Power Point - December 5, 2005
December 5, 2005
Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
As the walls were going up in
D.L. Moody used to say, “The devil never kicks a dead horse.” When God begins to work, the devil isn’t happy about it and will do everything possible to prevent it. Wherever Jesus Christ is magnified, the devil goes to work to stop it from happening. As you live your life fully for Christ, you will find the same opposition comes to you in one or more of three ways: derision, distraction, and delusion.
Billy Graham once said, “Too many Christian churches, television, and radio programs have been geared to please, to entertain and to gain the favor of this world… The temptation is to compromise, to make the Gospel more appealing and more attractive.” We must never soften the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to please the world! Always stand to live for Jesus Christ, no matter the mockery and scorn.
Whether you’re a student in school, an adult on the job, or on the mission field among non-believers in your own family, you’ll be mocked when you stand for Jesus Christ in this generation. And while it may seem that your life has been destroyed by the mockery of others, remember to count the cost, give yourself to the Lordship of Christ, and you’ll experience His blessings.
WHEN YOU DETERMINE TO LIVE FOR JESUS, PREPARE THROUGH PRAYER AND GOD’S WORD FOR THE MOCKERY AND OPPOSITION THAT WILL FOLLOW.
