Sheryl Brady - Coexisting with Good and Evil

Caught between a blessing and a battle? Pastor Sheryl Brady’s message, Coexisting with Good AND Evil, dives into the parable of the wheat and the tares from Matthew 13. Jesus shows us that good seed can grow alongside weeds, and sometimes, God allows both to flourish together for a season. Just because life got messy doesn’t mean the seed God planted in you is flawed. Don’t let frustration shake your faith—God’s strategy is to handle the separation at harvest time. Stand firm, trust His timing, and let Him bundle up your troubles. Victory is in His hands!

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I want to take a few moments to talk about the subject of coexisting with good and evil. How do you handle it? How do you survive it? How do you respond to it? Clearly, there is good, and clearly, there is evil. Somehow, in the middle of it all, we must learn to coexist. Spirit of God, I love you today. I don’t know what you will say in this place, but we are open to hearing your voice. Nobody talks to us like you; nobody answers our questions like you; nobody touches our lives like you. We thank you for your word: the grass withers, the flowers fade, but your word abides forever. Use me today, God, to feed the flock of God; they are here, they are hungry, and they want to hear what you have to say. Take these next few moments and maximize them, Lord, so that we can walk out of here empowered to do what you’ve assigned us to do. In the name of Jesus, somebody hold your head back, clap your hands, and tell God thank you! Come on, clap them, clap them, clap them, and tell Him thank you. You may be seated today in the presence of the Lord.

Coexisting with good and evil—this is a topic we’ve probably all heard messages preached on many times. The story we find begins in verse 24. It starts as a positive story about the wheat and the tares. It begins on a positive note by telling us that there is a man in the story who has been successful enough in life to have a good field. He has been successful enough to have seed to sow in the field, and he has the strength to sow it. All of these things are indicators pointing toward the promise of a future harvest. They indicate that there will be a return on the investment he has made; his barns are going to be filled. Yet, with one word, the whole conversation derails from what appears to be a positive story into a fog of negativity. One word: «but.»

Verse 24 sounds great; things seem to be coming together nicely. They appear as if they’re going to fall into place, take shape, and finally materialize. Then, we step out of verse 24 and into verse 25, where one word changes everything. That one word is «but.» The beginning of verse 25 says, «But…» Have you ever felt like the thing you were hoping for, praying for, preparing for, and planning for was suddenly derailed by a «but»? Derailed by a «well, with that being said,» «however,» or «unfortunately»? Just that one little sentence suggests that it’s really not going to be as awesome as you thought it might be.

I believe that, if we were honest, each of us in this room has faced a «but» at some point in our lives. Christ is bringing to Earth the intelligence of God. We know that when He came, He brought redemption, mercy, hope, peace, and joy. «Joy to the World, the Lord is come; let Earth receive her King.» He brought all of those things when He came. As a result of His coming, He also invaded the ignorance of men with the intelligence of God. He is God revealed, the manifold wisdom of God wrapped in flesh. He is God’s thoughts in a body, the voice of the Lord walking through the cool of the evening in the garden. God’s word walking is really a depiction of Christ Himself. He is the wisdom of God that has been revealed.

In Isaiah 55:8, it is said, «For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.» His thoughts are above. How many of you agree with that? We read that, however, they didn’t stay above. Are you following me? They came down, wrapped up in a body, tabernacled among us. The mind of God came right down into my neighborhood. His thoughts were so profound that they were fully developed before the vehicle or body carrying them was fully developed. You understand that, right?

Because of that, we have a 12-year-old boy standing in the temple, confounding those who are wise. His body was not yet fully developed, but his mind was. It was so profound that the most intelligent men of that day were shocked as he spoke like the Ancient of Days. They were confounded and astonished.