Sheep Amongst Wolves Matthew 10:16-26

Sheep Among Wolves

Jesus prepares us for what lies ahead, and the reality is that we will face opposition. Your faith may cost you something. There may be consequences in your career, friendships, and relationships. Opposition often comes when we stand firm in our faith.

The Gospel was never designed to be shared only when it’s safe. We are sent out as sheep among wolves, and God is our protector. Our job is not to control the outcome — it is to remain faithful to the mission. And our mission is to spread the good news of God.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves...” — Matthew 10:16
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” — Matthew 10:22

There Must Be a Balance of Discernment

We are instructed to be mindful of our mission. We are not called to be naïve; we are called to walk in wisdom — knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, discerning when hearts are open and when they are hardened.

Jesus walked in wisdom without ever diluting His message. We should care more about obedience than reputation.

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate...” — 1 Peter 2:23

Fearless Faith Requires Endurance

Daniel’s faith did not make him careless, reckless, or lazy. He faced a very real decision: save his life by hiding his faith, or risk his life by professing it.

God does not always keep us from the lion’s den, but if He sends us there, He remains with us through it.

We are not responsible for how people respond to the Gospel, but we are responsible for making sure they hear it. The Gospel must continue to move forward.

“Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the lions?” — Daniel 6:20

But God Changed Everything Ephesians 2:4-10

1. Grace Found Me, When I Couldn’t Fix Me

   It seems like you’ve failed at everything, but God! Your salvation is not earned by anything you can do, we are saved by God’s grace. God chose you, before you changed your life.

2. God’s Grace Gave Me A New Seat

   When grace saves you, it changes your position. With God’s grace you don’t have to fight for a seat, Jesus has already reserved one for you. Your past is a chapter in your life, not the title of your book!

3. Grave Saves Me First, Then Grace Sends Me

   Works are not the root, they are the fruit! God’s love is not a paycheck, it’s a gift. The law says you have to earn it, God’s grace says receive it. God’s grace is bigger than your past.

   Heaven still celebrates sinners who come home! Because of God’s grace, we are all saved!

God's Got You Covered Romans 8:31-39

1. God Is Who He Is

   David had one thing greater than anything anyone could ever offer him, and that was that God was for him. David understood something we tend to forget at times. When God is on your side, the numbers don’t matter. You plus God is still the majority of the situation that you’re in. Psalm 118:6

2. God Is The Great Provider

   God has never looked at your problem and said, “that one may be too big for me.” God didn’t stop being powerful because your options got smaller. While your discovering you have a need, God is already supplying it. Romans 8:32

3. Nothing Can Unfriend You From God’s Love

   You’re not fighting for victory, you’re fighting from victory! What’s in front of you is greater than anything that’s behind you. God’s love is deeper than your failures and stronger than your worst day. John 10:28

Stop counting your enemies and start counting your blessings! No one can stop what God has for your life. If God is for us, who can be against us.

More Than You Can Carry Ephesians 3:14-21

1. God Strengthens What Others Can’t See

   God doesn’t always start by changing your situation, sometimes He changes your inner strength first.

2. God Wants To Take Residence, Not Just Visitation

   God wants full custody, not just weekend visits

3. God Can Do More Than Your Mind Can Imagine

   Stop shrinking your expectations to match your experiences

   You are not designed to live this life on your own strength. If your strength is only external, when pressure begins to build it crushes your internal strength. What’s inside of you is stronger than what’s visible to others. The Spirit of God is strengthening your inner life. Just remember, your past is not outside of God’s reach. Give your burdens to Him, so you can focus on the things that you were actually meant to carry!

Growing In Love In A Cold World Philippians 1:9-11

1. Love Should Grow In Knowledge Philippians 1:9

   Mature love knows everyone needs God’s grace

2. Love Should Grow in Discernment Philippians 1:10

   Growing love reaches beyond differences

3. Love Should Produce Fruit Galatians 5:22

   Love serves, helps, reaches and gives

   Love outlives tragedy, even in a cold world it still shines. People are searching for something. They need love, kindness, compassion and grace! When love grows, walls come down, and people come to Christ. Allow people to not just hear about Jesus, from you, let them feel him, through you!

Saved People Save People Luke 19:10

1. Jesus Saves Ordinary People 1 Corinthians 1:27

   God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called

2. Jesus Uses Saved People Mark 5:19

   Transformation gets attention

3. Jesus Sends Saved People Matt 28:19

   He doesn’t intend for this to stop with you

   Jesus didn’t pull you out of the fire to watch others burn. Someone’s miracle is connected to your obedience to God. If you stay silent, someone may stay lost!

Purpose in The Middle of The Mess 2 Corinthians 12:9

1. God Meets You In The Middle Of The Mess

   God is not waiting for you to get your life together- He’s waiting on you to bring Him the pieces

2. God Turns Breaking Points Into Turning Points

   Your breaking is not the end, it’s the place where God begins to move

3. God Turns Your Pain Into Purpose

   Your weakness becomes your testimony

Today, someone is this thinking their weakness disqualifies them. But your weakness is actually positioning you. Because when you’re weak, you pray differently. When you’re weak, you worship differently. When you’re weak, you depend on God. And, God does His best work when you depend on HIm!

Right On Time Jeremiah 17:5-6

1. Trusting Human Strength Leads To Spiritual Dryness

   When we try to do life without God leading us, things start to fall apart

2. Going Our Own Way Always Leads To Frustration

   People don’t abandon God overnight, they just slowly start doing things their own way

3. Trusting God Brings Blessings At The Right Time

   Worrying has never solved a problem, but trusting God does

By All Means, Save Someone!

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NLT 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in the blessings.

Paul was willing to give up his own comfort and preferences to reach more people. Paul became “all things to all people so that some might be saved.

The message is simple: put the mission first, even if it costs you something!