The Principle, Matthew 10:16. (See: Instructions for Ministry). d. His favorite pastime was to discuss theology. 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. . We call it the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. And we will live. 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. This is an interesting metaphor that Jesus picks. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. Just a few verses earlier Jesus tells them than moving towns because of persecution may be the right thing to do. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 9:19, For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.. b. I was surprised when Phil mentioned that Dabney was a close personal friend of Stonewall Jackson and his chaplain during the Civil War and actually wrote Jacksons biography. This is a characteristic that is to be developed by every Christian. If the apostles were to survive among the wolves of the world, then they must rely upon Jesus. b. 3. iii. Lets thank God that we are considered worthy of suffering for His Name! 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. And how do you assess this Jesus? It seemed like the next logical questionbut I wasnt ready for the response it would evoke. 1:18, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth., a. 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. He was a moral genius. TopicalBible In Lord of the Flies, William Golding gives us a glimpse of the savagery that underlies even the most civilized human beings. What could one say about him except that this was a form of greatness?. Theres no question that he had the highest moral standard, the least duplicity, the greatest compassion, of any human being in history. We will be persecuted, but He will be there to enable us to endure it. This saying of doves and serpents would mean that when missionaries go into a hostile situation they need to live upright morals lives, while not necessarily divulging their motives to see people saved from their sins with the Good News of Jesus. 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. Salvation comes from the outside. Thats when Templeton uttered the words I never expected to hear from him. i. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. Theology was the only subject he genuinely enjoyed discussing. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. And while the call here is specific to the disciples, the principle is repeated in many other places, so it applies to us as well. Disciples shouldnt be provocative, they should be prudent, wise as a serpent. The warning theme of Second Peter is now sounded. Jesus says, a persons enemies will be those of his own household. 11. There are no extra jewels in our crowns for being stubborn. Christian men and women! yes. a. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. Dont take it like a man if you dont have to. 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. 'When they do agree, their agreement is wonderful.' N Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? . ii. People dont think of him that way, but they dont read the Bible. And if he has hard thing to do, make him strong to do them., b. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. i. e. Hate-crimes will be applied to preachers who condemn the sin of homosexuality. Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. So Jesus said to the Twelve, Do you want to go away as well? Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? The words from Jesus here are telescoping. Sheep Helpless, weak, dumb, slow. 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. That love, which is one, whether it rise to Him or is diffused on the level of earth, is the result of that unity of life between the Vine and the branches, of which our Lord has been speaking such great and wonderful things. Who is the audience? 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. Jesus forecasts the global holocaust that is coming upon His Church and His disciples. His dispatches invariably credited an ever-kind Providence. What about today? Polycarp was told he would be set free if he reviled Christ and gave allegiance to Caesar, he replied, I have served Him 86 years and in no way has he dealt unjustly with me; so how can I blaspheme my king who saved me? (If time, read from Foxes Book Of Martyrs page 143). 3. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. We must study and obey the Scripture which is God's revealed truth because "perilous times" are coming ( 2 Tim 3:1 ). 10We are fools for Christs sake, but you are wise in Christ. But we have become complacent. Government is ordained by God but manipulated by Satan. MacArthur. But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next;. It is not that salvation comes by persevering, but that those that are saved will persevere thus demonstrating their salvation. a. And it is a miserable thing to reflect that about the average Christianity of this generation there is so very little that does deserve the antagonism of the world. b. John 15:18-19, If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. The idea of being innocent as doves speaks of being pure and true to Gods word and His will. 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. The only way to overcome the world's hostility is by turning the world into a church, and that can only be done when Christ's servants oppose pity to wrath, love to hate, and in the strength of His life who has won us all by the same process, seek to win the world for Him by the manifestation of His victorious love in our patient love. 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. The Bible makes it clear that we will true Christians will not be cool in the worlds eyes. ii. He became a household name. vi. . The point of all of this? be you sure that you deserve the hostility which my text predicts. 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? v. The gospel which was suppressed and ignored and covered by some, will be revealed and exposed. 'The world' will be in antagonism to the Church until the world ceases to be a world, because it obeys the King; and then, and not till then, will it cease to be hostile to His subjects. The world will hate us because the world hates Christ ( John 15:18-21 ). 1. 6. miss . And they took as their wives any they chose. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. they will flog you in their synagogues.. As long wolves in sheep's clothing remain among us, we must keep our swords sharp. Of course a Christianity that blesses flags and sings Te Deums over victories will get its share of the spoil. Publisher: OpenBible.info. Even religions that are supposedly Christian have persecuted believers. The Atlantic this week made headlines with, Support for Same-Sex Marriage has doubled since 1996.. a. Its a telescoping prophecy. Dutchess County . not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father.. This is what makes me know that the Prophetic word of God in the Bible is true. The Shepherd knows what He is doing and the purpose He has for each sheep. The first prayer I want my son to say for me is not, God, keep Daddy safe, but God make Daddy brave. In Matthew 16:28, Jesus uses the same phrase, the Son of Man coming to refer to his transfiguration in Matthew 17. And people fell at his feet. With that tears flooded his eyes. He was the great mind, he was the great presence, he had all the drama. . Dear brethren, the law still remains, 'If any man will be a friend of the world he is at enmity with God.'. xv. Veteran: Fight? They can take our bodies, but they cant take about our freedom! As a nation we have a rich and wonderful heritage of striving to understand the Lord, His Word, and carry out His will. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Fear God, not family members who hate you. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. The hatred and hostility will come from all of society and it will go from bad to worse. vi. God damn America., America must repent for its worship of whiteness., Americas chickens are coming home to roost.. Yes, there is joy unspeakable in Christ, but the appeal Jesus makes to those that will be in His church is to hardship, suffering, and even death. He did not seek persecution out, he did not fearfully shrink from it, but neither did he stay after such persecution had arisen. 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. They will have to trust Him as they go. In the vein of 25 Ta Life, Madball, Early Cro-Mags. We rely on the shepherd to lead us and protect us. Foxes book of Martyrs says that the only apostle who escaped a violent death from the State was the Apostle John. . b. Sheep are probably the most dependent and helpless of all domesticated animals. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. All persons created in the image of God. Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent. And Nathan said to David, Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you. But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, Go and tell my servant David, Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. c. Dont fear people because God is more powerful than man (28). g. There is no reason to fear, God cares for you more than the sparrows! You will recognize them by their fruits. I am the bread of life. He will not startle them by the bare, naked statement which they, in that hour of depression and agitation, were so little able to endure, but He puts it in the shape of a 'suppose that,' not because there is any doubt, but in order to alleviate the pain of the impression which He desires to make. Their only defense is running away, which they do not do well, and in a panic, a pregnant ewe cannot only lose the lamb, but die herself from exhaustion. Living in hiding, but not living in fear. What we believe to be precious it regards as of no account. ii. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. A half-Christianised world and a more than half-secularised Church get on well together. 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). But by 1948 Templetons life and worldview were beginning to go in a different direction than Grahams. We will be seen as haters. a. Luther was n stranger to controversy. 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. There have been many other wonderful people, but Jesus is Jesus., xiii. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. Business ethics are declining rapidly because of the desire to make another dollar. II. So dont fear. The times of the gentiles would be marked by a tension between the State and Gods people. iv. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. This may be the most difficult form of persecution. vi. 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? We are to be uncompromising in proclaiming Gods truth, but that does not mean being abrasive, inconsiderate, belligerent, hostile, or rude. Isaiah 11:6-9 - The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie . IV. We need to beware of wolves in religion, in government, in our families, and in society in general. See, I have told you beforehand. (10:17). He first professed faith in 1936 and became an evangelist that same year. They can see how easily, and unjustifiably, the hate label attaches. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Beware! Disciples shouldnt seek out persecution. What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? In Acts 12, we are told that Herod Agrippa I laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. Wolves among the Sheep. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Yet how often is this aspect of the gospel given when someone is sharing the gospel? For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Judge not, that you be not judged. Know that the Lord, he is 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.. The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. i. Lets proudly bear the Name of Christ! View . When persecution became too intense, he left for another region. . It is the typical example of what the world thinks of, and does to, goodness. You've come to fight as free men and free men you are. And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. Luke 22:36, And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.. Jesus said he would be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). As bigots. (v. 23) This verse is among the most difficult of the NT canon. Carson, 2. Well, yes, he is the most important thing in my life, came his reply. But that is not Jesus message. Our victory is to be won only through absolute faithfulness to Christ's ideal. We are warned of this false teacher in. Physical death is nothing compared to spiritual death. He was like a sheep among a pack of wolves. He was, Templeton began, the greatest human being who has ever lived. Yet in the midst of that, we do not need to worry about what to say when that sort of persecution breaks out. The two combined together give us the idea of being wise with a sanctified common sense in saying the right thing at the right time and place and discovering the best means to achieve the highest goal. They invade homes. i. I could tell it wasnt like him to lose control in front of a stranger. until the Son of Man comes., 1. 2. Bottom line: we want to win people! Well, put it in afterwards, for it really doesnt matter nearly as much as doing what is right., a. #3- Persecution from Family (10:21-22, 34-36). So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. The current popular appeal to get people in their church is a message of ease, comfort, riches, advancement, etc. 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. In 1945 he met Billy Graham and the two became friends, rooming and ministering together during a 1946YFC evangelistic tour in Europe. The common practice was that one judge would call out the sentence, another would announce the punishment, another would do the scourging, and others would call out the blows. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turnedevery oneto his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ii. a. And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. The general principle is found in verse 16: Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. And Jesus said to them, You will all fall away, for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.. Maybe But much more I think it means we pray for boldness and clarity and conviction and compassion. Prov. d. The Son of Man will come. b. Translating the Bible into German while he was on the run. View fullsize. b. Jesus sent them out on a short-term mission, and he gives his disciples instructions on their short-term mission, but his message here seems to drift more into the long-term mission. Are you in Christ's ranks, or are you in the world's? 9. 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. I suppose you would like to pray for safety too, and Mother would like that, Im sure. He was criticized for casting out demons by the prince of demons. 1. 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. b. Newsweek Magazine, Feb. 13th 2012, had as its cover The War on Christians The title of the article was The rise of Christophobia: From the one end of the Muslim world to the other, Christians are being murdered for their faith., 1. Blog, A In the book of Daniel, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego illustrates this. We will be persecuted. The second acknowledges there are enemies, wolves that need taming by Biblical truths. a. The patient sunshine beats upon the mist-cloud and breaks up its edges and scatters it at the last. Descriptions: Luke 10:3 - Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. The apostles would not have finished carrying out their initial assignment of proclaiming to all of Israel that the kingdom of heaven was at hand before Jesus would be revealed in his glory. Communism and Socialism hate Christianity. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 2. And all who have 'the Spirit of life which was in Jesus Christ' for the animating principle of their lives, will, just in the measure in which they possess it, come under the same influences which carried Him to the Cross. 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.' 3. Some of you may remember that name. His voice, which at times had displayed such a sharp and insistent edge, now took on a melancholy and reflective tone. Well, first off, Paul tells us to pray for freedom and peace. Jared Taylor did note during a talk on Friday evening that from time to time but especially on Sundays, he has been feeling warm tingling sensations shooting through his whole body. They are very vulnerable to extreme weather, infections, and disease, and so must be sheltered and checked regularly for cuts and disease symptoms. iii. 1. The general principle is found in verse 16, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. 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. Necessarily they constitute a unity, whatever diversities there may be amongst them, and necessarily, that unity in its banded phalanx is in antagonism, in some measure, to those who constitute the other unity, which holds by Christ, and has been drawn by Him from 'out of the world.'. Sheep Among Wolves - GCM With over 750 churches planted in countries throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, Sheep Among Wolves is bringing disciple-making methods to the West to build a decentralized network of discipleship communities that will prepare America for the end times harvest. ii. You can make up a crack in a wall with plaster after a fashion, and it will hide the solution of continuity that lies beneath. a. What does it mean? And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 3. They will face serious opposition. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. c. Colleges and Universities and schools will continue to disparage Christians. If you begin to haul it down, where are you going to stop? Worse yet, the failed shepherds vilify the watchmen as haters. BUT, there may be circumstances when they need to pick up and move town? 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 They will face serious opposition. However it may be covered over, there is a gulf, as in some of those American canons: the towering cliffs may be very near -- only a yard or two seems to separate them; but they go down for thousands and thousands of feet, and never are any nearer each other, and between them at the bottom a black, sullen river flows. The cry of the baby. 158 Myers Corners Road You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Principle #1- Expect Severe Persecution (10:16-25, 34-36). All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. In Lord of the Flies, British schoolboys are stranded on a tropical island. Jesus sends them out as defenseless sheep among evil, wicked, vicious, God-haters. The petition uses the word we repeatedly. Jesus said that in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). 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. However, modern Christianity, particularly in the kumbaya denominations, seems to ignore the wolf warnings in Scripture. Its an illustration for us of what life will be like for God-fearing people until Jesus comes back. In Acts 20:29, Paul warned the Ephesians elders against savage wolves that would arise from among them and not spare the flock, but speak perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves. Teach publicly what you learn privately. ', Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 4. 4. The early church was almost entirely persecuted by Jews for the first few decades. To the wolves' surprise, they were now the prey. 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. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Not a bit of it! Leave a few tasks for the Armageddon crew. And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. It was the religious people of the day who put Him to death. ii. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. In 2 Corinthians 11:24, he recounts being scourged by the Jews on five different occasions. 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. Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Son, life and death do not matter. 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. BUT, they should NOT move out of fear, or purchase a sword out of fear. Be you careful for this, that it is Christ in you that men turn from, and not you yourself and your weakness and sin. 3. There are two groups, and the fundamental principles that underlie each are in deadly antagonism. Many of the most memorable and powerful testimonies of the great martyrs were given just before they were put to death. Even centuries after their deaths, more truth is revealed from Scripture. Billy was kind of the second preacher. SHEEP AMONG WOLVES . vi. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 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? iv. 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. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. The flight of an asteroid. In an attempt to recreate the culture they left behind, they elect Ralph to lead, with the intellectual Piggy as counselor. Assigning his fate to God's hands, he acted utterly fearlessly on the battlefield -- and expected the same of everyone else in Confederate grayit was said he preferred good Presbyterians to good soldiers.. And now, lastly, note how to meet this antagonism. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. iii. Colossians 4:5 tells us to, Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.. a. xii. Z. 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. 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.' It is I who have sinned and done great evil. Then the persecutions and martyrs on Christian from the Catholic church on folks like Wycliffe and John Huss and Tyndale. Prov. And if I may put it this way, he said as his voice began to crack, I . Is America heading south down a moral sewage pipe? 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. R We are to be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves., Serpents were a symbol of wisdom. William Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Its hostile to God. We have grown up in a nation that was prosperous; not only economically, but spiritually prosperous as well. J There is nothing wrong with that in and of itself for even Solomon commented in Ecclesiastes 5:18, Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all ones labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. It is wonderful to be prosperous, and I certainly do not want to condemn prosperity. Bring them out to us, that we may know them. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. And it was so. a. But, be that as it may, our Lord is here laying down a universal statement of the permanent condition of things; and there is no more reason for restricting the force of these words to the original hearers of them than there is for restricting the force of any of the rest of this wonderful discourse. a. Babylon the Great will be a worldwide religious system. His guard seemingly down, he spoke in an unhurried pace, almost nostalgically, carefully choosing his words as he talked about Jesus. iv. 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. 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. Between the first and second comings, things will be bad. 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. ii. #1- Persecution from Religion. Its anti-Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. iv. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. All your content will be saved and you can seamlessly switch devices. They can only intimidate you if you let them! Many people now believe they deserve economic well-being at the expense of those who are working. Be sure that it is your goodness and not your evils or your weakness, that men dislike. However, there are some dangers associated with prosperity. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. William Wallace: I *am* William Wallace! Humility goes a long way in doing that. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. Even in trying to be helpful to someone who may need it, we barge in without being asked and then often major on the minors. 2. 1. serpents carried the idea of clever. 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. These words strike a discord in the midst of the sweet music to which we have been listening. Thus the gulf is partly bridged over; and the hostility takes another form. They want health, wealth, and prosperity, and there are many out there willing to tickle your ears with that message if it is what you want to hear. c. Stonewall Jackson has sort of been labeled a religious fanatic, but the reality is that he was a very committed Biblical Christian with a high view of God and His Word. i. Jesus calls His disciples to be fearless, but not foolish. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 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. The artwork featured in this blogpost is by an artist known as Wukkystration from Deviant Art. But if the Lord instead chooses to judge our nation, which we see happening, then I think we can expect: b. We are not to naively entrust ourselves to them or make them angry without good cause. It was out-and-out Christians that He said the world would hate; the world likes Christians that are like itself. . The prophet Daniel predicted successive governments that get worse and worse until the Christ comes back. In this passage Jesus warns the Apostles of this fact. He cared for the oppressed and exploited. Be prepared to live like a sheep among wolves. . Wolves among the Sheep (myths, church, believe, scripture) User Name: Remember Me: Password . The majority of the cases cited in Foxes Book Of Martyrs are those killed by the Roman Catholic church during the counter reformation (1500s). 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. Against that? Sadly, there are many "wolves" among the "flock of God," leading the unwary and ignorant believer into false teachings and bondage to deception. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. Again, the specific promise here is to the apostles, but we find that the Holy Spirit in His graciousness continues to supply believers with what to say when called upon to give testimony in the midst of persecution. i. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? Tracks. Theology has joined cancel culture. How can we expect the State to persecute us? In this passage Jesus warns the Apostles of this fact. Conflict will come on account of Jesus. They can be frightened by things that are harmless, as well as things that are dangerous. In some places in the world, people will hold a funeral for a family member who has converted to Christianity. God has fixed the time for my death. 16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. II AUGUST 2019. youtube // AFTER YOU'VE SEEN THE FILM . Thats a bit of a picture of the world we live in. iii. That may not be flattering, but it is accurate. d. Dont fear because God is sovereign (29-32), i. Mosaic Law allowed a maximum of 40 blows, so often the punishment was 39 blows in order to make sure the Mosaic Law was not broken in case someone miscounted. These English schoolboys turn in to a pack of vicious wolves. This promise of persecution was actually made many many years ago: i. Let not your hearts be troubled. Does it mean stockpiling and self-defense classes? 1 Cor. He says, 'If the world hates,' not 'if the world hate'; and the tense of the original shows that, whilst the form of the statement is hypothetical, the substance of it is prophetic. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. We are like sheep among wolves, and the wolves are only getting hungrier. However, modern Christianity, particularly in the kumbaya denominations, seems to ignore the wolf warnings in Scripture. Yes . Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen. Laban said, Good! The Cross And Boasting (Galatians 6:12-15), 6. 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. Believe it or not, Jesus seems to imply that both of those may be legitimate options. The reason is simply because they are part of liberal churches that long ago compromised Biblical integrity for man- centered philosophy. 2. iv. In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. Sometimes, these "wolves" are ignorant themselves, untutored in the faith, forming strange . Philip Keller, who was a shepherd for many years in Canada, describes sheep well in his book, A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm. 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. because everything is happening just like the bible said it would, this is not a mere coincidence; but we have to fine tune our discernment and wisdom, and pray for the . a. The greater portion of our lives moves on this surface, whore all men are alike. O They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. iv. 13 Bible Verses about Wolves The desert creatures will meet with the wolves, John 10:12 Verse Concepts He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. Be different from the world. He lamented fighting on Sundays. The result is that they join in the persecution. 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). This week we will examine the warnings that Jesus gave the Apostles as they went out because there was danger ahead. Simply this. The bleating sheep finds no harmony in the howl of the wolf. 7:15, Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.. When Phil Johnson was here last month we asked him who his favorite theologian was and he said it was R.L. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. The rotation of the sun. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. F There are also wolves in government. Why not? f. Or, more mildly, churches will lose tax-exempt status for taking a stand on biblical principles. you will be dragged before governors and kings. ix. In the rest of this section, Jesus warns His apostles about four areas in which they would find wolves. The Scripture is clear that those who live godly lives will be persecuted. Jesus is sending his people as sheep straight into the wolves hunting ground. Our jewels are its tinsel, and its jewels are our tinsel. Family in Michigan whos child has spina bifida. Peter said it in 2 Peter 4. c. In this section Jesus envisioned a long period of time when His disciples would be persecuted and yet witness to the Truth. Why does Jesus, the Good Shepherd, send defenseless sheep out into this ungodly world among the wolves? 1. And you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. . iii. Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 4. . 3. These dangers have spiritual corollaries. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 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. Some would also have bits of metal or rocks tied to the end of the leather thongs. whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.. Other governments are out to please their people, and sinful people are usually offended by the righteous lives of believers. They attack officers of the law. It does matter what they think of Christ whom we represent. Nowadays, it seems the shepherds have chosen not to acknowledge the existence of wolves. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? . In the Bible, wolves are acknowledged as dangerous to flocks of sheep and, metaphorically, to the spiritual well-being of early Christians. Jesus points to two things, as you will observe, which make this hostility inevitable. . He stopped, then started again. XV to XXI. For it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.. Amongst those who would rend them. Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. In my view, he declared, he is the most important human being who has ever existed., xiv. 3. These three guys are commanded to bow down and worship a statue, which represented the State. He was often thrust into the frontlines of battle, ministering in the places of danger to his life. A third danger is that a person who has grown up in prosperity can become complacent in it and become unwilling to make the personal sacrifices needed to continue in it for others. U Very easy for wolves to attack and rip apart in no time. 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. 2. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. White Supremacy bad. Everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus. Would Jesus, the chief shepherd, instead of protecting the sheep from the wolves actually send them into the midst of the wolves? Be holy. a. iii. That can add up to a lot of pressure, but the true mark of Christianity is conformity to Christ and not the world. Persecution would come, but they would be able to endure it. 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