12: God’s Strategy For Civil Conquest 3 or 7 - SERPENTS

Jesus said (Matt. 10:7, 14-18):

“7Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near … 14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a city on the judgment day … 16‘Behold, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts … 18You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are My followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about Me.”

Most Christians understand that they should be “innocent as doves,” but when was the last time that you heard a sermon on being “wise as serpents?” Probably never. And why not? Because most preachers and thus their congregations do not see God’s biblical mandate to have their city ruled by King Jesus and His Law, much less are working to see that accomplished! But Jesus sent His disciples to cities to “announce … the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” The “Kingdom of Heaven” was for cities - NOT a kingdom for heaven or in heaven but “of heaven.” It is God’s Kingdom for earth because it was “near” them, here on earth.

Being a heavenly Kingdom describes the character of the Kingdom. God does NOT have different kingdoms. He only has one Kingdom described in different ways in the New Testament: “Kingdom of heaven … Kingdom of God … Kingdom of the Father … Kingdom of Christ … Kingdom of the Son … Kingdom of light … His Kingdom … eternal Kingdom,” and simply “the Kingdom.” The disciples were sent out to “announce … the Kingdom,” which is a form of civil government, God’s civil government for cities.

God’s Kingdom being announced was relevant for cities here and now. That’s why Jesus warned that they would be in political trouble with the courts (Matt. 10:17):

“But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts!”

Jesus did not send his disciples out to just share the gospel with next-door neighbors but to announce to cities - His Kingdom and His judgment on any city that rejects His Kingdom message. As Jesus said (Matt. 10:15):

“Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.”

But notice the first word that Jesus said in verse 16: “Behold!” This word expresses alarm. But what’s the big alarm about? Jesus was saying if we go out to advance His Kingdom we will be “as sheep in the midst of wolves!” That should be alarming to any sheep! How long do you think a sheep can live in the midst of wolves? Seconds!

Christians that politically engage in replacing secular government with God’s Kingdom government will be “eaten alive” … UNLESS they are “wise as serpents.” The only way you won’t die, much less be successful, is to apply the “serpent’s strategy” - the wisdom of snakes, as Jesus said.

As a young boy, I used to live in rural Texas where there were many rattlesnakes. I learned a lot about the practical wisdom of snakes. As I thought about the wisdom of snakes, three things came to my mind:

* They don’t make noise.