Sheep In Wolf Country
Matthew 10:16
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the
midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as
doves.
Introduction:
A. We find two animals mentioned in this verse:
1. Sheep. God's people.
2. Wolves. Satan's people.
B. Why God's people are compared to sheep. Why did He use this
animal to represent us?
1. Sheep are wayward.
Isa. 53:6 All we like the sheep have gone astray; we
have turned everyone to his own way.
a. The nature of a sheep is to wander away from the shepherd and the
fold.
b. When they go astray they cannot find their way back. A horse, a
dog, a cat can find their way back home, but a sheep cannot.
2. Sheep are weak.
a. Other animals have a way of protecting themselves. They can bite,
claw, scratch, run. But a sheep is defenseless.
C. Here we are now; poor helpless, wayward sheep, in wolf country.
The wolf is vicious. Also the wolves are constantly on the search
for sheep.
I. Sheep Must Stay Close To The Shepherd While In Wolf Country
A. The only safe place for a sheep to be while in wolf country is
near the Good Shepherd.
Psa. 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod
and thy staff they comfort me.
B. For this reason we are admonished to stay close to God at all
times.
Jas. 4:8a Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to
you.
1. A little girl, who was afraid of the dark, would not go to sleep
when she was in her own bed at night. The father and mother adopted
this plan: they would let her go to bed with them, and then when she
went to sleep they would move her to her bed. She was not afraid
when with her parents. There is nothing to fear when we are close to
our Shepherd.
II. Sheep Must Be Careful And Watch Out For Wolves
A. It frightens me when I see God's people playing around with
things that belong to the wolves.
1. We had better be careful about running around with the wolves.
2. We had better be careful about acting like them.
3. We had better be careful about talking their language.
III. What Happens When Wolves Catch A Sheep?
A. Samson got caught. See him: bound, grinding, blind. We might call
this the binding, grinding, blinding effects of sin.
B. David got caught. He was at home, looking at a naked woman when
he should have been on the battlefield with his men.
1. Dear Christian when you stay home on church night and watch
pornographic shows you are almost sure to get caught by the wolves.
You and I need to make a covenant with our eyes.
Psa. 101:3a I will set no wicked thing before mine
eyes.
C. Elimelech took his family and moved down into Moab, down into
wolf country, and they got caught by the wolves. This is one of the
sad stories of the Bible.
1. Elimelech died soon after they got settled in Moab.
2. The sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married in wolf country. They did
not live long.
3. Ruth decides its time to go back to sheep country, back to her
Shepherd. She goes back, but she leaves behind three graves. She
goes back broken, homeless and helpless. She tells the people, when
she reaches home, "call me Mira" which means bitterness.
IV. What To Do If You Get Caught By The Wolves
A. Call for the Good Shepherd. Confess and ask for His forgiveness.
B. He has never left one of His sheep for the wolves to devour who
truly repented and wanted to get right with Him.