Matt 10:16
Feeding in the Midst of Wolves
The verses sounds very much like a lesson in zoology than theology.
Four types of animals are mentioned - wolves, sheep, doves, and
serpents.
The message of the verse before us is one of warning. Jesus was
warning His disciples concerning the world in which He was sending
them. It was to be their home and place of ministry, but just because
He left them there, that does not mean it was safe. It wasn’t.
If it was not safe for them, how much less is it safe for us who live
in the last of the last days?
I. The Lord compared the lost world to a pack of wolves.
A. This is not my comparison but Jesus’.
1. It is Jesus who compares the lost world to wolves.
2. The next four words recorded are "But beware of men" and
for the next three verses, Jesus described four ways they
would behave as wolves toward them.
B. Wolves:
1. Wolves are predicators.
a. Wolves, like many other animals in the wild, have an
automatic mind set.
(1) To them, it’s either you or them. You can live
or they can eat.
(2) That attitude makes them aggressive and deadly.
(3) Wolf packs will kill anything, even many times
their own size including large elk, moose, bear,
even humans.
(4) Robert Lipskoch was amazed and angered when the
government reintroduced the wolf into the wild
in and around Idaho. He said there were few
things as fearful as coming upon a single wolf
let alone a pack of them, especially when a
single wolf can weigh more than you.
b. There are two sources of power in this world - God
and Satan.
(1) These two powers are exclusive to one another
and opposed to one another.
(2) Accepting the one automatically places you
against the other.
c. That is why the Bible teaches us:
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye
not that the friendship of the world is enmity
with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of
the world is the enemy of God.
2. Wolves are able to kill prey much larger than themselves
because they travel and hunt in packs.
a. Elements of the world are presently united against
Christianity and anything pure.
b. Examples are all around us.
(1) Big business wants to put down Christianity.
(a) Not merry Christmas, but happy holidays.
(b) Holiday tree
(c) Nativity scenes are being banned across the
country and the world - cites in Sweden,
Germany, Canada, and America.
http://www.snopes.com/sweden-bans-christmas-lights/
(2) Liberals & progressives, median, education, big
business, and major sections of our government
joining together against Christ.
Pro 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an
abomination to the LORD: though hand join in
hand, he shall not be unpunished.
(a) I have noticed how the media is portraying
those who run against their candidates as
being hate elections. The Philippines,
the US, Italy, and now Austria.
(b) The definition of hate crimes will change.
3. Wolves are cunning, deceptive, tricky.
a. It is their multiple attacks at once that allow them
to attack you from the rear.
b. The world cloaks their goals in words of rights and
equality for everyone.
c. While no one is against equal opportunities and equal
pay, there are not only rights there are also wrongs.
II. God’s people are the sheep.
A. Sheep are the wolves dinner and Jesus compared the Christian
to the sheep. Why?
B. Sheep are foolish and defenseless.
1. They will walk off the edge of a cliff or into a stream of
moving water.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2005-07-08-sheep-
suicide_x.htm
450 sheep jump to their deaths in Turkey ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP)
First one sheep jumped to its death. Then stunned Turkish shepherds,
who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as
nearly 1,500 others followed, each leaping off the same cliff,
Turkish media reported. In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of
one another in a billowy white pile, the Aksam newspaper said. Those
who jumped later were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more
cushioned, Aksam reported.
The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas tops $100,000.
2. They have no defense at all.
a. As far as defense, sheep can’t bite, kick, butt, claw
or scratch.
b. They have no camouflage.
c. Even the sound they make is lacking.
3. They have no real abilities.
a. They can’t fly or dig or swim.
(1) The Palmist in Psalm 23 says the Shepherd leads
the sheep beside "still" waters.
(2) A sheep drinking out of a swift river can get its
wool wet, fall in, and drown.
(3) That pretty well means that they don’t even walk
or stand all that well!
b. Neither do they climb or run well.
4. If attacked, they are helpless.
C. This is the case of the Christians. Our only power and
protection is in the Lord.
Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress,
and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom
I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my
salvation, and my high tower.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He
that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can
do nothing.
III. What commands does the Lord give to us?
A. He "sends" us.
Matt 10:16 Behold, I send you forth….
1. Jesus, fully knowing and acknowledging what He was doing,
sends us as sheep into this world of wolves.
2. That means some things:
a. It means no hostility, no danger, no threat, and no
repercussion should stop us from doing the Lord’s
work.
b. It means the work is more important than the worker.
(1) The Lord’s work is about winning lost souls to
Jesus.
(2) God deems that lost soul more important than any
Christians’ wellbeing.
(3) I read again an account which I am given to
believe was true. An older man was invited to
speak to high school gathering of rowdy
teenagers. He had some remarks being seeing
that did not have the attention of the group he
laid his notes aside and told a story of man, his
son, and a friend of his son who were sailing
together when a strong storm came up. The man
and his son were experienced sailors but the
waves were too great and they capsized. The
father came up near the boat but both of the
young men were being swept out to sea. He found
a rope and felt he had time to throw it to one
youth and pull them in before they were out of
reach. He knew his son was a Christian and the
friend was not. He called to his son, "I love
you and I will see you in heaven!" and threw the
rope to his friend.
The two were rescued but the man’s son was lost.
After the program was over, two of the teens who
the man had noticed were not paying attention
to his prepared remarks came to him. "Why would
a father do that?" one asked. "The father knew
that he would see his son in heaven because he
was saved. He also knew if the friend died, his
soul would be lost forever. He chose to try to
save both the life and the soul of the friend."
"No man would do that," the youth answered. "Yes
they would," the man argued. "You see, I am that
father."
B. Be harmless as doves.
1. Doves are like sheep in their docile nature except they
have the means of flying away.
a. They are known for their peaceful, loving nature.
b. They lack speed and maneuverability, but they can
sometimes get away.
c. So the Lord is telling us to run when we have to.
Mt 10:23 But when they persecute you in this
city, flee ye into another….
2. We may run but two things we must never do:
a. We must never quit.
b. We must never turn to violence. More and more violence
is going to be preached and used by both the wolves
and the sheep. We are not a part of that group! We
will be persecuted as if we were, but we are not! Do
not resort to violence. Do not sympathize with
violence. Do not condone violence!
C. Be wise as serpents.
1. Serpents is the Biblical word for snakes.
2. To some extent, most snakes prefer to run than to fight.
a. Snakes are small and camouflaged. They are hard to
see.
b. Snakes are usually silent. Not in the sense that we
do not say anything but in the sense that we are not
all mouth and no action.
c. Some snakes are quite deadly, but most snakes run
away.
3. The characteristic that the Lord gives to the serpent is
wisdom.
a. BE WISE ENOUGH TO BE SAVED!
(1) God never pretends salvation is not without its
sacrifices.
(a) sin
(b) selfishness
(c) Even to becoming a sheep
(2) However, the sacrifices are always worth it.
(a) payment for your sins
(b) peace, power, purpose for life
(c) fellowship with God for eternity
b. BE WISE ENOUGH TO HAVE JESUS’ PERSON AND POWER.
(1) Need the Word.
(2) Need to pray.
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but
by prayer and fasting.
(3) Need to believe.
(4) Need to obey.
c. BE WISE ENOUGH TO LIVE ABOVE REPROACH.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth
in you, live peaceably with all men.
1. One of our main objective is to do right!
2. Obey the laws of the land - regardless of how much
it costs us - until they conflict with the Word
of God.
3. When you can no longer do that, endure the
persecution and if necessary, the incarceration
with joy!
d. BE WISE ENOUGH TO KNOW THE ENEMY.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour:
1. He will take you away from the Word of God.
2. He will deceive you with his illusions of
happiness and prosperity.
3. He will entangle you in the web of sin.
4. He will make you think you cannot get out.
e. BE WISE ENOUGH TO KNOW THE FUTURE.
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand:
be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now
it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is
our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Christianity is not easy and it is not safe. It is a service to God
which reqires all. The question is, "Are we prepared to give it?"
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