Sheep Among Wolves.
Matthew 10:16-17AMP
Back in 1985, a celebration took place at a municipal pool in New Orleans. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans City pool. In honor of the occasion, 200 people gathered, including 100 certified lifeguards. As the party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, 31, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season.
Our Lord warned His disciples to prepare for persecution. You’re surrounded by wolves. Be willing to suffer for Jesus’ sake, suffer for friends, and even be willing to suffer for the enemies of the cross.
In Matthew 10, Jesus hand picks His disciples and He’s seems ready to teach them, and allow them to share His load.
Jesus states in, Matthew 10:16-17AMP “Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda]. 17 Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues;
Always remember, Only in Jesus’ world do meek and lowly sheep prevail over wolves. PH
Jesus warns His—disciples, “I’m putting you out, or I’m commissioning you to live like sheep among hungry wolves.”
The Message Bible paraphrases the words of Jesus, Matthew 10:16-17TM “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. 17 Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.“Don’t be naive. Some people will question your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in Me.
This morning, I have three powerful points to give you regarding todays text:
1. It’s not about me; it’s not about you, it’s all about Jesus.
Your life mission is, to be like sheep running through a pack of wolves. How?
Your faith is a journey. Keep your joy level high. Remember, it’s the Lord’s joy…
Notice, Jesus states, as you run through the Wolfpack, don’t call attention to yourselves.
Why? Again, because it isn’t about you!
Right now—Lift up the name of Jesus!
That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote in, Romans 7:24-25ESV Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
The Apostle Paul was saying, “Thank God, it’s not about me!”
2. Jesus is worth it—He’s worth everything!
Jesus taught—be willing to lose everything for this pearl of great price.. Seek the pearl.
Whatever, and whoever you may face—Jesus is worth it!
Listen to these historical God breathed facts from, Acts 4:18-20TM They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to— you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”
Verse 18, states that they ordered Peter and John bluntly…(They)—They are the wolves.
One question—What have you seen and heard?
It took true grit for Jesus's disciples to state—“Jesus is our final answer!”
Again, whatever you might go through, or face throughout your entire life, Jesus is worth it!
You know, when we receive instructions from Jesus, we really should consider following them. Think for a moment, Jesus would never speak on a subject He hadn’t lived and practiced.
Going back to the text, Matthew 10:16, Jesus commands, Stay wise—be wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove.
Jesus is saying, Don’t allow sheep to drown, or fall into a hole, because of some ole wolf, (devil).
Once more, Jesus is worth everything. Jesus should put everything into perspective for you, for everyone.
Again, It’s not about me, it’s all about Jesus!
3. Jesus expects you to prevail. In fact, He paid for you to prevail.
Matthew 10:17TM “Don’t be naive. Some people will question your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me.
This I know, God’s word teaches, “If you have faith in Jesus, you will prevail.” P.H
Matthew 16:18KJV Jesus say’s to Peter, 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Upon the revelation that Jesus is Lord, Jesus promises to build His church.
Sheep among wolves, still Jesus expected his disciples to prevail. In the history of the— world, no sheep has ever won a fight with a wolf. The very idea is insane.
However, If you treasure Jesus’ name, and you’re serious, you will prevail. P.H
I read this a while back—The State of Montana once offered a bounty of $5,000 for every wolf captured alive. So two hunters named Sam and Jed decided to head for the hills and make some money capturing wolves. Day and night they scoured the mountains and forests searching for their valuable prey. After three days of hunting without any success, they both fell asleep and let their campfire burn out. Sam suddenly woke up in the middle of the night to find that he and Jed were surrounded by a pack of fifty wolves, with flaming red eyes and sharp teeth, snarling at the two hunters and preparing to pounce. So Sam nudged Jed and said, "Hey, wake up! We’re gonna be rich!"
Backing up and looking at, Matthew 10:1-4ESV And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Today, Jesus still expects His sheep to live and prosper among wolves.
Matthew 10:5-7KJV These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
“Everyone you meet, make them aware that God’s Kingdom is at hand.” P.H
Look at how specific the Lord was in commanding His disciples to go soul winning.
• Jesus told them where to go. “Lost sheep of the house of Israel” (And then His final command before He goes into heaven). —Go ye out and make disciples…
Jesus told them what to say. “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus is coming—Be loving, Be meek, Be— peaceful, Be hungry for righteousness, Be gentle, Be wise and harmless.
Then He gave these very specifics instructions, He said, “And as ye go”
Notice, He does not say:
• “If you go,”
• “When you go,”
He said “As you go!”
Remember—Go, Set, Ready!
It’s very important to realize that If Jesus is not the answer to the human condition, there is no answer.
Jesus commands His 12 disciples—Matthew 10:7, As you go, preach, saying…
What are you saying?
Everywhere you go—Herald, Praise, Sing, and Say the gospel. —The gospel is faith.
Listen to this final word, If you want to go deep, go with Jesus; You can’t go any deeper than Jesus.
Benediction.
