal limitations:
• Age, physical weakness, financial lacks, educational deficiencies or what ever else should not hinder us.
• Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
• Faulty concepts:
• "Sharing the gospel is for professionals only. I don't know enough. I'm not called to do it! It's not my job or my responsibility!"
• Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"
• In lifting our eyes, let's cultivate the spirit of J. Wilbur Chapman, "Anything that dims my vision of Christ or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it."
• The problem is, we are often like the boy who was walking along and found $1.00 on the ground. From then on he kept his eyes focused on the sidewalk; in the next weeks he found a few more dollars, a lot of banana peels, gum wrappers, ants, slugs and other stuff -- but missed a lot of real life and beauty. He should have lifted his eyes.

To see the work God has called us to, we must lift our eyes from things which hinder us, and to the fields white unto harvest. The man heard the baying of the dogs, lifted his eyes and looked on a scene that brought him both horror and anger. Two barking dogs were relentlessly pursuing that young doe. Hesitating for a moment and gazing about in a pathetic and frightened manner, the animal saw her pursuers closing in. Then she saw the man and her first impulse was to run again, but instead, she fell defenseless at the feet of the man, sensing it was her last refuge and hope. The man looked at the deer and decided what he must do. Let us lift our eyes and decide to do what Jesus has instructed us to do:

• JESUS SAYS TO LOOK ON THE FIELDS: V35:

• Jesus wants us to lift our eyes from some things and toward others! We do that every day in many ways.
• There are several ways in which we might look at something:
• If we are looking at a garden slug, we look with revolted disgust (unless you like 'em bar-b-qued).
• If we are looking at an ad in the paper, our glance may be cursory and casual, or with attention depending upon the item being sold.
• If we are looking at crime news we may look with anger, outrage, or even fear.
• If we are looking at a lovely sunset we look with awe and admiration at God's beauty.
• But the specific word Jesus used means to look attentively and with regard, interest and desire at something.
• As Jacob did when he beheld Joseph, long separated from him in Egypt: "as soon as he appeared before him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time." Genesis 46:29.
• As the father of the prodigal son did when he looked at him as he came back home. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him." Luke 15:20.
• As Jesus did when looking at Jerusalem: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." Matthew 23:37.
• Jesus said to look at the fields, the unsaved people around us, and to look with regard, interest and desire -- with concern, mercy, compassion and a commitment to help them.

The man determined to save the helpless doe. Picking up a stout stick, he began striking the dogs, driving them from their prey. He said, "I stood there for some time with a stick in my hand, fighting off the barking dogs. I was determined that none of them should capture the little deer which in its weakness had appealed to my strength!" He worked and fought with a sense of compulsion to save that little deer. Should our efforts be less? None of us works as we ought, but if we want to round 'em up and bring 'em in, we must go to work.

• JESUS SAYS TO LABOR IN THE HARVEST: VV36-38:

• Jesus said the fields are white now, ready for harvesting. All of us can have some portion in the harvest.
• Notice the team work here:
• Jesus said, "one sows and another reaps." John 4:37.
• The apostle Paul said, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:6.
• There are 4 important considerations here:
• First, there are planters who sow the seed. Someone asks a friend to come to church; someone prays with another; someone does an act of kindness; someone speaks about Jesus. Seed is sown.
• Second, there are those who water. They also invite others to come, they also pray with them, they do an act of kindness, they speak about Jesus Christ.
• Third, there are those who actually reap. They invite someone to accept Christ and immerse them into Him.
• Fourth, and most important, God is the ultimate cause of growth. His Spirit convicts of sin. His Spirit causes us to be born again. He joins us to the body of Christ the church. All our efforts, apart from God's enabling, are inadequate.
• Ours is to join the labor force, God's is to make the work fruitful. Others may think our efforts are insignificant; we may think we have failed him; there may not be evidence of immediate results. But if we are faithful, diligent, sincere in sharing His word, His grace, His love, God is aware and will bless our labor.
• Paul said, "For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints." Hebrews 6:10.
• He said, further, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58.
• One little girl modeled for us a heart to go to work. Her name was Bambi. She was immersed after church camp one year. The next day she put on her finest church dress and went next door. The lady there asked, "Why, Bambi, why are you so dressed up?" Bambi said, "I am dressed up so people will ask me why I am dressed up and I can tell them that yesterday I gave my heart to Jesus." She went to several different people she knew with the same plot. In time several came to Jesus Christ because one little girl joined in the labor.

"The fields are white," said Jesus. But he also said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." Matthew 9:37-38. Jesus Christ has it in mind to save every individual we can round up. He stands at the end of the life of every individual: rich, poor; young, old; male, female; people of every race and ethnic group -- the great and the small all have to come before Jesus Christ -- and they will meet Him as Lord and Savior or as Final Judge -- everyone without single exception. Multitudes of people, all those who were not harvested in this life will lament, "Harvest is past, summer is ended, And we are not saved." Jeremiah 8:20. You can change that. You can go all out to bring them all in. There are folk you know who would never talk to a preacher ... but they'll talk to you. Will you hear and heed Jesus' words to go make disciples -- rounding up all who will believe, baptizing them, and teaching them to be obedient?"For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon 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? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!'" Romans 10:11-15. You can be the bearer of good tidings if you commit your life without reservation to Him and then go all out to round 'em all up and bring 'em all in to Jesus.

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