MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH


Text: I kings 20:40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.


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


Intro: We are all familiar with the scene; while the men are enjoying themselves in town, the villains are sneaking up on the ranch. _ _ _
Proposition: While our attention is elsewhere, or we sleep, Satan’s plans are being carried out and put into effect.


I. While we are busy_ _ _
A. Activity - for the sake of ‘doing something’ isn’t the answer!
1. Martha did a good work but became obsessed with material service.
Lu 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.


2. Mary did the important thing -
Lu: 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
a) She heard the Word ! She knew the importance of the Word.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.


Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:


Psa 119:105 . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.


B. Our Nation - (yea, even Civilization) is being destroyed and the framework for the rule of the anti-christ is NOW in place! I M F; NATO; Globalization, etc.


C. While our nation’s morals are being destroyed - too many christians still vote their pocketbooks, rather than their consciences! The worst pollution is of the mind.


D. Satan’s religion - is now in power
It has received government sanction ; it is installed in our schools; it invades our homes through TV and pervades our thinking! HOW?


E. Through obsession with technology - social action - population control - mind control through propaganda as well as drugs,the tower of Babel is being rebuilt!


F. Tares are still being sown in our homes and families - the ‘generation gap’ has and is destroying the unity of family life, and the continuity of principles from one generation to the next.
Turn your kids over to teachers, counselors, little league and football coaches, scout leaders, television sets, etc., You’ll have more time to spend in town , but don’t be surprised if you come home some day and find they’ve been kidnapped by savages!



(note: this sermon was first preached at least as far back as 1983, so today we are seeing the truth of these predictions)


G. In our Churches - as controversies rage - it is easier to seek ‘peace’ through compromise, but each compromise is a smoldering fire that will be fanned into a flame of destruction!
We can reach more people if we just 'ease' up on:

1) ordinances (any baptism, so long as it is by immersion; invite all to partake of the LORD'S supper.)
2) discipline (don't practice it)
3) the separation of church & state, etc. (The GI Bill cost a lot in compromises)


H. In our personal lives - Think YOU are not being affected? Check your thinking now against your thinking of 20, 15, 10 or even 5 years ago.
Things unheard of among Christians in our early lives, now are constant problems; drugs, cohabiting without the benefit of “a piece of paper”, divorce; so-called alternate life-styles; rebellion against parents, teenage pregnancy; etc. etc.


II The Answer
Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.


A. Return to God’s way of thinking and doing.
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.


Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.


Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:


B. Satan can be resisted and kept out of God’s fields, but only by God’s power and God’s instruments;
1) We have the greatest weapons
II Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)


2) We have the greatest power;
I Jno. 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.


Zech 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.


Jno 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.


If you’re lost:
DON’T let Satan occupy your time, and energy until it is too late!
Jer 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.


II Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)



Jno. 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.


John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Church Members:


Serve the Lord, (positive) not fight devil (negative)