Acts; The Wolves Will Come

Oct 14

Read: Acts 20:17-37

Acts;

The Wolves Will Come

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” v.28-30

Destruction will most likely come from within long before it is ever experienced from the outside. We tend to think the greatest enemies lye outside our gates without ever realizing that it is from within our ranks that the rebellion begins. This was true of the church in Ephesus, and it is true of us. This is why Paul encourages the Ephesian fathers and warns them in v. 28-30. He tells them that “the wolves will come… from among your own selves”. The church is defeated from within before it succumbs to the pressures from the world.

The scriptures highlight this truth in 2 Cor. 10:4,5:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience…”

These strongholds are within us - these lofty opinions and patterns of thinking that war against God. This is why we must take our thoughts “captive” - because the fierce wolves will come from within! The lies of the enemy are planted in our flesh… and our flesh exerts its influence on our mind, will, and emotions. Although the origin of these “arguments, lofty opinions” and rogue “thoughts” to be taken captive may begin like seeds outside of us… they take root and sprout within us. In this way the battle, again, starts from within. When we believe lies about our identity in Christ… lies about who we are… lies about who God is… then we begin to live out in the flesh what we believe. This is walking by the flesh not the Spirit. (cf. Gal. 5:16)

This is why Paul says to the Ephesian Fathers, “Be careful to pay attention to yourselves and to the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers”. Pay attention to the things you are telling yourself… the patterns of thinking or “strongholds” you have developed… the lofty opinions and arguments that you have. Watch out for what is being taught… what is being said to the people of God. The “fierce wolves” will come! They will come from within. The church will be broken from the inside out before it will ever be defeated from the outside in… in fact, Look at what Jesus says about HIS Church: “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt 16:18) The Church can withstand the onslaught of the world when it is unified, rooted in Christ and HIS Truth, and not divided from within. Keep on the look out for the “fierce wolves”… the ones calling you to themselves instead of Christ! (v.30) What are the fierce wolves within you? What lies and accusations are being thrown at you? What battle is raging within you? Jesus does not employ “wolves”. His words to his children are not vicious or fierce… they don’t “attack”. That is the enemy… the narrative of the Devil. The Devil is an accuser and a liar. He speaks leveraging fear, guilt, and shame. The enemy seeks to defeat us from within, because he knows that is how we will succumb to the external attack waged by the world around us. Hold fast! I want to close with these words from Hebrews:

“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls…Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” (Heb. 10:39, 12:12,13)

Love you guys! - JDP