WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:04.320 Turn with me in your Bibles to Nehemiah chapter 2. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:05.360 Here we go. 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:07.120 The wall builders. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:08.400 I love it. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:09.599 I love it. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:14.480 Several churches all over the country on radio preaching Nehemiah. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:18.399 When God has a word, He proclaims it. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:19.359 Good job. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:22.079 Proclaims it all over the country. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:28.399 Well, I'm excited because to be honest with you, I wasn't expecting to preach this message today. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:33.840 Because to be honest with you, the word scoffer is not pleasing. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:36.479 And to be honest with you, I have been one. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.240 Don't get real silent. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:42.640 And please don't say amen. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:44.960 But we've all been there. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:47.039 And you're going to see that. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:48.640 But this is so important. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:53.520 In fact, I asked myself, have I ever heard a message on scoffers? 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:55.359 Nope. 00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:56.320 Never have. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:58.479 I've been in the church a long time, folks. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:00.159 40 plus years. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:09.120 So realizing that every time God in the New Testament, Jesus tried to do something, do you know what? 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:10.480 He had scoffers. 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:12.799 Everywhere he went. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:13.840 Scoffers. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.760 They would ask him questions. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:20.799 Not to learn from him, but to trap him. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:23.599 To slander him. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:26.560 To try to make him look foolish. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:30.719 Try to make him look idiotic. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:33.040 Sound familiar? 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:38.719 Is that not what the world does to us Christians right now, going on in America right now? 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:51.680 Those idiots over there, those Christians that believe in a God that his son died on the cross and then went, they buried him, and they think he rose from the dead. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:53.680 How stupid can you be? 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.359 And they think that he spoke the world into existence. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.599 How stupid can you be? 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:04.400 I've heard it all my ministry. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:13.280 So today we're going to look, we're going to take a boom, a rabbit. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:16.719 And then next week we'll be right back into chapter three. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:20.240 I plan to do, my goal is to do a chapter on Sunday. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:27.680 And next week, chapter three, we'll look at how God uses you and me as workers to fulfill his purpose. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:28.319 It's awesome. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:29.680 Chapter 3 is awesome. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:32.000 But today, this is going to be. 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:36.879 I want you to hold, and there's a lot of blanks, so I'm going to have to go pretty quick. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:40.240 Because my wife said, make sure you fill in the blanks. 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:44.800 So I'm acting like I'm in my theological seminary class today. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:45.360 Okay? 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:47.120 So here we go. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:56.319 In Nehemiah chapter 2, which we saw and saw most of the chapter last week, so we're just going to pick up at on a few verses. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.039 We're going to look at verse 9. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.319 Going to verse 9. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:10.639 If you have your Bibles, go to verse 9 and 10. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:13.039 And then we're going to look at verse 19 and 20. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:16.479 But then we're really going to look at Proverbs today. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:18.400 You got a lot of Proverbs. 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:23.439 In Nehemiah, chapter 2, verse 9. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:30.080 Nehemiah says, But if you return to me and I keep my commandments and do them. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:32.639 Oh, I'm in chapter 1. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:34.240 Let me get to chapter 2. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:35.439 Excuse me. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:37.439 Here we go. 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:43.680 Then I went to the governors, Nehemiah, remember? 00:03:43.919 --> 00:04:07.360 He had gone to the king, and the king had granted his request to go back to Jerusalem, rebuild the walls, rebuild the city, and he had asked for letters to give to the governors so that they would not attack him or try to run him out of the city like they had done before in Ezra chapter 4 when they tried to rebuild the walls in the city. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:15.520 They had rebuilt the temple, but he wanted letters from the king because Artaxerxes was the one that stopped the rebuilding. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.720 But now he had sent him letters so he'd be protected. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:26.319 And he also wanted letters to the guy that oversaw the forest so he could get all the wooden materials he needed to rebuild it. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:30.480 So here he says, then I went to the governors. 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:38.959 Now, the three ring leaders that go against Nehemiah throughout the whole book of Nehemiah are governors. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.759 Sambalat, Tobias, and Geshem. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:52.000 The three ring leaders that were trying to stop what God wanted done back in Jerusalem. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:58.160 So he brings the letters to them and gives them to them. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:08.160 And then Sambalat, Tobias, and Tobiah, the Ammonite, the Hornite, with Sambalat, both governors, heard of it. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:16.399 They were deeply, now watch this, disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:28.639 Whoa! Here we see, in spite of the fact that Nehemiah was moving God's work favorably. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.879 Everything was going his way. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:32.879 I mean, he got all he needed. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:35.439 He had the protection and the provisions. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:37.120 It doesn't get any better than that. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:37.920 Amen. 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:40.879 Oh, but does that stop Satan? 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:42.319 Does Satan fear? 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:43.759 Absolutely not. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:49.680 The three ring leaders come against Nehemiah. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:58.319 In fact, the devil does not cease his evil just because God's work is progressing. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:00.160 Let me repeat that. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:12.000 The devil does not cease his attacks or his work just because God's work is doing well or God's work is progressing. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:12.399 Why? 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:13.600 John 10 10. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:19.040 Satan has come to kill, steal, and destroy. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:21.439 That's his whole purpose, folks. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:23.040 So remember that. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:30.959 Opposition is ever present to the work and the way of God all the time. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.720 I promise you. 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:41.519 In fact, if you are experiencing a lot of opposition because you're walking in the way of God, now that's important. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.879 If you're not being obedient, you're going to be chastened. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:45.360 Amen. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:46.639 So you're going to have problems. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:58.079 But if you're walking in the things of God, the ways of God, and fulfilling the work of God, your purpose, and you're still having a lot of opposition, remember, that's a good thing. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.720 That's the only way I got through the building, Paul. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:02.240 That's a good thing. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:04.240 Praise God. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:08.399 I should have told you that earlier. 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:11.519 But that was a good thing. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:15.279 Now, sometimes you don't understand it's a good thing why you're going through it. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:17.279 Can I say it get to know me? 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:19.920 But it is a good thing. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:23.920 In fact, you heard the praise do such a beautiful job. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:27.600 Satan meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:32.240 Genesis 50, 20, by the way, that's where that comes from. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:35.519 So, anyway, we see this happening. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.680 But God takes care of such people. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:38.480 Remember that. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:40.639 God is my refuge and strength. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:42.959 A very present help in time of trouble. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:44.240 Can I get an amen? 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:46.560 Psalms 46, verse 1. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:48.160 So that's very important. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:52.399 But now I want you to let me describe these three ring leaders. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:58.480 Let me describe to you how Satan's attitude works through these people. 00:07:58.639 --> 00:07:59.279 Look at the word. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:00.079 This is powerful. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.360 The word grieve. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:04.160 The word grieve there is Yara. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:05.600 The Hebrew word. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:06.480 Here's what it means. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:08.079 It has several meanings. 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:13.680 But the first word means unhappy. 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:16.480 That is the most obvious meaning. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.839 They were unhappy when God's work was prospering. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:23.279 Listen to me. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:28.399 Satan is unhappy when God's work is prospering. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:39.440 That is why, hey, hey, there's been such a major movement to shut the church down during this coronavirus. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:44.480 Because Satan is doing everything he can to shut us down. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:49.039 He can't stand it when God's work's prospering, folks. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:49.919 I'm telling you. 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:51.759 But notice the next word. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.320 It means unsympathetic. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:59.279 There were, hey, they were not sympathetic to the Jews. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:03.440 They were against that which favored or honored the Jews. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:13.039 I just got, I just had a spell the last few days when we had a pre-hey a peace treaty form with the Jewish nation and the Arab nation. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:18.559 Woo! And oh, the Satan is just jumping on like he can't stand it. 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:22.559 In the midst of all the bad, look what happened. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:32.159 You know what God does right in the midst when everybody thinks that it can't get any bad or we're losing, God just steps in and does something miraculous. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:35.759 Somebody said, Oh, would that just that just happen? 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:37.039 No, no. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:42.480 Our government and our president have been working on that for years, ever since he came into office. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:44.159 I mean, there's good things. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:46.159 Hey, let me tell you something about the Jews. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:51.120 God says, I'll bless those who bless my people, I'll curse those who curse my people. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:55.279 You always gonna be, we're always gonna be pro-Israel. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:57.039 That's God's people. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.799 So, that's good. 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:05.360 And then third, it means unholy. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.159 Fourthly, it means ungodly. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:16.000 In other words, the word ungodly means Satan is involved in opposition to God's work all the time. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.759 That's exactly what that means. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:26.480 Now, let's look at verse 19. 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:28.000 What he said. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:31.360 In verse 19. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:43.360 But when Sambalat, Habiah, and Geshe heard, they laughed. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.639 Now watch. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:46.720 They laughed. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.840 They laughed at us, and then they despised us. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.360 Two great words. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:56.000 Two Hebrew words that are powerful. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:58.879 The word laugh is la agag. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:00.480 La agag. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:03.919 And here's what it means: it means to stammer or stutter. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:10.720 It means to utter repeatedly words of derision and scorn. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:18.879 In other words, everything coming out of their mouth is negative and bad and demising. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.759 That's what it means. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.919 And then look at the word, hey, despise. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.080 It's the Hebrew word baza. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.440 And here's what it means: slander. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:37.200 These three men were endeavoring to use intimidation to discourage the people. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:41.279 You think we haven't any intimidation going on today? 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:42.879 Hello? 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:49.200 I've run into two this week, and your pastor had to count to ten. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:56.559 Woo! Oh, I almost didn't get a donut because of it. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.679 And I'm not gonna go into details. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:11.200 Trying to threaten me and scare me. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.000 I just made a one statement. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:16.480 I said, I got the right to hey. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:18.639 To do what I want to do. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:20.000 I'm in America. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.840 I'm not in Germany. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:28.000 She says, Well, I got the right not to serve you. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:32.240 I said, You're right. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:35.200 And I got the right not to come back. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:39.360 I love you. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:40.799 I'm out. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.240 Huh? 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:48.159 I did, didn't I, honey? 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.320 It was not good. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:50.879 Okay. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:52.480 Let's go. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:58.240 But God has not given us the spirit of fear. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:01.360 But of power and of love and of a sound mind. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:05.919 Folks, don't let people intimidate us as Christians. 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:07.200 Don't. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:09.519 I wasn't ugly though. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.240 I wasn't. 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:14.639 Scorners many times have no clue what they're talking about. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:16.879 They have no clue. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.559 They have no facts. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:21.759 And if they don't have them, they'll make them up. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:23.360 Hello? 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.480 Now watch here. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:27.279 Let me prove it. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.159 Or if they know the facts, they lie to you. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:33.600 Somebody said, what? 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:34.799 Yes. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.879 The news will lie to you. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:38.320 Let me help you. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:44.399 They tell you what they want you to hear, they tell you their scenario. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:48.399 Now let me prove it right here in what I just said. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:14:02.000 Sambalat knew already that Nehemiah had permission to come and rebuild the city and the walls. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:03.759 He had received the letters. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:06.799 I just showed you that in verse 9 and 10. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:09.679 He had received the letters. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.120 But you know what he said? 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.879 What's the first thing he does? 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:21.120 He says, Do you realize you're not supposed to be here because the king said that nobody was going to rebuild this city or the walls? 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.399 He lied. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:29.360 That's what they do. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.519 That's what scorners do. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.240 But now watch what verse 20. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.159 Look how Nehemiah answered him. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:38.639 The God of heaven will prosper us. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.440 Notice he didn't use the king's letters. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:44.799 Because he already knew he had the king's letters. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:46.159 He already knew it. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:49.200 In other words, Nehemiah's playing a chess game here. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.039 Okay, you want to play chess against God? 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.000 Come on. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:55.600 He says, I'm not worried about you and your king. 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.799 Hey, hey. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:58.000 Now he didn't say that. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:59.279 He didn't dishonor the king. 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:02.080 Notice Nehemiah never dishonored the king. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:06.320 He said, but I'm not worried about you, Sembalat. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:11.200 I'm not worried about you, Tobias, and I'm sure not worried about you, Goshim. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:15.440 Because I've got the God of heaven on my side. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.200 Can I get an amen, church? 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:20.159 I've got the God of heaven on my side. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:24.240 And if God be for me, say it with me. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.320 Who can be against me? 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.639 Nay, in all things we've been made more than conquerors through him. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:36.159 That's what the book says in 1 Corinthians and Romans 8. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:39.600 So, these men, here's what he said. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:41.679 Then he says, Oh, watch this. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.960 He punches them. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:46.879 You have no right, no portion, or memorial in Jerusalem. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.000 You know what he said? 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:53.279 Hey, you have no share, no legal right, or no historical claim to Jerusalem. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:57.519 Nehemiah was committed and would not be intimidated to the point. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:00.159 Now, here's what happens. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:03.039 When Satan intimidates us, here's what he wants to do. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.000 Now, watch this. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.360 Whew, this is good. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:11.039 He wants to do what he had already done twelve years prior, when he stopped it. 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:19.120 He wants to, one, and I really believe this, he wants to make us ineffective. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.879 Secondly, instability. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.960 He wants us to be unstable. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:27.600 Or, now watch this. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:30.159 Insanity. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.799 Watch this. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:42.000 Have you been reading some of the there are some places where you can get factual news? 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:52.240 Do you know 25% of suicide attempts has suicide attempts going up 25% in the last three months? 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:53.840 25%. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:59.039 Now, the regular news won't tell you that. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.799 25%. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.879 Why? 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:10.640 Satan has come to steal, say it with me, kill and destroy. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.519 Wow. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:21.680 He had the blessings, but Nehemiah had the blessings of the king, and most important, the blessings of the Lord. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:26.720 And he says in Ephesians 3 12, we have boldness and confidence. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.839 Boldness and confidence by faith in Christ Jesus. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:33.759 Proverbs 28:1, the righteous are bold as lions. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:36.000 So dealing with scorners. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:38.960 How do you deal with scorners? 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:42.480 We'll determine, this is our introduction statement. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:49.599 How we are steadfast or unstable in our quest to do the will of God. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:53.119 How we deal with these Satan scorners. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:18:07.440 And Satan's crowd is filled with scorners who will try to intimidate you and me to mediocracy, to muteness, he wants to shut us up, or melancholy. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:15.759 To have a fearful attitude or no joy, or they tell you to do something, you just run and hide. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:23.599 Let me quote that verse again, but give you the second part of it. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:25.279 John 10 10. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:29.839 Satan's come to kill, steal, destroy. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:38.400 But Jesus said, But I have come to give you life and give it more abundantly, folks. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:48.240 Abundant life is a life filled with confidence, joy, happiness, confidence, boldness, and strength and comfort and prosperity. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:55.279 And what I mean by prosperity, that you have the protection of God and you're not scared. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:00.079 That's what Jesus said. 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:05.279 Satan's crowd is filled with scorners. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:12.240 Realize that the scorn of God and his truth, now get ready, does not invalidate him. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:14.400 Can I say that again? 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:24.640 Just because people are scorning you or scorning the church or scorning Christ or scorning God does not invalidate who he is and what his truth is. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.079 Can I get an amen? 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.799 For example, watch this. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:34.160 People may rant and rave that the Bible is not true. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:36.720 But let me give you the fact. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:41.359 In the beginning was a word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:50.799 People will rave and rant that God did not create the heavens and earth. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.400 Let me give you the fact. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:56.160 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.759 Genesis 1:1. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:04.720 People will rave and rant that Jesus did not raise himself from the dead. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.200 Okay, let me give you the fact. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:09.920 He's not here, for he has risen. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:12.240 Come see the place where the Lord lay. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.839 Matthew 28, 6. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.799 I've been there. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.079 He's not there. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:18.880 People will rave and rant. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:28.319 Listen to me, they will rave and rant that there's, hey, that as long as you're good and there's many and several ways to go to heaven. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.759 But let me give you the fact. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:32.960 Jesus says, I'm the way, the truth, the life. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:37.839 No one comes unto me, hey, unto the Father, except through me. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.200 John 14, 6. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:41.440 Neither is there salvation in any other. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.559 But in God Himself and through Christ. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.079 Acts 4, 12. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.759 That's the fact. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:52.480 Many people will rave and rant that there's no hell. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:55.279 But let me give you the fact. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:10.240 In Luke 16, the rich man that died and was in hell being tormented, he said, Oh, Abraham, please send Lazarus to my five brothers and tell them so that they don't have to come to this horrible, tormented place. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:12.160 Luke 16, 28. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.680 That's fact. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:19.920 Dealing with scorners. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:25.440 They can scream all they wish, but these truths do not change. 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.880 Can I get an amen? 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:31.200 Scriptural insights. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:34.400 Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:38.240 One more rave into ranting about Christ. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:41.440 They don't believe in the rapture of the church. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.799 Fact. 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:56.079 The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:58.960 Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.519 Fact. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:05.200 First Thessalonians four sixteen through eighteen. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:12.559 Woo! Amen, amen, amen, folks. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.519 Facts. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.960 Facts matter. 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.400 You're educated. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:20.000 Don't listen to the scorners and the scoffers. 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.759 Check them out. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.039 Facts. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:27.839 Scorners have a lot. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.440 Let's look at them real quick. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:31.039 Get your pen ready. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:37.359 All your teachers and your saying, oh my soul, he hadn't even got to the blanks yet. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.759 Braden's ready. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:43.839 By the way, I got my grandkids with me here. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.559 I love them. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:49.440 Hey, and Braden got saved sitting right there a few months ago, and y'all saw me. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.519 I baptized him in the lake in Virginia. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:53.119 Good to love you, buddy. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.640 And sissy. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.759 Amen. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.599 All right. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.279 Here we go. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:02.960 Number one, the characteristics of a scorner. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.359 Get ready. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:11.200 Number one, they rejoice in scorning others. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.599 Proverbs 122. 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:18.480 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:23.359 And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:30.480 The word scorner there is the Hebrew word lutz, which means to mock, to make mouths at. 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:38.319 In other words, they talk arrogantly all the time, and they talk destructively all the time. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:46.480 The word delight there has a meaning of selfish desires and coveting of something. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:52.400 It's the same Hebrew word that was used with Adam and Eve when she what? 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.240 She delighted in the fruit of the forbidden tree. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:03.039 It's the same Hebrew word that Achan delighted in the spoils of Jericho. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:05.279 Here's what that means. 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:12.319 Scorners covet and delight in mocking others for their own self-interest. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:14.480 Sound familiar? 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:26.160 In other words, scorners, scoffers have their own agenda that they're trying to get you to believe, hook, line, and sinker. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.359 Folks? 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:32.240 It's a ploy. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.920 It's a crowd. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:37.200 They have an agenda. 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.599 And it's selfish. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:49.759 Number two, they resist rebuke or correction of those in authority. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:56.160 Scorners will especially resist the authority of their parents. 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.440 Starts there. 00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:03.039 A classic example of scornful sons were the sons of Eli. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.839 Wow. 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:19.680 A godly priest who did not, hey, hey, did not discipline his sons hard enough, but they ended up becoming the priests and ungodly priests and did wicked things, and because of that, they lost the lineage of the priesthood. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.440 Hello? 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:24.240 That's pretty important. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:27.279 In fact, listen to what Proverbs says. 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.960 13 verse 1. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:35.680 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scorner hears not rebuke. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.880 You hear that? 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.799 Listen to Proverbs 15.5. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:42.640 A fool despises his father's instruction. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:47.359 But he that regards reproof, now watch, it's prudent. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:52.319 And the word despise there carries the idea of scorn and hate. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:57.599