Cheap Imitations
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.” - (Matthew 13:24–25)
Christians should be aware that the Devil is an imitator. When he cannot stop a work of God, he will offer his cheap imitation. That way he minimizes the power and glory of God.
God has His genuine; the Devil has his imitations. God has love; the Devil has lust. God has true faith in Christ; the Devil has false religion. He offers just enough to keep people from the real truth. Those who buy into this will say, “I don’t really need to hear about Jesus. I am a religious person” or “I am a spiritual person.” They are satisfied with a cheap imitation instead of going after the real thing.
Jesus told a parable about a farmer who sowed wheat in a field, but at night, his enemy came in and sowed tares among the wheat. A tare, also known as the darnel seed, looks a lot like wheat initially. But as it grows, it actually will uproot the wheat.
That is how the Devil works. He will put his plants in the church. They will talk like Christians. They will use phraseology that Christians use. And when they do something wicked, people will say, “I can’t believe that a Christian would do such a thing!” Here’s an idea. Maybe they actually were tares among the wheat. I am not saying that Christians are incapable of sinning. But I do think some people who attend church are tares among the wheat. They are imitations.
Case in point: Judas was a tare among the wheat as one of Jesus’ disciples. In fact, when Jesus said one of the Twelve would betray Him, no one knew He was referring to Judas. But Judas was an imitator. The Devil puts his fake versions out there, flooding the market with cheap substitutes.
Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
SPECIAL OFFER
Yesterday’s Prophecies
Are Today’s Headlines
The Bible tells us that certain things will take place in the last days, and we are seeing some of them happen before our very eyes. The headlines are filled with signs of the times. How are we to respond to these things, and how should we live in light of Bible prophecy?
Find out in Israel, Iran, ISIS in Bible Prophecy, Pastor Greg’s newest booklet, written to give you a biblical perspective on world events. Included is his sermon by the same title on DVD.
Israel, Iran, ISIS in Bible Prophecy will be sent to you in thanks for your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.