Paul Daugherty - Your Harvest is Coming
Summary
In John chapter 4, Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well, showing her that only He can truly satisfy the deepest longings of her heart—no relationship or earthly thing ever could. The preacher uses this to say that the real harvest isn’t far off in the future; Jesus told the disciples to open their eyes because the fields are already ripe right now. We just need to turn on the «harvest lights» of faith and generosity to see and bring in the souls all around us, and giving sacrificially helps shine that light to reach them.
Harvest Lights
If you got a Bible, go to John chapter 4. Woo! We’ve been in a series called Harvest. Everybody say harvest! In John chapter 4, Jesus meets this woman at a well, and she’s there to get water. She’s gone to Jacob’s well to draw water with her jar, and Jesus starts asking her if He can have some water. Now, Jews and Samaritans didn’t really talk to each other, and especially a rabbi, a teacher of the word, would never be caught alone just talking to a stranger woman by a well. Then to find out this woman has been through five marriages that haven’t worked out—she’s living with the sixth man now, and that one’s not working out either. Jesus starts talking to her. He says, «Listen, I have water that’s not from this well. I have water that will satisfy you.»
The Wrong Sources
This outward jar you’re holding, man, is a reflection of what’s going on inside your heart. What Jesus was telling this woman is that you’ve been drawing water from all the wrong sources. That’s why you have a cracked cistern; that’s why you’re leaking, 'cause no man can ever satisfy what only God can satisfy. You’ll never find a relationship here on Earth that’s going to meet what only God can meet in your life. It’s okay to be married; it’s okay to have kids; it’s great. But there’s always going to be a longing for something deeper, someone who understands every part of your soul and heart, and Jesus says, «I’m what you’re looking for.» Little did this woman know that she was the harvest that Jesus came to receive!
I want to preach a message to you today called Harvest Lights. Harvest Lights! If you’re taking notes, note-takers are history makers. I asked at the start of the series how many of y’all grew up on a farm, and one of the answers when I said, «What is harvest season like?» was, «Harvest season is hard work.» You’re up early in the morning while it’s still dark outside, and then you work all day. I mean, harvest is not sitting back watching Netflix and just, you know, eating chips sitting on the couch. Harvest is hard work. You’re laboring early in the morning while it’s still dark, and then you’re laboring deep into the evening while it gets dark again. And because it gets dark, you need lights to illuminate the harvest.
Illuminating the Harvest
These combines that come down the fields to receive the harvest are shining lights early in the morning at 6:00 a.m., because, you know, in the winter season, it gets dark at like noon. It’s getting dark; it’s probably already getting dark right now while we’re sitting in morning service. But these combines, they’ll go out there during that harvest season, and they’ll illuminate these lights that shine right from those combines. Yeah, that’s a bright light; that’s a bright light! And what are those lights doing? Those lights are illuminating the harvest. What was Jesus doing in John chapter 4? He was illuminating the harvest that the disciples were missing.
So the disciples returned in John 4:27 and they were surprised to see Jesus talking to a woman, but no one asked, «What do you want?» or «Why are you talking to her?» Then, leaving her water jar. Isn’t that interesting? After she met Jesus, she left her water jar after she encountered Jesus, 'cause once you encounter Jesus, you stop looking for the counterfeits. You found what you’re looking for. How many of y’all found what you’re looking for with Jesus? Come on! Like that old U2 song, «I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.»
So many people are chasing money; they’re chasing fame; they’re chasing significant success, and they still haven’t found. You can have all the money in the world, and you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, but once she found Jesus, she left her water jar and went back to the town. She said to the people, «Could this be the Messiah? Come and see the man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the one?» And so this woman comes bringing the town back to Jesus. So here comes this harvest that’s walking towards Jesus. They came out of the town, and they made their way towards him. Everybody say, «It’s harvest time!» You can’t see the harvest when the lights are out! This is why you need the lights to illuminate.
The Harvest Right in Front of You
Can I tell you there’s a bigger harvest than you realize right in front of you? If you’re walking in the dark, I came to illuminate the harvest for you. You could be like the disciples; you know Jesus, you love Jesus, you’re in church, but you have forgotten there is a harvest all around you. See those empty seats in the back? That’s harvest! Every seat has a name on it. Every person in our city that’s not in church is called to sit in one of those chairs. I see a day where there’s not room enough in this building to contain the crowds that are coming to Jesus at this altar call.
Somebody say, «Harvest Lights! Harvest Lights!» I’m illuminating the harvest. How do we do it? Well, I’m going to show you; this is what Jesus does. Meanwhile, his disciples urged him. They said, «Jesus, Rabbi, teacher, eat something.» They were consumed with meeting the temporary needs. They were focused on the meal; Jesus was focused on the mission. Don’t get so distracted by the temporary meal that you miss the long-term mission that Jesus has you on. Some of us get distracted and focused on mealtime, and Jesus says this. He says, «I have food to eat that you know nothing about.» He says, «You’re trying to satisfy.» He says, «Let me tell you what really satisfies me.»
He says this, and the disciples say, «Could somebody have dropped off a meal? Did Uber Eats deliver something to him? Did he order meals and they dropped it? Did we miss the meal?» They’re talking about where the food came from. Jesus says, «My food is to do the will of him who sent me. My food is the mission of God. My food, my satisfaction, is not another big fat paycheck. My food is not, you know, something here on Earth that can satisfy me for two weeks temporarily or ten minutes. He says, my food has this big long-term vision. The reason I give my life, the reason I sacrifice, the reason I show up, is because I am committed to a mission that’s bigger than my temporary needs.»
Open Your Eyes
And then he says this in John 4:35. He says, «You have a saying: It’s still four months until harvest.» Can we turn the lights out for a second? He says, «You guys have a saying that it’s still four months, and then it’s harvest. One of these days, it’ll be harvest.» But Jesus says, «I tell you, open your eyes, for the fields are already ripe for harvest.» You’re walking in the dark, my friends, and I’m telling you right now the harvest is right in front of you! Jesus says, «You have a saying that one of these days, the harvest will be here, ” but he says, „Turn on the lights; the harvest is already here.“
Okay, you can turn on the lights! Everybody say, „The harvest is already here! The harvest is already here!“ What was Jesus doing? He was illuminating the harvest. He says, „Even now, the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life.“ So he’s not talking about money; he’s not talking about farming produce. He says, „The sower and the reaper are glad together.“ He’s talking about eternal life, but in verse 37, he says this: „One sows and another reaps; this is true.“ And then he says, „I’m sending you into fields to reap what you haven’t even worked for.“
Can I tell you there have been labored seeds by people that were here before you got here? We’re sitting in the harvest of a seed that Billy Joe and Sharon started sowing in 1981, and even before that, when they came to Tulsa from Arkansas and started sowing seed into the soil of Tulsa, Oklahoma. This building you’re sitting in, a debt-free amazing worship center that the bank doesn’t own any part, we’re not paying any interest on any loan, come on! This is a harvest! You’re sitting in the harvest, and some of you say, „I sowed seed in this harvest.“ And how great is that? How great is that that you sowed seed in the heart?
Reaping What Others Sowed
Every time someone comes down to this altar, guess what? One day, you’re going to get up to heaven, and God says, „When you sowed that seed into that children’s building, when you sowed that seed into that athletic center, when you sowed that seed into the Next Generation building.“ In the middle of COVID, when churches were closing down left and right and Victory actually grew during a season when churches should shrink, and you guys built a youth center and a college building and a children’s church, and all the weeks that every time a child gets saved and a teenager gets saved, if you gave $1 into that, heaven keeps a record! Store your treasure in Him, come on! God is celebrating when even one child turns to Jesus. See, our seed brings a harvest!
He says, „I sent you to reap a harvest for a seed that you didn’t even work for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits.“ I’m standing on a stage today because of my mom and dad’s sacrifice. I want to honor my mom, Pastor Sharon, in the front row down here. Mom, would you stand up? This woman has sacrificed time and time again, and every time there has been a miracle offering, my mom is excited to give sacrificially. „What are we going to give? What are we going to give?“ Mom, you taught John, Sarah, Ruthie, and me to give sacrificially. David said in the Bible, „I will not give an offering that doesn’t cost me something.“
Someone tried to give David an offering. They said, „All right, here’s some money you can give.“ David said, „No, no! I want to give from my heart.“ See, Jesus was never against the tithe or the offering; He actually watched the tithe and the offering. If you read the New Testament, Jesus paid attention. There was one time a widow came, and she gave all she could give. There were other people who gave large sums of money, but Jesus said that woman gave more than everyone else. People were like, „What? No, she gave less than everyone!“ Jesus said, „Yeah, but everyone was giving from a place of comfort and convenience. They gave their leftovers. This woman gave all she could give.“ See, Jesus pays attention to the heart of our generosity, not just the number.
Why Give? Because People Need Jesus
This morning, I’m going to ask you in just a little bit to give, and you might wonder, „Why should I give, Paul? Who needs Jesus?“ Well, there are 8 billion people on planet Earth, and 2 billion confess to knowing Jesus. Out of that 2 billion, less than 50% are connected to a local church, actually engaged with faithful friends and people holding them accountable. Out of that 2 billion, very few have a Spirit-filled encounter with Jesus Christ. There are a whole lot of people stuck in a religious routine, and that leaves 6 billion more people who need Jesus.
Am I doing my math right? Six billion? Okay, but here’s the point: in our city, if you drew just a 50-mile radius around our church, you would find people driving here from two hours away every single week. People come from Arkansas, Texas, and Kansas. I talked on the phone this last week with a college football player in Kansas, and he said, „I can’t wait to be at church next week, ” driving five and a half hours here. He lives at the top of Kansas; he’s just excited to be here. He says, „I watch online every week, and I try to go when I can.“ Why do people come? Because people need Jesus. People need victory. People are struggling.
Did you know Oklahoma ranks as the seventh-highest state in the nation for depression, opioids, and addictions? Heart disease and obesity—people are hurting in our state. People need hope. They are not only physically sick; they are mentally sick. More people in our state are checking in for medication to deal with depression and anxiety. In the last year, tens of thousands of people have taken their lives. Every single hour, someone in our nation takes their life out of a place of mental distress. People are searching for hope; the harvest is here. We just have to shine a light on it.
People you work with, people you go to school with—everyone needs it. You might wonder, „When I give, how does that reach them?“ We can’t reach people without your financial help. It is your financial support that has provided our building, the production we do, and the outreach we undertake. This past week, we sent a team to the children’s hospital to pray for kids. I want Pedro and Pastor Amy to come up here. Everyone give them a big hand! There’s Pastor Amy, our kids' pastor. I want you to tell them real quick what happened. We have pictures of this; it was so special. This happens regularly, but this one was particularly close to our hearts.
Outreach to the Hospital
Tell them what happened.
„Yeah, so last week, we had the privilege to go to St. Francis and bring 300 toys, going room by room praying for the kids and their parents. In one room, we encountered a four-year-old girl with half her head shaved. I looked at the dad, and you could feel he was powerless, going through so much pain, feeling helpless because his daughter was sick. So we started praying for him, and as soon as we walked in, we said, 'Hey, we came from Victory, ' and this guy started bawling; he received the prayer.
We were able to pray for the nurse and give toys even to the children of the nurses. It was just a really special outreach. We were so thankful for the opportunity to go into the hospital and pray Romans 15:13, which says, 'May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope.' The hospital let us come in, not because of our first names but because they said, 'You’re part of Victory, come in! ' As we walked through each room, we prayed, shared toys, and experienced God’s love so much through His people. Some of you here have been in the hospital receiving care, and some of you have been there with loved ones receiving care. It’s really special for us as a kids' team to partner with Reach. I’m so thankful for our church and for your generosity that allowed us to bring hope and be God’s hands and feet in a place that felt hopeless. It was special to see the light in their eyes and the smiles on their faces. On behalf of our team and Reach, we’re just so thankful for the opportunity to do this.“
Come on, give it up for Amy!
You know when we were discussing it, Amy said something profound: „When you walk through the harvest of what you see at Victory—the church, the Dream Center, the North and West. Pastor Tim, stand up! You’re doing an incredible job at the Tulsa Dream Center.“ We just had a board meeting and celebrated.
Tulsa Dream Center Impact
Tell them one of the achievements you celebrated this year at the Tulsa Dream Center.
„Just a couple of stats: over 3 million meals have been given out this year at the Tulsa Dream Center. And the big one was over 6,000 salvations—6,000 salvations this year!“
Come on! And how many kids have we helped through the Life program?
„Our Life program is our Literacy for Everyone program, which is our after-school program. Yes, and we understand that if they cannot read, they cannot read the Bible, so that’s very essential. By the way, speaking of that, the Bible has actually started trending as the top-selling book again. By the end of 2024, I read an article that said Bibles are on the rise. People are hungry for the Word of God!“
So, we’re teaching our boys and girls how to read. In our after-school program, we have impacted over 450 boys and girls. Together with the other academic programs, that totals close to 1,100 kids in all our after-school activities, including sports and education.
One of the things you said three years ago was, „This is the pipeline to prison; we’re stopping the pipeline.“ What happens in our city and state is that when people don’t have opportunities, it can lead to worse decisions as time goes on. They traced back many people in jail and prison to factors like not having a mentor, someone to teach them to read and write, and not having access to a discipleship class or a Dream Center. That was one of the biggest factors leading them to make poor choices in middle school and high school and subsequently not graduating. Last week we celebrated my friend, Jose Rodriguez, who is now in 29 middle schools. He was reached through the Dream Center and our bus ministry at Victory, and these kids are now going on to graduate college, getting good jobs, becoming dentists, doctors, nurses, and Bible school teachers. Come on! That’s incredible!
One of the things Amy said was, „You can’t walk through the harvest of Victory and not want to plant more seeds.“ Because when you start walking through this harvest, whether you joined last year or 20 years ago, you walk into something that is already producing a harvest. If you started with Victory, how many of you have been a part of Victory for 40 years? Stand up if you’ve been here since the beginning. Can we honor the legacy of people who have been here for 40 years? This church has been around since 1981!
So, if you came in the first year or two of Victory—keep standing! Come on! This is incredible—you stayed in a church for over 40 years. You could have left, but we’re thankful you stayed, and we’re sitting in the harvest of your seeds. I see Dr. De Muth back there. I’m harvesting on Dr. De Muth’s seeds in this church. Everybody say, „This is our harvest!“
You Can Never Outgive God
I’ll never forget, by the way, when you get ready to give, I want you to know this: you can never outgive God. God has so much more for you. Malachi 3 says, „Bring the tithe and the offering into the storehouse and see if I will not open the windows of Heaven.“ God always has a bigger plan for our lives than we do. God wants to do greater.
I told this story when I was in Africa about a month ago while preaching in Ghana. I remember hearing this story as a kid about a famous golfer and the king of Saudi Arabia. Some of you may have heard this story. The king of Saudi Arabia invites this golfer to come and teach him a golf lesson—a true story. So, the golfer flies on his private jet; the king’s private jet lands in Saudi Arabia, stays at the palace, eats the finest meals, and the red carpet is rolled out for him as he teaches the king how to golf. They’re having a great time. Then he says, „I’ve got to go home back to my wife and kids.“ The king says, „What can I do for you?“ The golfer says, „You’ve already done enough for me! You’ve blessed me! I’ve eaten the finest meals; I’ve stayed in the greatest palace. You’ve treated me like a king!“
But the king says, „No, no, I’m not done blessing you. I want to do something for you.“ The golfer replies, „I don’t really need anything; I’m fine. I’ve got a good house, a good car, a good job. I love to golf.“ The king insists, „No, what can I do for you?“ Can I tell you, in Scripture, Jesus asks that same question: „What can I do for you?“ Psalms 2 says, „Ask for the nations, and I will give them as your inheritance.“
God is often looking for us to ask with faith, bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. So, the golfer looks at the king and says, „Well, ever since I was young, I collected golf clubs. I’ve always been a fan of golf. You could give me some kind of golf club.“ The king looks at him strangely and says, „Okay.“ The golfer goes home and forgets about it. Two months go by, and the king calls him, saying, „Hey, I finally got your gift ready. It took me a while, but it’s coming in the mail.“ The golfer thinks, „Oh, I totally forgot about that.“ The king says, „Just be looking forward to the mail the next day.“
So, the golfer goes out to the mail, and the next day he doesn’t see a package; he just sees a letter from the king. He opens it up and thinks, „Where’s the package? Maybe it’s a letter that tells me to go to a certain mail store and get this awesome gold golf club with diamond studs.“ He imagines what it’ll look like, but when he opens the letter, it says, „Here is your 500-acre deed to your golf club on the coast of the ocean in pristine condition. You already have golf members signed up, and you will make tons of money for the rest of your life on this golf club.“
It took a while to get it ready, but it’s yours! The golfer is laughing, saying, „Are you kidding me?“ He calls the king, saying, „I wasn’t talking about a golf course! I was talking about just a golf club!“ The king replies, „Well, you should know that kings think on a higher level.“
Church, can I tell you? Your King thinks on a higher level! Your King wants you to believe for greater. I hear God saying it’s time to ask for the nations. It’s time to ask for the United States of America. It’s harvest time in Tulsa! It’s time to ask for the whole city, the whole room, the whole company. It’s time to believe for greater.
The Uncashed Check
But can I tell you? You won’t know what to ask for if the lights are out in your heart and your life. Today, I came to turn on the lights of faith. I came to turn on the lights of hope. I came to remind you that you serve a God who is Jehovah Jireh. Charles Spurgeon told a story when he was a preacher back in the late 1800s. He said one time he went to a poor old housemaid’s shack on the outskirts of London. She told him this story: „I used to be a maid for a very rich man in London. Right as he was getting ready to die, he called me over to his deathbed and gave me a little note saying, 'Ma’am, thank you for taking care of me these last five years. No one from my family ever came in those five years. I just want you to know I appreciate you.' Then he died.“
This woman kept that note on her wall for the next several years until Charles Spurgeon showed up at her house. While praying with her, she told him the story. He asked, „Can I see the note?“ When he saw it, his eyes became huge! He said, „Ma’am, can you read?“ She replied, „No, I’ve never known how to read.“ He said, „Ma’am, this is not a note; this is a check! This is a check for 5 million pounds!“ What that would translate to today is insane! He said, „Ma’am, you can buy the finest house in London; you can eat at the finest restaurants for the rest of your life. You can provide more than enough money for your children, granting you a legacy. You’ve had this the whole time!“
How many people don’t realize the check they have sitting in their house? Did I tell you—listen, let me say something. Jesus, when He shows up, John chapter 1 says, „The light has come into the world, and the darkness cannot overpower it.“ Jesus was the light. In Matthew 5:14, He says, „You are the light.“ This light that Jesus was, and the light that now comes in us to bring the harvest in, is the power of God. In the Old Testament, people understood who God was. In the New Testament, Jesus came as the representation of all the names of God. Then Jesus comes to live in us, which means the same light, the same power that Jesus brought to the world now lives in us. Everybody say, „It’s in me.“
Who resides in me? Elohim—the creative power of God. Yahweh—the all-powerful, eternally existent God, who possesses life itself, lives in me. El Shaddai—the all-sufficient, almighty God, who is more than enough, lives in me. Adonai—the owner of humanity, the cattle on a thousand hills, and all the oil underneath it, lives in me. Jehovah Jireh—my God shall provide. Jehovah Rapha—the Lord is my healer, lives in me. The Healer of my body, soul, and spirit. Jehovah Nissi—the banner of victory, deliverance, and salvation. Forget not all the benefits of God! He has forgiven you of your sins; He’s cast your sin as far as the East is from the West!
Can I tell you today? You have a greater God than you realize living inside of you. You have a bigger check that you haven’t cashed in on just sitting in your house. Some of you need to dust off that check and say, „Hold on! God is not limited by the economy! God is not limited by who’s in office! God is not limited by what family I grew up in or my birth order! God is able to do exceedingly!“ Everybody say, „He’s able!“
Who Needs the Light?
He’s able! He’s asking us to dream at a higher level. Who needs this light? I want to give you a couple of questions to think about before we give. Who needs our generosity? Who needs our compassion? Who needs our mercy? Who needs our invitation to know Jesus? Who needs our evangelistic spirit? Who needs it? I’ll tell you—everyone does!
In Luke 14:15–23, Jesus tells a parable about a wedding banquet. He says there were people invited, but they didn’t want to come because they were busy. The master commanded, „Go and invite everyone you encounter! Compel them to come in so that my father’s house may be full!“ Jesus wants to fill every church in America and around the world. Jesus doesn’t want empty seats; He doesn’t want diminishing churches. He wants us to grow!
And can I tell you? It’s not just the pastor’s job; it’s all our jobs! We all have to bring in the harvest. You are a light of harvest! I’ll never forget going to a wedding several years ago with my wife. After the wedding, we went to the reception and got in line. It was taking forever. I watched a group of teenage girls laughing on their phones. Once in a while, they’d check the guest list. I noticed that when someone would walk in, another person would leave the line and walk away.
Finally, when we got to the front of the line, the girls were kind of distracted. They were like, „Who are you guys?“ I said, „Paul and Ashley Dhy.“ They said, „Well, you’re not on the list.“ I was like, „You didn’t even look!“ They said, „Yeah, well, you’re not really on this list.“ I said, „Wait a minute; I’m good friends with the groom and the bride!“ So I started texting the groom and bride and calling family saying, „You better let me in! Why’d you reject me?“ They came out and said, „You were supposed to be at this reception!“
I said, „That’s right! Tell the girls at the table!“ They were stunned! I said, „The girls at the table are denying entry!“ They said, „What?“ I said, „I saw others leave too! The people leaving the line… yeah, people are leaving because those girls won’t let anyone in.“ The bride and groom were upset; they literally removed the table, and they said, „Everybody’s coming in!“
This feels like a Bible story. I wonder if God is watching Christians right now, sitting at a table on our phones, distracted while there are people in line trying to get in, and we’re like, „No, you’re not on the list! You have too many tattoos! No, you’re not perfect enough! No, you’ve made too many mistakes! You’re not good enough! You’re a little too dirty!“
And God is like, „Come on! We’ve got to start bringing people into the house! Whether they have tattoos or whatever they look like doesn’t matter—everybody’s invited to the party!“ Can I tell you when John 3:16 says, „For God so loved the perfect people, ” it didn’t mean that! No! It didn’t say, „For God so loved Americans!“ It didn’t say, „For God so loved only the Israelites.“ No! „For God so loved the whole world!“ Red and yellow, black and white, rich and poor, young and old, Asian, Hispanic, whatever tribe you’re from—Jesus came to save everyone so that His house may be filled!
Who needs the light? Everybody needs the light! Everybody!
Why Should We Shine?
Number two, why should we shine? Not only is it a commandment—Jesus said in Mark 16, „Go into all the world and preach the gospel.“ Share it with everybody! Not only is it a commandment, but our world is hurting, broken, and getting darker. But I’ll tell you this: the harvest is ready!
Every dollar represents a destiny; every nickel represents someone’s name. Every invitation we pass out this week, every one of you living with a mission mindset—I’m telling you, on the other side of that is someone.
Someone’s neighborhood. Someone’s eternity. Why should we shine? Because our nation and our world need it!
I thought this was pretty astounding: more than 600,000 children are abused every year in the United States—children growing up in abusive homes. Add to that domestic violence, spousal abuse, and addiction in families. There are people who are just tapping out and done with life, and the number of people that take their own lives—why should we shine? Because our world is hurting. Our world is broken. People need Jesus!
When I was sharing some of the stats with you, some that I left out, I want to hit you with real quick—each month we support missionaries in 41 different nations, through our global outreach and missions! That’s almost a million people. Our school and college this year have brought in over 1,400 students who are being discipled and trained to go out and change their world. Our camp this summer saw 2,274 campers come in, and these campers came down to the altar and began opening up about their homes. Kids are being exposed to pornography as early as nine. We have kids struggling with addictions at ages 10 and 11.
And you might wonder, why are we reaching so many people who are broken? Because our world is broken. We’re not just a church for perfect kids and people who have „never had a struggle.“ We are a church for our whole city, our whole state, our whole nation, and the whole world.
And I think that’s why you love this church—because you look around, and no one looks just like you! When you get to heaven, there won’t be a big group of white people or a big group of Black people—it’ll be every tribe, every tongue. It’ll be people who slept under a bridge the night before they died and multi-millionaires on the same row, just like Victory. I’m thankful we are a church not just for a certain demographic or certain economic class. That’s not the heart of God!
This year, we reached 885,000 people through our late-night TV shows. I have had people reach out who got saved watching me while sitting in the ER at St. Francis because they played my sermons at midnight! Someone sent me a picture on social media, saying, „I don’t normally go to the bar, but I was there drinking on Saturday night when you came on the TV.“ They played my whole 30-minute sermon while we were all getting drunk at the bar. They were like, „Now we all got convicted and wanted to leave the bar to go to church!“
Come on, Jesus sent me to the bar! We should be there; we should be there! This year, we ministered to 28,653 people in five different states in our disaster relief efforts. As a church, we helped rebuild homes, construct water wells, and support people picking up after tsunamis and hurricanes. We got 3,000 people out of poverty, getting them back on their feet through our benevolence ministry.
And here’s the greatest number: 89,419 salvations through your generosity and compassion! It’s harvest time, church!
How Do We Shine?
Alright, last question, then we’re going to give. By the way, go ahead and take an envelope, even if you’re not going to give today; take an envelope—see, I’m going to ask you to write on this envelope. It’s on the back of your chairs. Listen, it’s okay if you’re not ready to give. If you think, „I need a couple of weeks to think about this, pray about it, and see if God really wants me to live generously, ” I’ll tell you—you are a Bible-believing Christian! Jesus does!
Proverbs 11:24 says, „The world of the generous gets larger and larger while the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.“ Proverbs says, „Those who bless others will themselves be blessed and refreshed continually.“ „Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts of their God.“ Write down what you’re praying for on the top—it says prayer requests and praise reports. Write down what you’re praying for; maybe even write down what you’re celebrating.
In just a minute, we’re going to bring this down to the altar. Here’s my last question I want to ask you: how do we shine? We shine through our generosity, we shine through our actions, and we shine through our words of encouragement and kindness. What we do in this life echoes for eternity.
I’ll never forget hearing the story of a famous lawyer handling many cases in Chicago. He was winning all these cases, but the stress of success—which, by the way, can lead to a lot of stress—caused him to start drinking. At the end of each day, he would go to the bar and have a couple of beers to feel peaceful and calm. It started helping so much that he began drinking in the morning too. He thought, „I’m stressed before I go in to handle these cases.“
So he’d go down to a local bar to drink a couple of drinks before heading to his job. But if you asked him if he was an alcoholic, he’d laugh and say, „No, I’m not an alcoholic! I just drink in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.“
One morning, as he left his house during the snow, he heard something behind him. He turned around but didn’t see anything. He kept walking toward the bar but heard the sound again. When he reached the door of the bar, on the verge of opening it, he turned around to find it was his six-year-old son. „Daddy, I was following your footsteps! I knew you always liked to go somewhere in the morning. Is this where you go?“
The dad was overwhelmed, shocked that his son would follow his footprints. He tells this story while sharing in church one day in Chicago: „From that day on, something changed. I stopped wanting to leave footprints to the bar for my kids, and I started wanting to leave footprints toward the church for my kids. Footprints in the snow toward the altar for my kids. Footprints in the snow toward a discipleship class. Footprints in the snow toward living a life where I spent tens of thousands of dollars on alcohol and instead would put that money in the offering to help reach more people.“
You can change your footprints today. You can change the legacy you leave your kids. One day we will all die. When you die, there’s going to be a dash on your gravestone that represents your life—the year you were born and the year you died. In that dash, people will remember you.
There was a man named Don Richie who moved into the worst house in Australia that someone could buy. He thought it was a great house because of its view, overlooking the beautiful ocean of Sydney, but it sat next to a cliff. Come to find out, it was known as Suicide Cliff, the most popular suicide spot in the world. The first time he looked out his window, he watched someone jump off the cliff. His heart sank. He ran over and saw the body at the bottom. The police came and asked, „You bought the worst piece of real estate. You can sell this house and leave; nobody stays here.“
But something happened in Don Richie’s heart. He died in 2012, and on his gravestone read „The Angel of the Gap.“ He ended up staying in that house for 40 years, feeling God had strategically placed him there to rescue people on the edge of ending their lives. He said, „Every week, I would go out. At least three people would take their lives from this cliff.“ So, he would meet them at the cliff and say, „Excuse me.“ He had read an article from someone who jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge that said, „If one person stops me with a smile, I won’t jump.“
No one ever did. Don Richie thought, „Maybe my smile can help them.“ He would begin with a smile, then invite them in: „Hey, come inside for a cup of tea! I’m right here; my house is just ten feet away from this cliff.“ A smile, along with the cup of tea, led to people walking away. He stopped 400 people from taking their lives and helped them find their way back.
Someone caught a picture once of Don Richie holding a woman who was about to jump. He was the only thing between her and the edge. He knew he had to stop her; she had a destiny. He said, „I used to sell life insurance. I felt like I was selling people real life—purpose for life—something to live for.“ Friends, when we give, we’re saving lives.
Testimony of Miracle
As you get ready to give, I want you to pray in your heart, „Lord, what am I supposed to give? What’s on your heart for me to give?“ I don’t want anyone to give just because they feel compelled; I want God to instruct you. If God says, „Don’t give anything today, ” you don’t have to. But if God says, „Be a part of this; stretch your faith, ” I want to invite my friend Zach Bernatsky to share a testimony of what happened in the last miracle offering.
„Yeah, so this is a special weekend for me because one year ago, my wife and I were in one of the darkest seasons we had been through. We had been believing for a long time for a baby. From day one of being married, we were like, 'Let’s go for it! ' Nothing happened. We saw some doctors, and they told us it would be nearly impossible to get pregnant naturally.
We started some procedures—one, two—still nothing. On the third procedure, we found out we were pregnant with a baby girl. We were overjoyed, telling friends and family. It felt like a huge answer to prayer after praying for so long, 'Lord, give us this child.' But seriously, that prayer was tested when at our next appointment, we learned the baby was no longer progressing. My wife miscarried that baby Thanksgiving weekend last year, and it was devastating. We were broken.
It hit us hard, that third one; it felt like a piece of hope crushed. We were angry and confused, and honestly, we were ready to give up. Despite feeling depleted emotionally, physically, and mentally, we kept believing, 'God, you’re working; God, you’re moving; God, you’re faithful.'
Christmas production came, and we were really busy. We had a procedure scheduled for January, so we figured we would try one last time in December. We were in a tough spot financially; that procedure in January required a $5,000 deposit, and our bank account was wiped from previous procedures. So we put that $5,000 on a credit card.
We came into Miracle Offering weekend and didn’t give during the service. But I remember writing down, 'Lord, I’m believing for a miracle in my family. I’m believing for a full family.'
Throughout that week, we felt led to give, even if it was hard. We went back and forth, considering our mortgage and that $5,000, but we had a number we felt God laid on our hearts—something that was a big sacrifice to us. We gave it, trusting God to work in the supernatural.
Three weeks after that Miracle Offering weekend, I came home from work, and my wife showed me a positive pregnancy test—completely natural, no procedures whatsoever! We were pregnant. Not only that, but the fertility clinic we put down a deposit on said, 'Today is the last day you can get your deposit back.' We got all of that $5,000 back!
It was such a huge answer to prayer, but little did we know God wasn’t done. Seven months later, our daughter Willow came six weeks early with a heart condition. We ended up in the NICU and found out she had a second heart condition, so they airlifted us to OKC where there were specialists.
Throughout that time in the hospital, we thought, 'This is easy! ' because God had already begun to write a miracle story. It was our miracle baby! She’s home now, the happiest little baby in the world, her heart condition under control. So far this year, through insurance and unexpected financial gifts, God has provided for over half a million dollars worth of medical bills!
I stand here today, a year later. A year ago, my heart was empty and broken; today it’s fuller than it’s ever been. Every day I wake up and look at that beautiful girl with her baby blues, reminding me of the goodness of God. He’s so faithful and good!“
Come on, give it up for Zach!
Bringing the Offering
Here’s what we’re going to do: the team is going to lead us in worship, and instead of buckets coming down the aisle, we’re going to do something special today. I’ll never forget being in Africa for an offering service like this where the people, despite having very little, started running to the altar to drop off their offerings.
So today, we’re inviting you to bring your offering down to the altar. You can lay it anywhere at the front of the stage, on the stage, or on the steps. When you’re ready to give, just walk down, bring it, then go back to your seat. We’ll dismiss in about seven or eight minutes, but please stay because there’s one last thing I want to share with you before we end.
So as you’re ready to give and you write it down, just bring it down. We’re going to worship God in our giving!
Can you imagine with all of the b in the room what the Lord can do? What the Lord can do? It’s going to happen!
Say, „Let the way make us through!“ He’s going to move! He’s going to move!
Can you imagine with all of the pain in the room what the Lord can do? What the Lord can do?
It’s going to—just let the way make through!
It’s going to—anything is possible!
Oh, anything is possible! Anything is possible!
Who am I to deny what the Lord can do? Anything is possible!
Anything is possible!
Oh, who am I to deny what the Lord can do?
Christ is my firm foundation; He’s the rock on which I stand. When everything around me is shaking, oh, I’ve never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus because He’s never let me down. He’s faithful through generations, so why would He fail now? He won’t!
No! No, no! He won’t fail me! He won’t fail!
God is more than able!
God is more than able!
More than… God is more than…
Who am I to deny what the Lord can do?
Water Baptisms and Altar Call
One number I didn’t read earlier that I think is really cool is that this year we’ve seen almost 700 people get water baptized in our services. One of my favorite water baptisms I’ve ever seen in my life—as a pastor’s kid, I’ve been in church since I was born, I’ve seen a lot—was this year, in fact, I think my top three favorites happened this year. One was when a soccer player from U came in, who had come really to play but didn’t know it was a Christian university.
He found Jesus at Victory, and his whole soccer team surrounded him at the baptism tank as he gave his life to Christ and was baptized at our church! What a huge celebration at their campus! One of my other favorites was when a 96-year-old World War II veteran came down at the 9 a.m. service. His whole family was here as he got baptized for the first time in his life. It was incredible to witness that moment.
And I think one of my favorite things we do as a church is see people come to Christ. As a church, we do this together. So today, really the last thing I want to do is give people a chance to receive Jesus in their heart, to get prayer for miracles. I asked Zach to stay up here, as I feel like there are people in the room believing to get pregnant and others just needing miracles.
So, I want to do two altar calls. If you’re here and you need to get right with God, you need to surrender to Jesus, I’ll ask you to raise your hand. Today is your day! The harvest is here, and if you’re saying, „I want to get right; I want to repent. I want Jesus to be Lord of my life, ” let’s give a hand clap for even if there’s just one hand raised in the room! Those of you watching online, you never know who is getting right with God!
Secondly, if you’re here and say, „I need a miracle; I need a supernatural act of God in my life. I’m praying for a breakthrough—whether it’s for children, marriage, or health, ” if that’s you, leave your seat, come down to the altar, and just stand here. I’ll have Zach pray for us, and we’ll close out with this prayer.
But I want to pray for everyone standing for a miracle. You’re believing to have children, get married, or heal from cancer or other terminal illnesses. You’re standing for your kids or yourself. Maybe today you just need a financial turnaround; you’re in a tight place, and you need God’s blessing. You need that story of the king to become reality.
You need God to do something exceedingly, abundantly, above what you can hope or imagine. If that’s you, come and find a place at this altar. As you come down here, I want you to stand by faith.
In Jesus' name, Lord, I thank you that today the harvest lights are on, and there’s a harvest coming for every person in this room standing and believing for breakthroughs.
Zach, why don’t you pray for us?
„Dear Lord, thank You for every single person who’s come up here. They’ve taken that step of faith. Lord, You love the word impossible because that’s where You shine and show what You can do. There is no such thing as impossible with You; it is only possible! So, I pray over every request. I pray for miracles where they’ve been told there’s no option. I pray, Lord, for wombs that have been closed, that they would open up. I pray You’d bring babies to life in Jesus' name. I pray for business ideas, Lord—dreams instilled in people, those who don’t know where to go. Lord, I pray right now that You would be moving. I pray for those looking for breakthroughs in finances; You’d line things together even now that they can’t see. And I pray for faith and boldness for every person here that they would stand and believe in You. You are a God of miracles! You are a God of the impossible! You are a God that can do greater and more than we could ever hope, see, or imagine. So, we pray all this, and we believe this. Church, as you raise your hands, let’s finish this prayer strong. We’re going to shout amen at the end of this prayer. Amen isn’t just a casual way to end a prayer; it’s a declaration that it is true, that God is in control. We say amen; we say it is finished because God has the final say. So, on three, let’s finish with amen: 3, 2, 1—amen!“
Thank you, Jesus! The Lord heard and answered. I saw the Lord; He heard and He answered. That’s why I trust Him!
I saw the Lord; He heard and He answered. That’s why I trust Him!
I saw the Lord; He heard and He answered. That’s why I trust Him!
I saw the Lord; He heard and He answered. That’s why I trust Him!
Mighty one!
Well, church, there’s a harvest out there! God is good; He’s faithful! Come on, how many of you know He’s faithful?
What a powerful prayer from Zach; what a powerful testimony! I encourage you today: take some of these with you; bring them to your workplace this week. Invite somebody to the services this week. Let’s go reach our city; let’s bring in the harvest in Jesus' name!
Lord, I thank You again and again. I just agree with Zach’s prayer. Lord, I thank You that You are the God of miracles, and what You did back then, You can do again! What You did for Zach and Cass, what You did for Hannah and Abraham, what You did for Sarah, Elizabeth, and Zachariah—you can do it today for each person standing for a miracle in Jesus' name. Amen!