Because Of The Harvest
The harvest is ready. Because of souls, the church must worship, hold apostolic doctrine, be revived, and give itself to God's work.
The Fields Are Ready
Sa John 4, nagsalita ang Panginoong Jesus tungkol sa harvest:
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
John 4:35
Huwag ninyong sabihin, apat na buwan pa bago dumating ang ani. Sabi ng Panginoon,lift up your eyes. Tumingin kayo sa fields, sapagkat namumuti na ang aanihin. Ready na. Hinog na. Harvest time na.
Sa Revelation 14:14-15, may nakita rin si John:
“And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.”
Revelation 14:14
Then another angel cried with a loud voice:
“Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
Revelation 14:15
Ang aanihin sa mundo ay hinog na. The harvest of the earth is ripe.
Kaya ang mensahe natin ngayon:because of the harvest. Everything that we are doing is because of the harvest. Lahat ng ating ginagawa ay dahilan sa ani. Lahat ay dahil sa kaluluwa.
The goal is the soul. S-O-U-L. Souls. The salvation of the unbelieving and the lost.
All Because Of Souls
Everything that we do is because of souls. Hindi ito tungkol sa atin. It is all because of the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He has done in our lives.
Hindi ka naman ganyan dati. Pinagpala ka ng Panginoon. Binago ka Niya. Tinawag ka Niya. Supposedly, naunawaan mo na kung ano ka ngayon at kung ano ang dapat mong ginagawa.
The Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people. Kung gusto mong manahan ang Diyos sa lugar na ito, matuto kang magpuri sa Diyos. Matuto kang sumamba sa Panginoon.
We must worship God in the beauty of His holiness. Sa bawat pagtitipon, kailangan nating gumawa ng atmosphere of worship. Bakit? Kung hindi tayo sasamba, walang kabuluhan ang pagtitipon natin. Nandito ka na rin lang, kahit bumabagyo, ibigay mo na ang lahat para sa Panginoon.
Walang dahilan para hindi mo ibuka ang iyong bibig sa pagsamba. Walang dahilan para hindi ka pumalakpak. Walang dahilan para hindi ka magtaas ng kamay. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Malaya ka ba ngayon? If you are free, worship the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and body.
The Last Days Are Not Only Negative
Maraming tao ngayon ang naniniwala na everything about the last days is negative. Totoo, may negatibong kaganapan sa panahon natin ngayon. The Bible says because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
May mga nanlalamig. May mga nagiging lukewarm. May mga nagba-backslide. May mga dating mainit sa Panginoon na ngayon ay nagiging cold sa kanilang pag-ibig sa Diyos.
But on the positive side, the times of restoration spoken of in the book of Acts are happening in our midst. May mga reports around the world, hindi lamang sa atin, that the apostolic church is growing. Maraming lugar ang nakakaranas ng revival, restoration, and harvest.
May mga bansa na dati maliit lamang ang Christianity, but now there is great growth. Apostolic believers are rising. Jesus Christ is being preached. The name of the Lord is being lifted up.
Kaya hindi tayo dapat puro takot sa last days. Yes, may darkness. Yes, may kasamaan. Pero may harvest din. May revival. May restoration. May pagkakataon pa para sa mga kaluluwa.
Compel Them To Come In
Luke 14:23 says:
“Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Luke 14:23
This is the time to compel people to understand the will of God. This is the time to help people know the love of God. This is the time to invite, reach, teach, and bring souls to the Lord.
The harvest is not only crops. Spiritually, the harvest is the gathering of people into the kingdom of God. Ito ang pagkilos na ipunin ang mga tao patungo sa hari ng Panginoon.
In Hebrew thought, harvest speaks of reaping. It speaks of provision, blessing, completion, and divine faithfulness. Kapag may harvest, may provision. Where there is a vision, there is always provision.
Kung may vision ka para sa harvest, the Lord will provide. God will supply. God will see you through as you do His will.
Galatians 6 reminds us:
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:9
Sa tamang panahon, aani tayo kung hindi tayo manghihina. Kaya huwag mapagod sa paggawa ng mabuti. Huwag mapagod sa paglilingkod. Huwag mapagod sa pag-abot ng kaluluwa.
We Need Understanding
This is Maturity Sunday, discipleship. So allow me to teach and preach. Kailangan nating maunawaan kung ano ang harvest, bakit mahalaga ito, at ano ang dapat nating ginagawa sa panahon ngayon.
Paul said, I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Kaya sa preaching din, we need the Spirit and we need understanding. Hindi sapat ang excitement lamang. Hindi sapat ang emotion lamang. Kailangan nating maintindihan ang kalooban ng Diyos.
Because of the harvest, kailangan nating ayusin ang ating focus.
Apostolic Doctrine Is Because Of The Harvest
Service is because of the harvest. And if we are talking about the harvest, kailangan nating bumalik sa apostolic doctrine.
Acts 2:42 says:
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2:42
The newborn church continued steadfastly in apostolic doctrine. Hindi sila pabago-bago. Hindi sila basta-basta nadadala ng ibang aral.
Romans 16:17 says:
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
Romans 16:17
Tandaan natin, kapag ang aral ay contrary to the doctrine we have learned, avoid them. Hindi lahat ng marunong magsalita ay dapat pakinggan. Hindi lahat ng teaching ay galing sa Panginoon.
2 Timothy 4:2-3 says:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
2 Timothy 4:2
Darating ang panahon na hindi na titiisin ng mga tao ang sound doctrine. They will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. Mamimili sila ng tagapagturo na kukiliti lang sa kanilang tenga, magbibigay lang ng gusto nilang marinig, pero hindi sila sasawayin at hindi sila itutuwid.
Pero kung harvest ang pinag-uusapan, kailangan malinaw ang doctrine. Souls must not only be gathered. Souls must be established in truth.
The Doctrine Of God
Sa apostolic doctrine, kailangan nating maunawaan ang doctrine of God. Who is God? Sino ba talaga si Jesus Christ?
May mga naniniwala sa atheism, isang paniniwala na hindi naniniwala sa Diyos. May mga monotheistic groups na naniniwala sa isang Diyos. May mga naniniwala sa dalawang gods or many gods. May trinitarian belief na nagsasabing one God in three distinct persons.
But as apostolic believers, we believe in Christian monotheism: there is only one God, and that one God manifested Himself in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 3:16 says:
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”
1 Timothy 3:16
Isang Diyos na nahayag sa laman, and that is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:13-18 shows us that Jesus Himself asked:
“Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”
Matthew 16:13
Iba-iba ang sagot ng mga tao. Some said John the Baptist. Some said Elijah. Some said one of the prophets.
Pero tinanong ni Jesus ang mga alagad, “But whom say ye that I am?” Mas mahalaga iyon. Hindi lamang kung ano ang sinasabi ng iba. Ang tanong:sino si Jesus Christ sa iyo?
Peter answered:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16
This truth matters. This is part of lifting Jesus higher. We stand for the truth that there is only one God, and that God is revealed in Jesus Christ.
What Does The Bible Say?
History tells us about church councils, creeds, and religious decisions. But the question is not only what religion says or what history says. The question is:what does the Bible say?
John 4:24 says:
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:24
God is a Spirit. And there is but one God. Maraming scriptures ang nagsasabi na meron lamang isang Diyos.
Thank God nakilala natin kung sino ang Diyos na iyon. Salamat sa Panginoon, ang Diyos na iyon ay naghahari sa ating puso ngayon.
This truth must be planted in our hearts and minds, because this is what the enemy is trying to work against today. Ang demonyo ay gumagawa para basagin ang katotohanan tungkol kay Jesus Christ.
But the truth will set you free.
The fullness of God is in Christ. He is Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Ghost in regeneration and adoption. One God. One person. Three manifestations.
Yes, there is a Father. He is the Creator. Yes, there is the Son. God manifested in the flesh for redemption. Yes, there is the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God dwelling in us.
But we do not believe in three separate gods. We believe in the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ.
Understanding Spiritual Language
The Bible uses anthropomorphic expressions. Ibig sabihin, gumagamit ito ng human or physical language para ipaliwanag ang spiritual truth.
Ginagamit ng Diyos ang mga bagay na naiintindihan ng tao para maunawaan natin ang espirituwal na katotohanan. Kahit bata, puwedeng makaunawa kapag simple ang paliwanag.
Kapag sinabi ng Bible tungkol sa kamay ng Diyos, hindi ibig sabihin limitado ang Diyos sa literal na kamay gaya ng tao. It speaks of His power and His ability. Kapag sinabi na Jesus is at the right hand of God, it speaks of authority, majesty, and power.
God is a Spirit. Paano mo makikita ang Spirit? Kaya gumagamit ang Diyos ng language na abot ng ating understanding.
Pagdating natin sa langit, makikita ba natin ang Father, Son, and Holy Spirit na magkakahiwalay sa iisang lugar? Revelation 4:2 tells us there is one throne in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Kaya huwag tayong magpalito. Hindi tayo dapat mahulog sa debate. Stand for the truth. Lift Jesus higher.
Let Us Talk About Jesus
Ang title sana ng message na ito could be,let’s talk about Jesus.
Ang daming pinag-uusapan ngayon: politics, issues, corruption, impeachment, controversies, and many other things. Pero tayo, hindi dapat mawala sa mandato na ibinigay ng Panginoon: to go, to seek, and to save the lost.
Because this is harvest time.
Jesus is the one true God. He has two natures. In His divinity, He is not man. In His humanity, He humbled Himself and suffered as man. Kaya nang may nagsasabi, “May Diyos bang kumain? May Diyos bang umiyak?” kailangan nating maunawaan ang dalawang nature ni Jesus Christ.
In His divinity, He is God. In His humanity, He suffered. He allowed Himself to be punished, tortured, and crucified. Crucifixion was one of the worst death penalties, and Jesus Christ had no sin. Yet He suffered because He saw the salvation of those who would accept what He did.
Kasama ka doon. Kasama ako doon.
Alam ng Panginoon na sa Kaniyang pagtitiis, hirap, at pasakit, maliligtas tayo. That is why God was manifested in the flesh: to seek and to save the lost.
Salvation Must Be Understood
Because of the harvest, hindi lamang Godhead ang dapat malinaw. Salvation must also be understood.
Jesus said in John 3:
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
And He continued:
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5
Clear ang sinabi ni Jesus. Born again experience is the way to the kingdom of God. Hindi ito basta religion. Hindi ito simpleng “accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior” na walang pagsunod sa sinasabi ng Bible.
Where is that in the Bible? Saan lumabas na tanggapin mo lang verbally at saved ka na? In the book of Acts, when people believed, they repented, were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Thank God nagsisi tayo sa ating mga kasalanan. Thank God nabautismuhan tayo sa tubig sa pangalan ng Panginoong Jesus Christ. And have you received the gift of the Holy Ghost? Available pa rin iyon sa atin ngayon.
Kung malinaw ang born of water and of the Spirit, walang dahilan para hindi makapasok sa kingdom of God, maliban kung hindi tayo magpapatuloy.
We Must Be Renewed And Revived
Because of the harvest, we must be renewed. We must be revived.
David prayed:
“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?”
Psalm 85:6
Kung walang kagalakan, baka kailangan ng revival. If the people are no longer rejoicing, maybe they need to be revived.
Kailangan natin ng revival every week, every gathering, every moment of faith. We need to be filled with the Spirit, not just filled, but overflowing.
Acts 2:17 says:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…”
Acts 2:17
In the last days, God promised to pour out His Spirit. Sons and daughters shall prophesy. Young men shall see visions. Old men shall dream dreams.
Matthew 24:14 says:
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Matthew 24:14
The gospel must be preached to the whole world. You can be a vehicle. You can be an instrument that God will use in this end time.
Kapag narinig na ng huling taong kailangang makarinig ng gospel, then shall the end come. God is just. Hindi Niya hahayaang may magsabi, “Panginoon, hindi ko narinig.” Gagawin ng Diyos ang lahat para maligtas ang tao.
Jesus already gave His life. Ikaw dapat ang pinako sa krus. Ako dapat. The wages of sin is death. Hindi nagkasala si Jesus, pero binayaran Niya ang kasalanan natin.
Kaya ngayon, kung minsan parang napipilitan tayo mag-church, napipilitan mag-serve, napipilitan sumunod, sabihin mo sa sarili mo: para sa akin din ito. Para sa kaluluwa ko rin ito. Para sa harvest din ito.
Piliting gawin ang kalooban ng Diyos. Piliting magpaka-puspos lagi ng Espiritu. Piliting unawain ang plano ng Diyos at sumunod sa Kaniyang Salita.
Divine Visitations
Because of the harvest, we must understand divine visitations. Kapag ang Diyos bumababa at binibisita ang Kaniyang creation, generally may dalawang bagay na nangyayari: judgment and deliverance.
Noong panahon ni Noah, there was judgment, but there was also deliverance. Sa bawat visitation ng Panginoon, may ginagawa Siya. Kaya kailangan nating maging handa.
Lord, thank You for speaking to us. Thank You for compelling us to come to You. Thank You for calling us back to Your will.
The Lord is dealing with His people because of the harvest.
Enlisted For The Harvest
Because of the harvest, you must also be enlisted.
Isaiah 6:8 says:
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
Isaiah 6:8
And Isaiah answered:
“Here am I; send me.”
Isaiah 6:8
Narito ako, Panginoon. Send me.
To be enlisted in the harvest means voluntary. Anyone who comes to Jesus must do so voluntarily. Hindi tayo pinipilit na parang walang puso. But when we see the need, we give ourselves to Him.
The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. Will you volunteer? Will you be enlisted?
The word enlisted can be used in a military sense: to be enrolled in service, to engage in a force. Spiritually, nasa digmaan tayo. We are combating the works of the enemy.
May ginagawa ang kaaway sa panahon ngayon: pigilan ang mga mananampalataya na maibahagi ang Salita ng Diyos sa mga taong hindi pa nakakakilala sa Panginoon.
Bakit ayaw ng kaaway ang subject ng harvest? Because he knows the power of the Holy Ghost in you. Alam niya na kapag kumilos ang Espiritu Santo sa iyo, may taong puwedeng magsisi, mabautismuhan, mapuspos ng Holy Ghost, at maligtas.
Kaya enlist yourself to the harvest.
Safeguarding The Harvest
Because of the harvest, we must safeguard the harvest.
Acts 20:28 says:
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers…”
Acts 20:28
This is the mandate of pastors and ministers: bantayan ang flock. Bantayan ang mga ligtas. Bantayan ang aanihin at ang inaani na.
Hindi lang tayo nang-aanyaya. Hindi lang tayo nagdadala ng tao. We must also care for them, teach them, protect them, and establish them in truth.
Souls matter. The harvest matters. Kaya kailangan ng doctrine, maturity, revival, enlistment, and safeguarding.
Thanksgiving For The Harvest
And because of the harvest, there must be thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says:
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every situation, no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and continually give thanks to God. Ito ang kalooban ng Diyos tungkol sa iyo.
Magpasalamat ka sa Panginoon na narinig mo ang ganitong katotohanan. Magpasalamat ka na tinawag ka Niya. Magpasalamat ka na may pagkakataon ka pang maglingkod, magbago, lumago, at makibahagi sa harvest.
In everything, there is a season. In everything, there is a time. Now is the time to understand the plan and will of God for this generation.
Pray To The Lord Of The Harvest
Jesus said in Luke 10:1-3:
“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place…”
Luke 10:1
The Lord sent them two by two into every city and place where He Himself would come.
Then He said:
“The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Luke 10:2
The harvest truly is great. Napakalaki ng aanihin, pero kaunti ang mga manggagawa.
We must pray to the Lord of the harvest. Panginoon, magpadala Ka ng laborers. Gamitin Mo kami. Enlist us. Send us. Revive us. Teach us. Establish us. Use this church for the harvest.
The vision is to reach souls, to create fellowship centers, to touch barangays, and to let the work of God grow. Alam natin na kapag may vision para sa harvest, gagalaw din ang kaaway para pigilan ito. Pero greater is He that is in us.
The Lord of the harvest promised: I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.
Are you ready to receive the blessing of the Lord? Alam na natin ang dapat gawin. It is harvest time.
Let us worship the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord of the harvest.
Praise the Lord.