Protect Your Heel And Be A Voice, Evans Olang

Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”

While the world is losing a sense of direction, I believe we are also living in exciting times; we have great opportunities to preach the gospel to the dying world. Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” I was once comfortable being saved and going to heaven, but then I was awakened to intercede. It was exciting to talk to God about men; God began to drive me to talk to men about Him.

It’s interesting to read the above verse and try to find excuses why it shouldn’t affect you and me directly. Jesus was telling His disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of the wolves”. I have taken a team on the streets many times to reach the lost, it felt like what Jesus said, sheep sent in the midst of wolves. I usually have 101 excuses why I shouldn’t go, (feeling too tired, scared, already witnessed to many before, it is dangerous), all the excuses we find easy to come up with. When I think about being “sent out”, I come to an understanding that I have no excuse at all. Of all the years I’ve gone out on the streets to witness, only once did someone get so angry with me. The rest have been receptive, yet I battle fear daily. The bible continues to say, “Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves“. Think of it this way, when serpents want to strike, they look for the heel right? God told the serpent that his seed shall bruise man’s heel. Heel is rounded posterior portion of the human foot under and behind the ankle. If a serpent can get to and strike the heel, the venom sips through the blood system, and has the ability to paralyze or kill. Is not the bible talking about feet (where the heel is found) when mentioning the gospel? Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news..”, Nahum 1:15, “Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings..”, Ephesians 6:15, “and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace”. Is this not amazing that the serpent the devil wants to strike our heel that we may be paralyzed to preach the gospel? We are paralyzed by excuses we have because the serpent struck our heels. Jesus tells us to be wise as serpents, they strike the heel, and we strike the heart with the gospel. He knows his target, we know our target; we have to be as smart as he is or out smart him. “Harmless as doves”, what a joy for the lost to know that we care about them not to threaten them with the word but to bring salvation through the word. When God interferes with your comfort, nothing will stop you from being where He wants you.

Jeremiah, a sheep in the midst of wolves, also preached on the streets. Many did not want to hear him, some tried to silence him and even persecuted him. It was so much that he wanted to quit but here is what kept him on the streets, Jeremiah 20:9, “Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.”. The zeal of God will make you do crazy things, it will make you step out of your comfort zone, out of the boat to do the impossible. I remember a song, “The zeal of God has consumed me, it burns in my soul, a driving force that cannot be stopped a fire that cannot be quenched.” We need to have such a zeal for the lost but the enemy wants to put that fire out by striking our heel to paralyze, he is wise remember. He knows he has a short time but I know God is sending us, our feet shall bring the gospel of peace. Protect your heel and be a voice. Blessings Ev