Sheep Among Wolves 4/28/2024

 Matthew 10:11-20 nkjv11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! 16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

❓When have you ever felt like you had to turn the other cheek❓❓ That because of your faith, someone has taken advantage of you (and you let them)❓

💥 I don’t know of anyone who became a Christian because they wanted to become a sheep!

• In war, no one that I know of has said, “Send in the sheep to take that hill”
• No one uses sheep to guard their house or keep them safe.
• No one has ever heard of a “dogsheep” but I believe everyone knows what a sheepdog is!

⭐   It’s our pride that demands we make a stand.

• Defend ourselves
• Be brave and strong   
• More than conquerors 
• Standing with the armor of God.   We like the armor part, especially the Sword of the Spirit.

⭐   But to become sheep, we pass right over that.

💥   Bottom line is WE DON’T WANT TO BE SHEEP AMONG WOLVES!

• Warriors - Defenders - Powerful

FACT:

➣   It is not a call to become a coward.  ( More strength Martin Luther King Jr.) 

👉  ****  Nonviolence is a powerful weapon. Indeed it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and gives great power to the man that holds it”

👉  ****  Non violence not only avoids physical violence but also internal violence of Spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you also refuse to hate him!.     

A.   It’s a call to become Christlike.  (Lamb of God) Jn 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

• Not the King, Conqueror, General or Warrior….  but the LAMB 

B.  Be wise (Use wisdom as strength and weapon to defuse evil) v16) Therefore be wise as serpents……..  Avoid trouble and being drawn into an unnecessary fight. (We don’t always have to have an answer, have the last word, or be right all the time.)  2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they produce strife.     

C.   Be harmless ( How be be gentle, peaceful, caring to all) v16)  Helping, kind, inviting     

D.    Be careful not to hate. (The pain, divisions, and destruction that human pride causes) v16) and harmless as doves.         Hurt people hurt people.  Angry people cause people to be angry.We are called:

     1.   To stay sheep! v16) 16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

• How people will see Christ in us.  Not the warrior but the Lamb.
• Change happens more quickly through peace than coercion
• Jesus - Mother Tereasa - Martin Luther King, Jr. 

     2.   Obey the Shepherd: Jn.10  the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 

• Hear My voice and follow Me!
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  • A stranger they will not follow.

     3.  Run to the Shepherd.  Watch His response. 

• Trust the Shepherd to feed us in the presence of our enemies.
• Watch over us and keep us.
• Comforted by the staff and rod.

          Wise as serpents.  Avoid evil and danger and only strike in certain situations     

     4.   Be peacemakers:  Have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

• v11)  12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
• We are to have the sheep character. 
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  • Non threatening
  • Not dangerous
  • Gentle - peaceable - vulnerable - submissive

NOT “Walk gently but carry a big stick”

Result:

I.     Power in what we preach: v14-15) 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! 

• As we yield to listen and follow Christ, He anoints what we say and do.
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  • For those who receive it, receive the power of God
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    • To be saved, changed, healed and delivered from death and sin.
    • Get to see miracles that others don’t.

II.     Keep preaching the gospel of truth and peace, no matter how the world responds. v19-20) 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

• Keep speaking what God tells you to say!  He will speak through us as sheep!

     ⭐ Funny how the world will respond to the sheep! 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

•  Don’t become a wolf!   Shake the dust off - Don’t burn the house down.  
• 👉  It’s not about how we are treated but how we treat others that matters to God

III.     Receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. vs20) 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

• We will be given peace.v 13)  Let your peace return upon you.

The abiding presence of God as we are rejected by the worldThe comforting powerful voice of God abides within usGiven the truth in the midst of confusion and chaos