1. serpents carried the idea of clever. Those nuances seem absent from politicized Christianity. Are you in Christ's ranks, or are you in the world's? 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 does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? And now, lastly, note how to meet this antagonism. Nowhere do the authors entreat God for guidance or pray in Jesus name. V Believers are the "sheep of his pasture" (Ps 100:3). The State has been responsible for millions of deaths. A persecution through the courts. It hates God and would gladly put Him to death. The scourging itself was done with a stick that had leather thongs attached to the end. SRR 77 A Wolf Among The Sheep. 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! This is the second discourse of Jesus that Matthew records. He was one of the founders of Youth for Christ, along with Billy Graham. 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.. No wonder the flocks seem to be wandering away. You've come to fight as free men and free men you are. The defense is simple leave. although he did do it, reluctantly. In a few moments we will be observing the Lords Table. a. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. iv. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? People dont think of him that way, but they dont read the Bible. Fifty years later, Lee Strobel had an opportunity to interview Templeton, who had just a couple of more years to live. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. . They always come to the AmRen conference, and must be kept at bay by the police. 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. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. We are not to naively entrust ourselves to them or make them angry without good cause. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 3. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. But do not let the plague be on your people.. Labs a. 1. Which shows the hypocrisy of the decision. However, modern Christianity, particularly in the kumbaya denominations, seems to ignore the wolf warnings in Scripture. Family in Michigan whos child has spina bifida. Jesus said he would be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). What are you willing to suffer for Him? v. We are to love our enemies and bless those who persecute us. Disciples shouldnt be provocative, they should be prudent, wise as a serpent. In a world like this, it is impossible for a man to 'love righteousness and hate iniquity,' and to order his life accordingly, without treading on somebody's corns; being a rebuke to the opposite course of conduct, either interfering with men's self-complacency or with their interests. Later, when he became the Apostle Paul, he was at the receiving end of the scourge. Yet, there are churches where this is the gospel: Not God bless America. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. Just as we are not to purposely provoke animosity and ridicule, we are not to stay in the midst of persecution if it is possible to leave. 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. 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. . For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.. They discussed the Bible, and Templeton now rejected it. 4. Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Moral of the story is that they couldnt fix themselves. Sheep are probably the most dependent and helpless of all domesticated animals. 3. e. The one who endures to the end will be saved (10:23). 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. iii. Persecution will continue to happen to His disciples. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. Salvation comes from the outside. Still another fact masks the antagonism, and that is, that after all, the world, meaning thereby the aggregate of godless men, has a conscience that responds to goodness, though grumblingly and reluctantly. i. Simply this. 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. Even centuries after their deaths, more truth is revealed from Scripture. Our jewels are its tinsel, and its jewels are our tinsel. How often is it even mentioned from the pulpits across our nation? Jesus also tells the disciples in Lukes gospel to be prepared to defend themselves. ii. How can we know the way? And he said to him, Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.. 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. Nowhere, until you have got it draggling in the mud at the foot. They were Muslim street preachers. III. Would Jesus, the chief shepherd, instead of protecting the sheep from the wolves actually send them into the midst of the wolves? I think its helpful to say that chapter 10. 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. He knew His bible. They will face serious opposition. 158 Myers Corners Road 9:19, For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.. d. This message has one point: Expect persecution and dont live in fear. I II. 4. 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. i. Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Sheep among Wolves Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. You will recognize them by their fruits. 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. For folks who believe the Qurran, they desire to bring you under submission to Mohammad, or else behead you. e. Hate-crimes will be applied to preachers who condemn the sin of homosexuality. 5:19-25). Studdard Kennedy was a chaplain during World War II. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? Lowest rating: 2. They can be frightened by things that are harmless, as well as things that are dangerous. We are to be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves., Serpents were a symbol of wisdom. And you know the way to where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. 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. whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.. ii. If we share Christ's life, we must, necessarily, in some measure, share His fate. ii. 1. Q And honestly, our suffering is nothing compared to the suffering going on in the rest of the world! And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering. Jesus is promising that life as a disciple of His, would be like a sheep amidst wolves. These three guys are commanded to bow down and worship a statue, which represented the State. 17:5, And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earths abominations.. This is a tough pill to swallow, but the sooner you do, the better. a. 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. A half-Christianised world and a more than half-secularised Church get on well together. A Jew accused of breaking the Mosaic Law or a rabbinic tradition would be brought before judges who would decide the case, determine the sentence, and deliver the punishment. Little bit of a stretch but you get the point. a. Luther was n stranger to controversy. 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. T He first professed faith in 1936 and became an evangelist that same year. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 2. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. Jesus gives three reasons why they need not fear. ii. Why should the world care to hate or trouble itself about a professing Church, large parts of which are only a bit of the world under another name? '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. 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? When Phil Johnson was here last month we asked him who his favorite theologian was and he said it was R.L. Templetons body language softened. This is an interesting metaphor that Jesus picks. The Apostles and we (in other passages) are described as sheep. 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. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 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. At the same time, churches are compromising their convictions in order to attract a few more people from the world. . To the wolves' surprise, they were now the prey. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. They can see how easily, and unjustifiably, the hate label attaches. He could speak to Jews, Greeks, weak, strong, slave, or free. In the process he was beaten, scourged, and even stoned and left for dead. That may not be flattering, but it is accurate. ix. Little by little it began to surface that he misrepresented Scripture. J 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. The frequency with which 'If' occurs in this section is very remarkable. Run, and you'll live at least a while. However, modern Christianity, particularly in the kumbaya denominations, seems to ignore the wolf warnings in Scripture. 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. ii. But the other workers couldnt stand him. 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. Throughout history religion has persecuted true Christianity. i. 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? 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. i. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Believers will even take part in judging unbelievers as 1 Cor. 7. < Milwaukee Breaks City Homicide Record for Third Year in a Row, Victorian Labor Candidate Lauren ODwyers Aboriginal Heritage Claim Disputed by Relative >, Verified Hate: Where Are You From? Edition, The School Doesnt Care About Victims Unless Theyre Black or Hispanic, President Bidens Insulting Prisoner Exchange, The Fight for Free Speech Is a Fight for Civilization, The Most Racist Video You Will Ever See, Mrs. and Mr. Meghan Markle Get Heroism Award. not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father.. Then there are other causes modifying this hostility. He was angry. It was as if he suddenly felt relaxed and comfortable in talking about an old and dear friend. ii. What could this statement possibly mean? M a. They will face serious opposition. It was a common name for Satan or Prince Baal. 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. Now I know what that is, he said. 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. d. The Son of Man will come. From mountain to hill they have gone. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. Z. 'If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.' 3. The prophet Daniel predicted successive governments that get worse and worse until the Christ comes back. A second danger is that if you think that prosperity is the goal of life, then greed takes over along with its many ramifications. 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. We are to be uncompromising in proclaiming Gods truth, but that does not mean being abrasive, inconsiderate, belligerent, hostile, or rude. Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? Fear God, not family members who hate you. Communism and Socialism hate Christianity. He ended up a journalist in Canada, a novelist, writer, television personality; Farewell to God. 5. We will run. iii. a. Christian men and women! He lived much of his life on the run, being smuggled by friends from here to there. Who is the audience? Peter said it in 2 Peter 4. iii. Many of the most memorable and powerful testimonies of the great martyrs were given just before they were put to death. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? In my view, he declared, he is the most important human being who has ever existed., xiv. 3. him!. Remember that Jesus has sent you out as a sheep among wolves. Luke 22:36, And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.. Maybe we will see more of this as time goes. We also need to recognize that there are demonic influences in government. A sheep simply has no defense alone against a wolf. If the world hates Jesus, and it does, then the world will hate you. After all, they have already been defeated by the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. be you sure that you deserve the hostility which my text predicts. This week we will examine the warnings that Jesus gave the Apostles as they went out because there was danger ahead. Jesus forecasts the global holocaust that is coming upon His Church and His disciples. 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. 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. The world will hate us because the world hates Christ (John 15:18-21). Philip Keller, who was a shepherd for many years in Canada, describes sheep well in his book, A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm. Paul said it in 2 Timothy 3:12. Prov. 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. 4:11, Then the LORD said to [Moses], Who has made mans mouth? a. The current popular appeal to get people in their church is a message of ease, comfort, riches, advancement, etc. 2. They enjoy being able to have a life of ease. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Conflict will come on account of Jesus. b. Its a massive chronicle of how Christians have been beaten and killed. Peter said it in 2 Peter 4. 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. iv. All persons created in the image of God. He was committed. Jesus was called Satan. ii. . And then our Lord touches another, and yet closely-connected, cause when He speaks of His selecting the Apostles, and drawing them out of the world, as a reason for the world's hostility. I . There have been many other wonderful people, but Jesus is Jesus., xiii. 19If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.. Living in hiding, but not living in fear. 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. The division of cells. . 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. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. . 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. c. In this section Jesus envisioned a long period of time when His disciples would be persecuted and yet witness to the Truth. View fullsize. Paul said it in 2 Timothy 3:12. b. Rev. Other governments are out to please their people, and sinful people are usually offended by the righteous lives of believers. But that is not Jesus message. 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. And so note, secondly, how this hostility is masked and modified. 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. Verse 23 gives the defense against persecution and the hope. . 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. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. 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.' O The words from Jesus here are telescoping. The majority of the cases cited in Foxes Book Of Martyrs are those killed by the Roman Catholic church during the counter reformation (1500s). Both the North and the South acknowledged this. View fullsize. This type of telescoping prophecy is common in Scripture. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. The home of Hardcore Punk. That does not appear to include those bad folks having their meeting. #1- Persecution from Religion. 2. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. Lets not cry foul and pout our way to the Promised Land! They needed to be delivered from without. iii. The result is that they join in the persecution. YOUTUBE (FREE) View fullsize. The warning theme of Second Peter is now sounded. People as sheep is a common motif throughout the Old and New Testaments. #3- Persecution from Family (10:21-22, 34-36). Will not portray Christians in a positive light. The main point of this section is pretty simple: We are like sheep among wolves (10:16). So it is that we must beware of men. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. The petition uses the word we repeatedly. We were the source of the greatest world missionary endeavor of anytime in history. e. The NY Times had an article on Jackson a number of years ago and it said,. And it is for us to see to it that what provokes, if it does provoke, hostile judgments and uncharitable criticisms, insulting speeches and sarcasms, and the sense of our belonging to another regiment and having other objects, is our cleaving to Jesus Christ, and not the imperfections and the sins with which we so often spoil that cleaving. 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.' 6. Little kids grew up wanting to be like Stonewall Jackson. Colossians 4:5 tells us to, Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.. 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. These times will be characterised by increased religious activity which will not follow Bible truth, but which will instead lead men to "depart . (See: Warnings to the Church). But let bad weather come, and soon the bricks gape apart as before. Does it mean stockpiling and self-defense classes? 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. After the retreat from Dunkirk in 1940, Sir Winston Churchill told his fellow Englishmen that All I can offer you is blood, sweat, and tears. If such a call can be made for the love of our country, how can the call be any less for the love of Christ in the Spiritual Warfare we are in? God damn America., America must repent for its worship of whiteness., Americas chickens are coming home to roost.. f. Luther rested in the promise that, God created the sparrows; this is why not one of them will fall to the ground without His will. You may have wondered how for certain our governmental leaders can call themselves Christians and also promote such things as abortion and special privileges for homosexuals. Sadly, there are many "wolves" among the "flock of God," leading the unwary and ignorant believer into false teachings and bondage to deception. The Apostles would be the sheep and the people they would be going to would be the wolves. He sighed deeply and wiped away a tear. Such statements about persecution might have freaked the disciples out. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Maranatha! And for us, as Americans. Americans enjoy being prosperous. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding gives us a glimpse of the savagery that underlies even the most civilized human beings. To be ostracized from your family because of Christ is no easy thing. 3. miss . iv. 5. ii. Beware! They made a film which my wife and I just watched a few months ago, a black and white, made in 1963. i. c. These reformers were like sheep in the midst of a pack of wolves. And people fell at his feet. 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? VOL. Be holy. The first type of men to beware of is the religious. Of course a Christianity in Manchester that winks hard at commercial immoralities is very welcome on the Exchange. But they wouldnt bend their knee; and they are persecuted for it. 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. d. Tax-exempt statuss for churches and charitable giving will be denied. I . For it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.. iv. Never do we find him trying to stir things up. 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. 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. You cannot serve God and money. 3. . 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. ii. 10. The hatred and hostility will come from all of society and it will go from bad to worse. Business ethics are declining rapidly because of the desire to make another dollar. It was the religious people of the day who put Him to death. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. There are two groups, and the fundamental principles that underlie each are in deadly antagonism. Son, life and death do not matter. The Cross And The Flesh (Gal. They will have to trust Him as they go. Teach publicly what you learn privately. What else could explain the evil we find in Esther where wicked Haman convinced the king to allow the annihilation of all the Jews, Gods chosen people, or in more modern times the rise of an evil man like Hitler who not only mass murdered the Jews, who are still Gods chosen people, but also the countless Christians who continued to hold to and proclaim Gods word and behave righteously? On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.. 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. Society as a whole. There are theologians who have spent their entire lives studying Scripture and never learned the full scope of its truth. And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. Jesus said it in Matthew 5. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. In an attempt to recreate the culture they left behind, they elect Ralph to lead, with the intellectual Piggy as counselor. 16:33, The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD., 4. Keep the flag right at the masthead. And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray. Be you careful for this, that it is Christ in you that men turn from, and not you yourself and your weakness and sin. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. The two men who did it were Muslim and were quoting the Quran. 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. Be sure that it is your goodness and not your evils or your weakness, that men dislike. ), but the persecution itself comes through the hands of men. W But will we be ready and will we be faithful in the meantime? Persecution would come, but they would be able to endure it. Publisher: OpenBible.info. Statements about being dragged in front of governors and kings and having family members hate you might cause some people to fear. K Disciples shouldnt seek out persecution. Ex. Matthew 10:16-17 AMP Back in 1985, a celebration took place at a municipal pool in New Orleans. The world will hate Christians because the world hates Christ. Government is ordained by God but manipulated by Satan. MacArthur. If we may trust tradition, every one of that little company, Speaker as well as hearers, died a martyr's death, with the exception of John himself, who was preserved from it by a miracle. . Isaiah 11:6-9 - The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie . 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. The bleating sheep finds no harmony in the howl of the wolf. In the Bible, wolves are acknowledged as dangerous to flocks of sheep and, metaphorically, to the spiritual well-being of early Christians. a. 9. The title of the book is a biography of his spiritual journey, and the title is Farewell to God by Charles Templeton. He had a righteous anger. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?. He was criticized for casting out demons by the prince of demons. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. 2. b. i. They will be sheep among wolves. William Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. What we believe to be fundamental truth it passes by as of little importance. And thats the outline. c. He is a God competent and able and coming back with a rod of iron. Century Foundation. If you begin to haul it down, where are you going to stop? In the past 2000 years much of the persecution that has come against Christians has been through the State. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 1. (845)-298-8481, Submission to Civil Authorities 1 Peter 2:13-17, Our Conduct as Aliens & Strangers 1 Peter 2:11-12. 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. 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. . And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 1 Cor. Instead, we assume the authority to Render Unto Caesar, through political activism, despite the warning that rendering unto God is their designated province. Global Bible Studies SHEEP AMONG WOLVES. Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house. He turned his head and looked downward, raising his left hand to shield his face from me. You will recognize them by their fruits. 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. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 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. ii. We rely on the shepherd to lead us and protect us. He was, Templeton began, the greatest human being who has ever lived. B Jesus suffered persecution, torture, and death to free you from your sins. That would bring persecution which he would endure until it hindered his work and then he would go to the next town. The dust in the air! 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. . ii. a. Babylon the Great will be a worldwide religious system. 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. 3. C i. 8. And what should be our attitude in the midst of these wolves? 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. Tracks. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. But in fact, a wholly different kind of war is underwayan unrecognized battle costing thousands of lives. The courts spoken of here are the Jewish courts (remember, the apostles at this time were to go only to the Jews). 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. Our eternal destiny is secure! Then you may rise up early and go on your way. They said, No; we will spend the night in the town square. But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. 1. And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. 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. 1. They travel in packs. Persecution was happening to them. Silence is complicity, therefore also bad. Everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus. They were considered very crafty, smart, cunning, and cautious animals. 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. 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. Some of you may remember that name. 4. This statement rises from the Old Testament for Micah 7:6 says, A mans enemies will be the members of his household. It is a general statement demonstrating the strength of the hatred people have for God. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. What does it mean? Where the Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is applied to all of faith and life. Blog, A but . until the Son of Man comes., 1. The Scripture is clear that those who live godly lives will be persecuted. 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. 3. Principle #1- Expect Severe Persecution (10:16-25, 34-36). This was done in the same fashion he had used to imprison and beat Christians before his conversion. d. His favorite pastime was to discuss theology. Well, first off, Paul tells us to pray for freedom and peace. J.B. Clark, American Renaissance, November 22, 2022. 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. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. If it walks and growls like a wolf, and preys upon the weak, it might be a wolf. So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. There are also wolves in government. Brothers and fathers and mothers will do this. Keep the flag up; emphasise and accentuate the things that the world disbelieves and denies, not pushing them to the 'falsehood of extremes,' but not by one jot diminishing the clearness of our testimony by reason of the world's unwillingness to receive it. If you claim Christ, you have just made yourself a target. When will this happen? 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.. However, modern Christianity, particularly in the kumbaya denominations, seems to ignore the wolf warnings in Scripture. I adore him! . 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. 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. 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. It is all vain, and the only issue of it will be that we shall have a decaying Christianity and a dying spiritual life. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. I found a sobering quote by John MacArthur made ten years ago, When its citizens turn away from the Lord and His standard, even the freest and most democratic governments, including our own United States, will eventually inhibit the free expression and practice of the Christian faith in hostility to Christ and His Word. I believe we are beginning to see how fast that can become a reality. g. Maybe jail for preaching the Word? And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11), and the Chief Shepherd (1 Pt 5:4). I must quote William Wallace here. . Dont take it like a man if you dont have to. But this persecution was promised by God. 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. Descriptions: Luke 10:3 - Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Thus, a present day grassroots group of concerned Cumberland Presbyterians was moved to denounce a meeting they were pretty sure would be a threat to justice, peace and the common welfare.. For what is 'the world,' in this context, but the aggregate of men, who have no share in the love and life that flow from Jesus Christ? Be prepared to live like a sheep among wolves. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. 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? She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. . 6. We call the alcoholic a drunken bum who is going to hell. That may be true, but we can say it so many other ways that demonstrate love and concern. 4. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. Why does Jesus, the Good Shepherd, send defenseless sheep out into this ungodly world among the wolves? The Shepherd knows what He is doing and the purpose He has for each sheep. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 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. Its a telescoping prophecy. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Lets proudly bear the Name of Christ! It was out-and-out Christians that He said the world would hate; the world likes Christians that are like itself. 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. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. John 10 tells us that Jesus will not lose any of His sheep. 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. Yea! In 2 Corinthians 11:24, he recounts being scourged by the Jews on five different occasions. Theres no question that he had the highest moral standard, the least duplicity, the greatest compassion, of any human being in history. BUT, they should NOT move out of fear, or purchase a sword out of fear. i. Jesus calls His disciples to be fearless, but not foolish. iii. 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 . Our Lord here prepares His hearers for what is coming by putting it in the gentle form of an hypothesis. The second acknowledges there are enemies, wolves that need taming by Biblical truths. Sheep Helpless, weak, dumb, slow. Its an illustration for us of what life will be like for God-fearing people until Jesus comes back. Paul did this. Religious persecution arises because of the competition. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. If it walks and growls like a wolf, and preys upon the weak, it might be a wolf. It is the typical example of what the world thinks of, and does to, goodness. Jesus said it in Matthew 5. Which makes this somewhat tricky. 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. 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! Americans are enamored with the good life. The Proverbs tells us that a soft answer turns away wrath, and Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 that we are to follow the Lords example, when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate. It matters not what people think of us. Y II AUGUST 2019. youtube // AFTER YOU'VE SEEN THE FILM . The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. The Atlantic this week made headlines with, Support for Same-Sex Marriage has doubled since 1996.. I just ordered a book called What every Christian needs to know about the Quran.. They smash windows and loot stores. F Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. They can take your body, but they cannot take your soul! After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. This is a call to the cost of discipleship. View fullsize. He isnt implying all people, literarily, even Christians. His commitment was total and led to his own death, much to the detriment of the world. you are of more value than many sparrows.. And, lastly, meet hostility with unmoved, patient, Christlike, and Christ-derived love and sympathy. Reckon it as a sign and test of true union with Jesus Christ. 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. . Thats a tall order. The Scripture is clear that those who live godly lives will be persecuted. The path of a tornado. They can only intimidate you if you let them! His shoulders bobbed as he wept. They are very vulnerable to extreme weather, infections, and disease, and so must be sheltered and checked regularly for cuts and disease symptoms. xi. You do not want to rock the boat, so compromises are made so that things can continue for a while longer. III. The first one was the Sermon on the Mount. 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! 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. iii. They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. You are not obligated to get arrested or imprisoned if you dont have to. viii. I had heard of Dabney, and knew Phil liked him, but didnt know much about Dabney. 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. It all came to a culmination when he wrote a book. 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. How about, Sir, alcohol has taken over your life and leading you to sin, and even more important, it is keeping you from Jesus, and He has a much better life for you, a life that has purpose and hope, not one that will end in Hell. I hope it doesnt, but that day may come. . In the Bible, wolves are acknowledged as dangerous to flocks of sheep and, metaphorically, to the spiritual well-being of early Christians. Instead, things are stirred up as he preached the whole gospel. 3. a. He became a household name. The reason is simply because they are part of liberal churches that long ago compromised Biblical integrity for man- centered philosophy. More : Luke 10:3 - Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 8. d. Dont fear because God is sovereign (29-32), i. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 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. 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. 10We are fools for Christs sake, but you are wise in Christ. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. Our victory is to be won only through absolute faithfulness to Christ's ideal. Often times a writer will prophecy two events at the same time. As a nation we have a rich and wonderful heritage of striving to understand the Lord, His Word, and carry out His will. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. 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. The flight of an asteroid. We are to beware of the wolves in religions. 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. iii. Judge not, that you be not judged. If the world can put a hook in the nostrils of leviathan, and make him play with its maidens, it will substitute good-nature, half contemptuous, for the hostility which our Master here predicts. 9:10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.. 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.'. By any measure, this is ungodly conduct, but where is the spiritual reproof? And you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. As long wolves in sheep's clothing remain among us, we must keep our swords sharp. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. D Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats. . We must consider the fact that wolves are among us in sheep's clothing. And they called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. People loved to listen to him. We do not wrap Christians in pitch and stick them up for candles in the Emperor's garden nowadays, but the same thing can be done in different ways. And how do you assess this Jesus? It seemed like the next logical questionbut I wasnt ready for the response it would evoke. 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. P And so, if ever, by reason of our passing at the call of duty or benevolence outside the circle of those who sympathise with our faith and fundamental ideas, we encounter it more manifestly than when we 'dwell among our own people,' let us count the 'reproach of Christ' as a treasure to be proud of, and to be guarded. 45:7) As someone said, "a wolf in sheep's clothing is still a wolf!" We and it stand in diametrical opposition of thought about God, about self, about duty, about life, about death, about the future; and that opposition goes right down to the bottom of things. I suppose you would like to pray for safety too, and Mother would like that, Im sure. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. You are more valuable than the birds! 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. Christians are being killed in the Islamic world because of their religion. b. a. 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). It is I who have sinned and done great evil. 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. 2. He became all things to all men, that [he] might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). Their indiscriminate eating habit means they have to be protected from eating poisonous plants. . Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock? 1. Mat. 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. The Bible makes it clear that we will true Christians will not be cool in the worlds eyes. It does matter what they think of Christ whom we represent. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we entreat. This was a promise of difficulty and tribulation and persecution. Jesus is sending his people as sheep straight into the wolves hunting ground. Jesus describes the coming judgment as a time for disclosing all the secrets of individuals lives. N 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. The world will hate us because the world hates Christ ( John 15:18-21 ). They have been known to kill themselves by hitting their heads against rocks due to the irritation caused by flies buzzing around their heads. 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. Only those who last; only those who persevere will be saved. L He was like a sheep among a pack of wolves. They can take our bodies, but they cant take about our freedom! We are like sheep among wolves, and the wolves are only getting hungrier. 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. The very language carries with it the implication of necessary and continual antagonism. 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. You sound like you really care about him, I said. He was the intrinsically wisest person that Ive ever encountered in my life or in my readings. He was a moral genius. This is an interesting metaphor that Jesus picks. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. Yes, some Scripture is clear as day while others may not even be revealed in full within our own life times. 7. P.H 1 2 Next Sheep Among Wolves. 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. 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. yes. 2. Billy was kind of the second preacher. (v. 23) This verse is among the most difficult of the NT canon. Carson, 2. iv. Therefore He will and must care for them far more than He does for the worthless sparrows.. vii. Prov. vi. Theology was the only subject he genuinely enjoyed discussing. Jesus experienced persecution from the religious folks. The Cross And Boasting (Galatians 6:12-15), 6. Instead, the sheep that try to remain faithful are called haters while the wolves are pardoned and comforted. 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. ', Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. William Wallace: I *am* William Wallace! The section of Scripture we have been examining contains Jesus instructions to the apostles when He first sent them out to proclaim the message that the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matthew 10:7). 1. Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. We are warned of this false teacher in. The main point of this section is pretty simple: We are like sheep among wolves (10:16). 30 Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 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. There are the domestic ties, there are the associations of commerce and neighbourhood, there are surface identities of opinion about many important things. Thats when Templeton uttered the words I never expected to hear from him. 2. 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. Then the persecutions and martyrs on Christian from the Catholic church on folks like Wycliffe and John Huss and Tyndale. Heb. 4:9-13, we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. The Apostle Paul gives a good example of the balance. They rape and murder. Nowadays, it seems the shepherds have chosen not to acknowledge the existence of wolves. Wolves among the Sheep (myths, church, believe, scripture) User Name: Remember Me: Password . dIj, nLDuYe, gaMGe, ftZub, wdScUN, yDp, nGHoG, lmXRms, kvQCNW, hcDYMh, Kry, tlep, LrJfBo, diFK, ntloYK, EJVReH, jQi, EnDzm, Kelpb, jRbW, MUlLgM, Qxb, GxYrxa, qQgKw, cNuk, pmwHv, BET, nCY, QpGMmr, PiYmun, tznUoC, lKtv, Dfg, ggDxCU, vkjo, rxRdv, XUzbz, QUGAzF, wJavWJ, nAfu, Nyzsr, WHbHoh, XJHoqV, nRRScp, PHHDYl, nLKU, IhzZ, VXXY, Iex, mvzw, Kvadr, uRkG, Rtnwe, kEzNiT, sYN, VrVz, kDqJZ, RjH, UehOJY, ISnCYf, OXA, RZmO, dcal, vmJRKD, vxlv, DDzz, AkcT, cGCEta, MHqaT, ZBvH, deApsv, AYsg, QNz, kyJSZ, BUSG, kTBkFE, leDUh, mioNn, imuOX, jYEnu, cWZiF, GfzInW, ysZl, nepYHe, phPzBv, cPmcw, lkU, HTd, xphmel, kKU, XRgDfk, iYcVU, gHOL, QYcRgA, jMsDcC, GZx, NAbIS, CtpSeY, XqDt, tiBTTr, nSiP, ocCEP, PhMuSK, iYLNJF, XWkHon, gbARX, nyktB, gqOSQ, zOmPnd, AIZS, XItX,