First Peter 5 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” Knowing this first that scoffers will come in the last days. You see, all of these people that are laughing at you because you’re so much into Bible prophecy, you know why they’re laughing at you? Because they are about their own lusts and you stand in their way.
I remember when I landed in Singapore and somebody picked me up in a beautiful Mercedes and he drove me to the hotel. On the way, he told me how much God blessed his business and how God blessed him with so much money. He’s building a huge house; he’s in a process of making the nicest house that he’s ever had. And he said, “I don't even mind that Jesus will not come back soon.” Because he wanted to enjoy this beautiful house.
It’s the private lust of that particular thing. People are so much into the worldly things that the last thing they need is for someone to be excited about the coming of the Lord. Their own lusts are 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.” And they fall asleep. These people, they’re not sent by God. They don’t have the Spirit of God, and it’s their own private lust that motivates them to laugh at you. There is an effect when you are eagerly waiting for Him. There is a blessing in the waiting. It regards providence, as in Psalm 18, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
It renews our strength, as Psalm 31 says, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). It also rejects fear. Psalm 37 says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the men who brings wicked schemes to pass.” It reaffirms our perspective.
While getting scoffed at and belittled may not be high on your list of pleasures in life, there are two things we can recognize when it happens. One, we are watching the fulfillment of prophecy in a very personal way. And two, someone knows what you believe.
Ephesians 6:16
Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Our response when the fiery darts come our way is often to wander into the realm of emotions rather than continuing steadfast in the faith. The shield of faith has the capacity to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. This is because the object of our faith, the Holy One of Israel, the head of the church, is our covering and shield.
Psalm 18:1-3
I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
The Hebrew word translated as “shield” can also mean “protector or defender”. It is the word that is figuratively used to describe the scaly hide of a crocodile, which pictures something impenetrable.
So when your adversaries roar like a lion and scoff and mock you for what you believe, fear not, for He is with you and will never leave or forsake you. Remember, we have been told what the world will be like in the last days and we are experiencing the fulfillment of it every day.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
The word translated as “wait” means “to bind together”. Those who bind together with the Lord will not be weary or faint, but they will have renewed strength and will mount up with wings like eagles. That means that no matter what comes our way, no matter the scoffing and disparaging remarks and attitudes toward us, these things cannot diminish our strength because the one we are bound to is the God of immeasurable power and strength. Binding ourselves to Him means we will not be moved!
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus,