"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 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. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."
In this lesson, Jesus warned His Apostles of the dangers that lay in wait for them as they went about spreading the news of His arrival.
The Apostles, were confronted by a well established group of religionists made up of mostly Jewish leaders and Gentile political figures, who would readily kill the Apostles to maintain their positions of power.
Jesus said, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves."
Jesus said, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves."
The writings of Paul and the others would later bear this out just as Jesus had warned. Many of the early disciples met their death while faithfully maintaining their devotion to, and teaching the good news of salvation by grace through faith. Those who were Killed included both Peter and Paul.
It behooves us to pay attention to what Jesus said they/we should do in preparation for their/our defense before the councils that would oppose them/us.
Jesus said, "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. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."
Although the challenges we, as teachers of the word, confront today are far less likely to be life threatening, it is still very comforting to know that the Holy Spirit of God has our backs. If those of us who dare to teach the pure gospel of Jesus Christ are confronted by false doctrines or the laws of those who hate us, Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will speak in our defense. What a wonderful and blessed security blanket!
With this in mind, we should study tirelessly and awake each day challenging ourselves to teach more lost souls God's plan of salvation.~
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