Naysayers and Scoffers

How many of you have ever heard the word "naysayer" before?

I imagine pretty much every one of us has at some point in our lives.

How about the word "scoffers"?

Yep, I would venture to say that's another word with which we are familiar.

Dictionary.com defines a naysayer as a person who habitually expresses negative or pessimistic views. And defines a scoffer as someone who mocks, doubts, or jeers.

I've never heard these two words uttered more in my life than I have in these past few weeks. I heard a man who was thrust into the national spotlight by another man jealous of his ministry call his critics with those two words.

The man I'm speaking of was held up to scrutiny by another "man of the cloth" who judged him without walking in his shoes or without having all of the facts of the situation. He made a snap judgment and posted it on social media where it was fueled by haters of the gospel and those who live in darkness until it became a massive firestorm seemingly burning out of control.

And what did the accused man do about it all?

Nothing! He kept quiet.

Do you know why?

Because he knew his own heart, he knew what he was doing and he knew that the ONLY opinion that matters is God's.

After several days of silence and taking care of his family, this man began to do a few interviews explaining his side of the story. When asked about what was being said, this man still didn't come to his own defense with harsh words, he didn't get angry and call the other "preacher" out for his lies. He simply said that he pays no mind to the naysayers.

Wow!!

What a wonderful place to be in spiritually and mentally.

This man was being crucified by the masses on various social media platforms where anyone and everyone can be butchered by those who find it easy to sit behind a screen and say whatever they wish without walking a day on someone else's journey.

While this was taking place, I felt so sorry for the man at having to go through what the critics and bullies were putting out, but I also knew that God would step up and defend him, eventually. God always has our backs for us.

I watched as other "Christians" mocked him and his choice to not do what they all felt he should do and I was in shock. I was stunned at the ones who claim to love and be like God were some of the VERY ones who were judging him for his decisions.

It was extremely frustrating, to say the least. I countered with my own post on social media stating that while they were judging this man for not doing what they all thought he should do, when was the last time they did anything for anyone else.

I watched as the public tried to gaslight this man for no reason whatsoever and it made me sick. I understand the unsaved people of the world speaking against him because they are sinners and not of God. They do not serve God and therefore do NOT walk in the love of God nor are they filled with the love of God. So it stands to reason that they would have a hateful, scoffers, naysayers opinion of him.

BUT the church?

Where does any man or woman who calls himself a follower of God find a legitimate reason to mock or jeer fellow servants of Christ?

How dare we as children of God tear down each other!!

Can you imagine how the world looks at us for doing so?

Can you imagine what they say about us?

We preach to them this gospel of love and peace, acceptance, and joy, but fail to live it out in front of them on a daily basis.

It's disgusting!!

I'm appalled at the how the ones who claim to have the love of Christ in their hearts are the very ones who turned on him and judged him for no reason at all.

But alas, I'm all too familiar with the scenario myself.

I too have been mocked and jeered by the scoffers and naysayers. Just recently I was mocked for putting "too much Bible" in my blogs. LOL Well, let me just say that no one complained when I was in the world writing in the adult genre.

People will always have opinions as to what you need to do and they will try to control you, but you have to keep on doing that which God has called you and pay no mind to the naysayers. Sometimes you have to just keep quiet like the man a few weeks ago until God tells you that it's time to speak. And when he does, this verse will get you through it. Matthew 10:18 says that we are to take no thought to how or what we will speak when we are brought before the scoffers because the Spirit of our Father will speak for us. How much more could you ask for from God? He promises all throughout His Word that He will be our defense and He will fight our battles.

Two weeks ago, I came under fire from a "friend" who is not saved, and not walking in the love of God. When this person started her nonsense with me, I ignored her. I've gone through this with her many, many times and I know that being childish is part of who she is. But last week, she unleashed on my Facebook with comments that were not nice and completely unwarranted. I simply deleted each comment she posted and tried to go about my business of the day. When I saw that she wasn't going to stop, I began to pray and ask God to defend me. I asked Him to fight the battle for me because His Word tells me that He will.

As I was praying, I saw who was really attacking me. It wasn't the woman at all, but rather my enemy, Satan himself. This woman was simply being used as a tool to come against me because we had been so close in the past, so the devil thought he could use her. He thought he could hurt me with her words on my posts. But the Spirit of God revealed to me that I wasn't fighting flesh and blood, but rather principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness. So I prayed against that spirit and gave it to God.

As far as social media and the woman goes, I remained silent. I didn't "take up for myself" and give back to her what she was putting out to me. Rather, I went to battle in the spiritual realm with prayer. Because I know my enemy is not this woman whom I used to call friend. My enemy is the one who hates God. The one who hates what God has done in my life. The ruler of darkness, Satan himself. I don't harbor any ill will toward this person who said those hurtful things to me. No, it's the total opposite. I've prayed for her more in the past two weeks than anyone. This woman desperately needs God in her life.

So, like the man I spoke of in the beginning of the blog, don't get upset and angry when someone comes against you. When others say all manner of evil about you, pray for them instead. Jesus told us that it will happen to us because it happened to Him, and we are no better than He was.

Ask God to allow you to see instantly what's behind the attack, open your eyes to who it is that wants to kill, steal and destroy and fall on your knees in prayer for the one who the enemy is using.

The Word tells us that we are not ignorant of Satan's devices, lest he should get an advantage on us.

I want to end with this: don't fight each other, fight in the spiritual realm because that's where the battle is. Go to God and pray for the individual being used by the devil. Bind the spirits that come against you, in the name of Jesus. Use the authority that was given to us in the only name that will break chains, the name of Jesus. Pray in private and allow God to defend you in public.

I had a similar situation last year. Lies were being told on me by two people that I had loved and trusted. Outright, vicious lies straight from the pits of hell, designed to make me look bad in people's eyes. Of course, when I first was informed, I cried. My heart was broken because I trusted these two individuals to be friends and love me. After I got over the hurt, I became angry and wanted to defend myself. I wanted to go all over social media posting pictures that were proof and in town and tell others what had been said and done to me. But I was advised against it. I was told to be quiet and let God vindicate me. It was THE hardest thing I've ever done, but I did it. I shut this big old mouth of mine and let God take control.

Wouldn't you know that He did it just right!!

He not only vindicated me for that situation, but He allowed people to finally realize the truth of the lies that were told on me a few years ago by the very same two people. He opened eyes that had been blinded by their lies back then as well.

Let me tell you when you allow God to have vengeance, you can never go wrong. He will lift your name out of the mud that someone else has tried to drag it through and He will allow them to be seen for what they really are.

Now, I find myself praying for the two people who tried to ruin my name. I don't want to see them die lost.

I actually started this blog on September 3rd and didn't finish it for some reason. It wasn't quite the time, so I saved it as a draft (something I do with many blogs) and then today felt like a good day to finish it and add my own experiences.

I hope this has helped someone who may be going through attacks from the enemy.

The key to it all is: DON'T defend yourself. Allow God to vindicate you. Go to Him in prayer, ask Him once, back away, trust Him to do it, and go on with your business while HE takes care of it for you. It's really simple if you think about it. Prayer is key to everything in life. Turning to God is the answer to every problem you face in life.

Much love,

Christy

Helpful Verses:

2 Corinthians 2:11; Ehpesians 6:12; Matthew 10:18-20; Proverbs 19:11; 1 Peter 3:9; Romans 12:14