Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT2)
He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.” Matthew 10:16-17 (NKJV)
Did you know sheep have no chance of survival when they are in the middle of a wolf pack?
– Sheep cannot run fast
– They do not have sharp teeth, claws or a powerful jaw
– They cannot scare an enemy with a loud roar or howl
Sheep have only one hope to defeat the wolves and that is by staying close to their shepherd and crying for help when in need. And without the supernatural protection of the Good Shepherd Jesus and His power to defeat the wolves sent to destroy Christians they cannot survive or see their communities changed.
Here is the fact, our weakness is our greatest strength!
“My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
We must be wise…
The Lord did not send us to be eaten by the wolves – but outsmart them!
Our goal in life should be to reach as many people for Jesus as possible, not just survive the wolves!
Yes He warns there will be wolves to attack us, bur human efforts will be ineffective and frustrating without God’s supernatural power or we will fail to reach them for Christ.
“Therefore be wise as serpents…”
1/ snakes use perception and cleverness to avoid confrontation with enemies and to catch prey
“A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3 (NKJV)
Wolves leap on unwise words and use them against you.
“All day long they twist my words and trouble my affairs; all their thoughts are against me for evil and my hurt.” Psalms 56:5 (AMP)
2/ The harvest is on God’s mind
Physical ears only hear a certain range of sounds
Spiritual ears can discern the voice of the Lord
“Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand… Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, … Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed,
But blessed are your… ears for they hear;”
Matthew 13:13-16
