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Mock Not The Man in God’s Vineyard…..
People are mocked by those who do not see any meaningful thing in what they are doing. So you see people brag about their success and berate others.
But the caution today is that no one should berate workers in God’s house, especially those who are on a righteous course, for God will not see the mockers as guiltless.
When the children of Israel were returning from exile, Nehemiah had the mandate to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem.
The enemies mocked them in the following words :
4:1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
4:2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
(Nehemiah 4:1-3)
The words of a mocker are carefully calculated to, if possible to discourage the man who is struggling, to abandon his course. Let us note that nothing which has eternal value, can be received, without struggle and if care is not taken you can be ridiculed to surrender.
Is Tobiass the Ammonite not a descendant of Lot, a close relation of Abraham, the father of the Jews? Only those who know you will mock you to ridicule, but do not forget that a righteous course, cannot be received with ease. If you are not careful people who have nothing to do with the gospel will chase you out of going to heaven.
Note what happened at the end of the day:
6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
6:16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. (Nehemiah 6:15-16).
Everything that has a beginning will have an ending. The wall was finished and the mockers confessed that it was the hand of God. Those who mock your little efforts will join you to celebrate the triumph of God.
I read something about Nelson Mandela in a Whatsapp chat. Mandela went for lunch in a downtown restaurant with a couple of people. At the distance he spotted a man who was sitting and eating. He sent his soldier guard to invite the nan to come and eat his meal at the same table. The man joined them. It appears Mandela said nothing. After eating the man left. One of them on the table said to Mandela ” I noted that the man’s hand was shaking throughout his meal; that man must be truly sick”. Mandela answered and said “the man is not sick , but he is the man who was guarding him when he was in prison and the man used to piss on his head”.
What a great and noble mind to treat an enemy in victory. God tells us that vengeance is His. Many of us will not act like Mandela. On the other side of the story we must be mindful of what we say or do. Words spoken without care are like cats let out of the bag. Actions taken are like carvings on a stone , if they are not good they remain an exhibit which cannot be denied.
Why People Mock People ?
Some think the person they mock are inferior coming from their positional standing. Some are outrightly jealous and feel to say you are useless to make you to retrack from a noble course. The soldiers of Samaria felt the Jews cannot come out of their present circumstance, as the man in the restaurant never knew Mandela will ever be Head of State of South Africa.
The rich man asked Lazarus to send him a drop of water to cool his taste, when he was in hell, or send an emissary to the earth to spread the good news to his relations so they will never come to where he was. Sealed hope are sealed eternity. ( Read Luke 16:19-31). Lazarus told him there was a great dividing line between them. Also there were preachers on earth to preach to his relations, who were on earth.
STANDING IN TIME OF TRIAL.
May God grant us grace to stand in the time of trial.
3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10).
May God for the little effort the Christian is putting in, grant them grace in the time of trial. Many have hardened their hearts in the day of temptation. If we shall be tempted in time of mockery, consider not the words of mockers, for their words shall be overtaken by circumstance.
3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (Hebrews 3:8).
IF THERE IS NO TEMPTATION TO OVERCOME THERE IS NO CROWN TO WEAR.
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11)
If you are patient and endure trial, you will be blessed. Therefore, remain focussed in what you have been called to do. Avoid distractions ( or mockery), because they are not the reason you are called.
May God bless this message. May God give to you the hearer or reader of this message, the heart not to misinterpret the word of life. If you are a mocker, note that the man you mock today might be your pacesetter.
God bless you.
Miracle Valley SERMONS July 21, 2019.
outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com.
www.mvgmng.org.