The Bible highlights scoffers as those who speak without knowledge. The term is also repeatedly used to refer to individuals who blaspheme God and treat the things of God with disdain and irreverence. These types are also called foolish. Consider Isaiah 32:6 - For fools speak foolishness and make evil plans. They practice ungodliness and spread false teachings about the LORD. They deprive the hungry of food and give no water to the thirsty.
Nowadays, it is common to see and hear scoffers mock Jesus, the Christian faith, Christian institutions, and Christians themselves. This fellowship has not been spared, as we've witnessed the scoffers enter our midst to speak vile things about our God. Many Christians get emotional and end up entangled in debates as a result. Ungodly behavior follows and they forget that the true response must happen in the spiritual with non-carnal weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Yet, God's children must be careful how they deal with scoffers and apply the approaches prescribed in the Bible. It is important to keep anger at bay and behave in a Christ-like manner. James 1:19-20 - My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, /because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Apostle Peter also instructed believers to be prepared to explain to unbelievers why they hope in Christ and to do so gently and respectfully (1 Peter 3:15).
We tend to forget this given our conditioning to have a petty comeback for whoever disagrees with us. Alas, that is not what we are called to do as Christians. Instead, we are to endure. Jesus taught in Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. God also promised to grant righteousness and justice to those treated unfairly in Psalm 103:6. Therefore, we must allow God's word to guide what we do, say, and think when confronted by scoffers. It is not easy to do the godly thing but we have been called to be holy as our God is holy, even under tough circumstances (Matthew 5:48). The Lord who called us to Himself will not fail in helping us.
Praise be to God for His never-ending mercy, which is available for all who fail to respond in a godly fashion to scoffers. We need only repent and prayerfully consider where we went wrong in engaging mockers. We then receive wisdom and God's word from the Holy Spirit so we please God when next the scoffers appear. And as we allow the Lord to renew our minds we increasingly rely on spiritual weapons to address the challengers of our faith. Sometimes, addressing such individuals or organizations will require complete silence. God might instruct His own to engage in prayer and fasting, trusting Him to do more than they could ever have done with their lips.
This will require God's children to swallow uncomfortable insults and maltreatment, but God has interesting ways of resolving things. Remember, Saul of Tarsus hunted down members of the early church. God was not blind to this. He deftly captured the persecutor of His children and when He was done, Saul voluntarily changed his name to Paul, which means "humbled". He became a 'finished man' for God and His kingdom, enduring maltreatment and suffering to spread the gospel of Christ and transform the world.
That same God is not ignorant of the plight of modern-day Christians. He sees the scoffers. His eyes are not closed to the persecution of believers around the world. He has given His people authority over all the power of satan (Luke 10:19). Be rest assured that scoffers are not the real enemy. They are simply doing the work of the one the Bible calls "the accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10). So the only question is are we putting our authority to work? Are we wielding the weapons of spiritual warfare to suppress the true challenger of our faith? Or are we allowing our reaction to devolve into a verbal spat? Something that only benefits the devil.
Pick up God's powerful weapons to deal with scoffers. Invite them to taste and see that God is good (Psalm 34:8). It's their right to reject this offer, so don't be offended. Thank God and pray they come to know who He is. Also, aim to have lives that speak louder about Christ than any words ever could (Matthew 5:16). And if scoffers offend with their actions and words, forgive them, and pray, remembering who the real opponent is. Leave it to God. He is more than able to deal with everything and our responsibility is to focus on obeying Him in all things. No matter what scoffers do or say.
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I just want to give God the glory and the praise for all His faithfulness. God is truly good, y'all!
There's something I'd waited for a long time to see. He told me I would.
In the time that passed, there were several moments when I wondered if I'd heard Him correctly. Could it all have just been my flesh speaking?
But God!
I often say my God has no problem proving Himself. And it is true. I'm reminded of Habakkuk 2:3 - For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. I had to wait and the journey from there to here was unimaginable. In fact, if He'd told me the route He would take me on, I'd have quit long ago.
But God!
In His infinite wisdom, He knew how to help me hold on to Him so I didn't take matters into my hands but instead waited on Him and His faithfulness. He deserves all the praise.
Lord, I thank You. The God of my ancestors and the God of my descendants, I glorify Your Holy Name. You spoke and You watched over Your words to ensure they were fulfilled. You heard my cries and never ignored my tears. You showed me kindness I didn't deserve. You have consistently given me special treatment, adjusting mankind and even the structures of man to favor me. Who is like Thee!
All I can say is "thank You" over and over, oh God. Thank You!
CLOSING PRAYER
Praise be to God who once again got us to the end of another day of fellowship. Thank You, Lord.
Father, I am grateful for the privilege to serve and the privilege to honor You alongside Your children who participated today. Thank You for their lives. I pray for them that we will submit to Your will and become more Christ-like in our dealing with those who do not know You. Help us all to lead with love and reverence for You in all we do, IJMN, Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
Let us pray:
Lord, thank You for the responsibility of evangelism. Thank You for the grace to stand as witnesses of who You are and the great things You have done. Thank You for those who are doing a wonderful job of sharing Your word to the unacquainted and untaught. Please protect them and keep them in Your grace and protection.
Father, we pray for the blessing Jesus taught in Mark 13:11 that whenever we are placed on the spot , we need only rely on what the Holy Spirit will place in our lips to speak.
We pray, good God, to have the right word for the mocker. We pray to have the right word for the weary. We pray to have the right word to silence the scoffing that rises against You. We know You do not need us for anything but where You seek someone to speak or do for Your glory, please see and consider us. Arm us with what is needed so we stand as Your soldiers wherever You desire.
Psalm 110:3 - Your people will volunteer when you call up your army. Your young people will come to you in holy splendor like dew in the early morning (GWT).
Take all the glory, Lord, IJN we pray, Amen.
Father, thank You for those whom You send armed with Your gospel to turn hearts and minds to You. Thank You for they do not go alone. They are surrounded by Your horses and chariots of fire.
Mark 16:20 teaches us Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
As Your people go, dear Lord, confirm Your word that You place in their mouths. I pray for those who step into dangerous places. Paul asked for prayers of safety from unbelievers and that the gospel be received favorably (Romans 15:31). I pray for the same. Keep Your disciples safe. May Your favor surround them as a shield. Be the wall of fire around them and the pillar of cloud above them, keeping their enemy at bay.
IJMN, Amen.
Great God, thank You for being faithful and true. The God who neither slumbers nor sleeps but sends His angels to lift us so our feet do not hit stones.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Lord, in accordance with your word, please help Your people to recognize the avenues You send to get them out of the challenging situations they face. Let their eyes and ears be set to You so they move in alignment with Your plan and thereby leave the old seasons aof their lives behind, IJMN, Amen.
From JIR - I pray for those who feel hopeless and worthless. I pray Lord that You wrap them in Your love and help them realize how valuable they are to You. I pray that they see themselves as You see them. I pray that they don’t rely on society to tell them who they are but they look to You and You give them the strength and courage to see that they are the apple of Your eye. I break every chain of discouragement, rejection and depression from Your children and cast those feelings from the enemy into the abyss and seal it with Your superior blood Lord. IJMN. Amen.
Good God, You are the Almighty. Nobody compares to You. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer for people that they come to a knowledge of You as You promised in Jeremiah 24:7. Thank You for giving people a desire for You. Thank You for whetting their appetites for more of You. Thank You for letting hearts clamor for You. Thank You for kindly pouring out Your Spirit on all mankind in accordance with Your word in Joel 2:28. Be glorified, Lord our Redeemer.
Now and forever more, IJMN, Amen.
From JIR - With the current state of the DOE and current state of government programs shutting down and laying people off in staggering numbers, I pray for those facing lay offs and those who are seeking employment. Please Lord bless them with the strength, comfort, courage they need to carry on. Lord, please touch their hearts to seek You and to put their faith in You. Please open up doors for them that exceeding surpass their comprehension and bless them to be placed in the right places, with the right people. Lord, please bless them with job offers and opportunities in abundance and guide them through the job searching process. IJMN. Amen
From JIR - I pray for those who are in need of food and shelter. I pray Lord that You bless them with shelter and provision and that You protect them from the elements, whether cold or hot. I pray that You wrap them in Your love and comfort them so they can experience Your Almighty, Loving presence. I pray that You give them the strength they need to continue on seeking You with all of their hearts. I pray that they realize that You are worth more than any gold or riches in this world and they hold on to You tightly and never let You go. IJMN. Amen.
Lord, thank You for being the giver of every good and perfect gift. Thank you for loving people and caring for their needs.
Heavenly Father, Your word states that You will restore health and heal the wounds of Your people in Jeremiah 30:17.
The enemy wants people to believe that good health is not their portion but Lord, we know that satan is a liar and has been lying since the beginning.
And so, God, it is to You we come seeking restoration of good health for Your people. Send forth Your healing word, Lord. Let there be light that it may disperse the darkness of disease from bodies and minds.
IJMN Amen.
PRAYER TIME
The next 25 minutes offer an opportunity to express our love for others by lifting them up in prayer.
Please pray with zeal for others, as you would if you were praying for yourself.
May the Holy Spirit guide you to pray in alignment with the will of the Lord and may You be greatly blessed, IJMN, Amen.
Jehovah Overdo. Thank You for watching over Your word to ensure it comes to pass (Jeremiah 1:12).
Glorious God, I worship You!
Thank You, God of Jeshurun. Righteous and Holy. Wondrous. Beautiful. Faithful. True. The Lover of my soul. My Defender. He who vindicates and acquits. Great and untouchable. The unflinching God. Merciful and kind. Loving and forgiving.
All-sufficient.
The God of grace and mercy.
Hallelujah belongs to You alone. Amen.
From JIR - “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.”
Psalm 91:1-2 KJV
Thank You Lord for being my refuse and my fortress. IJMN. Amen. Thank You Lord. I will shout!
From JIR - Lord, I bow at Your feet and before Your throne and thank You for saving me. You make life wonderful and worth living. You give life meaning. Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - Lord, with You all things are possible. I thank You for giving me hope and a future. You make life beautiful. Thank You for pulling me out of the darkness and into the light. With You I am everything. You are good. You are great. You are Holy. Thank You Lord for the honor and privilege to experience You. Thank You for wrapping me in Your love. You are who I need. Life with You will never be the same. Thank You Lord for rescuing me. IJMN. Amen.
Lord, I thank You for the prophecy and the fulfillment of Your word. I thank You for the privilege of seeing You do. For You are not a God of talk but of power.
Thank You for being consistent.
Thank You for every miracle I've been privileged to witness in people's lives. Thank You for all You are about to do for them. Hallelujah!
Thank You for how I shall rejoice over Your victories in their lives. You who foil the devices of the crafty. You who ensure that the weapon formed cannot prosper against Your beloved.
Thank You for when the enemy rose like a flood against Your own, You shut it down!!!
Hallelujah, Amen!
From JIR - Lord, I praise and worship Your name. Your name is above all names. I worship Your holiness and thank You for Your loving kindness and tender mercies. Your grace is sufficient and gets me through the each day. In my weakness, You are my strength. Thank You Lord for always watching over me and being with me to protect me from the worries of today. You are my Rock. IJMN. Amen.
Lord, I thank You for the blessing of life. I thank You for the mercy of seeing a new day and being able to spend time with my loved ones.
Father, my days are in Your hands (Psalm 31:15). If not for You, where would I be?
Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for covering those I hold dear. Thank You for all You do to be a hedge around us.
Praise the Lord!
PRAISE TIME
Join me in exalting the Lord God Almighty. He is worthy of our praise, so let's express gratitude for who He is and what He's done.
We've only got 25 minutes, so please don't waste any time.
Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
From JIR - Thank You Lord for breathing life into us this morning. We are grateful to see another day which would not be possible without You. We thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and that You love us the way You do. Thank You for guiding us in here this morning Lord to praise You and pray for others. Thank You for always looking out for what benefits us, which includes today’s message. We are so thankful and blessed to call You our God. What a privilege. We praise and worship You. IJMN. Amen.
Thanks for today’s message sis @FFJ. I used to get emotional within my own household with those showing disdain or spreading misinformation about the Gospel. I would argue and go back and forth with them. I feel the Lord was building me up and training me to be strong so that if and when I encounter the same issue with others on the outside I will know how to handle and conduct myself. I realize that we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies and I appreciate you pointing that out. I also realize God is God all by Himself and He surely doesn’t need me defending Him in a way that leads to a quarrel. I am now calm and collected and when there is a conflict in where the person’s voice rises and they are not backing down I tell them we can respectfully agree to disagree. That is my go to response now instead of taking the bait and arguing back and forth as before. It has worked well. I pray that we all take heed and apply the wisdom from today’s message to our lives. God will deal with the foolish. He is always perfect and always right on time. IJMN. Amen.
From M22 - God bless you for today's word sis @FFJ . I have been guilty of getting emotional when people mock or question God. I have had someone say if God is good then why is there so much war and bloodshed. I didn't really have an answer and the person felt like they were right. I chose to keep quiet because I sensed I was emotional and I might say the wrong things. We have to remember as believers that the way we respond to scoffers determines if they have a transformation or they remain distant towards God. It is not easy but we have to learn that we don't need to defend God. His works and wonders are evidence of his power and might. Is pray the Holy spirit helps us to be more discerning in situations involving these individuals and our lives are enough evidence to move them to truly experience and encounter God. IJMN Amen
From EC - Amen and good morning ladies!
Who is like You oh Lord
Who is like You
Who is like You oh Lord
Who is like You
The weight of who You are
No words can carry
Who is like You oh Lord
Who is like You
He who dwells in light
Surrounded by Your Cherubim
Surrounded by Your Seraphim
Glory to Your Name
ALTAR CALL
Today's message makes it clear that we need God's help to deal with scoffers. Although the message focuses on those who mock our faith, the truth is scoffers come in all shapes and sizes. We need God to deal with all of them.
God has made accommodations for that. His Holy Spirit is tasked with telling us how to act (or not act) no matter what is going on. The key is to give your life to Jesus because He promised that those who believe in Him will receive the Holy Spirit.
To give your life to Jesus, it is important to understand what that means. Although I was raised a Christian my whole life, I was shocked to learn that just being a Christian wasn't enough to make it to heaven. The short video below explains things much better than I can.
If you watched the video to the end and say that prayer, then welcome to being a child of God! I pray you receive the Holy Spirit and are led in the ways of the Lord. Be sure to let me know you said the prayer and I'll send you more materials so you can grow as a new creature! Congrats and God bless you!