THE LESSONS FROM THE ANTS
Prov 6:6-9 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, & gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep
Prov 30:24-25 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people {Creature} not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
Introduction:
A) God’s creation gives us valuable instruction
1) Isa 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
2) Jer 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
B) If man’s vision is too weak to look at the burning bush.
1) Let him look at the glow worm at his feet.
2) All of these things give us a Divine Sermon.
C) The Writer says “Go to the ant you sluggard”
1) A sluggard is one who loves his leisure.
2) His is one who lives in idleness.
D) The false cults are living around us.
1) They knock on doors day by day…
2) We are Lazy and Asleep.
I) THE ANTS HAVE UNITY AND COOPERATION
A) ANTS LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
1) They don’t fight among themselves.
2) Christians are Exhorted to “Love One Another”
B) ANTS HELP ONE ANOTHER.
1) If a grain is too large to move they pull together
2) If one is injured they help him out.
3) If one falls in a pit the all work to rescue him.
4) Christians need to “Bear one anther’s burden’s”
C) ANTS WORK HARMONIOUSLY.
1) Though small they unite to get greater results
2) Each individual ant has his own job.
3) None is greater than the other.
D) THERE IS POWER IN UNITY.
1) Illustration of the African Ant… They march in the millions in close order - terror spreads before them - Nothing before them is safe - Lion - Snake - Elephant - People - Houses - Being united is powerful
2) Imagine what the Church could do of it were united like this……
3) The Powers of Darkness would flee..
4) The Early Church moved forward with Unity.
II) THE ANTS ARE INDUSTRIOUS
A) THEY WORK VOLUNTARILY.
1) They have no guide - overseer or ruler…
2) Thousands live in one colony and they all work
B) THEY WORK ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY
1) Storekeeper - Nurses - Engineers..
2) Can’t build a Cathedral - Can build an ant hill
3) God expects us to use our ability He has given us Eccl 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;
C) THE ANTS WORK CONTINUALLY.
1) They work from daylight to dark…
2) Their motto is “Work for the night is coming”
3) If an ant-hill is destroyed - They Rebuild.
4) If an ant had a text “Be not weary in well doing”
D) CHRISTIANS SHOULD STUDY THE ANT..
1) Many think the church is a “Don’t work club” Just leave it - It will get done someway.
2) Its like the farmer I read about… A Tourist saw him sitting on a stump in the field He ask him “How are things going?” - “Pretty tolerable” - “I had to cut down some trees but the wind blew them down and saved me the trouble” … “That’s fine” said the tourist .. “Lighting set fire to the brush pile - saved me the trouble” - “That’s remarkable” said the tourist…”What are you doing now” - “Nothing much” said the farmer “Just waiting for and earthquake to shake the taters out of the ground”
3) Cause of Christ suffers because of lazy Christians
(a) Many Christians are indifferent…
(b) Many put ease and comfort ahead of God…
4) Most are not Workers but Shirkers… Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
5) 90% of God’s work is done by 10% of the people
III) CONSIDER THE ANTS - THEY ARE WISE
A) GOD SINGLED OUT THE ANT FOR HIS WISDOM
1) Some ant hills are like a modern city - Streets are laid out - Some one-way.
2) It has ample rooms - Hatcheries and barracks..
B) CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE WISE IN THE WISDOM OF GOD 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.
C) WE SHOULD BE WISE IN SOUL WINNING… “He that winneth souls is wise”
1) Many Church’s are well fed highly organized, But souls are going to hell because of NO Soul Winning
2) Conversion of sinners was Christ whole objective
(a) “He came to seek and save the lost”
(b) Died that He “Might draw all men unto me”
(c) He sent the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin.
3) Notice how wise the N.T. Church was…. 3000 Saved - 5000 Saved -Multitudes Saved..
4) Today many church members are more interested in Bingo Parties….
IV) THE ANTS HAVE DETERMINATION
A) THEIR MOTTO COULD BE “This One Thing I Do”
1) Nothing stops the ant from finding food.
2) He will work - live - die to obtain food.
B) THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN SAYS “WE CAN’T”
1) Can’t Teach - Can’t Preach
2) Can’t Win Souls - Can’t Tithe
V) THE ANT IS PURPOSEFUL
A) THAT HAVE A PURPOSE IN EVERYTHING THEY DO
1) They don’t waste a move…
2) They will take the straightest path home…
B) CHRISTIAN SHOULD HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE
1) Need Purpose in our Praying…
2) Need Purpose in our Giving…
3) Need Purpose in our Separation…
VI) THE ANT HAS FORESIGHT
A) HE PREPARES FOR THE FUTURE.
1) He lays up in the summer for bad times.
2) Times when he cannot come out..
B) MEN BELIEVE IN LIFE BEYOND THE GRAVE YET THEY DO NOT PREPARE FOR HEAVEN.
1) Prepare for good education, Good job, Retirement
C) GOD TOLD US TO PREPARE IN THIS LIFE