More Than Harvest —


Evangelism

Many Christians consider evangelism as just the harvest, but that is not biblical. This is to say nothing about all the biblical ministries blessing the brethren. Yes, leading someone to Christ is the most important step because it is literally the difference between Heaven and Hell. That step would not happen if it were not for the steps that brought the person to that point.

In the parable of the sower, there is good soil and there is bad soil. How did some of the soil become good? Even in the garden of Eden, man had the vocation of dressing and tilling. Is there a corollary in preparing the soil of men’s hearts? In the farming vocation, upon which the parable was based, rocks and weeds must be removed, and the soil tilled, before the seed is sown. Imagine a farmer who hikes out into the wilderness and starts scattering wheat. Foolishness! You would not even call such a person a farmer.

John 4:35-38
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.
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.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

After the seed is sown on good soil, then there is watering, and later there is a harvest.

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Glorifying God

If a person says the “sinners’ prayer,” but does not see God as glorious, this false conversion will leave them worse off. Now they think they are saved, so their heart is even more hardened to their need for the true gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

There are repeated opportunities, throughout a person’s life, for them to see the glory of God. Each of these occasions can help them to see the light. There are many methods each of us can use to glorify God.

Matthew 5:14-16
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

You could think of it as preparing the soil, or planting seed, or watering. Everything good thing we do brings glory to God, and is thus an effective work of evangelism to the lost, as well as ministry to the soul and spirit of the brethren.

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