March 30, 2014–Dealing with Scoffers and Mockers

March 29, 2014 By

Day 20: Acts 13:32-52

Darren & Lydia Mar. 2014But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:50-52)

We cannot let the confrontation that comes from scoffers and mockers stop us from preaching the word of God.  I have noticed that as signs and wonders have increased in my ministry so have the scoffers and the mockers.  In fact I have had them show up in my meetings and try to interrupt me as I minister.

We have to be comfortable with confrontation and we have to become combative in the midst of it–not with a spirit of fear and intimidation, but with a heart to see the scoffers and mockers to come to Christ.  In the midst of the scoffing we have to pray for signs and wonders to increase, so that what this spirit is trying to stop will not be stopped but a great outpouring will occur in the mist of it.

I am not certain that I am there yet.  I am still trying to process in my heart the messages that these people deliver.  It seems strange to me that in the midst of the mighty anointing that comes for signs and wonders that people scoff and mock, and yet they do all of the time.

Even when I preach and share what God is doing in our midst on Facebook, and particularly on Facebook, the scoffers are there to try to tear down what God is doing.  They actually do not even know that they are coming against a work of Christ.  We must bless them and not curse them.  We must allow Christ to shine through us even when we are being persecuted for the gospel’s sake.   None of us does this perfectly, but when we are not perfect, God is still perfect and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

We must take beatings for the gospel’s sake with peace in our hearts.  If there is no peace, ask God to heal your heart so that you can walk more fully in His love.

Recently I reacted negatively to a scoffing.  I had a man removed from a meeting because he spoke against me mockingly.  Only one or two people were aware of what was occurring and so the church reacted negatively toward what I did.  They did not want me to return.

In that moment I asked God to help me to become more like Him.  He took me back to when I was young and showed me why I feared this man and the scoffing and the mocking.  He healed my brokenness from that moment and it was like a fire entered my heart.  Immediately afterward I noticed a difference and when I was scoffed and mocked by the next person, I didn’t react but was able to get through it and built a deeper relationship with the scoffer as a result.

You also have to get to the place where you shake the dust off your feet and continue on your way anyway.  The reason the enemy scoffs is to try to destroy the work that God is doing in your life.  You must release these scoffers to the Lord and continue on with the work of preaching the gospel.

You must pick yourself up and continue on.  When this occurs you will know that Christ is in you.  You will sense His presence in a new way and your preaching will become more powerful and effective for the Lord

Filed Under: Pastor Darren Canning

March 29, 2014–Minister unto the Lord first

March 29, 2014 By

Day 19: Acts 13:1-31

Jeeva & Sulojana Woodvale March 2014Following a Lenten service at a neighbouring church on Thursday, I was enjoying a bowl of hearty salmon chowder and carrying on a conversation with others at the table. Then it was time for dessert. One of the ladies was kind enough to ask if she could bring me a piece of chocolate cake. I politely declined saying that I was abstaining from sweets as part of my Lenten Fast, therefore dessert was out of the question for me.

Much to my surprise, this triggered a response from two ladies who sat across from me. “I stopped giving up something for Lent long time ago,” said one. Her neighbour completed the sentence for her: “Ever since our priest told us that we should really be adding something rather than giving up something.” “That’s why we visit the shut-ins”, piped the other one.

As much as I was tempted to respond, I chose to chow down another bowl of chowder instead.

When I came home and started reading this passage in order to prepare this reflection, I was quite taken by this description of the leadership in the church at Antioch: As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)

“Ministered to the Lord.” This is the job description of priests in the Old Testament. “Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the LORD, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name forever.” (I Chronicles 23:13)

The priests were entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the fire on the altar burning 24/7, offering sacrifices of praise to the Lord. King David made ministering to the Lord such a great priority, as we see in this passage: All the Levites who were thirty years old or older were counted, and the total came to thirty-eight thousand. Then David said, “Twenty-four thousand of them will supervise the work at the Temple of the LORD. Six thousand are to serve as officials and judges. Four thousand will work as gatekeepers, and another four thousand will praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have made.” (I Chronicles 23:3-5)

David, being a worshiper himself, recognized that everything begins with ministering unto the Lord.

The leadership in Antioch is very aware of this priority. They realize that as a “royal priesthood” all of us who are part of Jesus’ family need to make it our priority as well.

As they minister unto the Lord (with worship and praise), they open themselves up to receive direction from the Holy Spirit. It is worth noting that they fasted as well.

Dear friend, the purpose of every Fast that we ever undertake is to really fix our eyes on the Lord more than we normally do when we are not fasting. This is why in our churches we have been stressing the need to take some quiet time every day and simply sit in silence before the Lord and focus on Him and Him alone.

If we do not make ministering to the Lord our first and foremost priority, we could easily fall into the trap of ministering to others and neglecting our first love. What a shame that would be!

Yes, by all means, go visit the shut-ins, heal the sick and minister to the needs of others. But, make sure that your first priority is to minister unto the Lord.

As the leadership in Antioch discovered, it is in those times of ministering to the Lord that He often ministers to us!

May this be your experience as well. Correction. Make this your experience as well.

Filed Under: Pastor Jeeva Sam