Mockery!
Genesis 21:9 “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.”
Loss of civility and a sense of decorum and decency was what all of us witnessed in India during the recent election campaign, where the politicians went about wagging atrocious verbal wars against each other and exchange of harsh personal remarks that was appalling and deplorable! Never before has such animosity and hostility been on open, raw display!
Well, as I read the newspaper everyday choked with emotions and watched people getting hostile against each other and even people of high caliber and stature behave unruly and speak evil, I knew that ‘a beastly mockery and division spirit’ is behind this chaos! Caveat! It is not just in politics, these end days, this spirit of mockery is spreading like venom at home, church, college, school and everywhere! Ragging, mocking, teasing, criticizing and humiliating the victim are the works of the devil – stay away! Let me give you few instances from the Bible and point out to you that this is no small matter but something that is abominable to God; read this message and correct your life and also that of your family.
After the day a great feast was organized by Abraham as celebration for Isaac his son, Ismael rebelled and mocked. Sarah watched this and wisely advised her husband Abraham to send Hagar and Ismael away; while Abraham grieved about this, he got a clear instruction from God:
"Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” (Genesis 21:12)
God abhors mockery! Behind the mocking spirit is the devil! Do not give in to the instigations of the devil and mock at each other. This spirit manifests when the children reach their teens and if not corrected and prayed, it would turn into an ugly monster! Caveat! Split of youth group, women’s fellowship, prayer cells, music team, choir and many gatherings are caused by this mockery and rebellious spirit. The devil uses this weapon of ‘mockery spirit’ aggressively on new converts and spiritually weak people in order to destroy their faith and drag them away from Jesus. The devil tried to kill the ‘prayer spirit’ in Hannah as he used Peninnah to dig, poke and mock at Hannah every day; however, when Hannah arose and went into the presence of God to pray, the devil fled from her. Hallelujah! After I got saved, I was mocked in the family circle, at work spot, by my colleagues and I felt shattered because I was not able to figure out the reason; however, through prayer and fasting, God saved me from the clutches of satan.
We see another incident in the Bible where a group of 42 youth mock prophet Elisha and pass derogatory remarks about him and arouse his anger, as a result they get mauled and killed by two bears, this chilling incident we read in the second book of Kings read: (2 King 2: 23,24)”And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children(youth) out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. v 24….. there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. “
Be away from bad company who mock and criticize others, we have a clear warning from the Bible in Psalm 1:1” Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
The Bible talks about this spirit in Revelation 13:5”And there was given unto him (beast) a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. “ Let us never give the enemy a foothold to enter our homes or heart to bring division, but let us be filled with brotherly love and encourage each other. Let me quote a lovely scripture that would be refreshing and cleanse you from all ill feelings if any:
• Romans 12:9 (Amplified Bible) “Let your love be sincere; hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.
• 10 Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.”
I wish our church (to start with), Christians and the world read the above scripture and live with love rather than wield swords!
