“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that as we seek for You, in all our life circumstances, we experience faith in You and we rise above our challenges in life. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 2:12-13 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” (13) Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
Amongst this crowd that was assembled there from various places, there were two categories of people.
One group had a genuine seeking heart. They heard and understood what the disciples were saying but they wanted to know what it all meant. They wanted a deeper comprehension.
The other group were the mockers. They had decided that they knew what this was all about. They made fun of the whole experience. This was tragic, for they were blocking themselves from coming into the habitat of God.
We see in this world, that the mockers and scoffers are the majority, whereas, those who seek a deeper understanding of the truth, are the minority. We must intentionally choose to be those who seek to know the things of God.
Peter and the other disciples gave the answer to the question raised by those who genuinely wanted to know the meaning of what was taking place. They also addressed the mockers.
When we deal with real-life situations, we must seek the leading of the Holy Spirit, on how to address various audiences. There will be a minority of genuine seekers and there will be many mockers and scoffers.
Ultimately, we must keep in mind that the Lord is longing for every person to come to faith in Him. He does not want anyone to perish.
Acts 2:14-16 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. (15) For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. (16) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Peter went further to give meaning to what was taking place. He brought conviction to bear on this audience, calling them with earnestness to repent and return to God. The power of God was on full display and many in this audience gave their life to Christ.
God was doing His great work and the Gospel was reaching the nations.
We must be prepared to confront the mockers and scoffers.
II Peter 3:3-9 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, (4) and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (5) For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, (6) by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. (7) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (8) But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The scoffers are those in whom the self is enthroned. They think that they have all the answers to life. Even if they had the minimum amount of curiosity to know how the world exists or how all things in this world continue to be, they will come face to face with the reality of God. The self, being enthroned in them has so blinded them that even what is obvious is oblivious to them.
Psalms 27:4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
This is the life which we must cultivate. “Lord, I want to inquire in Your temple. Give me an inquiring heart. I want to know how to apply the principles of Your kingdom into my everyday circumstances”.
The danger, friends, is that if we do not cultivate within us this heart of inquiry, we will very soon slip into the realm of becoming a scoffer.
Psalms 42:1-2 To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. (2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
The mindset that we must cultivate is the mindset of a deer that pants for God.
Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. (3) He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
May we always be inquirers, but not scoffers.