Like any other animal, a wolf has its own personality and habits that are standard for him. For instance, cats tend to be sneaky, and you never know what they will do next. That’s why they make great hunters. They can move very deliberately without making a sound. Dogs tend to be rambunctious and loud. Every animal has its own traits that determine how you will deal with it. Wolves are no different. In Matthew 10:16 Jesus warns his disciples before sending them out to spread the gospel to beware of wolves. He was not speaking of a literal wolf, but of people who would be a “wolf” in their treatment of them.
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
Let’s look at some ways we can deal with a wolf.
The first thing we need to do is identify the wolf. You need to know what you are fighting against. Every animal has its weaknesses and strengths, but to properly deal with it you must identify it.
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
The second element in making any animal powerless is not feeding it. Do not allow any of your habits to give the wolf a foothold. When we engage in activities where the wolf is the main guest, we are opening ourselves up to the wolf. As we enjoy the activity, we begin to see the wolf as friendly and engaging. Our defenses are let down and now we are prey for the wolf. Wolves tend to hunt in packs, and they are very intelligent. If you enter their territory, they will surround you and attack. Oh, they may appear harmless and friendly, but underneath that sheep façade, lies the wolf within. If God leads you to a situation to witness where there are wolves, use the principle Jesus used. He called His disciples and sent them out together. After the calling of the twelve, He then sent out 70 but sent them out two by two. There is strength in numbers. There is accountability and there is power in knowing you are not alone. It is much easier to fool one person rather than two! I Corinthians 15:33 reminds us that bad company will corrupt us.
Luke 10:1 “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.”
I Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
When dealing with a wolf always take a weapon. Just when you think he is as tame as a sheep the wild side exalts itself. What is our weapon? It is the word of God. Like any weapon, if you are to use it properly it takes practice. It takes knowledge of the weapon to use it effectively. We are to hide God’s word in our hearts so that when the attacks come, we have something for the Holy Spirit to bring to our memory. We must know the truth to diffuse a lie. When a bank hires a new teller, they teach them to identify the real money. They know the feel and look of real money. They don’t train them with the counterfeit. There are always new and more progressive ways of making counterfeit, so no two would look or feel exactly the same. There are multitudes of counterfeits, but only one real deal. When you know the truth of God’s word you can then identify the lie. Study the word and pray for wisdom to understand and apply the truth.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Psalms 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
While there are many ways to deal with a wolf, we need to always keep in mind that he has no ability to take our souls. While we may fail and allow him to get a bite on us, he is not all-powerful. When we fail, we have a strength that is within us to help us get back up. The bite does not have to be fatal. We are reminded in I John 4:4 that we don’t have to despair. God who dwells in our hearts, by His Spirit is infinitely more powerful than Satan. In our conflicts with sin and temptations, the real power of the universe is on our side. God paid a great price with His own Son to secure our souls for eternity with Him. He will fight for us because his love is greater for us than anyone has ever had.
I John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
We can make the wolf powerless in our lives. Don’t run with the wolves, use the weapons God has given us to identify him and with the Holy Spirit living within we can be confident to fight and win. Paul tells us in Romans 8:31 if God is for us who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
