It’s Harvest Time!
"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22). The promise for the world after the flood was as long as earth remained, there would be four seasons of the year. And since then, we have had spring or seed-time, harvest or fall/autumn, summer and winter. During the autumn of our year, it is most fitting to emphasize, it’s harvest time!
Years ago an old pastor told me, “Johnny, you grow the church through the Sunday School.” So, this fall we want to have four big Sundays represented by the phases of the harvest. During this time we hope to boost our Sunday School/Bible Study attendance. Mark your calendar and make note of the dates. Plan now to bring visitors for these special days.
* Four Big Sundays - October 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2004.
1. The Song For the Harvest Ps. 40:3; Ps. 33:3; Ps. 98:1 (Oct. 3)
God’s Word says, "Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints" (Psalm 149:1). Singing is an avenue of praise that solicits the attention of God. "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing" (Psalm 100:2). On October 3 we shall be blessed to have Rob Deas, one of the most gifted singer/songwriters in America. I have seen Rob in action! He has to be one of the most exciting, crowd motivating singers of songs and song-leaders I have ever seen! You will be amazed with his piano playing also. With God’s help, he will help us maximize our capacity to sing praise to God. He will be with us Sunday morning and evening.
God grants the sunshine and rain that nourish and grow the crops preparing them for the eventual harvest. Our song for the harvest is our praise to God recognizing His sovereignty over the increase and our thanks for what we know He wants to do! It is our beginning of the fall campaign that says, God this is Your part; You hold the whole world (including the harvest) in Your hands. "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake" (Psalm 115:1).
The Lord willing, we hope to give Joshua Messick’s most recent CD to everyone who brings a visitor as well as every visitor who comes to the Sunday School hour. Every home needs good music. Josh is the recognized hammered-dulcimer champion of the United States. He allows his faith to shine through his beautiful music!
2. The Soil For the Harvest Hosea 10:12 (Oct. 10)
Jesus said, "And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred" (Mark 4:20). The ground being referred to by our Lord is the ground of the human heart. Some people have stony ground or thorny ground. But the soft or fertile ground is the human heart that has been prepared to receive the Word or Seed of God. This speaks of a requirement on our part to allow the hardened ground of our hearts to be broken and softened up and be recipients of God’s blessings. This week will emphasize revival. The Bible says, "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you" (Hosea 10:12). This will be a good Sunday to examine our lives and say with the Psalmist, "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? (Psalm 85:6).
3. The Seed For the Harvest Luke 8:11 (Oct. 17)
Without the Seed we will have no harvest. Jesus said, "...The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11). When I see the farmer scattering the seed into the prepared ground, I visualize our partnering with God in evangelism. This is a combination of our part with God’s part. This is where faith meets hope; faith in the sowing, hope for the reaping!
There is great power in the Word of God! "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
Every one who brings a visitor to Bible Study (Sunday School) as well as the visitor for this Sunday will receive the “seed package” of Joel Transeau’s Bible Memory tapes. Joel will give a presentation of how to use them in the Sunday Morning service. You will not find a more dedicated young man than Joel Transeau. You will discover his secret of how he memorizes the Word of God and how you can do the same!
4. The Sheaves of the Harvest Ps. 126:5, 6 (Oct. 24)
The blessed result of giving God thanks ahead of time, preparing our hearts, and the implantation of God’s Word should give us the desired result, i.e., “sheaves.” Sheaves represent the cluster of converts, like sheaves of grain. "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase" (I Corinthians 3:6,7). "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:5, 6).
On this Sunday we hope to reap a harvest with a record-breaking crowd. It is yet to be announced, but we expect to have a very special guest for our services this closing Sunday of our campaign.
Be a part, be excited, and above all, let us be determined to bring God the glory during our Fall program! "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31).
- Pastor Pope -