What to do when you are Mocked.

(Mark 10:46-50)
46. Next, they came to Jericho. And as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road.

47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48. Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”

50Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.

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Did you notice how those who told the blind man to shut up were the same people who went back to celebrate him when the Master chose to give Him audience?

Now, imagine if he had stopped calling on his God because He was being scorned.

When faced with challenges, that's not the time to lose faith in God.

It's important to always remember that the only thing the devil attacks during challenging times is our faith.

And that's because our faith is what empowers our prayers to deliver.

And this is why the devil fights it.

The only fight we are called to as Christians is the good fight of faith-- and that's a fight to keep our faith alive and ignited.

The devil doesn't challenge our health for nothing. The goal is to dampen our faith.

He doesn't fight our finances for nothing. The goal is to weaken our faith.

He doesn't wrestle our relationships for nothing. The goal is to paralyse our faith.

So, when a Christian stops calling out to God due to challenges, the devil laughs-- because that's the goal, after all.

Please, don't let the devil win.

Like the blind Bartimaeus, when the world tells you to stop serving God because He doesn't care about your service, serve Him the more.

When the world tells you to go into hiding for you don't have a testimony to share, that's when to increase the tempo of your voice.

When supposed Christians laugh you to scorn and attribute your failures to your lack of fervency, you cry all the more louder-- to your Father.

When family members and friends desert you, questioning your overzealousness for a God who doesn't care about your predicament, that's when to be the more zealous.

And then, your God will hear you.

Don't give in to the nay-sayers.

Don't embrace their talk, else you'll die their deaths.

Cry loud to your God and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple.

Keep winning souls!
Keep giving for Kingdom advancement!
Keep serving humanity!
Keep loving God!
Keep praying!
Yes! Keep on keeping the faith.

Soon, and I mean real soon, those who screamed that you are a man that's why you cannot become pregnant will come celebrate with you.

Soon, those who laughed and called you jobless will come back and cheer you on.

Soon, those who called you a graduate spinster or professional bachelor will come buy your asoebi.

Soon, those who begged you to curse God and die so your suffering can end will chew their words as your health spring back speedily.

Only be like the blind Bartimaeus; don't keep quiet, for a closed mouth is a closed destiny, Papa Oyedepo would say.

Shout to God still.
Dance before Him still.
Praise Him even louder.
Serve Him yet harder.

And your God, even our God will come save you.