A HEART FOR THE HARVEST

Matthew 13:36-39
We sometimes think that we are the harvest. But how can you be the harvest and the harvester at the same time? Who is who in the harvest (?) - the enemy is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age and the harvesters are angels.

The harvest requires and involves two people. The two are:

1. THE HEART WILLING TO SEEK GOD
Acts 8:26-39
The eunuch was willing to seek God. He was willing to:

-Travel:
He had gone an incredibly great distance to worship, form Ethiopia to Jerusalem. That clearly was very tiring and was not easy.

-Use his time off to worship:
He either deliberately took time off just for this or he had some days of leave, but either way he used his free time to worship God. Q. How do you use your time? How do you use your free time? Sometimes when we have time off from school or work we also take time off from (rather than take time off for) Bible study prayer and other matters of spirituality.

We would all want to a have God's attention. What is it that attracts God's attention and impresses him? It is a willing heart. It is not our talent or intelligence, hairstyle or cool clothing. It is a willing heart. The eunuch's willing heart got God's attention and in response God sent someone to him.

-Humble himself:
As a prominent royal official he humbled himself to learning from a stranger on foot. For those studying the bible hoping to become disciples, you would most likely make more progress if you humbled yourself to listen and admitted that you need help.

The eunuch is willing to ask questions. The willing heart invites others into his life in order to get help.

Q. As a disciple, many years after your baptism, are you still willing to seek input and ask questions?

The willing heart is the heart willing to seek God.


2. THE HEART WILLING TO SERVE GOD
Philip was willing to serve God. He was willing to:

-Be sent:
God could have decided to send one of the high-profile apostles like peter or John to reach out to the eunuch, but he didn't have to because in Philip he had a man who was willing to serve him.

When called to go, Philip went. He didn't ask "why" or "what if," he just went, and it wasn't until he got near the chariot that he figured out the purpose of why he was sent. Once he heard the eunuch, he moved straight into action.

-Exert himself physically:
Philip was not one to make excuses. He could have protested in the name of "the chariot is too far off" or "this requires too much running and chasing." But he didn't. He was willing to exert himself physiaclly.

Q. Are you willing to exert yourself physically in order to help people?

-Ask difficult questions:
In most cases if you approach someone who doesn't know you whom you find reading his Bible, and ask, "Do you understand what you are reading," you may end up upsetting him. But Philip was willing to take that risk. You can't help people by avoiding asking pointed questions and by always being soft and cautious. Don't be rude, but don't avoid dealing with necessary issues either.

-Teach true doctrine:
Philip taught the eunuch to get baptized. He didn't lead him in a prayer for salvation or a laying-on-of-hands. Philip taught the eunuch the true and correct way to get right with god.

When you have the two willing hearts, the angels are then able to harvest. The question for us as disciples is, "do have a heart willing to serve God?" The question for those studying the Bible towards becoming disciples is, "are you willing to seek God?"