The Encourager

Harris Temple COGIC Outreach Ministry

747 Adams Street—P.O. Box 159

Elba, AL 36323

Pastor, Superintendent W.K. Ellison

November, 2009

“Take Another Look”

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)

On last week I went to visit my son Earnie; in West Palm Beach, FL. On the way there I saw the cotton fields in full bloom, but it really didn’t catch my attention. Taking a second look changed the entire picture. On my way home, I saw the same field, but with a different perspective. The fields were white with the cotton in full bloom ready to be harvest. I said to Dyann, look how beautiful those fields are, they are white and ready for harvest. These words came into my mind; “Please don’t let this harvest pass.”

Jesus saw the same picture concerning lost souls. He used an earthly proverb in order for them to understand a heavenly meaning. Say not ye there are yet four months and then cometh harvest? Paraphrasing—can’t you see the fields are white and ready for harvest? The Lord works on His timetable. If we are still sitting around waiting on the troubling of the water like the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, we are going to miss this harvest. He doesn’t always move the same way. Our minds must be alert, our hearts sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and our hands ready for the harvest.

Take another look at your surroundings. What do you see? Can you see the pain and sufferings of others? Somebody is crying out for help out of the dilemma they are in. Ask God to touch your eyes that you may see clearly, your ears that you may hear the cries, and your heart that you may feel the pain.

I would like to share a small portion of my testimony; I might have shared it before. When the Lord first called me to Outreach Ministry, strange things began to happen to me. I saw people in a different perspective. When I looked on the faces of those in pain, I began to feel that pain. Later on as I look on those hurting, I could hear cries; will somebody help me? At first I didn’t understand, but when I began to seek the Lord for understanding, He let me know what was happening. God impregnated me with this ministry, I gave birth and the Outreach Ministry is really who I am. I had to take another look in order to see clearly.

In order for us not to lose this harvest it takes teamwork. Paul states in (I Corinthians 3:6-8) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Don’t be like the disciples concerning this statement, “there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest”, a proverb signifying that there is no need to rush in performing a task. Their spiritual eyes were blinded by what they saw in the natural. They failed to take the second look.

They were still hung up on the fact Jesus was talking to a woman of Samaria, not realizing Jesus used this woman to bring revival to an entire city. The gospel is to be presented to all people. God is of no respect of person.

If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in all the ways of the truth, we’ll be able to present the gospel in an effective way. Jesus began His conversation with the woman of Samaria simply by asking her for a drink of water. His approach was unique because she came to the well to draw water.

She was a little sarcastic at first, she replied, you being a Jew asks me a woman of Samaria for a drink of water? The Jews have no dealing with the Samaritans. This opened the door for Jesus to minister to her. If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

She was confused, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep, from whence then hast thou that living water? Jesus knew she was looking in the wrong directions. Like Jesus, we must present the gospel in a simple form that others can understand.

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. She took another look and said, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”

Receiving the living water was not enough; Jesus had to prepare her for ministry. Jesus made a simple statement, Go call thy husband, and come hither. The woman said I have no husband: Jesus said, thou hast had five husbands and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband. The woman said, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. The conversation continued. The end results were just marvelous.

The woman left her water pot, went into the city and started a revival. Her message was very simple; “Come, see a man, which told me everything that I ever did: Is not this the Christ? Her message was so effective until the people left the city to go where Jesus was. And many more believed because of His own words. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying, For we have heard Him ourselves, and know this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Revival can come when we take another look. The second look can bring salvation to us and to others. Prayer: Lord let me take another look at present circumstances.