Yesterday we looked at how the enemy uses mocking to get you to turn away from trusting in God. It is very affective and many have turned away from God’s word because of it. Because of this we must confess before God and return to Him. It is really important to understand that these taunts from the enemy will come at you from many different directions. You must also realize that satan is behind them. These taunts could be subtle as “to make something appear foolish or absurd” or a vicious attack by using derision which is “mocking someone so forcefully and with such venom that you try to discredit the person completely.” It might come from a show you watch, a comedian or a statement made by a prominent person in society, a friend, relative or acquaintance or it could be the whisper of your own mind. No matter what form it comes in, these taunts will come at you so you need to be prepared and not be caught off guard. We sang the song yesterday in our service called the Voice of Truth. When these taunts come you must hold fast to the word of God and not let go. You must listen to God’s voice and trust God to see His plan unfold. Matthew 17:5 “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Do not give up because of these taunts. Hold fast to the word of God.
Psalm 119:31 “I hold fast to your statutes, LORD; do not let me be put to shame. 32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. 33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. 39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. 40 How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life. 41 May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise; 42 then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. 44 I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. 45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. 49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. 51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.”
So as the enemy mocks you, do not turn from God’s word as so many have. Jesus is our example. If we are to be like Him, then we too will be mocked especially if you are following him wholeheartedly. Matthew10:24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” At some point truth will always be made known. John 15:8 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.”
But notice that before this verse continues in the middle of these two passages is the passage about the Holy Spirit. The “Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father.” What I find interesting is this continued description of the Holy Spirit falls between and after these verses. John continues John 16:1 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them.” We shouldn’t be surprised when this happens as Jesus already warned us it would. Yes people will actually take it upon themselves to kill you for God. Killing comes in the form of gossip also. Then the passage continues with John 16:7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
Ask yourself why the enemy is fighting so hard against the teaching of the Holy Spirit power? Most of the church is off track when it comes to the teaching on the Holy Spirit. They have rejected the power of the Holy Spirit and continue to grieve Him just like their ancestors did. Isaiah 63:10 “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.” satan knows his time is short but he also is aware that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. If he can prevent that from happening, he will defeat you because he is the deceiver of nations. Why do you think satan has men in pulpits teaching the power of the Holy Spirit has ceased? This is a massive deception and millions have fallen for it just as millions have fallen for the excesses of the Holy Spirit (Toronto Blessing and the likes) 2 John 1:7 “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” Once you know the truth you will be set free and then have the power to free others in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is obvious that satan does not want that to happen.
The church does not want to believe they are missing out on anything, as they have been taught by those who have not adhered to God’s word, that they have all they need yet they deny the gifts of the Spirit and do not seek them. For many this would involve repentance for a lifelong rejection of the power that is available to all who believe. Paul warned us this would happen and has been happening every since he said it. Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.” During this journey of confession we call out to God because He is our only hope. As David said, “Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. 51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.” The enemy will continue to taunt us but stand firm until we see our deliverance. Exodus 14:13 “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.” Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”
