We now live in a day and age when we need to think seriously about what it means to be a Christian in the 21st Century. Scripture: Matthew 10:16-17, Matthew 16:18 Denomination: Church Of God Summary: Always remember, Only in Jesus' world do meek and lowly sheep prevail over wolves. People loved to listen to him. 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. 5. 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. a. Luther was n stranger to controversy. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11), and the Chief Shepherd (1 Pt 5:4). 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. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding gives us a glimpse of the savagery that underlies even the most civilized human beings. 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. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. a. 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. They were considered very crafty, smart, cunning, and cautious animals. It is the typical example of what the world thinks of, and does to, goodness. 3. And he began to a little more, a little more out about what he thought about Scripture. The election of a President. 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. 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. Why not? 1 Cor. 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. 9. And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. Wolves Among the Sheep. Acts 20:29, I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, 4. But let bad weather come, and soon the bricks gape apart as before. Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and they shall be my wages. 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. And thats the outline. What does the CPC think about that? A second danger is that if you think that prosperity is the goal of life, then greed takes over along with its many ramifications. You've come to fight as free men and free men you are. Disciples shouldnt be provocative, they should be prudent, wise as a serpent. And honestly, our suffering is nothing compared to the suffering going on in the rest of the world! An uncanny silence about wolves has descended on society, even in the Christian churches, which are meant to emulate the Good Shepherd, who protects the sheep from wild animals, even as they pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. d. Dont fear because God is sovereign (29-32), i. ', Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. The result is that they join in the persecution. The contents of this website are copyright 1990-2022 New 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. And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray. 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. 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. His commitment was total and led to his own death, much to the detriment of the world. 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. Even during the end times, during the Great Tribulation when the 144,000 Jewish preachers are preaching all over the globe. 5. Disciples shouldnt seek out persecution. What we believe to be fundamental truth it passes by as of little importance. As intellectually inferior. iv. c. In this section Jesus envisioned a long period of time when His disciples would be persecuted and yet witness to the Truth. 3. Thirdly, note how you may escape the hostility. Now that does not mean the sheep will not be persecuted, tormented, and many killed, but it does mean that Jesus will gather each one to Himself in heaven and give to them eternal life. The Bible makes it clear that we will true Christians will not be cool in the worlds eyes. I hope it doesnt, but that day may come. 6. Templeton fought to compose himself. While the wolves religion, government, family, and society howl and attack and persecute, let us trust in a sovereign God who cares more about us than He does the sparrows. If you claim Christ, you have just made yourself a target. In the Bible, wolves are acknowledged as dangerous to flocks of sheep and, metaphorically, to the spiritual well-being of early Christians. 2:1, Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it., ii. The Scripture is clear that those who live godly lives will be persecuted. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? BUT, there may be circumstances when they need to pick up and move town? Foxes book of Martyrs says that the only apostle who escaped a violent death from the State was the Apostle John. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. He washe was basically targeted for massive success. These dangers have spiritual corollaries. 3. But that unity of life between Christians and Christ has another consequence than the spread of love. Wise and innocent, cunning and gentle, perceptive and pure. 4:9-13, we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Fear God, not family members who hate you. 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. b. Q 7. Even religions that are supposedly Christian have persecuted believers. . Y When Phil Johnson was here last month we asked him who his favorite theologian was and he said it was R.L. You cannot serve God and money. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. Would Jesus, the chief shepherd, instead of protecting the sheep from the wolves actually send them into the midst of the wolves? 16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. The division of cells. 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. 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. R Goats Publisher: OpenBible.info. Leave a few tasks for the Armageddon crew. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock? a. We will be persecuted, but He will be there to enable us to endure it. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. Later, when he became the Apostle Paul, he was at the receiving end of the scourge. If you dont love all people, you are a hater. Bottom line: we want to win people! Our eternal destiny is secure! Jesus describes the coming judgment as a time for disclosing all the secrets of individuals lives. Luke 22:36, And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.. I am the bread of life. Jesus is promising that life as a disciple of His, would be like a sheep amidst wolves. The artwork featured in this blogpost is by an artist known as Wukkystration from Deviant Art. They travel in packs. 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. The warning theme of Second Peter is now sounded. They enjoy being able to have a life of ease. The petition uses the word we repeatedly. Saul of Tarsus was such a religious man that was persecuting Christians. 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. God has fixed the time for my death. Someone has said that there are only two things stronger than natural love; one is born of hell and the other is born of heaven. Well, yes, he is the most important thing in my life, came his reply. 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. This was a promise of difficulty and tribulation and persecution. Dont take it like a man if you dont have to. iii. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take OUR FREEDOM! Peter said it in 2 Peter 4. 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. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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. The proclamation went on to mix wokism with greeting-card Christianity. Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. They will face serious opposition. The reason is simply because they are part of liberal churches that long ago compromised Biblical integrity for man- centered philosophy. ii. Heb. Studdard Kennedy was a chaplain during World War II. 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. Dutchess County ii. John 10 tells us that Jesus will not lose any of His sheep. 1. a. . 'If ye were of the world, the world would love its own.' The synagogue was not only the gathering place for worship, it was often also the court room. People dont think of him that way, but they dont read the Bible. c. These reformers were like sheep in the midst of a pack of wolves. (See: Warnings to the Church). . They can only intimidate you if you let them! This is a tough pill to swallow, but the sooner you do, the better. Persecution would come at the hands of religion, government, family, and society. What are you willing to suffer for Him? I could tell it wasnt like him to lose control in front of a stranger. Global Bible Studies SHEEP AMONG WOLVES. I must quote William Wallace here. 1. 'If you tickle us, do we not laugh; if you wound us, do we not bleed?' 2. . i. Judge not, that you be not judged. vi. 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. 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. And what should be our attitude in the midst of these wolves? 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. Yet, there are churches where this is the gospel: Not God bless America. Against that? But that is not Jesus message. I The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Maybe we will see more of this as time goes. 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. ), but the persecution itself comes through the hands of men. It was a common name for Satan or Prince Baal. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Have no fear. 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. I speak of the Word of God which has the power to hold back the flood of false prophecies and teachings of the false prophet. It is not brave or wise or spiritual or loving to needlessly incite anger or trouble. . 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. I . We are like sheep among wolves, and the wolves are only getting hungrier. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things., b. Rom. My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. He sighed deeply and wiped away a tear. Normally, a shepherd would protect his sheep from wolves, but Jesus is sending His sheep into the wolf pack. Jesus experienced persecution from the religious folks. 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. So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. There are two groups, and the fundamental principles that underlie each are in deadly antagonism. Sheep avoid wolves but in three ways these sheep are different: They are being sent to the wolves They are to be shrewd as snakes They are to be innocent as doves. He became all things to all men, that [he] might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). Son, life and death do not matter. 1. 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. The frequency with which 'If' occurs in this section is very remarkable. The first one was the Sermon on the Mount. i. Jesus calls His disciples to be fearless, but not foolish. Principle #2- Dont Live in Fear (10:26-33). The first prayer I want my son to say for me is not, God, keep Daddy safe, but God make Daddy brave. C iii. The original CPC was founded in 1810, by what appears to be and continues to be white folks. 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. d. Persecution will come from four areas: i. 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. 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. He had a righteous anger. 45:7) As someone said, "a wolf in sheep's clothing is still a wolf!" But in fact, a wholly different kind of war is underwayan unrecognized battle costing thousands of lives. Jesus says "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15). For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 7. His dispatches invariably credited an ever-kind Providence. vi. The Scripture is clear that those who live godly lives will be persecuted. 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. If it loves you, it is because ye are of it. Society as a whole. Humility goes a long way in doing that. 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. My people have been lost sheep. We were the source of the greatest world missionary endeavor of anytime in history. He was the great mind, he was the great presence, he had all the drama. What does it mean? i. It is all vain, and the only issue of it will be that we shall have a decaying Christianity and a dying spiritual life. After 103 years The Boy scouts lifted their previous ban on homosexuals and now allow gay boys to be members, although they did not lift the ban on gay leaders. Which shows the hypocrisy of the decision. but . Then there are other causes modifying this hostility. 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. And, lastly, meet hostility with unmoved, patient, Christlike, and Christ-derived love and sympathy. 6. 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. ii. 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. ii. In 1945 he met Billy Graham and the two became friends, rooming and ministering together during a 1946YFC evangelistic tour in Europe. Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? There is no need whatever that there should be any antagonism at all between a godless world and hosts of professing Christians. 8. 1. The striving in the church to become prosperous successful in terms of attendance and finance has led to much of what we see in what is called the Church Growth Movement. Now there are some good things in that movement, but too much of it is based on marketing technique rather than the Holy Spirit with a goal of being large instead of righteous before God. View fullsize. THEIR IMMINENT PERIL "As sheep in the midst of wolves." 1. i. As I consider God's creation of both the sheep and the wolf, I am reminded of the scripture, "I am the Lord.causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these." (Is. The defense is simple leave. He came out to Colorado to attend undergraduate school at Colorado Christian University and later Denver Seminary. Its the Presbyterians praying for me.. Christian men and women! And God separated the light from the darkness. 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 the book of Daniel, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego illustrates this. These are our only weapons, brethren! Know that the Lord, he is God! For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.. This was done in the same fashion he had used to imprison and beat Christians before his conversion. x. I was taken aback. Thus the gulf is partly bridged over; and the hostility takes another form. Theology was the only subject he genuinely enjoyed discussing. I think its helpful to say that chapter 10. He did not seek persecution out, he did not fearfully shrink from it, but neither did he stay after such persecution had arisen. iv. d. The Son of Man will come. He was a moral genius. Verse 23 gives the defense against persecution and the hope. . not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father.. Jesus said it in Matthew 5. Theology has joined cancel culture. Persecution will arise against those who follow Christ. i. Uh . 1. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. iv. We need to beware of wolves in religion, in government, in our families, and in society in general. e. The one who endures to the end will be saved (10:23). I JUNE 2015. a. 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. Their indiscriminate eating habit means they have to be protected from eating poisonous plants. In 2 Corinthians 11:24, he recounts being scourged by the Jews on five different occasions. 4. IV. And yet one of you is a devil. He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him. This has been true throughout the ages and it will continue to be true. 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. Wolves among the Sheep (myths, church, believe, scripture) User Name: Remember Me: Password . In some places in the world, people will hold a funeral for a family member who has converted to Christianity. To which class do I belong? There is a similar promise to us. If we share Christ's life, we must, necessarily, in some measure, share His fate. iii. Geocoding They have forgotten their fold. Teach publicly what you learn privately. They are bearing the natural results of their own failings and faults. While Satan himself is compared to a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), the false teacher is compared to a ravenous wolf.Because both are predatory in nature, they each seek victims. He was the intrinsically wisest person that Ive ever encountered in my life or in my readings. 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. For folks who believe the Qurran, they desire to bring you under submission to Mohammad, or else behead you. 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 just ordered a book called What every Christian needs to know about the Quran.. 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. Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? The path of a tornado. 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? BUT, they should NOT move out of fear, or purchase a sword out of fear. But we have something quite the opposite. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Many of the most memorable and powerful testimonies of the great martyrs were given just before they were put to death. We enjoy a great measure of freedom, but are we prepared to not bend the knee to the State, if the State ever asks us to go against our conscience and the Word of God? And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. Many a young man in a Manchester warehouse, trying to live a godly life, many a workman at his bench, many a commercial traveller in the inn or on the road, many a student on the college benches, has to find out that there is a great gulf between him and the man who sits next to him, and that he cannot be faithful to his Lord, and at the same time, down to the depths of his being, a friend of one who has no friendship to his Master. 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. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. Remember that Jesus has sent you out as a sheep among wolves. Well, first off, Paul tells us to pray for freedom and peace. viii. False prophets are the kind of people who . But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next;. 1. He will not forsake us or leave us. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. We also need to recognize that there are demonic influences in government. These English schoolboys turn in to a pack of vicious wolves. Rating: 5 (1881 Rating) Highest rating: 3. 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. B 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. They are very vulnerable to extreme weather, infections, and disease, and so must be sheltered and checked regularly for cuts and disease symptoms. And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. . Both the North and the South acknowledged this. 6. Our lives depend upon the shepherd. Dont live in fear. 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. 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. Of course a Christianity that blesses flags and sings Te Deums over victories will get its share of the spoil. when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. We rely on the shepherd to lead us and protect us. a. Jesus says, a persons enemies will be those of his own household. 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. Well, put it in afterwards, for it really doesnt matter nearly as much as doing what is right., a. Sheep among Wolves Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. And if he has hard thing to do, make him strong to do them., b. And we will live. The times of the gentiles would be marked by a tension between the State and Gods people. The failure of shepherds to acknowledge wolves not only leaves the flock unprotected, it attracts other wolves. 30 Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. We are to beware of the wolves in religions. However, there are some dangers associated with prosperity. Normally, a shepherd would protect his sheep from wolves, but Jesus is sending His sheep into the wolf pack. Newspaper articles, the light laugh of scorn, the whoop of exultation over the failures or faults of any prominent man that has stood out boldly on Christ's side; all these indicate what lies below the surface, and sometimes not so very far below. It is of no use to try to conciliate by compromise. 158 Myers Corners Road And so, as soon as we get down below the surface of things and grapple with the real, deep-lying, and formative principles of a life, we come to antagonism, just as they used to come to it long ago, though the form of it has become quite different. Throughout history religion has persecuted true Christianity. iii. To the wolves' surprise, they were now the prey. He ended up a journalist in Canada, a novelist, writer, television personality; Farewell to God. Is America heading south down a moral sewage pipe? If it walks and growls like a wolf, and preys upon the weak, it might be a wolf. iii. He lamented fighting on Sundays. It is much easier to read about the Bible than study the Bible for yourself, so while Christian publications and media ministries abound, we have also experienced a phenomenal amount of theological nonsense accepted as truth from the mouths of a proliferation of false teachers. It all came to a culmination when he wrote a book. And people fell at his feet. a. they will flog you in their synagogues.. vi. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering. The key-note of all that has preceded has been love -- the love of Christ's friends to one another, and of all to Him, as an answer to His love to all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. iii. no, he said slowly, hes the most . And tough! He isnt implying all people, literarily, even Christians. b. Rev. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. Of course a Christianity that lets beer barrels alone may reckon upon having publicans for its adherents. And they took as their wives any they chose. W Jeremiah 5:6 - Therefore a lion from the forest will slay them,A wolf of the deserts will destroy them,A leopard is watching their cities.Everyone who goes out of them will be torn in pieces,Because their transgressions are many,Their apostasies are numerous. iv. We call it the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Nowadays, it seems the shepherds have chosen not to acknowledge the existence of wolves. Anyone familiar with sheep herding understands the danger of wolves. . And they called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? 3. So in verse 25 Jesus is telling his disciples to not expect anything less. You do not want to rock the boat, so compromises are made so that things can continue for a while longer. The Cross And Boasting (Galatians 6:12-15), 6. Americans enjoy being prosperous. SHEEP AMONG WOLVES . 5. And if I may put it this way, he said as his voice began to crack, I . No! And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. Jesus sends them out as defenseless sheep among evil, wicked, vicious, God-haters. ii. iii. So there is a film of roofing thrown over the gulf. This is what makes me know that the Prophetic word of God in the Bible is true. 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. View fullsize. 4. He became a household name. The home of Hardcore Punk. xv. We will be persecuted. 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. Lets not cry foul and pout our way to the Promised Land! b. Translating the Bible into German while he was on the run. 21:1, The kings heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will., 5. Tracks. 11. To be ostracized from your family because of Christ is no easy thing. This ought to give us an enormous amount of confidence even when we are like sheep in the midst of a pack of wolves. This is an interesting metaphor that Jesus picks. 3. Act 20:29-30 (WEB) 29 For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. In this passage Jesus warns the Apostles of this fact. 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. They needed to be delivered from without. 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). 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. Century Foundation. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. They will have to trust Him as they go. But Jesus certainly prophesied this would happen. Yes, there are many that still understand it, but few in comparison to a few decades ago. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. 3. 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. 1 Cor. 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. But Jack wants to lead, too, and one-by-one, he lures the boys from civility and reason to the savage survivalism of primeval hunters. People as sheep is a common motif throughout the Old and New Testaments. Salvation comes from the outside. Discussion in 'General Theology' started by aiki, Jan 29, 2021. . A sheep simply has no defense alone against a wolf. Innocent as doves. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. '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. Family in Michigan whos child has spina bifida. The world will hate us because the world hates Christ ( John 15:18-21 ). Government is ordained by God but manipulated by Satan. MacArthur. 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. Unquestionably, our Lord is here speaking with special reference to the Apostles, who, in a very tragic sense, were 'sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.' It did! This week we will examine the warnings that Jesus gave the Apostles as they went out because there was danger ahead. Herod Agrippa I and many of the other government leaders mentioned in the New Testament were certainly such wolves. Statements about being dragged in front of governors and kings and having family members hate you might cause some people to fear. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. I love America, but I love heaven more. But will we be ready and will we be faithful in the meantime? 1. serpents carried the idea of clever. iii. He was criticized for casting out demons by the prince of demons. Neither should we. There are people from every race, every class, every nationality that hate God and anyone that reflect Him. The fastest-growing church in the world today is in the Islamic Republic of Iranand it's mostly led by women. b. 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. L We are warned of this false teacher in. The idea of being innocent as doves speaks of being pure and true to Gods word and His will. View . However, modern Christianity, particularly in the kumbaya denominations, seems to ignore the wolf warnings in Scripture. Simply this. He is saying all people, generally. 3. 1. All persons created in the image of God. Conflict will come on account of Jesus. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. The text we are going to examine today and the next couple of weeks describe Christianity in a way that has been, for the most part, lost in America. Amongst those who will not in any way sympathize with your efforts. Labs His ethical sense was unique. Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. This type of telescoping prophecy is common in Scripture. Everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus. They can take our bodies, but they cant take about our freedom! 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? For it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.. The first type of men to beware of is the religious. But no matter what happens, they cant take our souls away. b. This is an interesting metaphor that Jesus picks. 3. Paul said it in 2 Timothy 3:12. Often times a writer will prophecy two events at the same time. Descriptions: Luke 10:3 - Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. The CPC proclamation gives coattails to groups such as the Black Panthers and Antifa, which are known to arrive at protests masked and heavily armed. Maybe But much more I think it means we pray for boldness and clarity and conviction and compassion. 1. When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. xvi. 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. whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.. 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? "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 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. 4. The hatred and hostility will come from all of society and it will go from bad to worse. You will recognize them by their fruits. I adore him! . Believers will even take part in judging unbelievers as 1 Cor. 4. 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! Amongst those who would rend them. That leaves the vulnerable sheep with no place to seek shelter, or safety, or counsel. iii. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we entreat. 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. He castigated people. Lord of the flies novel by William Golding is required reading in most High Schools and Universities. Starting in v. 26 Jesus tells them they need not fear. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. XV to XXI Alexander Maclaren 'If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. Its hostile to God. Then the persecutions and martyrs on Christian from the Catholic church on folks like Wycliffe and John Huss and Tyndale. 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. a. Living in hiding, but not living in fear. The two men who did it were Muslim and were quoting the Quran. Ex. J.B. Clark, American Renaissance, November 22, 2022. Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. Our prayer is that we always embrace reconciliation, love, and justice among all persons, classes, races, and nations, declared the CPC. And you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. II. We shouldnt expect anything less. His shoulders bobbed as he wept. All do not take place without the knowledge and decision of the Lord. How often do we get in needless trouble because of our lack of discretion? The Apostles and we (in other passages) are described as sheep. i. His voice, which at times had displayed such a sharp and insistent edge, now took on a melancholy and reflective tone. Beware! And the covenant community governed by Lord Christ (sic) opposes, resists, and seeks to change all circumstances of oppression political, economic, cultural, racial . Sheep are probably the most dependent and helpless of all domesticated animals. These words strike a discord in the midst of the sweet music to which we have been listening. 'When they do agree, their agreement is wonderful.' Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. Will not portray Christians in a positive light. ii. 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. i. 4. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. Yet in the midst of that, we do not need to worry about what to say when that sort of persecution breaks out. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. a. i. 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. This is a call to the cost of discipleship. They are thrown in to a fiery furnace. . 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. When persecution became too intense, he left for another region. We must humbly examine our privilege and work to end individual and systemic oppressions. If you begin to haul it down, where are you going to stop? Even centuries after their deaths, more truth is revealed from Scripture. 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? III. White Supremacy bad. Factions, gangs, jealousy, murder, hatred. The light will expose the darkness. 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. Just because it binds them to Him in a sacred community, it separates them from those who do not share in His life, and hence the 'hate' of our context is the shadow of 'love'; and there result two communities -- to use the much-abused words that designate them -- the Church and 'the World'; and the antagonism between these is deep, fundamental, and perpetual. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. After a few more awkward moments, he waved his hand dismissively. Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. There are a great many other bonds that unite men together besides the bonds of religious life or their absence. 2. Nowhere, until you have got it draggling in the mud at the foot. The very language carries with it the implication of necessary and continual antagonism. This idea of enduring to the end is seen throughout the New Testament Matthew 24:13; Romans 3:14; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:14; 2 Peter 1:10. Peter said it in 2 Peter 4. Physical death is nothing compared to spiritual death. The majority of the cases cited in Foxes Book Of Martyrs are those killed by the Roman Catholic church during the counter reformation (1500s). U And for us, as Americans. II. 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. And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. . Theres no question that he had the highest moral standard, the least duplicity, the greatest compassion, of any human being in history. v. Maybe they thought that they needed to stockpile weapons? God not only created human beings but also let His Dear Son suffer for them. Persecution was happening to them. Thus Christian men and others have, to a large extent, a common code of morality, as long as they keep on the surface; and they not only do a good many things exactly alike, but do a great many things from substantially the same motives, and have the same way of looking at much. We are to be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves., Serpents were a symbol of wisdom. Sometimes, these "wolves" are ignorant themselves, untutored in the faith, forming strange . View fullsize. Persecution will happen to them more. Blog, A 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.. OpenBible.info And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. This does not mean that every person will hate you, but that all people in general will hate you. This at first would seem a ridiculous statement and unloving and unkind if true. 2. Colossians 4:5 tells us to, Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Yet how often is this aspect of the gospel given when someone is sharing the gospel? Instead, we assume the authority to Render Unto Caesar, through political activism, despite the warning that rendering unto God is their designated province. vi. 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. Nowhere do the authors entreat God for guidance or pray in Jesus name. 2. vi. He was committed. G We are to be uncompromising in proclaiming Gods truth, but that does not mean being abrasive, inconsiderate, belligerent, hostile, or rude. 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. 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. Where the Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is applied to all of faith and life. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. WOLVES AMONG THE SHEEP. i. ii. iv. 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. And David said to God, Was it not I who gave command to number the people? But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Dear brethren, to which army do you belong? Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Moral of the story is that they couldnt fix themselves. H Persecution will continue to happen to His disciples. 6:2 says. Jesus said he would be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. And how do you assess this Jesus? It seemed like the next logical questionbut I wasnt ready for the response it would evoke. 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.. They can see how easily, and unjustifiably, the hate label attaches. The sheep will be persecuted, tormented, and martyred because the Shepherd, who is also the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, was persecuted, tormented, and martyred by the world. Those nuances seem absent from politicized Christianity. He was one of the founders of Youth for Christ, along with Billy Graham. In these dangerous, decadent times, love some kind of amorphous, uncritical love will presumably tame the wild beasts. The flight of the sparrow. 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. This is a call to the cost of discipleship. Jesus had previously described the multitudes as sheep who needed shepherds (9:36), so it would be expected that Jesus would tell the apostles that the . But if the Lord instead chooses to judge our nation, which we see happening, then I think we can expect: b. It was out-and-out Christians that He said the world would hate; the world likes Christians that are like itself. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 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. 3. In this passage Jesus warns the Apostles of this fact. You are not obligated to get arrested or imprisoned if you dont have to. Instead, the sheep that try to remain faithful are called haters while the wolves are pardoned and comforted. 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. 1. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ii. 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. Templetons body language softened. How do we apply this? And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. i. However, modern Christianity, particularly in the kumbaya denominations, seems to ignore the wolf warnings in Scripture. a. Brothers and fathers and mothers will do this. Let a man for Christ's sake avow unpopular beliefs, let him try honestly to act out the New Testament, let him boldly seek to apply Christian principles to the fashionable and popular sins of his class or of his country, let him in any way be ahead of the conscience of the majority, and what a chorus will be yelping at his heels! 2. Which makes this somewhat tricky. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 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