Bulletin

Being Vigilant

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Peter 5:8–10)

Van Horne and Riley, in their book, Left of Bang, in describing one of many fight responses tell us. “Although there are few threats that we face in today’s society that require us to respond by physically striking a person (fight) or physically fleeing from a person that intimidates us (flight), they still manifest themselves in various forms.” They go on to tell us that if we put distance between ourselves and one who is getting into our personal space, we are distancing ourselves from the threat.

Discernment is being aware of what is Godly and what is not. We know Satan is lying in wait. We have to be aware of what is going on around us daily so that we see it and are not drawn into the evil. We have to have discernment and live with our eyes wide open. Being able to see the evil is the first step. The second is resisting the Devil.

We need to take that step back so that he is not in our personal space, giving us space so that we are not engaging him and instead engaging God for deliverance through the situation. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)

We are commanded to be vigilant, knowing what is going on around us day in and day out. We are not called to put our heads in the sand and let world pass us by.  We need not only know what is of God and what is evil, but to call it out, evil in the light of God will flee. 

The Shepherd and Sheep Dogs

Now it's up to you. Be on your toes-both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people-God's people they are-to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for. "I know that as soon as I’m gone, vicious wolves are going to show up and rip into this flock, men from your very own ranks twisting words so as to seduce disciples into following them instead of Jesus." (Acts 20:28-30)

Sheep are among some of the most docile of creatures that are out there. They cannot protect themselves and do not work together like other herd animals. In the wild we see animals such as cows that will engage a wolf and then others will join in, attacking it. Wolves are a true danger to a flock of sheep as they will work their way into the herd taking and killing while the sheep graze away. Wolves will work from inside the herd stalking and attacking, usually creating a great deal of damage, if not killing, but also wounding some of the sheep.

Paul in charging the Ephesians elders warned them about the dangers from both from the outside and inside of the church. These wolves will attach with the purpose of damaging the church as much as possible causing division, bringing in false doctrine, or even to foster sin. The goal is to destroy the flock of God.

Barry Eisler in his novel Livia Lone sums it up this way, "Most people are like sheep. Nice, harmless creatures who want nothing more than to be left alone so they can graze. But then of course there are wolves, who want nothing more than to eat the sheep.

But there's a third kind of person, “The sheepdog”. Sheepdogs have fangs like wolves, but their instinct isn't predation, It's protection. All they want, what they live for, is to protect the flock.

This has become the motto for those in law enforcement and those who serve in elite military units. They see themselves as sheep dogs who are protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

Pastors as sheepdogs are to protect the sheep not only from outside dangers but from potentially dangerous influences that arise from within the herd Sadly, this is all too common in the church. The sheepdog lives to serve the master, as an extension of his authority. This is the bond between a pastor and the Good Shepherd who has enlisted him in service to his sheep.