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Introduction
1) Illustration: God’s people were slaves in Egypt. They called out to God to deliver them; God came in power and saved them. The exodus stands as a testimony to anyone who is enslaved to sin, that they can call out to the same God. The God of - Bible can deliver them from slavery just like He did the Nation of Israel. The term - Salvation - in - Bible has two close synonyms: Deliver and preserve. When one is drowning, they want to be delivered from the waters, saved from drowning, and preserved as one who can continue to breath air and stay alive. The true historical accounts in the Bible of how God saved people from their slavery & prison stands as a testimony to all who are slaves and prisoners today.
2) Background: Psalm 126 deals with another deliverance of God. The Jews from the southern
kingdom had been deported to Babylon. This Psalm expresses - joy of Salvation, of God delivering His people from captivity and returning them to the Promise land. Whenever a person is enslaved to sin, or needs to be delivered from a sinful habit, the song is for them. This song gives us the principles of Salvation. The Restoration has come. Behold the salvation of our God. Once we get saved we need to sing this song. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.
We have been delivered and preserved by God. It appears that Jesus and Paul had this Psalm in mind when they taught about Evangelism. Many teaching texts in the NT use the farming pictured in the Psalm to illustrate how to witness.
He was born in England, and his name was William. He was saved, and he was a Baptist. He had only one problem, he kept reading his Bible. In God’s book he saw God’s heart for those not yet saved, they needed to be delivered from darkness. He saw we were God’s tools to reach the world, but no one wanted to go.
William Carey challenged the Particular Baptists of his day to simply obey God’s command to go, make disciples, baptize and teach. A missions society was formed and they sent William to India.
The people in India needed to be delivered from captivity to sin and released from Satan’s prison house. This Psalm illustrates what Carey did in India and the fruit his work is still producing today. If you are saved today this Psalm is for you. When you were saved you were also enlisted in God’s army.
Here are His orders for you. Here is how to farm and to fight. You see farming, fighting, even eating is intentional. Evangelism to be Biblical, need to move from optional in our practice, to intentional.
3) Direction
1. We need to respond suitably to the salvation of our God.
2. We need to submit to the command to join God in His harvest field.
I. WE NEED TO RESPOND SUITABLY TO THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD. vs 1-3
(Psalms 126:1-3 NIV) A song of ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
A. The Joy of God’s people. v 1-2a
1. The Bible prophesied that God would restore the captives to the land.
2. In 538 B.C. it happened.
3. What a wonderful experience to be out of captivity, back to God’s land.
4. It happened so fast it was like a dream. Pinch me, is this real?
5. The people of God respond to deliverance w/ shock, then joy and laughter.
6. They couldn’t help shouting and telling everyone how God had saved them.
B. The proclamation among the nations. v 2b
1. This great act of restoration was talked about around - world.
2. When God providentially steps in, His mighty works witness that He is able to deliver His own people.
3. The joyful people cannot stop testifying and declaring the mighty acts of God who delivered them from darkness into His marvelous light.
C. The Thanksgiving for salvation. v 3
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
1. The shock is over
2. The prodigal is home; and it is now time to party.
3. When God saves His people, the pagans recognize the greatness of God.
4. God’s people are overflowing w/ joy because God has saved them.
(ILL.) When a person really gets saved, there is relief from guilt, a change, and joy. Do you remember where Jesus found you? Do you remember the joy & happiness? When someone gets saved, it brings joy on earth and in heaven. If you have been delivered, saved, it is something to be joyful about. The greater our captivity, the thicker the prison walls, the greater the joy. Free at last. Thank God, I am free at last.
II. WE NEED TO SUBMIT TO THE COMMAND TO JOIN GOD IN HIS HARVEST FIELD. vs 4-6
(Psalms 126:4-6 NKJV) Restore our fortunes, O LORD, As the streams in the South (Negev). Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.
A. The prayer for God to make us fruitful. v 4
1. Judah was destroyed. Everything was torn down and burnt. We need to pray.
2. God has delivered us, now we need Him to restore our fortunes, prosper our work. Do for us what you did for Job.
3. When God sends the rains in the South, around Beersheba, the rain comes across that dry land in powerful flood streams. “God, open the flood gates of heaven and pour out your blessings on all our work.” We have repented of our sin. We are committed to obeying your command. Bless the labor of our hands
B. The promise of answered prayer.
1. God will keep his promise.
2. God raised up the prophet Haggai to speak to the returned captives.
(Haggai 2:19 NIV) Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on I will bless you.
3. Is it a surprise that God wants His people to be fruitful? “Be fruitful & multiply fill the earth.” God commands physical fruit. And the number of disciples multiplied, they added daily to the church those whom God was saving. That is spiritual fruit.
(Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
(John 15:5 NIV) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Fruit = the fruit of the Holy Spirit, good works, praise to God, giving, and new Christians. If we are really concerned about bearing fruit, then vs 5-6 are very important to us.
C. The presentation of the law of the harvest. v 5-6
1. Going: One of the things you learn from the Bible studies in MasterLife, God has not suggested that you share your faith. God has commanded us to do it. Five times the resurrected Christ told us to go, preach, make disciples, be His witnesses. There are no good excuses. We are going, or we are sinning. To not Go and Tell, is to directly disobey God. This in not asking people to come and hear. This is going to them and telling the gospel, Good News.
a) Go is present tense. Continually going. Forth, means we leave something behind.
b) Every farmer must choose his field. Where will I start?
(Matthew 13:38 NKJV) The field is the world
(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
c) We start casting seeds right here! Stand on your front porch and claim the three houses in front of you. Front porch evangelism. Claim the desks around yours in the class. Look at the text under 'going.' One GA preacher said, 'we have too many sitters and getters and not enough goers and tellers.'
2. Weeping (Emotions)
a) (ILL.) Our second son, Jacob was born blue, they took him to Syracuse, & it started snowing, I visited him in ICU. The next day they operated on his heart. My wife, Deb, was in Elmira, our first son John in Valois. I did a lot of weeping when I prayed all alone in a strange city. When was the last time you asked God to save someone, & you asked w/ tears?
(ILL.) Daimon: The call came, I have wonderful news, let me share it w/ you. Amway, I listened, then it was my turn, and I shared about Jesus taking away my sin, paying for them
b) We need a passion for souls.
c) We must pray w/ earnestness, passion
d) We need a burden from God for souls. Moses & Paul
e) Jesus wept.
1. Over a man, Lazarus and the pain and sorrow of sin & death.
2. Over obstinate Leaders, the Leaders of Jerusalem keeping the people from salvation.
3. Over a world, ours. In the Garden of 'the crushing' (John 11:35, Mat. 23:37, Lk. 22:39-46)
3. Sowing (The Mind)
(Luke 8:11 NIV) This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
a) Sowing the seed is sharing the gospel.
b) We must cultivate the ground before we sow
c) We simply go and tell what Jesus did for us and in us.
d) If no one goes and sows, nothing will come up.
(ILL.) An unbelieving neighbor through a tomato at the church building next to the parsonage. I washed it off the building. The next year 3 healthy tomato plants came up at that spot.
e) Cultivating and sowing must be intentionally scheduled in our weeks like eating. If not, it won't happen. Two Monday night a month are set aside for evangelistic visitation. This is not for just deacons; it is for Christians.
(ILL.) John MacArthur plane
f) Get the training you need so you can share w/ o fear and effectively.
4. Reaping (The Will)
a) The promise to the Jews, God will make you fruitful. Pray and sow, and guess what? You will have to reap. The same is true for the Church. Look at the book of Acts. Sowing produces reaping. Paul said, what you sow, you will reap. If you sow nothing, you will reap nothing.
b) (ILL.) Tomato plant S.C., removed rocks, planted, watered, weeded, fertilized, and reaped.
c) (ILL.) Bee Gee was the WMU leader at Darrel Robinson’s church in Texas, she attended the witnessing training so she could teach others. She told the pastor, I have tried to witness, I get emotional and cry. I can’t witness, but I will teach others. She took her witnessing book to the beauty parlor, Cookie asked, What are you reading? I am reading a little book about Jesus. May I share it w/ you? Cookie read the book and wanted to get saved. Bee Gee panicked and went to see Pastor. He set up a time for them to go together and meet w/ Cookie and her husband. That hour God saved them both. After surrendering to the Lord Christ, Cookie asked Bee Gee, you have invited me to come to your church for all kinds of things. But how come You never told me about Jesus till now? Bee Gee never said she could not witness again.
Conclusion
1. We need to respond suitably to the salvation of our God. JOY. Happiness. Change.
2. We need to submit to the command to join God in His harvest field. We must Go, weep, sow, and reap. More of the same never produces change. Will you commit to intentionally obeying Jesus' command to you to share your faith? What are you willing to do under:
Going
Weeping
Sowing
Reaping
(ILL.) Robert M. McCheyne’s weeping over his congregation in prayer
Do business with God today. Agree to join Him in His harvest field. There is grain ready to be picked. There are fields ready to be cultivated, some are ready for sowing. There are projects away from home, but we must first start at home. Then we can go to Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
