Sunday, March 6, 2022

DO NOT REST ON YOUR OARS

 

cover image of church sermon _ background of chancel and altar_ parable of wheat and tares _ do not rest on your oars
Lessons from the Parable of the Tares and Wheat


Main Text: Matthew 13:24-30

Key Scripture Verse:

But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away - MT. 13: 25 (AMP)

 

What does it mean to ‘rest on your oars’?

-        to be satisfied with your achievements and not to make an effort to do anything else:

-        To feel comfortable because you have been successful in the past:

-        Satisfied and complacent.

-        self-fulfilled within self-satisfaction

-        Satiety (as in satiated); triumphalism (pride)

                                                                                                         (Reference: Cambridge dictionary)


What questions could you have been asking in your pathetic situation?

Has God forgotten me?  God gave me this child/job/wife, why am I having troubles?

Whatsoever your questions are, you are not alone. The servants would have wondered how those tares could have come to be; in a vineyard owned by God.

 “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?(Matthew 13:27).

        The world is full of ills because the devil is an enemy of good and this world is his playground But through it all, God is not caught unaware

He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. (Matthew 13:28-29)

 

Why would God tell them not to pluck the ills out yet?

        God has a master plan

It’s not what happens around us that matters but how we respond to what happens in us wherewithal whatsoever is happening around us.

        While growing next to wheat, tares (darnels) cannot be distinguished from real wheat. It is not until near the time of harvest that you can discern which of the two the real item is.

        Issues of life that are wheat can appear as tares; while tares can appear as wheat

Life challenges could arise to fire us and test our true nature

        Every ill has an expiry date (Rev. 12:9 tells us the devil, who deceives the world, will be cast out at the end of days)

        The Lord knows who are His (2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity).

        The Lord expects us to stay on track and not get corrupted until the time is fulfilled.

 

What is expected while waiting?

Let both grow together until the harvest…” (Matthew 13:30a)

While waiting, there’s so much room for growth. It is in the process of growth that we become all God intends for us. There will be pruning, polishing and molding in the process.

For instance, you don’t have to wait till there are challenges before you get to pray. Don’t settle for being a Sunday-to-Sunday Christian. Grow spiritually, socially, financially, career-wise, and in all areas. Increase in knowledge!

If flowers don’t grow, they won’t become as beautiful as they are. Therefore, we cannot afford to settle.  There are many things at stake coming ahead of us… So much God can do with our lives.

Be not like the reapers who went to sleep… (Matthew 13:25) Let’s not be contented with what we have achieved … Prepare and be ready every moment as if the Lord of the harvest is at the door.

 

Shall we pray?

May the Lord endow us with the grace and enablement not to settle for less; for there is room for us to grow; such growth we claim with the capacity for us to contain.

Lord, we want more of you, we want more of your encounters. Enlarge our capacity; enlarge our coast such that we would be prepared and positioned to receive all you have in store for us.

All these we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Call to ACTION

What would you do differently this week?

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Summary - Lessons from the Parable of the Tares and Wheat

        God has a master plan and a great purpose for us.

        The world is full of ills; which may happen to anyone.

        Through it all, God is not caught unaware. He still cares.

        The Lord knows who are His and expects us to persevere

        Every ill has an expiry date and every good has a rewarding date.

        While persevering, keep growing and don’t settle.

 

This message was first preached as Sermon by Mr. Timothy Aderogba on Sunday 13th February 2022 at the Anglican Church of Praise - ACOPraise, Eputu 105101 (under the Lagoon Archdeaconry, Diocese of Lagos).




  HOPE No matter the gloomy picture that life might paint don’t be discouraged. The worst thing that will happen to a man is to lose hope ...