The Preacher’s Notebook

The Paper and Electronic Pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC
(Delivered by E-mail and Us Postage Through Subscription as an Extension of the Pulpit Ministry of this Church)
Dr. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – M ineral Springs, NC 28108
(704)843-3858 – E-Mail: preslar12@windstream.net
Copyright (C) 2007. Terry W. Preslar All rights reserved.

Vol. I November, 2007 Issue 11

“The Harvest”
“...Lift up your eyes and look on the fields...” (John 4:35)
A Sermon By Dr. Terry W. Preslar

In this season of the year we all see and are

reminded of the Harvest. How colorful this time is
but it calls forth some reflection: “The harvest is
past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
(Jer. 8:20). This text refers to the generation that was
then and is now by-and-large a lost generation. I have
too many lost loved ones, friends and colleagues and
I expect that my readers do too. Like the farmer that
looks at the field ready for the natural harvest – we
should be anxious for the Spiritual Harvest of souls.
There has been a great “harvest of souls” in the
days that have passed. Many who read this paper can
testify of this truth. God has moved in the churches
of yesterday to harvest those generations; but now we
are in the care of another lost generation and we need to reach them for Christ. Christ is the Lord of the
Spiritual Harvest and He will give seed for the victory in the “Harvest of Souls.” The Harvest is not hap-
hazard, it has structure and a divine pattern:
I-The Order of the Harvest
A) the rule of the Harvest (“...sow in tears...reap in joy.” Psa. 126:5-6)
B) the work of the Harvest (“...break up your fallow ground...” Hosea 10:12)
C) the danger of the Harvest (“The harvest is past... and we are not saved.” Jer. 8:20-22)
II-The Description of the Harvest
A) the universality of the Harvest (“...plenteous...” Matt. 9:37) [a bountiful Harvest]
B) the comparative readiness of the Harvest (“...immediately...” Mark 4:29) [a ready Harvest]
C) the quality of the Harvest (“The harvest truly is great...” Luke 10:2) [a good Harvest]
D) the relative state of the Harvest (“...white already to harvest.” John 4:35) [a serious Harvest]
III-The Certainty of the Harvest
A) a Genesis standard (“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest...” Gen. 8:22)
B) a historical record (Ruth came “...in the beginning of barley harvest.” Ruth 1:22)
C) a Gospel recommendation (“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest...” Matt. 9:38)
D) a New Testament imperative (“...we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9)
IV- The New Testament Teaching on the Harvest. The heart of N.T. teaching upon the subject of The

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 Harvest is found in Gal. 6:7-9. Therefore, this is seen as a “law” of The Harvest which can be stated
from the gleanings of Scripture taken from both Testaments. Here Paul sets forth the simplicity of The
HARVEST:
A) vs #7 – the Prospect (proportionally) “...whatsoever...” (You harvest the same as you SOW)
B) vs #8 – the Possibility (personally) “...he that soweth...” (You harvest more than you SOW)
C) vs #9 – the Promise (positively) “...we shall reap...” (You harvest later than you SOW)
V- The Mystery of the Harvest. Grace; for God, is gathering where you have not planted. (“For I feared
thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou
didst not sow.” Luke 19:21) This Mystery works in:
A) Service (“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” 1 Cor. 3:5-6)
B) Stewardship (“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which
soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Cor. 9:6)
C) Sin (“...I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house,...” 2 Sam. 12:1-11; Job 8:3) See how
God brought this to pass as the Harvest works in Sin...
1) Crop #1– the child died (12:12)
2) Crop #2– Tamar is violated (13:4)
3) Crop #3– Absalom killed Abnon (13:28)
4) Crop #4– Absalom dies a rebel (18:31-32)

The Harvest Illustrated

The Harvest that God intends is superior to any we might devise. To go after God’s Harvest is never loss,
but gain.
1- Moses left the sheep of Midian – To serve in a Spiritual Harvest (Ex. 3)
2- Elisha left 12 yoke of oxen – To take part in a Greater Harvest (1 Kings 19:19-20)
3- Gidion was thrashing wheat for himself when he left that – To thrash the enemies of God (Judges
6:11-12)
4-The “kine” left their calves – To pull the Ark of God (1 Sam. 6:7)
5-The rooster left the hen house – To Crow for God (Luke 22:60)

The Condition of the Harvest

There are three types of harvest in the natural field: “The Golden Harvest”, “The White Harvest”, and
“The Black Harvest”. The Lord speaking to His close fellows in the Parables Says “...the field is the world.”
(Matt.13:38). This statement by the Lord gives us the right to compare the real harvest with the spiritual one
that is surely before us in the field of the world.

I-The Golden Harvest [of plenty] (of joy). This is when the grain has headed out, full, ripe and Golden in
color. This is the most desired Harvest and can only be taken:
A) in youth (“Remember now thy Creator...” Eccl. 12:1)
B) in tenderness (“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found...” Isa. 55:6-7)
C) in conviction (“Harden not your heart...” Psa. 95:7-8) [Heb. 3:8, 15; 4:7]
II-The White Harvest [of opportunity] (of relief – otherwise it will be lost). This is seen as the grain
stays, too long, in the field. The Sun parches the heads of grain, bleaches the husk that holds each kernel
to a gleaming white and loosens the kernel so that even the foot of the harvester in the field may cause
it to be shaken from the head. This is the Harvest that has been ours since the Lord was here (“...Lift up
your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”)
A) in distress (the ready Savior) (“...not willing that any should perish...” 2 Peter 3:9)

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 B) in danger (the able Savior) (“...able to save to the uttermost...” Heb. 7:25)
C) in despair (the only Savior) (“...no other name...” Acts 4:12)
III-The Black Harvest [of finality] (of wantonness). This Harvest is a bitter reality. If you leave the grain
in the field it will draw the soils strength, hinder the winter plowing and even mold on the stalk, turning
it a dark, menacing black that will poison any cattle that might eat from it through the winter. Some
Harvest is inevitable if we Sow:
A) in this life (“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap.”Gal. 6:7-8)
B) In the lives of others – Your shadow is cast over someone else for good or bad (“...at the least the
shadow... might over shadow some of them.” Acts 5:15)
C) in future generations (“...Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and
fourth generation...” Deut. 5:9)
IV- The Elements of the Harvest. Wherever this message is preached there may be all three components
of a Harvest:
A) The Planters – they have wept and now they may rejoice at the Harvest (“They that sow in tears shall
reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again
with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psa. 126:5-6)
B) The Seed – having been in the barn so long and now cast into good ground. (“Is the seed yet in the
barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought
forth: from this day will I bless you.” Hag. 2:19; Matt. 13:38; Luke 8:11)
C) The Harvest Itself (“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul?” Mark 8:36)
V- The Reality of the Harvest. It is late (“...the summer has ended...”) What is there to do? The Master
Says: “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers,
Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my
barn.” (Matt. 13:30). When man is through and there is no more time there will be one more Harvest.
Consider:
A) The “Time” of the Harvest
1) in God’s Time (“...and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together ...the
wheat into my barn.” Matt. 13:30)
2) in plenty of time (“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh,
when no man can work.” John 9:4)
3) in the right time (“...It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath
put in his own power.” Acts 1:7)
B) The “Type” of Harvest
1) Selective (“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom
all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;” Matt.13:41-43)
2) Splendid (“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second
death hath no power,...” Rev. 20:6)
3) Sure (“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb. 10:37)
C) The “Thing” of Harvest
1) A Saved People (“...the dead in Christ shall rise first:” 1 Thes. 4:13-18)
2) A Looking People (“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that
look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28)
3) A Prepared People (“...every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure.” 1 John 3:1-3)

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This Periodical is printed by Gospel Publishing and Colportage, a ministry of the First Baptist
Church of Mineral Springs, NC, and is designed for education, evangelism, and edification. If we may
assist you in knowing more about Christ and the Christian life, please write us without obligation: First
Baptist Church of Mineral Springs PO Box 388, Mineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858
Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2
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“...when thou comest, bring with thee...the books,

but especially the parchments. (2 Tim. 4:13)
Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2
P.O. Box 388 Mineral Springs, N.C. 28108
1(704)843-3858
E-Mail: preslar12@windstream.net

First Baptist Church

PO Box 388
Mineral Springs, NC 28108