Untitled Sermon

Wheat or Cheat ... That is the Question!

Scripture - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Introduction -

Review Parable of the Four Soils

Wheat and Tares (Cheat)

Note: Light and empty look a likes in the beginning.

Sounds like Christianity today?

Romeo and Juliet . . . to be, or not to be?

I. The Parable

A. The Field and the Farmer.

1. The Farmer is Christ. (He owns the field)

2. The Field is the world in which we live.

3. The Wheat is His seed. (God's Fruit - Those who are Saved - Born again.)

note: Only what God has sown is wheat! (not what man plants)

B. The Devils diabolical design.

1. Sows counterfeit seed.

note: a practice of the enemies to ruin someone's harvest.

2. Looks genuine.

a. In the beginning you can not tell the difference.

b. What this seed produces is light, hollow and worthless.

c. It consumes valuable space and resources belonging to the true wheat.

3. Mingles among the true wheat and creates confusion and stress.

II. The Lesson

A. God's Kingdom has been over-sown by the enemy.

1. This world will always be infiltrated by Satan's plot and schemes.

note: This will always be a imperfect field.

2. We need to open our eyes and be discerning. (Not judgmental)

note: There are many warnings all through the Bible of false (Bible) teachers.

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

3. We need know God's Word. (it is the litmus paper)

note: Only God's Harvesting angels can make the final decision.

I John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

B. We are not God's reapers.

1. Many times we will not know it is tares until it is already well rooted.

2. If we try to uproot .. we also will trample or destroy the good wheat also.

3. Since it is difficult to really tell until too late & the zealous could damage the wheat.

III. Our Response

A. We need to make sure we are God's wheat and not tares.

B. Don't worry about the tares . . . water and nurture the field anyway.

Matthew 5:45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

C. Shine forth and stand out as the Father's pure wheat and glorify Him.

Conclusion:

1. Are you a product of what God has sown or Satan manipulation of mans religious futility?

2. If God could change water to wine, He can change cheat to wheat. example – Paul

3. Will you be or not be the genuine fruit when the harvest comes?