God Gives the Increase Part 8- Harvest Time Pt 2- The Gospel- God’s Sickle
by Brett Jacobsen
This twelve part video series is a call back to Jesus’ doctrine regarding the increase of His Kingdom. It is a re-examination of what the Bible teaches on evangelism and discipleship rather than man’s megre methods.
The Gospel- God’s Sickle
Below are the notes from this teaching so you can read along:
Harvest timing
John and Jesus preached “repent” to Israel, then-
Mark 16:15 Jesus said to “go into the world and preach the good news.” (God’s time)
But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Jesus spent His time on earth sowing conviction via the true law; it was now time to reap by preaching the good news of the grace of God.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are [being saved Amp] saved it is the power of God. (1Cor 1:17-18)
Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God [LAW/WORD]. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ to all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace [GOSPEL (24)] through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Rom 3:19-24)
When we know our utter foulness we can know His goodness-
…the goodness of God leads you to repentance (Rom 2:4)
Examples:
Acts 2:1-41 – Peter’s Pentecost preach. It was then harvest time.
It shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (21) - Gospel
Acts 8:29-39 - Eunuch harvest. He was in the Word it was God’s perfect timing.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus. (35)
Fruit for harvest
… sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. (Ps 107:35- 37)
…A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon… (Luke 13:6)
…When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putts in the sickle, because the harvest is come… (Mark 4:26- 29)
The first fruit - Repentance
…Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (Matt 3:6-8) – John Bapo
The gospel (good news sickle) is not to go in until the fruit is born. The Kingdom will be growing on the inside of someone before they are “saved”.
…brings forth his fruit in his season… (Ps 1:3)
…first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. (Mark 4:28)
How to swing a sickle
It is the Lord that reaps in the Spirit; we merely do the follow up reaping on earth:
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Rev 14:15)
As we have seen, the gospel is the sickle that provides entrance into the Kingdom, in a spiritual sense, but it is upon us to be led by the Spirit in reaping fruit in a practical terrestrial sense.
The Kingdom is planted into us, it grows up and “God gives the increase” then we are planted into the Kingdom.
Altared calls
Altar call error – event evangelism
Sinners prayer is fabricated
For whosoever shall call [epikaleomai] upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom 10:13)
Vine’s – epikaleo – “to be called by a person’s name”; hence it is used of being declared to be dedicated to a person, as to the Lord. [1]
Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. (Matt 7:21-23)
Baptism – a symbol of repentance/ an illustration of new birth
If there is any occasion that could be construed as a physical act to seal the born again reality it would be baptism:
Now when they heard this, they were pricked [katanusso - to pierce thoroughly, to agitate violently] in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. […] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized… (Acts 2:37-41)
… began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus. […] they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If you believe with all [holos – whole, complete] your heart, […] he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. […] and he baptized him… (Acts 8:29-39)
Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Rom 6:3-5)
It is not essential for salvation (thief on the cross), neither is it being born again; however, it is a pertinent symbolic action representing the death of our self and subsequent life of “Christ in us” that is prerequisite to Kingdom entrance.
Repentance is proven in works
You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But will you know, O vain [kenos - empty] man, that faith without works is dead? (Jas 2:19-20)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (26)
“Many early Christians were convinced that conversion began not so much at the level of belief but at the level of lifestyle. Only a person who was willing to change his life was ready for the gospel.”
Alan Kreider
We are God’s garden; we bare fruit for the gardener to partake of.
We harvest the fruits of repentance on people’s life by picking it: giving them opportunity to use it for God’s pleasure. If you are really repentant, you will live for the Kingdom, your life will change from being your own to being about God’s purposes, “about my Father’s business”.
Used as God’s Reaper?
And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One sows, and another reaps. I sent you to reap that whereon you bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and you are entered into their labours. (John 4:36-38)
Are you ready to be used by God to reap fruit for the Kingdom?
End notes
[1] Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (p. 86)
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Thank you.