Let them mock all they want!!!

Introduction

The world is a crazy place and is getting worse everyday. It is no longer the 1950’s or 1960’s where Christianity is a normal thing. Church on Sunday’s, family meal on Sunday afternoon. Even growing up in the 70’s Christianity was respected. Pastors were treated with respect and most, most folks were at church on Sundays… But today it is very much different. I mean its even hard getting Christians to come to church. As the times go on, the church is in moral decline. We know this we see this, we even in our small community can see it. As a culture we have lost respect for Christianity and the church. Unfortunately those who call themselves Christian are not really. You may say “pastor that is really judgmental… we we are called to judge the church and what goes on within the church. So giving a practical assessment of the state of the church and those who call themselves christian is reasonable and even commanded in the bible. Then look outside of Christianity and it is full of a whole another level of hate toward the church and we don't need to examine that too closely today because it is truly evident.

But as the Bible teaches us throughout the ages that there is always a remnant. Those who are true believers “God lovers” that want and need to walk with Jesus. When you really look at the situation there are willing malicious enemies of our faith, and there are folks who really don't understand that their lack of convictions are damaging as well. It is very true statement that a backslidden Christian is at times even more destructive than a nonbeliever. It is a black mark on the name of Jesus and His beautiful bride the church. But it has always been so. We read in the book of Act there we true believers and fake ones. It is seen throughout history. So what does that mean for you? If you are a true Born-again believer in Jesus Christ who is heaven bent on growing closer to God everyday, who loves the church and wants to grow in fellowship, and who wants to share their faith we everyone they can because they know it is that important, it mean you have to solidify your convictions.

Listen the world will not get any better, our churches will be filled with folks who do not have a relationship with God. That is reality it always has been and always will be… They will mock our faith either outwardly or inwardly, Let them mock all they want. For the true establish Christian we know that our faith is based not on what the world says, but on who God is. Do you have a rock solid faith:? We may never have to defend our faith like the early Christians had to do or like those in 3rd world countries do… but we may. Is you faith based on your convictions of who God is instead of what the world says. In our scripture today we are looking at a Psalm where David was mocked, and he was running for his life, yet his convictions stayed strong . We as a church are already in the minority, we as solid Christians are even a minority within the church. We need a revival of our basic convictions.

Let’s Read Psalm 11 and see what great truths we need to remember about the God we love and serve.

David had to fight, not just to survive but to keep from losing faith. He brought to himself things of remembrance things that we need to remember

I. A mighty fortress is our God - vs 1 The imagery that the psalms give us is superb. it ignites our minds and gives us vivid pictures and descriptions of who God is. Here David who is running for his life and is being mocked for his faith is fallen under the temptation to question his faith. However He remembers how God takes care of His people. To David who didn’t have a true fortress to run to and escape had his God to run to. For David God was his ultimate stronghold, his protection his safe place. God is a refuge to find strength, peace, rejuvenation, safety, and clearity

from what?

The mocking - those who were chasing and hunting him were mocking him. That is an opportunity for the enemy satan to get our minds to doubt or faith. This is nothing new Pro 17:5 “Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.” Isa 57:4 “Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,”

The danger - David was literally being hunted his life way in danger everywhere. Yet God kept him safe because his role was not yet complete. God worked His will through the life of David. Are we always protected from danger, no. But for this time, David’s confidence was that God would protect him physically. Pro 22:3 “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” 1 Pet 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

The theological implications of who God is - Yes we read this as an attack on David, but what it really was, was an attack on the sovereignty of God. Remember David was already God’s chosen king, to attack God’s anointed was to attack God’s will… and God will not be mocked

2 Pet 3:3-7 “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”

II. God is the great Judge - vs 5-6 as we know from what we read in scriptures and what we see in the world that God will do what ever pleases Him. He is of course upset with the wickedness of the world, however it does not effect His will, or His righteous judgment. His grace is strong yet so is His truth and justice. His plans will succeed no mater what. This is another aspect that we must square with that the worlds wickedness even though it is insidious that it will not go unpunished. God will have his recompense, Remember the scripture no idle word will go unpunished. Heb 12:23 “and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,” Rom 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” How do we know?

a. The Lord is in His temple - This denotes God’s holiness, his uniqueness and purity. It is His temple and He is to be worshipped. 1 Sam 2:2 ““There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” Isa 57:15 “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

b. The Lord is on His throne - This is the understanding the God is the king of kings and the Lord of Lords. He will rule and will judge as king. He not only will rule but has the right to rule over all His creation Isa 6:3 “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”” Ex 15:11 ““Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”

c. The Lord tests His creation - He tests the righteous and the wicked He hates. It is a mis-statement to say that God loves everyone.... Those who outwardly rebel and those who shed innocent blood God hates, and hate is a strong word but it shows the level of disdain that God shows against those who rebel against him and mock Him. Ps 96:9 “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!” Ezekiel 38:23 “So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Isa 35:8 “And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.”

III. He is the righteous one - vs 7 He David speaks about God’s uniqueness. Yes His followers the ones who Love God and obey His commands now who are called Born again are also called righteous, yet there is a difference. For God His righteousness is His very nature, for us our righteousness is imputed to us through God’s Grace. Our righteousness is not our own it is God’s. 2 Tim 1:9 “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”

2 Cor 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” His nature works against our nature to produce something beautiful and honoring of God.

a. Righteousness - It means just, lawful in conduct and character It is the very nature of God that what He does, say, and do is perfect. There is no wrong in God and can never be. He can be trusted and must be trusted. His righteousness demands obedience and He will have justice. Phil 2:10 “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” Matt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Phil 3:9 “and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”

b. He loves righteous deeds - God’s righteousness in us allows us to do righteous deeds. Those actions that honor God is what pleases Him. God loves Righteous deeds, God hates the wicked. Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” 1Tim 6:11 “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”

c. Our promise - The righteous will see God’s face. We have an eternal promise that we will forever be in fellowship with God. John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Application

When we are struggling with the world around us and our mind is tempted to stray from the truth we need to remember that God is our refuge. A mighty fortress is our God. He is who we must run to to find safety and solace

Ps 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah”

We must remember that God is the Great Judge - we see and hear the nonsense of this world we can rest in the fact that God will handle it. Do not be so caught up in this worlds trouble that you miss your daily duty before God, draw closer to Him, Help the needy, share your faith, fellowship with one another

Isa 33:22 “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.”

He is the righteous one, and His righteousness is imputed to all who are born again… what a comfort Gal 2:16 “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”