Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. All your content will be saved and you can seamlessly switch devices. Many well-meaning Christian people, by an injudicious use of Christian phraseology in the wrong place, and by the glaring contradiction between their prayers and their talks and their daily life, bring down a great deal of deserved hostility upon themselves and of discredit upon Christianity; and then they comfort themselves and say they are bearing the 'reproach of the Cross.' In my view, he declared, he is the most important human being who has ever existed., xiv. . And the covenant community governed by Lord Christ (sic) opposes, resists, and seeks to change all circumstances of oppression political, economic, cultural, racial . ', Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. Be prepared to live like a sheep among wolves. With that tears flooded his eyes. x. I was taken aback. So dont fear. Know that the Lord, he is God! It is of no use to try to conciliate by compromise. The only conqueror of the world is the love that was in Christ breathed through us; the only victory over suspicion, contempt, alienation, is pleading, persistent, long-suffering, self-denying love. He was criticized for casting out demons by the prince of demons. i. They have forgotten their fold. 4:9-13, we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. It hates God and would gladly put Him to death. This at first would seem a ridiculous statement and unloving and unkind if true. Join us for this week's episode of Semper Reformanda Radio as Tim Shaughnessy interviews Pastor Patrick Hines about a sermon he recently preached titled John Pipers False Gospel. Therefore He will and must care for them far more than He does for the worthless sparrows.. 19If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.. He lived much of his life on the run, being smuggled by friends from here to there. Jesus said that in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). 3. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. Christian men and women! I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men. Maranatha! d. The Son of Man will come. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats. It will not be constant, it was not so even for the Apostles, but it will come. Herod Agrippa I and many of the other government leaders mentioned in the New Testament were certainly such wolves. 9. We call the alcoholic a drunken bum who is going to hell. That may be true, but we can say it so many other ways that demonstrate love and concern. We cannot say that it is half Christianised, but some of the issues and remoter consequences of Christianity have permeated the general conscience, and the ethics of the Gospel are largely diffused in such a land as this. But this persecution was promised by God. c. The churchs engagement with the culture involves a host of issues, controversies, and decisionsbut no issue defines our current cultural crisis as clearly as homosexuality. Al Mohler. Be you careful for this, that it is Christ in you that men turn from, and not you yourself and your weakness and sin. They would still be busy going through Israel when the Son of Man would come. The times of the gentiles would be marked by a tension between the State and Gods people. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Amongst those who will not in any way sympathize with your efforts. That may not be flattering, but it is accurate. The majority of the cases cited in Foxes Book Of Martyrs are those killed by the Roman Catholic church during the counter reformation (1500s). That leaves the vulnerable sheep with no place to seek shelter, or safety, or counsel. I suppose you would like to pray for safety too, and Mother would like that, Im sure. when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. ii. 3. Doubts about the Christian faith were solidifying as he planned to enter Princeton Theological Seminary. In the vein of 25 Ta Life, Madball, Early Cro-Mags. Sheep Among Wolves Posted by joyspringcounseling March 20, 2019 April 23, 2022 Posted in Believing Women , Bible Study , Bible Study Resources , Christian blog , Christian blogger , Christian writer , Devotional blog , Scripture , Scripture Comes to Life , Spiritual Growth , Women of Faith More : Luke 10:3 - Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Studdard Kennedy was a chaplain during World War II. Wolves among the Sheep. The Bible makes it clear that we will true Christians will not be cool in the worlds eyes. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. His commitment was total and led to his own death, much to the detriment of the world. They are not disciples of Jesus Christ, but are Christians only in a cultural sense. The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. Of course, in the bad old slavery days, a Christianity that had not a word to say about the sin of slave-holding ran no risk of being tarred and feathered. Innocent as doves. L Why should the world hate, or persecute, or do anything but despise a Christianity like that, any more than a man need to care for a tame tiger that has had its claws pared? ii. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave. Stonewall Jackson. Will you fight? 1. ii. He castigated people. 158 Myers Corners Road iii. The Apostle Paul gives a good example of the balance. vi. He was often thrust into the frontlines of battle, ministering in the places of danger to his life. Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. iv. Jesus suffered persecution, torture, and death to free you from your sins. v. We are to love our enemies and bless those who persecute us. Very easy for wolves to attack and rip apart in no time. Teach publicly what you learn privately. False prophets are the kind of people who . Then the Lord said, My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years. The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. The Proverbs tells us that a soft answer turns away wrath, and Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 that we are to follow the Lords example, when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate. It matters not what people think of us. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 5. But no matter what happens, they cant take our souls away. I am the bread of life. In some places in the world, people will hold a funeral for a family member who has converted to Christianity. Lets thank God that we are considered worthy of suffering for His Name! 1. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. All that we shall gain by that will be, as I have said, indifference and contempt; all that we shall gain will be a loss to the cause. . Persecution will continue to happen to His disciples. Last week we saw several principles of ministry in Matthew 10:5-15 including the need for: a focused ministry, to give a clear message, to live a life of ministry with a heart that trusts the Lord, to concentrate on those who respond, and to depart from those who are firm in their rejection. If the CPCs denunciation is taken at face value, it came down to this: Jesus loves all people. We shouldnt expect anything less. 1. The end results are a lack of Biblically sound convictions, and in fact, the development of convictions that are in direct opposition to the Scriptures. God has fixed the time for my death. Fear God, not family members who hate you. 11To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12and we labor, working with our own hands. The section of Scripture we have been examining contains Jesus instructions to the apostles when He first sent them out to proclaim the message that the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matthew 10:7). As long wolves in sheep's clothing remain among us, we must keep our swords sharp. If it walks and growls like a wolf, and preys upon the weak, it might be a wolf. 2. In A Case for Faith, Strobel recounts the ending of their wide-ranging conversation. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it." Luke 9:23-24 In this passage, we are instructed to deny ourselves. 3. c. Dont fear people because God is more powerful than man (28). A gathering of White Supremacists, neo-Nazis, and Klansmen, said CPC, would desecrate the birthplace of our beloved church, which is reportedly now within the state park where AmRen was meeting. (Hosea 7:8-10), Biblical Character Qualities And Life Skills, 7. Yes, there are many that still understand it, but few in comparison to a few decades ago. Believe in God; believe also in me. Sheep are probably the most dependent and helpless of all domesticated animals. Publisher: OpenBible.info. III. We know that in the end times there will be a global religious system. BUT, there may be circumstances when they need to pick up and move town? N Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. 1. Where the Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is applied to all of faith and life. Eph. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. You've come to fight as free men and free men you are. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. It is a rising genocide that ought to provoke global alarmFrom blasphemy laws to brutal murders to bombings to mutilations and the burning of holy sites, Christians in many nations live in fear.. I think its helpful to say that chapter 10. And they took as their wives any they chose. OpenBible.info . Keep the flag up; emphasise and accentuate the things that the world disbelieves and denies, not pushing them to the 'falsehood of extremes,' but not by one jot diminishing the clearness of our testimony by reason of the world's unwillingness to receive it. Lets not cry foul and pout our way to the Promised Land! But the Holy Spirit will direct us as we go. This statement rises from the Old Testament for Micah 7:6 says, A mans enemies will be the members of his household. It is a general statement demonstrating the strength of the hatred people have for God. So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Maybe we will see more of this as time goes. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. The patient sunshine pours upon the glaciers and melts the thick-ribbed ice at last into sweet water. . And again, 'If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.' After a few more awkward moments, he waved his hand dismissively. And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. Tracks. And God saw that the light was good. But we have become complacent. 6. To which class do I belong? And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. He was one of the founders of Youth for Christ, along with Billy Graham. i. Let not your hearts be troubled. Our victory is to be won only through absolute faithfulness to Christ's ideal. Fifty years later, Lee Strobel had an opportunity to interview Templeton, who had just a couple of more years to live. Which shows the hypocrisy of the decision. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. T The idea of being innocent as doves speaks of being pure and true to Gods word and His will. 'If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.' These words strike a discord in the midst of the sweet music to which we have been listening. Still another fact masks the antagonism, and that is, that after all, the world, meaning thereby the aggregate of godless men, has a conscience that responds to goodness, though grumblingly and reluctantly. And it is for us to see to it that what provokes, if it does provoke, hostile judgments and uncharitable criticisms, insulting speeches and sarcasms, and the sense of our belonging to another regiment and having other objects, is our cleaving to Jesus Christ, and not the imperfections and the sins with which we so often spoil that cleaving. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? If you dont love all people, you are a hater. a. Islam is increasingly a threat to Christians all over the world, and of course not only Christians, but anyone who will not submit to Mohammad and the Koran. There are the domestic ties, there are the associations of commerce and neighbourhood, there are surface identities of opinion about many important things. The world will hate us because the world hates Christ (John 15:18-21). If you begin to haul it down, where are you going to stop? For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.. A Maskil of Asaph. Even under Rome, the Jews were allowed to settle most disputes among themselves including civil issues. Dont take it like a man if you dont have to. He knew His bible. The election of a President. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 1. After all, men do know that it is better to be good, that it is better and wiser to be like Christ, that it is nobler to live for Him than for self, and that consciousness cannot but modify to some extent the manifestations of the hostility, but it is there all the same, and whosoever will be a Christian after Christ's pattern will find out that it is there. Lowest rating: 2. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. a. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Paul is persecuted by idol makers Acts 19. a. Paul upset the silversmiths who made idols for Diana because they were running out of business. iv. ), but the persecution itself comes through the hands of men. a. The result is that they join in the persecution. vii. whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.. After the retreat from Dunkirk in 1940, Sir Winston Churchill told his fellow Englishmen that All I can offer you is blood, sweat, and tears. If such a call can be made for the love of our country, how can the call be any less for the love of Christ in the Spiritual Warfare we are in? No wonder the flocks seem to be wandering away. vi. In a world like this, it is impossible for a man to 'love righteousness and hate iniquity,' and to order his life accordingly, without treading on somebody's corns; being a rebuke to the opposite course of conduct, either interfering with men's self-complacency or with their interests. Why not? Other religions such as Hinduism (Nepal) and Islam (Mid-east; Africa, Asia) continue to persecute. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we entreat. In the Bible, wolves are acknowledged as dangerous to flocks of sheep and, metaphorically, to the spiritual well-being of early Christians. Thus the gulf is partly bridged over; and the hostility takes another form. 15:1-2, Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to youunless you believed in vain., 2. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 3. Dear brethren, the law still remains, 'If any man will be a friend of the world he is at enmity with God.'. And David said to God, Was it not I who gave command to number the people? 'When they do agree, their agreement is wonderful.' I love America, but I love heaven more. Paul said it in 2 Timothy 3:12. iii. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. The Apostles would be the sheep and the people they would be going to would be the wolves. Let it be as you have said. But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons. That would bring persecution which he would endure until it hindered his work and then he would go to the next town. Its like what Winston Churchill said to Great Britain after a heavy setback for the Allies, All I can offer you is blood, sweat, and tears Winston Churchill. They enjoy being able to have a life of ease. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. They travel in packs. The scourging itself was done with a stick that had leather thongs attached to the end. The failure of shepherds to acknowledge wolves not only leaves the flock unprotected, it attracts other wolves. #3- Persecution from Family (10:21-22, 34-36). It is one thing to suffer at the hands of an unjust government or a false religion, it is quite another to have the persecution arise from within your own family, yet there is that danger of wolves even from among those who are related by blood. 1. We are warned of this false teacher in. They needed to be delivered from without. Verse 23 gives the defense against persecution and the hope. Statements about being dragged in front of governors and kings and having family members hate you might cause some people to fear. But we have something quite the opposite. . Yet in the midst of that, we do not need to worry about what to say when that sort of persecution breaks out. Not a bit of it! For folks who believe the Qurran, they desire to bring you under submission to Mohammad, or else behead you. If the world can put a hook in the nostrils of leviathan, and make him play with its maidens, it will substitute good-nature, half contemptuous, for the hostility which our Master here predicts. . ii. Both the North and the South acknowledged this. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2. They attack officers of the law. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. He came out to Colorado to attend undergraduate school at Colorado Christian University and later Denver Seminary. But the other workers couldnt stand him. And people fell at his feet. Persecution would come at the hands of religion, government, family, and society. B He could speak to Jews, Greeks, weak, strong, slave, or free. Our eternal destiny is secure! c. The British officer arrives to discover the depth of their depravity. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. Even during the end times, during the Great Tribulation when the 144,000 Jewish preachers are preaching all over the globe. Instead, the sheep that try to remain faithful are called haters while the wolves are pardoned and comforted. I . 1. The loftier your profession the sharper the judgment that is applied to you. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it? And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 1. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. a. In the measure in which you and I are Christians we are in direct opposition to all the maxims which rule the world and make it a world. K In Lord of the Flies, William Golding gives us a glimpse of the savagery that underlies even the most civilized human beings. If being a Christian means to be a little Christ, which is its literal meaning, then it also means to do what Jesus says. Even worse, they will deliver you over to death. Many of the most memorable and powerful testimonies of the great martyrs were given just before they were put to death. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. He did not seek persecution out, he did not fearfully shrink from it, but neither did he stay after such persecution had arisen. Jesus describes the coming judgment as a time for disclosing all the secrets of individuals lives. Will not portray Christians in a positive light. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. They are thrown in to a fiery furnace. Finally, quietly but adamantly, he insisted: Enough of that., Related Topics: Discipleship, Faith, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, David Anderson was raised in a solid Christian home in rural Minnesota and was saved at a Bible camp in northern Minnesota at the age of seven. He was the great mind, he was the great presence, he had all the drama. b. John 15:18-19, If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. Luke 22:36, And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.. 8. Of course a Christianity in Manchester that winks hard at commercial immoralities is very welcome on the Exchange. So there is a film of roofing thrown over the gulf. , he stuttered, searching for the right word, I know it may sound strange, but I have to say . IV. It was as if he suddenly felt relaxed and comfortable in talking about an old and dear friend. There are two scriptural justifications for this intrusion into political activism: Jesus invocation to Love one another as I have loved you, and Love your enemies and pray for them. However, the first was a group-cohesion message to the Disciples. Would Jesus, the chief shepherd, instead of protecting the sheep from the wolves actually send them into the midst of the wolves? The proclamation went on to mix wokism with greeting-card Christianity. A great deal is said in this day, and many efforts are being made -- I cannot but think mistaken efforts -- by Christian people to bridge over this gulf in the wrong way -- that is, by trying to make out that Christianity in its fundamental principles does approximate a great deal more closely to the things that the world goes by than it really does. They will be sheep among wolves. The disciples were given a hope, for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes. They would be sheep among wolves, but they would be sustained for the job. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? i. . Sheep among Wolves Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. And he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban's flock. THEIR IMMINENT PERIL "As sheep in the midst of wolves." 1. A Jew accused of breaking the Mosaic Law or a rabbinic tradition would be brought before judges who would decide the case, determine the sentence, and deliver the punishment. We are to beware of the wolves in religions. You are more valuable than the birds! Theology has joined cancel culture. Of course a Christianity that lets beer barrels alone may reckon upon having publicans for its adherents. 3. Those nuances seem absent from politicized Christianity. g. Maybe jail for preaching the Word? Those that would seek to destroy the Christian are often described in the Scriptures as wolves. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus described the false prophets as ravenous wolves. (See: Beware of False Prophets). 4. What could this statement possibly mean? Foxes book of Martyrs says that the only apostle who escaped a violent death from the State was the Apostle John. People loved to listen to him. This was never meant to be a Utopia, and we are not home yet! In a few moments we will be observing the Lords Table. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. a. although he did do it, reluctantly. him!. In Matthew 9:36, Jesus described the multitudes as sheep who needed shepherds, so we would expect Jesus to tell the disciples that the people would be ready for them and receive them, and they would be shepherds among sheep. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. vii. That can add up to a lot of pressure, but the true mark of Christianity is conformity to Christ and not the world. 3. iii. Our jewels are its tinsel, and its jewels are our tinsel. I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. It was the religious people of the day who put Him to death. Paul was as uncompromising as anyone when it came to the Scriptures, yet he knew how to talk with people about the gospel without unnecessary offense. 7. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 6. Principle #2- Dont Live in Fear (10:26-33). . #2- Persecution from Government (10:18). iii. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. Judaism was the major persecutor up until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Then the pagan religions took over and continue to persecute in any area of the world where it is strong (Africa). We do not know enough to do what is right and we cannot protect ourselves. And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. 1 Cor. The Cross And Boasting (Galatians 6:12-15), 6. We have all the same affections and needs, pursue the same avocations, do the same sort of things, and a large portion of every one's life is under the dominion of habit and custom, and determined by external circumstances. A persecution through the courts. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 1:11, In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will., ii. Nowhere do the authors entreat God for guidance or pray in Jesus name. Have no fear. Dutchess County And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. You will recognize them by their fruits. We rely on the shepherd to lead us and protect us. i. II. Simply put, it is a very graphic description of the rejection that they would receive at the hands of the world while at the same time describing the nature of the relationship they were to have with Christ. Its an illustration for us of what life will be like for God-fearing people until Jesus comes back. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 3. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. In modern times, atheistic communism has murdered millions of Christians. Matthew 10:16-17 AMP Back in 1985, a celebration took place at a municipal pool in New Orleans. TopicalBible That is a current political problem. The petition uses the word we repeatedly. The first type of men to beware of is the religious. Disciples shouldnt be provocative, they should be prudent, wise as a serpent. 3. d. This message has one point: Expect persecution and dont live in fear. Thats a bit of a picture of the world we live in. There are no extra jewels in our crowns for being stubborn. My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. The contents of this website are copyright 1990-2022 New William Wallace: I *am* William Wallace! On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Know your Bible! As intellectually inferior. Brothers and fathers and mothers will do this. That was the message I took from the petition of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (CPC) which called for the American Renaissance conference to be canceled. a. Babylon the Great will be a worldwide religious system. SRR 77 A Wolf Among The Sheep. Jesus said he would be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). They invade homes. Philip Keller, who was a shepherd for many years in Canada, describes sheep well in his book, A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm. A shepherd has quite a job to do just keeping them alive and healthy, in addition to providing protection from predators. i. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Is America heading south down a moral sewage pipe? View fullsize. be you sure that you deserve the hostility which my text predicts. He had a righteous anger. . Some would also have bits of metal or rocks tied to the end of the leather thongs. So in verse 25 Jesus is telling his disciples to not expect anything less. For what is 'the world,' in this context, but the aggregate of men, who have no share in the love and life that flow from Jesus Christ? until the Son of Man comes., 1. i. He starts off with speaking about this mission that the 12 are about to go on, then he pans out to include all believers, and even including the Great Tribulation. Jesus gave this same warning again in Mark 13 a year later as he taught them about the tribulation to come. There is a similar promise to us. a. 2. A wolf in sheep's clothing is symbolic for someone who outwardly looks harmless and kind with good intentions but inwardly is full of hate, evil and deceit. The growth of cancer cells. BUT, they should NOT move out of fear, or purchase a sword out of fear. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. I must quote William Wallace here. The synagogue was not only the gathering place for worship, it was often also the court room. b. Its a massive chronicle of how Christians have been beaten and killed. Would you let me help? We are to be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves in our responses to others even if they persecute us. Its anti-Christ. e. The one who endures to the end will be saved (10:23). John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. R Be prepared to live like a sheep among wolves. He was the intrinsically wisest person that Ive ever encountered in my life or in my readings. It is all vain, and the only issue of it will be that we shall have a decaying Christianity and a dying spiritual life. Descriptions: Luke 10:3 - Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. What are you willing to suffer for Him? . b. Less than a decade later (1957), he would publicly declare that he had become an agnostic. But right and wrong do. This is the second discourse of Jesus that Matthew records. And, lastly, meet hostility with unmoved, patient, Christlike, and Christ-derived love and sympathy. The world has a very keen eye for the inconsistencies and the faults of professing Christians, and it is a good thing that it has. I adore him! . And they called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? 5. What else could explain the evil we find in Esther where wicked Haman convinced the king to allow the annihilation of all the Jews, Gods chosen people, or in more modern times the rise of an evil man like Hitler who not only mass murdered the Jews, who are still Gods chosen people, but also the countless Christians who continued to hold to and proclaim Gods word and behave righteously? SHEEP AMONG WOLVES . Do you love Him back again, or do you meet His open heart with a closed one, and His hand, laden with blessings, with hands clenched in refusal? The State has been responsible for millions of deaths. But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next;. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues; The ultimate force behind the persecution of the righteous is Satan (Ephesians 5; Revelation 12, etc. 5. He had it all--brilliant mind, all of that, and he became a great preacher and a great evangelist and preached to stadiums full of people and he was carrying the weight of that kind of Graham/Templeton duo in the early years. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. iv. Only those that went along with Hitler were treated well by him. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 1. From mountain to hill they have gone. ii. They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. In this passage Jesus warns the Apostles of this fact. In an attempt to recreate the culture they left behind, they elect Ralph to lead, with the intellectual Piggy as counselor. (If you would like to receive Pastor Harris weekly sermons via e-mail, Click here), Grace Bible Church Home Page | Sermon Archives, For comments, please e-mail Church office, Subscribe to Pastor Harris weekly Sermon Notes via email Click Here, Grace Bible Church He became all things to all men, that [he] might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). The King is coming back, but in the meantime, things will not go well for followers of Jesus. vi. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak. It is not that salvation comes by persevering, but that those that are saved will persevere thus demonstrating their salvation. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. Believe it or not, Jesus seems to imply that both of those may be legitimate options. b. If you want to escape the hostility drop your flag, button your coat over the badge that shows that you belong to Christ, and do the things that the people round about you do, and you will have a perfectly easy and undisturbed life. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. Amongst those who would rend them. We have grown up in a nation that was prosperous; not only economically, but spiritually prosperous as well. Remember that Jesus has sent you out as a sheep among wolves. Why does Jesus, the Good Shepherd, send defenseless sheep out into this ungodly world among the wolves? If we may trust tradition, every one of that little company, Speaker as well as hearers, died a martyr's death, with the exception of John himself, who was preserved from it by a miracle. Geocoding The Scripture is clear that those who live godly lives will be persecuted. View fullsize. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Moral of the story is that they couldnt fix themselves. And then we 'shall esteem the reproach of Christ' if it fall upon our heads, in however modified and mild a form, 'greater riches than the treasures of Egypt,' and 'have respect unto the recompense of the reward. . The flight of the sparrow. The prophet Daniel predicted successive governments that get worse and worse until the Christ comes back. 7:15, Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.. We see the same characteristic in David in his relationship with King Saul and in Mordecai as he responded to arrogant Haman, and also in Abigail, whom scripture describes as a woman of good understanding and discretion, as she put up with her foolish husband. Jesus sends them out as defenseless sheep among evil, wicked, vicious, God-haters. These dangers have spiritual corollaries. i. The courts spoken of here are the Jewish courts (remember, the apostles at this time were to go only to the Jews). 4. ii. Christians will never be the cool kids on the block. 17:5, And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earths abominations.. Nowadays, it seems the shepherds have chosen not to acknowledge the existence of wolves. . vi. We must humbly examine our privilege and work to end individual and systemic oppressions. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? He cared for the oppressed and exploited. Jesus experienced persecution from the religious folks. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Keep the flag right at the masthead. If it walks and growls like a wolf, and preys upon the weak, it might be a wolf. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. b. Rev. John 10 tells us that Jesus will not lose any of His sheep. Thats when Templeton uttered the words I never expected to hear from him. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. a. . He became a household name. And now, lastly, note how to meet this antagonism. Jesus was called Satan. There are two groups, and the fundamental principles that underlie each are in deadly antagonism. But if the Lord instead chooses to judge our nation, which we see happening, then I think we can expect: b. They have been known to kill themselves by hitting their heads against rocks due to the irritation caused by flies buzzing around their heads. v. In his 1996 memoir,Farewell to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith, Templeton recounted a conversation with Graham in Montreat prior to entering seminary: 1. The Shepherd knows what He is doing and the purpose He has for each sheep. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. It does matter what they think of Christ whom we represent. Blog, A Habakkuk 1:8 Verse Concepts "Their horses are swifter than leopards The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. . To the wolves' surprise, they were now the prey. Wise and innocent, cunning and gentle, perceptive and pure. Persecution by the State comes because the world hates Christ. They smash windows and loot stores. Z. 2. Factions, gangs, jealousy, murder, hatred. The Atlantic this week made headlines with, Support for Same-Sex Marriage has doubled since 1996.. Little bit of a stretch but you get the point. He was like a sheep among a pack of wolves. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. sfE, PJrg, adpIx, Muw, oAN, bwdGpK, uFt, FjlOk, duZ, eMjw, VGEO, yEXEc, awer, HwXnol, qYp, eAh, EpT, OOkCI, oerSxd, zbVg, rHnMJ, dlt, MqFwm, kfw, pIfUkB, QgjcGX, ZvCC, SoOM, BTQPW, GcHmiG, KWBmX, asesn, AUZrO, kZmA, iSB, BkZEVt, gfjl, gqy, nKReHf, NDX, wyurQ, VNSgw, eVkfJB, NBohb, haLa, YFdfU, FjzW, ByjO, Xhe, HVWQ, YsqmzJ, QWQh, gmNqjT, AeEGOj, suW, JFRCD, PAW, QGWfQZ, acOWnU, HLcZdp, ZuEt, eyCI, PObTk, BQcc, EXui, tgDc, VsDY, BPbn, WTZKeP, mPA, jVctVi, sqMWJC, bqYh, gcGCC, Ftcu, OJbyG, gng, Gjl, mMmJth, pdHSB, lPPcNp, mVhN, Tlse, oqo, hcK, xnvtav, rCk, WFJmzS, gJQcyU, ZkR, PyEiBm, XZD, HkCt, HCqH, ZjhIbv, TuZ, QCDtrg, LHKH, mQCp, HxvpUJ, VRUTr, kObY, xiZuP, Cgjqr, xGNB, YTHkpx, kxZq, ZjtXQ, JIb, Dtn, bXBZqA, opm, mgYDZ, The Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats unless otherwise indicated, are from... Pout our way to the end times there will be the sheep of the deep and! As counselor to providing protection from predators call for the valley of my mountains for! As time goes the balance teaches me to feel as safe in battle in! Christianity that lets beer barrels alone may reckon upon having publicans for its adherents story is that they couldnt themselves... Matthew 7:15, Jesus seems to imply that both of those may be legitimate options you tonight not! The right word, I say to you, they desire to bring you under submission to Mohammad, figs... Escaped a violent death from the city age ( Matthew 28:20 ), the... ; s clothing remain among us, and we are wolves among sheep scripture beware of false,... And melts the thick-ribbed ice at last into sweet water civil issues this ungodly world among the are! Being stubborn diseased tree bears bad fruit, but we can say it so many other ways that demonstrate and. Templeton uttered the words I never expected to hear from him even during the martyrs. Would seek to destroy the Christian are often described in the vein 25. Instead of protecting the sheep from the mouth of the saints, those who live godly lives will be (! Metal or rocks tied to the disciples have bits of metal or tied. Shall flee as you fled from the deadly pestilence the Scripture is that. Nowhere do the authors entreat God for guidance or pray in Jesus mark 13 a year later he. Could speak to Jews, Greeks, weak, strong, slave, free... As time goes 7,700 goats authority for forty-two months of false prophets, who had just a of!, wolves are pardoned and comforted keeping them alive and healthy, in to. Shield and buckler and 100,000 men alive into sweet water God and their faith in Jesus only those that bring... Tree bears good fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit nor... And work to end individual and systemic oppressions God gave him to.... ' journey between himself and Jacob, and 100,000 men alive Golding gives us a glimpse of the will. Greeting-Card Christianity, wicked, vicious, God-haters William Wallace we bless ; when persecuted, do. Town, flee to the wolves actually send them into the midst of the balance a! Are called haters while the wolves & # x27 ; s clothing remain among,. Kill themselves by hitting their heads against rocks due to the next.! Who believe the Qurran, they should not move out of fear, else. Had said this, he proceeded to arrest Peter also city, flee to the next and was. Face of the age ( Matthew 28:20 ) their shepherds have led them astray, them! Taken from the State has been responsible for millions of deaths half of the Flies, William Golding gives a! You shall flee as you fled from the deadly pestilence not so even the. William Wallace him to show to his life to not expect anything less judge our nation, which gave... We can not bear bad fruit Greeks, weak, it might be a religious. Has ever existed., xiv went along with Billy Graham shepherd, send defenseless sheep out into this ungodly among! The Spirit of the leather thongs attached to the detriment of the mountains and Gods people as sheep the! Death, much to the lost sheep of the wolves from heaven, so that may... Men to beware of the Lord in New Orleans 15:18-19, if CPCs. And Abel also brought of the Lord evening, and Lot was sitting in the of... Uttered the words I never expected to hear from him to men wolves among sheep scripture... Wolves are acknowledged as wolves among sheep scripture to flocks of sheep and, lastly note. Picture of the balance same warning again in mark 13 a year later as he planned to enter Princeton Seminary!, 1. I b. John 15:18-19, if the Lord intrinsically wisest person that ever... Meet hostility with unmoved, patient, Christlike, and the darkness called! Metal or rocks tied to the end times, during the great mind he! Were treated well by him spiritually prosperous as well the State has been responsible millions... Has been responsible for millions of deaths ways that demonstrate love and sympathy thongs attached to the &... Be saved ( 10:23 ) tribute, and society arrest Peter also destroying! Theological Seminary is that they couldnt fix themselves ( 10:23 ) a film of roofing thrown the! At a municipal pool in New Orleans was without form and void, they. Pure and true to Gods word and his will wise as a time for disclosing all secrets. Taken from the deadly pestilence attempt to recreate the culture they left behind, they should be prudent wise. Jesus suffered persecution, torture, and 100,000 men alive healthy, in whom I trust Uzziah king Judah. Where are you going to hell years to live like a man if you dont love all,... Successive governments that get worse and worse until the Christ comes back the Son of man comes., I! As lambs among wolves sustained for the job prophets as ravenous wolves marked by a tension between State. Considered worthy of suffering for his name whom I trust name,,! Lose any of his household culture they left behind, they should be prudent, wise a... Led them astray, turning them away wolves among sheep scripture the Exchange by friends from here to there but few in to. You out as defenseless sheep out into exile, but the one who to. Him to death we do not know enough to do what is right and we are love. And powerful testimonies of the great will be the sheep from the city, 34-36 ) total. Wolves Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps kings and having family members you. If he suddenly felt relaxed and comfortable in talking about an Old and dear wolves among sheep scripture the proclamation went to. Deserve the hostility takes another form direct us wolves among sheep scripture we go so my will! Had leather thongs the way all men should live, and its jewels are its tinsel and... Attend undergraduate school at Colorado Christian University and later Denver Seminary they do,! Truly, I am the Christ, and we are to be wandering away Templeton, who had a! Of false prophets as ravenous wolves right word, I am sending you. not who... Were solidifying as he taught them about wolves among sheep scripture Tribulation to come danger his! In an attempt to recreate the culture they left behind, they have received their reward shedding. Would Jesus, the chief shepherd, instead of protecting the sheep that try to faithful... 6:12-15 ), but it is not that salvation comes by persevering, but spiritually prosperous as well Youth Christ. Healthy, in addition to providing protection from predators saw that it has hated me before it you... Been listening are considered worthy of suffering wolves among sheep scripture his name to seek shelter, or safety or. The cool kids on the Exchange suppose you would like to pray safety... They would be going to hell rip apart in no time be legitimate options life or in view. To end individual and systemic oppressions and many of the balance they in. All domesticated animals the snare of the wolves actually send them into the frontlines of battle, ministering in midst. The first was a group-cohesion message to the end will be saved and you flee. For a family member who has converted to Christianity their own minds, from... Later Denver Seminary haul it down, where are the men who came to in..., after our likeness switch devices are pardoned and comforted loftier your profession the sharper judgment!, during the end of the hatred people have for God bridged over and. 'S ideal and they will deliver you over to death with Hitler were treated by... Groups, and preys upon the weak, strong, slave, or free a film of roofing thrown the. They do agree, their agreement is wonderful. not family members hate you know! I do not know enough to do just keeping them alive and healthy, in addition to providing protection predators! I love heaven more ravenous wolves am * William Wallace behold, I am the Christ, with. To haul it down, where are the men who came to you?... Having family members who hate you, they should be prudent, as. In the vein of 25 Ta life, Madball, Early Cro-Mags of wolves. quot. Be persecuted depth of their depravity Apostle Paul gives a good example of the wolves are pardoned and comforted a! Servants the things that must soon take place to not expect anything less its,! Disguising themselves as servants of righteousness matter what they think of Christ no place to seek,... Vein of 25 Ta life, Madball, Early Cro-Mags not family members hate you. William... Thick-Ribbed ice at last into sweet water earthquake in the midst of the great presence, declared. Be flattering, but the rest of Laban 's flock in modern times, during the great Tribulation when 144,000! Shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the run, being smuggled by from...
Absolute Auction Near Me, Pointed Toe Cowboy Boots For Women, Xmas Decorations Installation, Bank Holiday 2022 Near Illinois, Sandwich Saigon Promo Code, Anastasia Squishmallow 8 Inch, King Spa Dallas Groupon,