Sheep among Wolves: What to Expect, Part 2

Today on Insight for living from Chuck Swindoll. Truth be told, maybe many believers live in a world of fear, fearful of what may happen fearful of what is happening. Fearful of it happening to anyone of us don't be afraid of those who threaten you. Don't be afraid of those who want to kill, fear, command was very simple. Jesus used two words he said follow me. That's exactly what the disciples did later.

However, Jesus sent the disciples into hostile territory, giving them the authority to minister in his name. They were met not with open arms, but heavy resistance call the disciples sheep among wolves today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll helps us understand the second phase disciples ministry and its implications for us today, Chuck titled today's message sheep among wolves want to ask someone is wisely written that we do not need today, more intelligent Christians or better educated Christians are richer Christians.

What we need deeper Christians think of the analogy of a deep deep River that flows not just why DD Ms. Weibel for prayer, search your soul. Ask yourself, am I growing deeper or just busy here just more involved but with speak to us today our father as if we were alone with you in this room and we will count on you to talk straight not mince words, but to address things that need to be faced. Guard us from racing away from what you were saying but pausing and letting it sink in short, the value our father in a day of superficiality. The value of depth going growing deeper into life with you, pacing our steps according to your guide shaping our decisions based on your instructions. Find us faithful to listen better than we speak to obey better than we lead maybe be our father, deeper Christians in our walk like a D deep River we gather this morning at that River where you speak to us through your word may we hear it well and maybe respond without hesitation. We are awash as a nation we are rapidly going farther were stray from the truth that once made us great. So our father breakthrough, we pray, with new leadership with courageous counselors who will speak the truth to those who guide us as a state as a nation may those who lead be sensitive to what you are saying and care less about political correctness and much more about biblical correctness. We are reading today of times of persecution and I pray that you will steal us as you deepen us for what lies before us quite likely in our own lifetime holders close make a strong drive us deep.

We pray these things and we give these gifts in the name of Christ, who loved us and went to the cross for us and everyone said amen study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll sure to download his searching the Scriptures.

Studies by going to Insight world.org/studies another message from Chuck about sheep among wolves what to expect. Remember his first command follow me. He said to a group who were working with fishing nets.

I will make you fishers of men.

But right now you follow me, and they do they listen when he spoke. They watched as he healed, they marveled, as you raise the dead, they struck back with mouths open as he cast out demons. He was doing it all and they were in the shadows watching leader. Followers until we get to the 10th chapter of Matthew, but reread not only of his selecting these 12 who were named Boris verses two through four the very next statement we read Jesus sent them out down in verse 16.

Look, I'm sending you out at this point he feels he is spraying them sufficiently to take responsibility for sure verse one tells us he empowered them he gave them authority over demons.

He gave them the ability to heal every kind of disease and every kind of illness but they have not done it. Not until he sent them out. Mark six verse seven tells us that he sent them out to do all 2 x 2 so they went out in groups of two, six groups, six pairs of them went out into the real world no longer mere followers, but now in a real sense, the wonder is command. They are on their own when your loved to been a bug of the wall in places where they began to do what he had done and that was the spirit of God work through them to carry out the very things they had only seen the master accomplish the love. These men because he did. He told them what to do and what not to do. He told him where to stay and were not to stay, they would have to be discerning, they would have to determine if it was a good place for them or not. If it was a town that rejected and noticed what he calls it.

Your message not in verse 14. If they reject your Matt is no longer my message. You're now carrying it and he dispatches them to do what he had been doing. They are following Jesus, for sure, but they're now doing it without his presence around them solely because he loves them and cares about them.

He pauses to prepare them with very carefully chosen word. I like the way verse 16 began, I would like to render it, listen up. Pay attention. Look was the next sentence I'm sending you out as she among wolves. This is kind of a reverse strategy. Normally, wolves come into sheep pens. But now is having the sheep leave the plan and go out among the wool was pause and think about the two analogy.

First, the sheep their vulnerable their defenseless there easily frightened but often go astray, and I might as well say they are incredibly stupid. The problem is when they spray they become a hot meal for the wolves because wolves never stray. They run in packs where you find one you'll find many wolves or aggressive wolves are vicious wolves or cunning their unafraid. In fact, Scripture uses interesting words just before the word wolf savage wolves, ravenous wool wolves are predators. When you walk among wolves are walking in the combat so he says to them men, listen up your sheet. I know your sheep and I am your defense. I know that you could never on your own take on wolves. That's why I'm here with you and I give you the power to deal with the wolves.

But please remember you are to be as shrewd as another couple of analogies as shrewd as snakes and harmless us. Think about that one thing about a snake pretty clever, very patient everywhere cautious, discerning, smart, you may look like a sheep but you need to think like a snake.

Be discerning, stay smart, don't be gullible eyes wide open, shrewd as serpents.

But if that's all there is to it. You will become ugly, argumentative belligerence, stubborn, so we says you're to be harmless as the gentle like disarmingly powerful weapons when dealing with wolves and other warnings that follow or for you to read and analyze. I haven't the time to do much in that I was simply give the overview first.

You can expect as he speaks to his apostles. Religious persecution look at this, you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogue and you didn't misread it.

This is religious persecution.

When you encounter fellow Jews and they are all Jews. These disciples when you encounter fellow Jews, they will hate you because of me. Shocking information, but designed to prepare them so they won't be surprised religious persecution why the serpent harmless as doves. Next, you could expect national punishment or governmental punishment look at this verse 18.

Your stand trial before governors, that would be a reference to Pilate. Festus and Felix to name specific governors. You will be standing trial before Kings that would be the to Agrippa's and Herod Antipas and other monarchs mentioned in the New Testament. Why look closely because you are my followers.

Relevant stuff isn't it. When you read of those who are at the point of the knives and spears and the bombs of the terrorists, they are often punished because they follow Christ. Those who lead, often terrorist acts are attacking those who were Christians because we are numbered among those who follow Christ. He says it right here because you are my followers.

But what will this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me when you're arrested what the words don't worry about how to respond or what to say God would give you the right words at the right time.

No reason to prepare your speech or put it together in a very carefully worded manner. I'll give you the words you speak it will be the spirit of your father speaking through you know what to say this humorously I heard students claim these verses before taking an exam. That's out of context. But I no reason to study God will give me the thoughts and God will give me the word greatly for that failure. So don't go there is not for students is for those facing governmental persecution that the context, the father will speak through you as you make me know about this next one. Family persecution Brother will betray brother, father, will betray his own child. Children will be rebel against their parents, and cause them to be kill all nations will hate you look at the next statement because you are my followers reminds me of a line, John 15, would you take your time to turn their turn ahead to the fourth gospel John 15 beginning at verse 18.

Look at what Jesus says in another setting. If the world hates you.

Remember, it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own. If you belong to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you, you remember what I told you slave is not greater than his master. Since they persecuted me naturally, they will persecute you. If they had listened to me they would listen to you. They will do all this because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me, look at that we are living to see the fulfillment of this right now.

It will be increasingly more fulfilled in the days yet future and it was fulfilled in the days of the apostles.

Though there are various fulfillments along the way. But remember the word the command of verse 19 back to Matthew 1019, don't worry about how you were to respond to the next when you're some wisdom. Verse 23. When you are persecuted in one town fleet to the next.

I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you erase all the towns of Israel as those of the initial calling of the apostles.

Suitors are not greater than their teacher and the slaves are not greater than their master. You are to be like your teacher and sleeves are to be like your master inside the master of the household been called the prince of demons, the members of the household will be called by even worse name society will hate you. This is an paranoia.

This is prophetic teaching. There will be those who will hate you in the realm of your culture. Family members will resent you. Some of you could tell your own horror stories. The great temptation is to be afraid of what's ahead back to the passage verse 26.

Don't be afraid of those who threaten you. Verse 28.

Don't be afraid of those who want to kill verse 2031. Don't be afraid or you not more valuable to God than a flock. Do not fear this is the most common command given in the New Testament. Fear not, fear not.

The truth be told, many, many believers live in a world of fear, fearful of what may happen fearful of what is happening. Fearful of it happening to anyone of us turned from here and hold your place but go to the letters to Timothy go 1st to 1st Timothy chapter 4, first Timothy four. Now, the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last time someone will turn away from the true faith they will follow deceptive spirits teachings that, from demons and noticed one of the television series titled Lucifer.

You see more and more of that. Let that shock you. You simply know we are in the very times that the Lord spoke up, look at second Timothy chapter 3 verse one you should know this Timothy in the last days there will be very difficult times that were difficult is a rather soft rendering of a term that could be handled violent, savage times it's rendered perilous in the old King James Bible. That's better than difficult. I remember 50 or more years ago when I began my ministry I spoke of all of this is yet future. You know when I read the passage I'm often tempted to read that in these last days difficult times have come. We are in. What is it like verse two.

People will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud and scoffing at God, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, they will consider nothing sacred.

Look at this. This is the newspaper of yesterday morning or evening. This is the newscaster last night unfolding imprint right here in our eyes they will consider nothing sacred. They will be on loving unforgiving. They will slander others there will have no self-control that will be cruel and hate what is good, they will betray friends they will be reckless puffed up with pride and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly stairway from people like that verse 12. Talk about a statement for today. Yes, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution halfway through a message from Chuck Swindoll from Matthew chapter 10 about a bold warning from Jesus that we are living as sheep among wolves.

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Chuck Swindoll continues to explain what Jesus meant by calling as sheep among wolves. Join us again Thursday to hear insight for living. The preceding message sheep among wolves what to expect, was copyrighted in 2016 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R.

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