Vulnerable: How God Sends Us Out As Sheep Among Wolves
As Sheep Among Wolves
Jesus says,
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”
It is risky to be vulnerable
I cannot think of anything more vulnerable than a sheep among a pack of wolves. Wolves eat sheep and sheep have no defense against these predators who see them a nothing more than a meal. Wolves take their very lives, thinking nothing of it.
Likewise, Christ sends us out among our brethren (which was the Jews in those days) and warns warns us to beware. Some, like Saul, bring us before authorities and treat us unjustly. Furthermore some, like the Jews of Paul’s day, seek to use the legal system, both religious and secular, to try to stop what God is doing through us. Jesus says that we will give an account by the Holy Spirit for a testimony against such people in the last judgement. God Himself will speak through us and give an answer to their accusations. Yet for all that, God still sends us forth to do His will and speak His word.
What God shares is very important
What God wants to do is very important. Though Jesus could command more than twelve legions of angels, the son of God still allowed himself to be nailed to the cross. Why?, because the fate of world rested on his willingness to become a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Without Jesus taking our place and bearing our punishment, no one could be saved. Therefore, Jesus made himself vulnerable, for our sake, to death by torture and, even worse, risked separation from his Father for eternity.
In similar manner, but to an infinitely lesser degree, God sends us out among the wolves of our day, religious folk, to speak the truth also. Our Father does this because, though we are but sheep, it is so important that people know about Jesus, God feels it is worth the risk. Without our willingness to risk much, many will not hear the gospel.
The current world of God is always persecuted
Personally, I do not like the thought of becoming vulnerable to religious wolves. I have faced the most vehement persecution from Christians who, rather than love me as they should in Christ, chose instead to hate me. Wolves are pitiless when it comes to sheep and religious people are often no better. When you get a legalistic person outside their doctrinal box, they bare their teeth.
However, as dangerous as religious wolves may be, we must speak the truth so that others may hear and believe. What many don’t realize is that the truth that God wishes to emphasis today is not the truth that He has emphasized before. In western societies, owning a Bible in the common tongue or preaching salvation by faith is no longer dangerous. Even speaking in other tongues or believing that God is one will not get you in much hot water. What God does nowadays though, if you dare speak it, makes you vulnerable to the wolves of our generation. Speaking current revelation still costs a lot.
The Present Testament is always controversial
What I write, according to God’s grace, is what He is saying presently to His people. By speaking truth, I make myself vulnerable so that some may hear what our Father says to this generation. Here is a truth,
“You cannot speak current revelation and protect yourself from wolves at the same time.”
Whenever People speak a Present Testament to God’s sheep, wolves are always present.
I have chosen to be vulnerable even knowing that their are wolves among God’s sheep. Jesus says, “A servant is not greater then his master”. We know, religious people hated Jesus because he spoke God’s word. Likewise, religious people will hate us also if we dare to speak God’s word too. However, we understand that the risk is worth the eternal reward. In fact, believers daring to share God’s current word is the essence of evangelism.
Even though it costs you, speak the truth
In conclusion, God’s current word today is as controversial as it has been in the past. People refusing to hear God’s voice always consider revelation radical. To follow Jesus is always to be at odds with those who don’t. To be his sheep is always to be among wolves.
Finally, speak the revelation God gives you even though wolves are present. Accept the possibility of ridicule in order to share His word. Follow after the example that our Savior set and do the will of God whatever the cost. In this, if we remain faithful, we become the sons of God. Amen.
HI all,
This is a responce to the critisism of a essay that I posted on a Facebook Group. I usually don’t respond to virtrolic trolling, however, in this instance I thought it was appropriate give an answere to their generic objections.
A Sword of Division
I guess Jesus really did come to bring a sword of division. I believe that we are all just hurting people in need of God’s love and compassion. Even those who rail and curse need the love of God to help them understand too. From their perspective, they are defending the God they love. While generally faithful saints, in this particular situation, they may not know what spirit they are of.
Intimacy does not always mean sex. This is a lie from the pit of hell and one that the Devil has worked over time to implant in our minds. Due to this association many Christians fear to open up and be human to one another. Therefore, people who need affection go without because we will not allow God to love through us in the way they need.
Remember, God made intimacy. Our Father knows how we work and therefore, as we are led by His Holy Spirit, we can show the appropriate level of love to those around us, not of out carnal desire, but out of pure agape love.
I do not know why some think that everything ends up in sex. I believe that fornication and adultery are wrong. God has not changed His mind on those points. I think, that some may feel, that if given half a chance at such intimacy as I describe in my writings, they would surely fall into sexual temptation. They do not trust themselves and, therefore, they do not trust anyone else.
When the Holy Spirit leads you can lay your head on Jesus’s bosom and there be nothing wrong with it. When the Holy Spirit fills with joy, though others may judge, you can strip down and dance before the Ark naked and be pleasing to our Lord. When you love with a pure love you can show affection to a hurting brother or sister in Christ and never think about sinning in the flesh. This is the liberty of the sons of God as they walk in the Spirit. Here is a truth,
“To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are impure, even holy things seem dirty.”
What some object to is that I do not “limit” what God can or will do. People, who do not trust themeselve or God, want guidelines, boundaries, rules, etc. This all started in the Garden of Eden when Eve added her own rules to what God said. When God said that “thou shalt not each, Eve added neither shalt thou touch.” Since that time, man only feel comfortable by living though added to what God says. However, as we mature in Christ our boundaries become defined by His Holy Spirit, namely, whatever God says to do. There are no boundries except the ones that the Holy Spirit sets at the time He sets them. If you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the lower nature. Christ let a woman wash his bare feet with her hair and sinned not. As we are led by the Holy Spirit we can do acts of similar intimacy and never sin either.
Let us grow up and allow God to reveal Himself in and through us as He desires. If God can ask you to die as a martyr, surely you can allow Him to hold another brother or sister if that is His will. I literally hugged a sister in the lord one time on the very day she had decided to commit suicide. Later, she told me that because I did that (for fifteen minutes after church service) she felt Gods love and decided to live. Read the whole story here,
http://www.thefinalfeast.com/power-hug/
It is a time of love in God and that implies both spiritual and, as a God leads, physical intimacy. It is a holy thing and frankly what most need and want. To the pure all things are pure so let God love through you purely so that others may be set free.
God bless,
Michael