Spiritual Nourishment: Crossing Boundaries for God's Harvest

For Jesus, obedience isn’t a burden—it’s a feast.

Jesus and his disciples were in Samaria, and that was significant. Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility going way back... and these, this is going on in the minds of the disciples as Jesus brings them directly into Samaria.

He shows us that there is something deeper and more satisfying than even our daily bread—that is, living in obedience to God and being a part of his mission. [00:01:28]

Lift up your eyes and join in God’s work, because real life is found in doing his will and helping others to come to Jesus. That’s what this passage is teaching us, and that’s what I hope we’ll walk away from this service ready to live out. [00:03:47]

Jesus is showing them that the deepest needs are spiritual. This reminds us of what Moses told Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 3, that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. [00:09:32]

Food matters, but it’s not what we need most. Our real need is to live by God’s word and God’s will, and Jesus shows us that seeking God’s will has to come first. [00:10:01]

The disciples wanted to make sure that Jesus’s body was fed, but Jesus was showing them that his heart and soul were already full because he was doing his Father’s work. [00:10:28]

Our true food is to do God’s will. And I want to make this very practical: think of one distraction that you spend time on this week—maybe it’s your phone, maybe it’s social media. Take fifteen minutes you’d normally spend scrolling on your phone for time with God. Read your Bible, maybe just a few verses, maybe a few chapters, and pray. And when you pray, ask him, “Lord, what do you want me to do today?” Do you see how choosing God’s purpose over temporary comfort actually strengthens your soul? [00:18:15]

Do we live like the disciples, always focused on physical needs, or do we live like Jesus, finding nourishment in doing the Father’s work? [00:19:14]

Jesus is saying, don’t wait—the harvest is already here. The Greek phrase “lift up your eyes” is a strong command. It’s like Jesus is saying, stop looking down at your food bags, stop focusing on only your stomach. Look up to see the people around you who are ready to receive the gospel. [00:21:31]

The problem isn’t that there aren’t people ready to believe. The problem is that too often workers are distracted or hesitant. [00:24:02]

Every act of faithfulness matters, and in the end all God’s people will rejoice together over the harvest. [00:26:10]

Spiritual opportunities don’t last forever. A neighbor who is open today may not be open next year. A co-worker who’s struggling now may not be struggling and asking for help later. A child at home who is soft to the gospel today might grow hardened tomorrow. Jesus is telling us, don’t delay. Lift up your eyes now. See what’s in front of you. See the harvest. Step into the field while the opportunity is here. [00:26:41]

Sometimes we’re so caught up in our own routines—our food, our schedules, our tasks—that we fail to see the spiritual needs right in front of us. But Jesus calls us to look up, to see people not just as faces we pass by, but as souls who need to hear the gospel. The harvest is ready now. The only question is whether we will lift up our eyes and step into the field. [00:28:56]

This woman didn’t have a seminary degree. She didn’t have all her questions answered. She had only just met Jesus herself. But she went back to her town and simply said what Jesus had done for her. He told me everything I ever did, and that was enough for many people to believe. [00:31:57]

Testimonies don’t have to be eloquent or polished—they just need to be real. [00:32:57]

Secondhand faith can only carry us so far. You can’t live forever on the faith of your parents or your spouse or your pastor. At some point you must meet Jesus for yourself. [00:34:14]

No culture, no background, no past sins put you outside of the reach of Christ. His salvation is for all people. [00:37:00]

Someone else’s story can spark your curiosity, but only a personal encounter with Christ can convince you. That’s when it all becomes real. [00:37:53]

Never underestimate the power of your testimony. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to tell others what Jesus has done for you. [00:38:10]

Real life isn’t found in food, comfort, or even waiting for the perfect time. It’s found in doing God’s will, joining in his work, and seeing the fruit of the gospel change lives. [00:40:46]

Remember how we started, talking about times when you were so caught up in something that you forgot to eat? That’s the kind of focus Jesus had on his Father’s mission. He didn’t just talk about food—he showed us that doing God’s will is the most satisfying thing in the world, and he invites us to taste that same joy. [00:43:35]

The only reason we can do God’s will, the only reason there’s a harvest at all, is because of Jesus. The Son of God, God himself, came to earth and lived a perfect, sinless life—one that we could never live—and then he died on the cross in our place. We call that a substitutionary death, paying the penalty for my sin. And three days later he rose again from the grave, defeating death forever. And one day he’s coming back to make all things new, to make all things right. This is the good news, the gospel, and it’s what gives us the strength and the reason to join God’s work. Without Jesus, we’re lost and empty, but with him we have eternal life, true joy, and the privilege of seeing others come to know him too. [00:44:32]