Mission Briefing: Sheep Among Wolves

The whole time the disciples traveled with Jesus they were learning the art of war, how to advance the Kingdom amidst hostile men of all persuasions—religious, political, cultural, and Satanic.  He was showing them how a compassionate God-man fights during his time on earth: teaching, preaching, healing, feeling compassion, and boldly liberating those who were held captive and controlled by the god of this world and sin.  But now their residency was coming to an end.  The season of selection, association, and demonstration was giving way to the next phase:  delegation and supervision.  He looked at them and said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out more workers into his harvest field,” (Matthew 9:37 NIV).  

Their “mission briefing” called by the Master Instructor went exactly like this: He called his disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  “As you go preach this message:  ‘The Kingdom of heaven is near.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.  I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.  Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.  Now that is what I call a green light!  With the full endorsement of the Supreme Commander, God’s men were given:

• a sanction to fight (gave authority)
• a message to forward (preach this)
• targets to find (sick, dead, leper, demon possessed)
• power to free (to heal, raise, cleanse, and drive out) 
• a charge to feel (freely you have received, freely give)
• a metaphor to familiarize (sending you as sheep among wolves)
• two commands to fulfill (be shrewd and be innocent) 

Imagine you are there.  Which of these would send your neurons into high gear?   A certain metaphor maybe?

Sheep among wolves you say?  This means it’s hostile now.  Every instruction up to that point had to feel good to the disciples and then the harsh reality of a Hot L.Z. (as in a Hot Landing Zone).  This condition of hostility would not change for these men until eleven were martyred and John died.  Jesus didn’t provide false hope or codependent comfort.  He gave them the straight poop about this campaign to rid the world of Satan’s grip through Kingdom advance whenever and wherever possible.  He didn’t say, “sheep among wolves for a while and then sheep among rabbits for a while.”  So since this is our present reality I want you to think “wolves” for a second.

• predatory carnivores that hunt in packs
• aggressive, greedy and cruel when they find their prey
• beautiful to look at but extremely dangerous
• wicked sense of smell
• extremely smart
• never want to be caught alone amongst a pack

Take this in God’s man: you are a sheep among wolves right now and you will remain among them going forward here on earth until you get called back to the office of the Supreme Commander for debriefing.  One of the main reasons we are getting massacred is that we are sheep among wolves but we act like sheep among squirrels.  We get along in this world as if there is no hostility in a war zone!    What bombs?  What enemy?  What destruction?  What blood?   Bondage?  Affairs?  Divorce?  Fatherlessness?  Shattered lives?  Oh, that.  What a pity.  It’s awful.  Anyways, did you say you wanted a Diet Coke with your chips?  That is the definition of spiritual dysfunction!

Sane men who call attention to these evil sponsored campaigns are considered goofy and the goofy men playing with the rabbits are considered sane.  That kind of dysfunctional view of spiritual warfare makes those who are fighting it with wisdom and integrity upset at those who should be fighting but aren’t.  “Today,” says Bono (front man for mega-band U2), “it’s a load of sissies running around with their ‘bless me’ clubs and there’s a war going on between good and evil.  Millions of children and millions of lives are being lost to greed, bureaucracy, and to a church that’s been asleep.  And it sends me out of my mind with anger” (The God Factor, Cathleen Falsani Sarah Crichton Books, New York, NY 2006 , p.12)  You can just feel the frustration and, at the same time, feel Satan’s elation.  “Lovely,” he sighs.  “My wolves have been accepted as rabbits and squirrels.”   Even now I can see Satan saying to you:  “Why is this Luck guy all jacked up about this?  Bono?  Who are you kidding?  He’s no theologian.  Relax.  Tranquilo.  Chill.  Get back to the game, put the book down, grab some chips, and pour yourself that Diet Coke.”  

He’s not just really smooth, he wants you to let him remain hidden or docile or both.  Don’t let him lie to you.  Listen to Jesus: it’s WOLVES not rabbits!  Suit up in you’re your armor and don’t let your guard down today.

Kenny Luck is the men's pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and the president and founder of Every Man Ministries. He has authored and co-authored nearly 20 books, including his latest, Sleeping Giant: No Movement of God without Men of God (B&H Books).

Publication date: September 4, 2012