Q2. Eyes for the Harvest

[pickledilly]

The harvest in Sychar was already ripening when this encounter took place. Jesus told the disciples to just lift up their eyes and take a look at the “fields white for harvest”. This was a harvest for the Kingdom of God, a spiritual harvest of every person who passes from the deadness of rebellion and unbelief into the eternal life of Christ gained through faith in Him. These Samaritans knew that Yahweh had promised Messiah would come (4:25). Perhaps their distance and separation from the Jews and Jerusalem proved to be a positive thing. Perhaps they didn't have such a corrupt, power hungry priesthood that suppressed liberty. Perhaps they weren't as locked into the self-righteous keeping of Law that so blinded people to the truth. Perhaps Messiah would be their great equalizer who would release them from the prejudice and disdain of being seen as religious outcasts. Perhaps they were waiting for Messiah with expectancy.

 

A primary sign they were watching for to identify the Christ when He did come was that He would “tell us all things”. The woman was openly declaring to the people of her town that this man she met told her every sordid detail of everything she'd ever done. Here was a disgraced, disreputable woman no longer hiding and cowering from the people in shame. Something had definitely happened and she was different! And she was telling them about this man and marveling that He could be the Anointed One of God they had been waiting for! I think her testimony was powerful and authentic, and the evidence of change was already apparent. Yes, the testimony of “one, discredited woman” could make a huge impact as it's anointed by the Spirit with spiritual power to set in motion a great harvest for the Kingdom.

 

We never know who God has been dealing with to prepare them for a moment of encountering the gospel message of the living Savior. We never know what God will do through one testimony to save a soul, a household, a neighborhood, a town, a nation. And so we must accept Jesus' words to the disciples as a word to us as well. “Look, and lift up your eyes”. Get our focus off ourselves with self-absorbed heads hung low to only see the path and circumstances of this earthly life with its cares and shameful failures. Keep our focus set toward heaven and spiritual matters where it's all about the perfection of Jesus. Let the Spirit give us eyes to see as He sees, to be sensitive to opportunities for sharing the news that there is One who knows everything we've ever done and yet offers us the living water of eternal life. We know that the fields are ripe all around us. May God relentlessly stir our hearts and empower us with courage and compassion to tell the good news! We each have a testimony that He might just use to change a life.

[Old Jerry]

The reason that the harvest ripened so rapidly in Sychar is because the woman at the well shared her testimony. It seems like it is pretty unlikely that the testimony of one discredited woman would make that much difference. God could do the same thing with my testimony and might have done that I just don’t know. It is necessary to “open our eyes” to see the potential spiritual harvest because God can guide us to the ones that will probably accept it.

[Godswriter]

Q2. (John 4:35) What caused the harvest to ripen so rapidly in Sychar? How likely is it that the testimony of one, discredited woman could make such a huge impact? What might God do with your testimony if you were to share it? Why is it necessary to “open our eyes” to see the potential spiritual harvest?

First of all the fact that she was of disrepute and a woman no less. Also the fact everyone knew about her and her reputation and what she did. It is because of the fact Jesus chose her and no one else to bring people to Him. The Lord working through her testimony is what created that phenomenal impact. He may bring more people to Christ through it than anything else. It is necessary to open our eyes because there are opportunities all around us for impact with people who need to be brought to Christ for salvation.

 

[Paula Price]

The people, just like the woman must have heard of Jesus but no one had seen him and maybe they were surprised that he would even be in their town.  The customs of the times was that Jews and Gentiles did not mix.  The Jews were the chosen people and all others were excluded from righteous. Jesus is the Messiah they had been told about who would come and deliver the world from sin.  this one woman made an impact because of her testimony of this man who did not live there and did not know her but could tell her about herself and how she lived.  She recognized something different about this man and the fact that she spoke to people of him, which she evidently had not done before about any man she met, caused them to be curious enough to go and see for themselves.  Jesus said if we would lift up his name, he will draw all men unto him.  Our job is to lift up the name of Jesus, to tell others of his saving grace and how to be forgiven of sin.

[theoldveteran]

On 8/7/2014 at 2:28 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q2. (John 4:35) What caused the harvest to ripen so rapidly in Sychar? How likely is it that the testimony of one, discredited woman could make such a huge impact? What might God do with your testimony if you were to share it? Why is it necessary to “open our eyes” to see the potential spiritual harvest?

(1)  The testimony of a loose woman who was sleeping with many men & scorned by the women of the village. She had seen Jesus and it showed in her testimony and it had an irresistible appeal to the people of the village.  They had to see this Jesus for themselves.

(2) Jesus uses the poor, the sick, the lame, the rejected and the forlorn to show that ALL CAN BE MADE NEW.

(3)  He has done wonderous things with it in the past, (but in the last few years, I've been neglecting the harvest and consequently it hasn't been very plentiful).  This Bible study is serving to bring me back into the harvest.

(4) We must see the need, and see the desperation and listen with our hearts.

[Jonathan Edwards]

Christ's disciples, his Apostles, his ambassadors are his reapers. Here in this Samaritan town, the supernatural order is working, faith indeed ripens quickly, and the sower and reaper can rejoice together.  The disciples can now reap the harvest; the Samaritan woman has evangelized her neighborhood!   The disciples did not sow the seed; John the Baptist could have been preparing the way of the Lord in this region.    The disciples are not widely separated from the OT prophets who sowed the seed of God's Word in the lives of God's people.  Here we have Johnnaine eschatology, emphasis is on 'now'.  The Messianic era is currently present (John 4:23).  John the Apostle brings together beginning and end, seedtime and harvest.

IIt was the earnestness of the Samaritan woman that caught the attention of her neighbors.  They saw the change of her demeanor and her joy.   Clearly this town was by ripe for the picking.   Christ knew about their long searching for the truth.   They did not have all the creeds memorized nor were they schooled in the great Jewish schools.   Christ met them on their level.   Perhaps Christ had a great healing service there which even brought forth more converts !

A testimony is a statement on how one is tested and persevered.   My testimony could be a blessing for those who have endured dark nites of the soul.   For a sincere inquirer that is searching for the truth, my testimony could be so useful for someone who was brought up in the church and needs encouragement.

Saturday nights are prayer time for evangelistic Sundays.    Must have that anointing from above before I bring forth the Word of Life on public street.  Prayer time is absolutely critical,  prayerfully meditation on the Bible is essential.   Yes, seeking God's direction to go harvest souls is very crucial.  Holy Spirit may gently  urge me to go to another city instead of going to my usual part of town.

[Daniel R]

1. What caused the harvest to ripen so rapidly in Sychar?

The harvest was so rapidly ripened in Sychar because of the woman's testimony of who and what Jesus did and is; really though, the people were ripened because the woman's testimony was full of the Holy Spirit.

2. How likely is it that the testimony of one, discredited woman could make such a huge impact?

Not very likely at all. The reason why her testimony made such a huge impact was because the Holy Spirit filled the testimony and was doing Its work through the woman's testimony.

3. What might God do with your testimony if you were to share it?

If I'm being completely honest, I have no idea what God would do with my testimony. His ways are not my ways and His Thoughts and Purposes are not my thoughts and purposes. I know for a fact though that He would reach the right person at the right time and at the right place and do with that person whatever His Will is (not in a terrible sense, but either plant a seed or save on the spot and so on...).

4. Why is it necessary to "open our eyes" to the spiritual harvest?

Right before Jesus ascended, Jesus commanded His disciples and us to make disciples of all nations. If we don't open our eyes to the spiritual harvest, we won't be able to call or make new disciples out of unbelievers and we won't be able to strengthen weak, new, or any believer at any point. If we don't open our eyes to the spiritual harvest, we prove useless for the Kingdom of God and the growing of It!

 

 

[Irmela]

(John 4:35)

What caused the harvest to ripen so rapidly in Sychar?

How likely is it that the testimony of one, discredited woman could make such a huge impact?

What might God do with your testimony if you were to share it?

Why is it necessary to "open our eyes" to see the potential spiritual harvest?

God sees the heart and He knows when the "harvest" is ready. 

The excitement of the woman was very catchy and they couldn't help but listen to her and i guess before they knew it, they too came along to see and hear who she was talking about. 

God is able to reach out to whoever is ready and willing to, and He too can use anyone willing to be used of Him. He is wanting willing vessels. 

To "open our eyes" can be taken to be willing at any and all time to be used to go ahead, testify, and see the result. This could be used as planting, could be watering or could be reaping.