John 4:35
“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.”
The discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan woman has just occurred while the disciples have gone into town for lunch and to bring back some food to Jesus. It is not the conversation with the woman at the well that we desire to look at today, but the statements that Jesus said to His disciples upon their return. A simple statement is made in verse John 4:35: “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.”
I believe a great multitude of people were coming out of the city to see Jesus because of the witness and invite of the Samaritan woman and the difference that had been made in her life. Nevertheless, Jesus desired for the eyes of His disciples to be on the field and not on the temporal and fleshly things they had with them.
Oh, how important it is for us today to have the same sight and vision that Jesus desired for His disciples. We have a mission field all around us, and, for the most part, we work to financially support missionaries to spread the Gospel around this world.
When was the last time that our eyes were on the field where the missionaries are? Is there a desire to see what God is doing in other corners of the vineyard where His workers labor? How can this all be accomplished through the ministry of the church?
My wife and I were blessed to travel as missionaries with the Rock Of Ages Prison Ministry for fifteen years. We were able to visit all six habitable continents preaching Christ and helping missionaries. As a pastor, I have endeavored to teach the Granite State Baptist Church the importance of laying our eyes on the field of lost souls around the world. We recently returned from a missionary trip to Guatemala. Allow me to encourage you to “keep your eyes on the field” through a missions trip.
Eyes on the Fields affects the heart.
We have all quoted the verse Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:51: “Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.” As I have been on different mission fields, it has been said that there is no way that the sights, sounds, smells, culture, and people could be adequately communicated to the people back home. “They just have to be here” is the usual comment. The way that a family or young person will smile at you when you hand them their first copy of the Scriptures or the tears in the eyes of someone who has never heard the Gospel before as they call upon the name of the Lord for salvation. There is a joy that settles upon the heart when we are out of our “comfort” bubble and in a different culture to see God work.
It is not always the joy of ministry that affects the heart but also the heartache and difficulties on the field that always make a difference. Things that we may take for granted here in the States become difficult tasks for a lady to accomplish to take care of their family in a foreign country. As we casually run to Walmart to get all food, home goods, personal items, and even oil for our cars, we forget that some missionaries go to 4 or 5 different places in an all- day effort just to get those things accomplished. Life’s physical stress, joy, and burdens are on full display when you spend time on the mission field with our co-laborers.
Eyes on the Fields affects our desire for ministry.
Could this be one reason why some people are scared to death to take a mission trip and put their eyes on the field? Perhaps they fear that if they put their eyes on the field, God will also call their heart to the field. It could not be said how many missionaries are on the field today because of a mission trip they took where God began to work on their heart. They saw the souls that no one was reaching. They saw the countless towns and cities with no church to preach the message of Jesus. They saw the abundance of false religions and cults that Satan was using to blind the hearts of people. They saw the freedom to spread the Gospel to all those they encountered. With all these things they saw that affected their hearts, the call of God for ministry became evident in their lives.
I am convinced that one of the main reasons we do not have young people and families surrendering to the mission field is that we are not enabling them to be affected by the field and return with tender hearts and submission to the ministry God may have for them.
Missionary Trips Enable Local Church Members To Bring The Joy Of The Gospel To People Around The World.
Yes, there is a possibility that God would call the “cream of the crop,” the choice families, the hardest workers, and the most faithful members, but God is faithful in replacing that which He takes out to use. Realize there is a possibility that God would not call them to a foreign field, but their desire for ministry would still be affected. The awareness of souls around them at home will be impacted. The prayer life of each of them will increase for each of the missionaries because they will have insight into some of the things that are faced in the foreign field. Mission’s giving will rise because the need for the Gospel around the world will be imbedded upon their hearts because they experienced all the places where Jesus is not preached. Giving and going in the Gospel ministry, both at home and abroad, will increase because of eyes on the field.
Eyes on the Fields brings encouragement.
I do not know how many times we have arrived and spent time on a mission field just to have that missionary say, “I’m glad you were here as I needed the encouragement.” One time, I flew to Ukraine to work in many of the prisons there with some pastors and missionaries. There was an issue with the government, and we could only do about 20% of the scheduled work. Many would ask, “What did you do?” Did you change your tickets and go home, or did you get frustrated with people or the government? I will admit that there was some frustration, but we simply spent time in fellowship with the pastors and missionaries. By the end of the trip, they each commented that they sure needed that time, and it was spiritually refreshing just to have some time together. Other times, we have shown up on the field and the family was discouraged and ready to quit or relocate ministries. A difference was made in their lives because someone had the burden of putting their eyes on the field and coming alongside them. You may not beadynamicpreacher,greatSunday school teacher, or experienced traveler, but God can use you to be a blessing to one of His servants on the mission field. You have something to offer.
Eyes on the Fields and how to do it.
Please remember that not everyone can afford the finances or time away from work to pack up and fly
to Australia or the jungles of Africa every year. We may not be able to do that, but we can do something. Here are some simple steps that we can work towards for each of us to impact our churches with “Eyes on the Field.”
1. Pray about partnering with one of your missionaries.
They could be starting a church in another region of the country, on a Native American reservation, a prison revival, or operating a printing press for Gospel material. Coming alongside them for a period shows that you care, pray for them, and are personally invested in their work. It will be a joy for them to “show” you their field. Make sure to communicate with the missionary well ahead of time for scheduling to make it as convenient as possible on them.
2. Allocate some money in the church mission budget to help church members take a missions trip.
The church, most likely, cannot pay the entire trip cost, but it is okay for the investment to be made. Free- will-offerings can also be taken up for the Mission’s trip. Some that may not be able to go would be willing to help send.
3. Keep the Mission Trip in front of the church months and weeks ahead of time for proper planning and prayer.
4. Schedule time when the team has returned for them to update the church and communicate their personal experiences from the trip.
This will help reveal the trip’s impact and encourage others for future trips.
All throughout the Scriptures, we see examples of physically taking trips after a financial investment has been made. There was a group in Ezra 2:68- 69 that traveled to see the house of the Lord after the initial offering was taken up in Ezra 1. Paul and his missionary team traveled on future trips for the purpose of encouraging the saints after the churches were established. Your presence with one of your missionaries on the field will have an eternal impact on each life and ministry.
Please feel free to reach out for ideas, input, or help organizing a mission trip for your church. If your church is not able to organize one, then perhaps you could join another trip that is going and partner together for the trip. The goal is to put our eyes on thefieldanddesireforGodtoimpact our lives, churches, and missionaries on the field for the work to continue.
Contact Save New England if you are interested in bringing a group to put your eyes on the white fields in our region.