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"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"
One Sows And Another Reaps (4:35-38)
INTRODUCTION
1. Jesus, the Master Teacher, has much to teach us about winning
souls...
a. By way of example, He teaches us the need for compassion - e.g.,
Mt 9:35-36
b. By way of instruction, He teaches the need for prayer - e.g., Mt
9:37-38
-- Many other things regarding evangelism can be gleaned from our
Lord's example and words
2. On one occasion, Jesus taught His disciples an important principle of
sowing and reaping...
a. In Samaria, following His discussion with the woman at the well
- cf. Jn 4:28-29
b. Apparently as people from the city were making their way to see
Jesus - cf. Jn 4:30
c. As the crowd was making their way, Jesus told His disciples:
1) "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the
fields, for they are already white for harvest" - Jn 4:35
2) "He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal
life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice
together." - Jn 4:36
3) "For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another
reaps.'" - Jn 4:37
4) "I have sent you to reap that for which you have not labored;
others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."
- Jn 4:38
3. In our study, I want to focus on the "true saying" Jesus referred
to...
a. I.e., "One sows and another reaps"
b. Which provides valuable insight into the process of winning souls
[From Jesus we learn that...]
I. WINNING SOULS INVOLVES BOTH SOWING AND REAPING
A. THE PROCESS OF SOWING...
1. In agriculture, sowing involves preparing the soil and planting
the seed
2. In winning souls to Christ, sowing likewise involves
preparation and planting
a. In which hearts are being prepared to receive the gospel
b. In which hearts are first introduced to the gospel
-- A process involving time, teaching, influence, often with
little visible results
B. THE PROCESS OF REAPING...
1. In agriculture, reaping is the harvesting of what has been sown
2. In winning souls to Christ, reaping involves a similar harvest
a. Involving souls who have already heard the Word
b. Involving souls who decide to obey the Word
- A process involving conversion, with great joy and excitement
over the results
[Both sowing and reaping are necessary to win souls. Yet the "saying"
reveals that the two are not always done by the same person(s)...]
II. WE MAY REAP WHERE OTHERS HAVE SOWN
A. THIS WAS THE CASE IN SAMARIA...
1. Jesus sent His disciples to reap where others had labored - cf.
Jn 4:38
2. Who had done the sowing?
a. Jesus, in conversing with the woman at the well - Jn 4:5-26
b. The woman, in telling those in town about Jesus - Jn 4:28-30
-- The disciples were to benefit from the sowing done by others
B. THIS IS OFTEN THE CASE TODAY...
1. There are times when people seem "ripe" (ready to be reaped)
a. Ready to obey the gospel
b. Requiring little effort on our part
2. This is likely due to "sowing" that occurred some time earlier
a. Perhaps the example or teaching by a friend, family member
in the past
b. To which they did not respond then, but are ready now
-- We often benefit from the sowing done by others
C. THIS CAN BE MISINTERPRETED...
1. We might think that we have won souls by ourselves
2. We might think that those who convert many are great soul
winners in of themselves
-- Reaping does not always reflect where the hardest work has been
done
[We should be careful not to boast if we are privileged to reap where
others have sown. Yet we can rejoice, for reaping even when others have
sown is an exciting time for the laborers! Then again...]
III. WE MAY SOW WHERE OTHERS WILL REAP
A. THIS WAS THE CASE IN SAMARIA...
1. Jesus did the sowing, but the disciples would do the reaping
2. The woman did some sowing, then Jesus and His disciples did the
reaping - Jn 4:39-42
-- In this case, the sowing and reaping, though separate, occurred
close together
B. THIS IS OFTEN THE CASE TODAY...
1. There are times when a lot of sowing is being done
a. Lives are influenced by the godly examples of other
Christians
b. Souls are taught the Word of God
2. Yet the reaping is not enjoyed by those doing the sowing
a. Few seem to respond to the efforts being made
b. Much time and energy is expended, with little immediate
results
3. The reaping often comes later
a. It might be years before the Word bears fruit
b. It might be long after we are gone
c. It might be done by others
-- In such cases, the sowing and reaping occur far apart
C. THIS CAN BE MISINTERPRETED...
1. Those sowing with little visible reaping may think they have
failed
a. Causing them to become discouraged
b. Tempting them to discontinue their efforts
2. Others may think those who sow with little visible reaping are
failures
a. Presuming they must not be sowing the seed
b. Presuming they must not be diligent in their efforts
-- Failure to reap does not always reflect the hard work being
done
[When the efforts to sow appear to produce little fruit, we should not
draw conclusions hastily. It can only lead to discouragement and
possible misjudgment others. Understanding the principle, "One Sows And
Another Reaps", then may I suggest that...]
IV. WE SHOULD BE DILIGENT TO SOW AND REAP
A. DILIGENT IN SOWING...
1. There will be times when we will be mostly sowing the seed
a. Teaching souls the first principles of the gospel of Christ
- cf. Mk 16:15-16
b. Influencing souls by example - cf. 1 Pe 3:1-2
2. There may be times when we see little fruit from our efforts
a. Jeremiah prophesied nearly fifty years with little success
b. Jesus and His apostles had their periods when few would
listen
3. Yet we can take comfort in knowing that God's Word is never
sown in vain
a. It will accomplish its purpose - cf. Isa 55:10-11
b. It has the power to save those who believe it - Ro 1:16; Ja
1:21
c. God only holds us responsible for sowing the seed - cf. Ezek
3:17-19
-- Even if we never reap, we can rejoice in the work of sowing,
knowing that our labors for the Lord are not in vain - cf. 1 Co
15:58
B. DILIGENT IN REAPING...
1. There may be times when we may reap where others have sown
a. Souls who come to us, wanting to study, ready to obey
b. Souls where others had sown, and we are privileged to reap
2. There may be times when there is much reaping with little
effort
a. Souls seem quick to respond
b. Numbers of members increase
3. Yet we should be cautious not to boast
a. The power is in the seed, not the sower or the reaper - He
4:12
b. The providence of God is at work, He is the one who gives
the increase - 1 Co 3:5-7
-- As we reap, be mindful of the contribution of others (including
God), and rejoice together in the work of the Lord - cf. 1 Co
3:8; Jn 4:36
CONCLUSION
1. Brothers and sisters in Christ, are we not laborers in the vineyard
of the Lord...?
a. Then let us not hesitate to reap where others have sown
b. Then let us not hesitate to sow where others might reap
2. May the principle "One Sows And Another Reaps"...
a. Encourage us when it seems we are sowing with little fruit to be
seen
b. Humble us when it seems we are reaping where we have not sown
Finally, if we are not reaping at the moment, then let us at least be
sowing...!
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© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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