"The presence of the wolves demands that ye be wary; the fact that ye are My apostles demands that ye be guileless." - Dr. Morisons
Matthew 10:16 says - "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
The Lord Jesus is speaking in this verse of Scripture. He outrightly states - "Behold, I send you forth..."
It is He Himself Who is acknowledging that He does send forth His disciples - "as sheep in the midst of wolves."
Here we see that the seemingly defenseless are being sent among the fierce and cruel. They are sent into the midst of foes and dangers - amidst a cold, unfriendly, hostile world.
Alexander MacLaren offers this word of assurance - "If the Shepherd sends His sheep into the midst of wolves, surely He will come to their help, and surely any peril is more courageously faced when they can say to themselves, 'He put us here.' "
Also, A Popular Commentary on the New Testament added this statement - "Only His sheep can successfully encounter wolves."
As a Christian (one of God's sheep), you presently live in the "midst of wolves." You can find them in the White House as well as in the Church House.
The question is - can you recognize the wolf in your midst?
Allow me to give you some of its characteristics to help you in your detection.
Especially to the sheep (God's people - the Christian), the "wolf" is an oppressor...a persecutor...a fierce and furious, voracious and ravenous, cruel and hurtful "beast." He is a seducer - apt and willing to execute mischief against the child of God. He is sharp-sighted - can see in the darkest places and times. He is most crafty and deceitful - invading the flock - especially in "dark or cloudy" times. He uses baits and strategems to allure the sheep to come within the danger of his "fellows."
One reference book offered a rather intriguing feature of the wolf that is worth your undivided attention. It said that if a wolf sees a man first, that man loses his voice and cannot cry out. However, if a man sees a wolf first, the beast loses both his voice and courage.
It is crucial that you "see" or discern the "wolf" first. If a man looks like a "wolf," talks like a "wolf," smells like a "wolf," and hangs out with other "wolves," then you better believe it that he is a - "WOLF"! It is so important that you see him as such - and not deny reality - because you want him - so badly - to be a "sheep." If you ignore his "signs" or traits identifying him as a "wolf," there is a good chance that you will "lose your voice" - your sound doctrine...freedom of speech...or right to preach the Gospel and teach the Word of God.
Another very interesting feature of the wolf is that it mightily dreads fire and swords.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says - "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)"
In my research, I discovered that one of the ways to survive a "wolf" attack is to - "light a fire."
Zechariah 2:5 offers reassurance to each and every Christian with these words - "For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."
In other words, God's Presence - as the "fire" and the "glory" - is a defense and security for His people who live in the "wilderness" of this world where they are met - on a daily basis - with the danger of "wild beasts." The "fire" and the "glory" of His Presence is most amazing, dreadful, and terrible to an enemy - being dangerous to attack and approach unto.
The volume entitled - Preaching from the Types & Metaphors of the Bible - had this to say in comment - "Those that are environed round about with a Wall of Fire, are very safe in the midst of the greatest multitude of evil beasts. Nothing will keep off cruel and devouring beasts, but a Wall of Fire...Those that are surrounded on every side by the power, wisdom, and merciful providence of the Almighty God, this great Wall of Fire, need not fear devils, nor brutish men, though never so cruel and bloody."
Besides dreading fire, the wolf also dreads the sword.
Ephesians 6:17 identifies the "sword" which the child of God has for his defense against this ruthless beast - "And take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Before going further in this teaching, allow me to interject one more fact. In surviving a wolf attack, one thing that was mentioned was to "make a lot of noise." Wolves howl as a group to claim their territory. When you "make a lot of noise," they see it as you "claiming your territory." If in a group, you are to sing and shout together as much as possible. The "wolf" understands what's going on!
Psalm 149:5-9 says - "Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all His saints. Praise ye the LORD."
So, how do you drive out the "wolf"? First of all, you identify him as a "wolf." You speak out against him - allowing the Truth to expose him for what he is. You "practice" the Presence of the Lord (keeping sin out and acknowledging Him in all your ways) in your life, home, family, ministry, and church. He, in turn, will be a "wall of fire" around you and yours. You make a lot of noise - individually or corporately as a church - with your "high praises" and the confession and claiming of the promises of God on your behalf and against your enemies.
By way of testimony, allow me to share a true story with you of a Romanian brother-in-Christ who - in the mountains - encountered a "lone wolf" coming at him - which was starving and scrawny-looking. This brother-in-Christ somehow knew to start yelling with a very high-pitched voice. (He yelled so loudly that he lost his voice for two weeks). It worked - for rather than attack him (which it should have done because it was starving) - the wolf ran away.
The Holy Spirit is seemingly saying to the Church - "The wolf is in your midst. Shout unto God with the voice of triumph! Let the high praises of God be in your mouth, and a two-edged sword in your hand. I will then be a Wall of Fire around you - in order to drive him away."
In closing, the Lord Jesus also gave His people - who would find themselves in the midst of "wolves" - another instruction in Matthew 10:16 when He said - "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
What did He mean by this - "be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves"?
Jesus was telling His disciples that their safety depended upon their guilefulness and guilelessness.
On one hand, they would need to be guileful or prudent - having the practical skill of ordering wisely their life - being watchful of occasions and skilful of adjustments - having mental alertness and keenness of observation - knowing when to act and when to refrain... when to speak and when to keep silent.
On the other hand, they would need to be guileless - having no schemes, no under-intentions, and no reserve - while being sincere, pure, genuine, truthful, unmixed, unadulterated, and free from the mixture of selfish motives.
In a sense, this is what Jesus was saying - "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves... The way you will make it is by combining the two (2) characteristics that I mentioned to you - 'being wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.' You will run into danger when you select one to the neglect of the other."
Because they did not heed the Master's warning - through over-confidence, many - in the past - have committed themselves to the first hypocrite. On other occasions, the goodness of their heart led them astray. And then again, at other times, they hurried on to do something that should have been done gradually.
When in the midst of a "wolf" or "wolves," the child of God must be discerning, watchful, alert, keen, and skillful on the one hand, and be genuine, pure, sincere, truthful, and without hypocrisy or mixture on the other.
This is how he is to conduct himself. This is how he will remain "safe" in the midst of such "evil."
Jesus called for the union of prudence and simplicity.
The Biblical Illustrator said - "Some Christians are simple without having prudence; some are prudent without simplicity."
It also said - "This beautifies a Christian, when he hath the serpent's eye in the dove's head. We must have the innocency of the dove, that we may not betray the truth; and the wisdom of the serpent, that we may not betray ourselves."
Once again, we ask you - can you recognize the wolf in your midst? Do you even know he exists?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved