“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Matt.13:25

Parable of the tares

“sowing wild oats”

Sleeping men

Battle of Quebec - 1759North America continent changed hands

Dec.25,1776 Washington fell upon enemy at dawn

Insensibility -

Insecurity - - -

Inactivity - - -

Illusion - - - -

thief enter and you never know

cannot protect self

doing nothing

may believe all is well

“But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.” Jonah 1:5

Unrealistic

Did not face reality

He was in trouble

Went to sleep

Felt safe and secure

Unrealistic

Sin is a great storm on all sides

Threatens to destroy all of us

Some are spiritually asleep

Ephesians 5:14 - “Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

Mark 14:37 “Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?”

Weariness

Earlier boasted

Die for you Slept through agony

of the Lord

Weariness

Tired of the struggle

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

NKJV - “If we do not lose heart”ESV - “if we do not give up”

Hymn “O How I Love Jesus”

Judges 16:20 “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!”

Presumption

Knew he was on dangerous ground

Got away with it before

Presumption

Men know they are lost

“I will obey some day. I have plenty of time.”

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

James 4:14

Samson was blinded - Harnessed like an animal

Laziness

Prov. 24:30-34 Field of the slothful Grown over with thorns Wall broken down

“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:” v.33

Laziness

Too sleepy to attend Bible study and Worship

Too Lazy to teach the lost

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35

Song: “We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes”

Neglectful

Parable of Tares Mt.13:24

No record they were tired

Enemy sowed tares

Slept instead of guarding

Neglectful

Some parents are carelessProvide material goodsNeglect spiritual training

Some Christians neglect opportunities to serve

Young often say “There’s enough time later”Eccl. 12:1 “Remember now they Creator”

1 Peter 5:8

Indifferent

1 Cor. 11:30 “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

spiritually asleep or dead eat or drink unworthily

1 Timothy 5:6 “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.”

pleasure - luxurious living alive in the flesh dead in the spirit

Indifferent

Must fight off spiritual sleepKnowledge of Danger does not keep it away

1 Corinthians 16:13 NKJV “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

Rev. 2:10b “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Jonah - - - - - - - Unrealistic

Three Disciples - Weariness

Samson - - - - - - Presumption

Sluggard - - - - - - Laziness

Tares - - - - - - - - - Careless

Corinthians - - - - Death

Judges 4:17-21 - Sisera slept in tent of Jael

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:14

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

arthurpigman@bellsouth.netarthurpigman@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Morning December 16, 2012