Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

SHEEP, SERPENTS AND DOVES

Matthew 10:16 (KJV,) "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

This was one of two sermons preached at the recent FEBC retreat. The focus of this verse is on the manner in which Christ sends out His disciples into the world. After salvation, all believers are immediately worthy of entering heaven because of the finished work of Christ in their lives. They have been perfectly made holy and sanctified completely by Christ's precious and priceless blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary for their sins. Now they are no longer enemies of God but have become God's children and they are privileged to call Him Abba Father, the most endearing term in Scriptures. But the many who have not been taken home to glory are chosen by their Heavenly Father to remain behind in this sin-filled world. Throughout time, God's children have been killed in all sorts of ways by wicked and evil people even as they shared the love of God with these enemies of God. Some of these persecutions are listed down for us by God in Hebrews 11:36-38 (KJV), "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."

The question we need to ask is: why would the believer's loving Heavenly Father put His children in harm's way? Parents would always try their best to keep their children out of harm's way. If a parent were to put his own children in harm's way, he would have to have an extremely just cause, or else he would be called a derelict parent! What could possibly be the extremely just cause for God to put His children in harm's way? It is the Great Commission. It is to bring the gospel of salvation to all of humanity that they might be saved by Christ. Matthew 28:18-20 is the great commission by our Commander-in-Chief "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Jesus also says in John 9:5 (KJV), "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." But we know that Christ has finished His work of salvation and has ascended to heaven and is now seated at God's right hand interceding for all believers. Then how is Christ still in the world today so that He continues to be the light to a world that is dying in sin and in spiritual darkness? The answer is through the life and testimony of all God's children who remain behind in this mortal flesh. They are to walk, think, and be motivated by Christ in all that they do so that all the people around them will no longer see them but will only see Christ! Believers cannot do this unless they know the manner in which Christ has sent them into the world. Matthew 10:16 reveals the manner in which all believers are sent forth into this world. They must know this or else they will fail God and Christ in their witness and the people around them will die in their sins and find themselves in hell forever.

Before we look at this manner, we need to know how Christ has sent believers forth. The verb for "sent forth" is the Greek word "apostello" which is the verb form of the noun "apostle." It means to be sent forth with a mission. It is not an aimless sending that has no direction. This same verb was also used by Christ in Matthew 10:5-7 (KJV), "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." [Emphasis added] The scope of their ministry at that time was not to go to the Samaritans and the Gentiles yet but only to the lost sheep of Israel. The outreach to the Samaritans and the Gentiles would come later in Acts 1:8 (KJV), "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." While Christ was still on earth, the twelve disciples were sent out with a very specific mission to preach, to Israel only, that "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." This would make their task easier. They did not have to enter into the homes of the Samaritans and Gentiles whom they considered as spiritually unclean. They were to reach out to their own so that there were the least inhibitions. There was no cultural or language problem.

They were not to invent their own mission. It was simple and clearly stated by Christ. Although the mission was clear and specific, the focus was not so much on the mission but the "missionaries." This was seen in the use of the independent personal pronoun "I" and "you." Jesus Christ was sending forth specifically His disciples to teach them the precious and indispensible lesson of who they were in Christ as they fulfilled the mission of Christ.

I. SHEEP – HELPLESS– Jesus said that the believers were sent forth as "sheep in the midst of wolves." Sheep have been used in the Bible in many ways to describe the believer. In different contexts, they are to be understood differently. In the context of Psalm 23 the sheep are described as timid and easily frightened and also not very discerning. That is why the good shepherd will have to lead the sheep to green pastures and still waters. The sheep are not able to discern whether the grass is green and good to eat or are poisonous weeds. They depend on the shepherd to show them. The sheep are also easily frightened by the slightest sounds. They dare not drink from rivers or ponds that make sounds. They can only drink from still waters. Other contexts describe the sheep as mild mannered and without guile which are noble and good characteristics that all sheep have, like when Christ was described as a lamb led to the slaughter making not a sound! However, in this present context of Matthew 10:16, we see that the sheep are described as being placed in the midst of wolves. Wolves in the Bible are seen as the greatest enemies of sheep and goats. They are totally defenceless before wolves. Therefore, in this present context, the characteristic of the sheep Christ wanted the disciples to understand is their helplessness. The disciples were totally helpless in the world that they are bringing the gospel to.

This helplessness is in them, but not in God. In God, believers are commanded to put on the whole armour of God. Ephesians 6:13-18 (KJV), "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." This armour from God must be kept on at all times by prayer. Once it is put on, it remains on all their lives. However, the caveat in this doctrine is that this spiritual armour can only be put on helpless sheep. If the sheep has his own "armour" on, like confidence in self or confidence in money, status, power or all the material or physical, or even in other men, then the spiritual armour will not fit him. It has to be worn by a helpless sheep.

The sheep's helplessness is real and not "make believe". How can believers who lean on the arm of the flesh fight against their enemies who are not flesh and blood but spiritual powers in dark places? The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12 (KJV), "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." To strip believers of their arm of flesh that they have been depending on all their lives as sinners before salvation, Christ says they are to be placed in the midst of wolves. Believers will not learn God reliance on their own. They have to be "forced" into learning this invaluable lesson in order to be victorious in life and ministry. Christ told these disciples to take nothing with them except for the garments they had on in Matthew 10:9-10 (KJV), "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat." Christ’s disciples needed to learn complete sufficiency in Christ alone. Money, scrip (i.e. purse or wallet), extra garments, and staves were all classified as the arm of the flesh. Scrip must also not be carried in anticipation of gifts which must also be rejected. What they could consume they would accept; but they were not allowed to take more than that. In this experience, the disciples had to learn the awesome truth that with Christ they absolutely did not need anything of this earth to succeed in the mission that Christ had for them. They were to learn the lesson of total helplessness in self in order that they might learn the fullness of God's help in Christ alone! The disciples needed to be thrust into the realm of being sent forth "as sheep in the midst of wolves."

Who are these wolves? They are described by Christ in the next few verses in Matthew 10:17-21 (KJV), "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 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. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death." They are men used by Satan to do the work of Satan.

Their deeds include delivering the believers up to the councils. The verb "to deliver up" is the same as the one used to describe Judas Iscariot in verse 4 but is translated as "to betray." It means that believers will be betrayed by all people including the people they work with and love. It is one thing to be betrayed by strangers or someone from outside, for that is to be expected in the ministry. But when the betrayal comes from within, the pain is many times worse. David felt like this when he penned these words in Psalm 55:12-13 (KJV), "For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance." David was betrayed by Ahithophel and Christ by Judas. They were their equal not in terms of rank but in terms of being on the same side, supposedly. They were supposed to care for each other with the same common purpose which was to do God's will. But the betrayal was very deep.

They would scourge, i.e. flog, believers in their synagogues where they were told to go as their first destination to give the gospel. The most respected leaders of the Jewish faith were found in these synagogues. These were men once regarded and respected by the disciples as the most religious and spiritual men on earth who had become their worst enemies. The disciples would have their lives and thinking turned upside down for Christ. They would be brought to the courts of man and be unjustly treated and killed for the sake of Christ. Some of these betrayers would include family members like fathers, parents and siblings. They are the closest and most intimate human relationships on earth! In order to learn helplessness, believers would be stripped of all their human and worldly dependencies. They had to be sent forth into the midst of wolves not because Christ did not love them but because He always loved them. This is the only way to succeed in the ministry.

II. SERPENTS – HATED– The meaning of being a sheep for Christ is explained by two other imageries. "To be wise as serpents" means "to be alert". Serpents are always alert to their surroundings. Danger to the serpent is everywhere. The reason is that somehow serpents are given the instinct that they are hated creatures. Almost all human beings hate serpents. They want to kill them or hurt them or chase them away. Believers are to be alert all the time and they must know that they are hated by the people they bring the gospel to. They will not be received with opened arms. They will have to endure all kinds of persecution.

Believers must not be naive to think that they are going to be loved by the world. The world is a dangerous place to all believers who live holy lives in Christ. They hated Christ and they will also hate believers who bear the image of Christ! If they do not hate the believer all the time, it is only because of God's grace and protection and nothing more. The world has not changed one bit for the better. It is just as bad if not worse because Satan knows that his days of deceiving the world are numbered. Every believer must expect to be hated by the people they love the most on earth, like family members and close friends, so that when it happens he is not shocked or stumbled by it. Jesus warns all believers that they will be hated in Matthew 10:22 (KJV), "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." This is all part and parcel of being a holy witness for Christ. The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy with this same truth in 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV), "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." He warned the same to all believers in Philippians 1:29 (KJV), "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."

Believers must be wise as serpents to know that they will be hated and are to be alert at all times to the dangers around them. This will keep them watchful and very sober and not allow themselves to be deceived by this seductive and dangerous world.

III. DOVES – HARMLESS– Knowing the persecution that will befall them from all quarters, and some of them from close quarters, believers are now told by Christ to never retaliate. The desire to retaliate is real especially in the face of unjust persecution. Returning a pound of flesh to personal enemies is what the world continues to do; but believers must cease from such vengeance. They must leave it to their all powerful Heavenly Father to deal with the personal enemies. This is what God teaches in Romans 12:19-21 (KJV), "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." This attitude of harmlessness will protect believers from sinning. The purpose of Satan's attack is to trick and hurt believers into sinning against God so that their witness and service for Christ will be ruined and if possible destroyed. To protect believers, Christ says that His disciples must be harmless like doves.

Not only must believers not retaliate, they must also do good to their personal enemies. If they are hungry feed them. If they are thirsty give them drink. By so doing believers will heap coals of fire on their enemies’ heads. The more they hurt, the more kindness believers should show them. The pain they feel will be internal and hopefully they will see the errors of their evil ways and turn to Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. This is what witnessing is all about.

APPLICATION – Be helpless as sheep, hated as serpents and harmless as doves. As sheep, believers will learn not to trust in self, for self must die, but learn to trust in God alone. They must be prepared to suffer for Christ, and as serpents they will be alert to the dangers around them at all times and will also be hated so that when persecution comes, they will not sin against God. As doves, believers must not retaliate but be harmless. They must trust in their sovereign God to know what is best for them, and if He allows the wolves to come, then they must remain in Christ and trust in the Lord to see them through without sinning. Believers are to continue to do good always, no matter what. When we were sinners, Christ suffered and died for us. Now that we are children of God and allowed to remain on earth to be a witness for Christ, let us be prepared to suffer for Christ and die for Christ! Amen.