TEXT:
Matthew 25:31-34 & 41
31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the
goats:
33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

INTRODUCTION:

  A. ALL PEOPLE FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES
    1. Regardless of your race, size, or shape you’re either a sheep or a goat
    2. Your category determines your destination
    3. There will be a day of separation
    4. The Lord will divide the sheep from the goats
    5. The sheep will be on His right hand and the goats on His left
    6. The sheep enter into eternal life
    7. The goats are condemned to eternal punishment

  B. I WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
    1. I don't want to be a goat.
    2. However, we will all have to put up with the goats until we are divided.

I. GOATS ARE HARD HEADED

  A. DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOATS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR?
    1. Goats are well known for butting heads
    2. Goats stand on their hind legs and come down and butt one another
    3. You’d think they’d knock each other out, but they don't!
    4. Do you know why?
    5. It’s because they are HARDHEADED

  B. GOATS WILL BUTT HEADS WITH ALMOST ANYTHING
    1. I’ve seen one butt heads with a bull.
    2. I’ve seen one butt it’s head into a gate.
    3. I’ve seen one butt it’s head into the side of a car.
    4. Oh, and they will try to butt heads with you too…
    5. In the goat pen, you don’t ever want to turn your back on a goat.
    6. Head butting is what they love to do best
    7. They’re so hard headed, they'd rather butt heads than anything

  C. I'VE MET SOME GOATS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
    1. They say, "I'd go to church, BUT I’ve got other things to do."
    2. "I'd give my heart to Jesus, BUT I don't think I can live like that."

  D. I’VE MET SOME GOATS INSIDE THE CHURCH
    1. They say, "I'd come to revival, BUT I am too tired."
    2. They're too tired church but they’re not too tired for WalMart.
    3. They can't come to church, but I see their car at the bowling alley.
    4. They say, "I'd pay my tithes, BUT I don’t have enough money."
    5. "I'd give an offering, BUT I need to get a Whopper after church."
    6. "I'd praise the Lord, BUT I'm just not the emotional type."
    7. They’re not the emotional type at church, but take them to a game…
    8. He’s not the emotional type at church, but let him hit his thumb…

II. GOATS EAT THE WRONG THINGS

  A. GOATS ARE SUPPOSED TO EAT WEEDS AND TALL GRASS
    1. When people put a goat in the yard, they want it to eat the weeds.
    2. But, the goat won’t eat the weeds.
    3. The goat will eat the flowers, the shrubs, and the small trees.
    4. The goat will gnaw on the siding of the house.
    5. That goat has to be starving before he will eat the weeds.

  B. I’VE MET PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH LIKE THAT
    1. They aren’t satisfied with the sincere milk of the Word.
    2. They want false doctrine and false teachings.
    3. If it is not false, they refuse to eat it.
    4. If it did not come from Salt Lake City, the Mormon won’t eat it.
    5. If it did not come from the Watchtower, the JW won’t eat it.
    6. When you feed them the true gospel they will spit it back out at you.

  C. I’VE MET PEOPLE INSIDE THE CHURCH LIKE THAT
    1. They are NOT satisfied with the Meat in due season.
    2. They only have a taste for some pet doctrine
    3. They refuse to eat anything else.
    4. If they are WOF, they refuse to eat anything but positive confession.
    5. If they are post-trib, they refuse to eat anything but doom and gloom.
    6. When you feed them a steady diet of the Word, they spit it out.
    7. They’re the one’s who complain that the pastor is not anointed.

III. GOATS WON’T STAY IN THE FENCE

  A. THEY KEEP YOU BUSY REPAIRING THE FENCE
    1. They will break out of the fence at all hours of the day and night.
    2. You have to get up in the middle of the night to get them back in
    3. They’re always getting out and going where they’re not supposed to.

  B. I'VE MET SOME PEOPLE LIKE THAT TOO
    1. You can’t keep them in church even if you pay them to come
    2. They'll come a while then they get mad and go somewhere else.
    3. They leave because they’re mad at the preacher.
    4. They leave because they’re mad at the Sunday School curriculum.
    5. They leave because they’re mad at the whole church.
    6. The preacher spends all of his time trying to round them up again
        and get them back in the fence

  C. IF THERE’S NOT A HOLE THEY'LL MAKE ONE
    1. If some people can’t find a reason to leave they'll make one up
    2. When you go out to get one of these escapees, he’ll just look at you.
    3. He’ll just stare at you and turn his head from side to side
    4. An escaped goat will just stare at you while you talk softly to him.
    5. You’re trying to be real gentle and coax him back into the church,
        excuse me, I mean the goat into the goat pen…
    6. The goat will stand and stare at you, turning his head from side to
        side, then, he will either come at you to butt you or else he will
        run like crazy!
    7. When a preacher goes out to visit some goat that has made up his
        own excuse for leaving the church, the old goat will stare at him,
        he will turn his head from side to side, and then he will either
        charge the preacher or else he will run like crazy.
    8. I’ve gone over to people’s homes to visit them, and they won’t
        even answer the door bell.
    9. I’ve seen guys standing out in the yard watering the grass who
        run in the house and refuse to answer the door.
    10. They’re goats who’ve made a hole in the fence trying to escape.
    11. When you finally catch them, they will stand and stare at you
        like they don’t know what you’re talking about.
    12. Then they either get mad and throw a fit, or they run away.

CONCLUSION:

  A. I WANT TO BE A SHEEP!
    1. What do sheep do?
    2. John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
        they follow me…"
    3. God's sheep willingly follow!

  B. THE FATHER LOVES HIS SHEEP
Luke 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.