The Enemy Knows Your Schedule

THE ENEMY KNOWS YOUR SCHEDULE

MATTHEW 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” 36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

INTRODUCTION: THE ENEMY KNOWS YOUR SCHEDULE. (TEACH & PREACH)

Illustration: One day Satan sent some of his demons from the bottomless pit to do as much harm to Christians as possible. Return: 1) He sunk a ship full of Christians caught in a storm on the sea. “You did them no harm.” said Satan “for they all went straight to heaven.” 2) He set fire to property and destroyed much wealth that belonged to Christians. “You done them no harm.” he said “for their losses make them all the more determined to fight against us.” Finally: He succeeded in putting to sleep a large number of Christians. Satan smiled and all the host of devils shouted their approval.

Christians Have Often Been Caught Asleep When They Should Be Awake. To be asleep is to feel our work is done. Just because you got married does not mean your work is done. Just because you go to college does not mean the work is done. Just because you have children does not mean the work is done. Just because you become a Christian does not mean your work is done. In Matthew 24, the church slept while Jesus prayed. Jonah was asleep in the boat during the storm and a whole city was about to perish. Samson was asleep on Delilah’s lap when he lost his anointing. When Jesus was on earth, he stressed the importance of readiness, alertness and preparedness:“Work while it is day for the night comes when no man can work.” He had only 3½ years on earth to work with his disciples and teach them the Principles of the Kingdom of God - the one reason he came – to bring the principles of God’s Kingdom to earth. “The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

In Matthew 24, Jesus Is Giving His Disciples Many Kingdom Parables In Order To Heighten Their Awareness And Increase Their Knowledge. In Matthew 24 alone, he gave them parables like the sower, the mustard seed, the yeast, the net, the hidden treasure, pearl, etc. Remember, he had chosen fishermen, tax collectors, for disciples and must train them to spread the Kingdom on earth. The parables were his way of teaching simple truths to unlearned men. His first public statement was: Matthew 4:17“Repent for the kingdom of God is near." Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 6:33 "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you.” If we understood the Kingdom of God, we would not sleep on the job. His kingdom has a particular philosophy, government, law, culture, society, economy, citizenship, provision, worship, protocol, representation, etc. When Jesus came to earth, God had a colonial intent - to colonize earth and make it look like heaven. These days we let Congress decide the percentage of sugar in our tea and the redefinition of marriage. But like a king on earth, Jesus is never voted into or out of power; he is king by birthright; his authority is absolute; his Word is law and unchanging; he personally owns everything in this domain; he embodies the government of his kingdom; his presence and Name is the essence of his authority; his prosperity is measured by the status of his citizens. All these are what God wants us to acknowledge. But the devil has stripped some of us of that knowledge and power because we have fallen asleep.