Today we are continuing
with the directives of Jesus, as he spoke to his apostles before sending them out. Jesus said, “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking- it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.” Matthew 10:16-23 There is so much packed in these words! Let me see if I can do them justice. First - what does he mean “sheep among wolves”? Basically, the sheep are people who believe in Christ who hear and obey the words of God’s Spirit. And the wolves do not. This is why God tells us to beware of wolves in sheep clothing because people will be appear to be Christian, but they are not. They like to stir the pot, Such is the mission of witches and warlocks. Shrewd as snakes means they will need sharp judgment, and have to rely on senses that do not come from the flesh. Harmless as doves is self-explanatory - Is means they will need to be gentle and not harm someone else’s salvation. But beware! Jesus warns them they will be turned over to the courts and the synagogues, both man-made constructions, not built by God. Jesus tells them not to worry because it’s an opportunity to bring the message of salvation - and that God will be speaking out of their mouths. He goes on to tell them about the division that will happen, starting in families and spreading through nations. He says they will hate you because you believe that I Am - God in the flesh who came to the earth to set his children free. They will hate you because you take scripture into your heart, and you believe that my Word cannot be set apart. He tells them not to push but to go their own way, when a town or a person does not want them to stay. The last part of this section has me totally confused, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.” I’m not sure what Jesus means? Can someone help a sister out? Does he mean when he returns from the dead, before ascending back into Heaven? Or does he mean when he returns to create his physical Kingdom, in Jerusalem, at his second coming? And what does he mean before “they reach all the towns of Israel?” Did the apostles go to every Israeli town before going out of their nation to spread the Good News? Or does it mean the message being carried will reach future generations when the Israelites will turn from their ways to create the 144,000 who have their Father's name written on their foreheads as foretold by John in the book of Revelation. This passage reminds me of Luke 12, verses 49-59. If you get a chance to go and read it, It may help you out! Jesus said to be ready for His return, and in Luke 12 this is a portion of what he said, “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against - or two in favor and three against.” Luke 12:49-52 I believe that Jesus is sovereign. He came to divide the wolves from the sheep. He is the great shepherd, and his sheep respond to his voice, Do you hear him? #Maranatha
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