| Weeds in the Field |
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message notes from July 20, 2008
Speaker: Major Andy Kelly
Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43
"Weeds in the Field"
Do we have weeds in us? Are they growing in the garden of our hearts?
Here are some weeds that may need pulling, they are taking up valuable space that the good seeds need!
#1 Pride - pride in ourselves, thinking we are better than others, thinking our greatness has made our accomplishments.
4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
PULL THE WEED OF PRIDE!
#2 Bad Habits - gossip, reading trashy novels, watching inappropriate tv shows and movies, spending too much time watching tv, text messaging, surfing the internet. Viewing bad websites, playing video games, doing things that have no value and take time away from God, family & friends.
2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
YANK THE WEEK OF BAD HABITS!
#3 Evil Thoughts - bad thoughts against others, temptations to sin.
9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
PULL THE WEED OF EVIL THOUGHTS!
#4 Compromise - the most dangerous weed in our society today. We have to be careful not to compromise God's Word and His Will. Too many compromises put us so far away from God, we are closer to the side of the enemy. Don't let satan get a foothold. Stick with the Truth and not what is "accepted" in the world! When we compromise our faith, we discredit our witness for Christ.
#5 Selfishness - we should always be willing to do for another before ourselves.
#6 Apathy - simply not caring. Walking past someone in need or who is hurt, ignoring people that need our attention. Physically helping one another, and more importantly SPIRITUALLY helping others is something we MUST care about. Do we care enough to say to our friends adn family that Jesus is the only way to have eternal life? Or do we let them watch Oprah who tells them there are many ways to reach God... We must CARE! Do we show God's love to everyone? We have an opportunity each and every day to reach out to others on behalf of our Savior.
YANK OUT THE WEED OF APATHY!
3:16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
#7 Disobedience - We teach our children to obey, but do we obey God? God tells us to OBEY. He tells us to live Holy lives. We are to obey the laws of our society.
2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
back to Matthew...
v.30 - grow together until harvest, gather weeds to be burned, then gather wheat to the barn.
v. 40 - so it will be @ the end of the world
v. 41-42 gathered weeds - thrown in to the furnace (followers of satan)
We have people in our congregation spreading weeds - we mustn't spread our weeds into others gardens. We must pull them and destroy them.
v. 43 good people with Jesus in them will shine in the Father's Kingdom.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to pull weeds out of our hearts each and every day.
v. 43b - EARS - USE THEM - LISTEN (and obey)
Major Amy: A plant cannot weed itself. It must have someone greater to pull the weeds. We cannot pull these weeds with our own strength, we need Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit to pull the weeds - allow Him to weed and prune us. |
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