Hello Everyone,

God is our defender and rewarder.

John 15:20 …If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;

What is The nature of ridicule?

-They ridiculed God's people as being feeble.

v. 1-2a “What are those feeble Jews doing?

The world measures things by size, by numbers, by finances and power. But God delights in using feeble things.

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,

God gets great glory by doing big things thru small people.

-They ridiculed the task as being futile.

v. 2 "It can't be done! No need to even try!" he said.

According to v. 1-2 there's a big crowd gathered. And there's a small group of Jews working. He's mocking the workers and the crowd explodes with laughter!

What Sanballat failed to recognize was that God was standing behind His people.

And though it sometimes looks like the world is winning and we are such a minority that we are having no effect, or we're just a bunch of weirdoes...remember, we are on the winning side...read the back of the book!

President Woodrow Wilson, "I would rather temporarily fail with a cause that will ultimately win than to temporarily win with a cause that must ultimately fail."

-They ridiculed their faith as being foolish.

v. 2b "Will they offer sacrifice?" He's making fun of their religion. This is blasphemy; they are calling their beliefs foolish. And it continues today.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

"Virgins don't give birth, and angels don't sing, and no one can rise from the dead, and I've never seen anyone riding on aflying white horse!"

1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake,

But there's a bigger fool...

Psalm 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Yes, I'm a fool for Christ...whose fool are you? I feel sorry for those who choose to be the fool of the devil!

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil