I sought a man.

Introduction

Psalm 14:2 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.”

Jeremiah 5:1 “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her.”

Psalm 106:23 “Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.”

The heart of a disciple transforms into God’s heart.

The disciple’s spirit is pained (angered) at the sight of a world on fire (17.16).

Its impossible to ignore a thrown back.

Its impossible to ignore an abscessed tooth.

Its impossible for a disciple to ignore the lost.

There is a hunger (Mat.5).

The disciple does not stop talking about Jesus (17.17-21).

It’s why they die so much.

In the synagogue, with religious people, in the marketplace with whoever happened to be there, every day (17.17)

“Babbler” (17.18)

Meaning: a bird pecking seeds

Paul is talking, talking, talking nonsense.

The disciple points to the God everyone knows (17.22-29)

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

The disciple warns the world of the judgment (17.30-31).

Acts 24:25 “And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.””

Alarmed -

Some mocked. Some went their way. Some believed (17.32-34).

Conclusion

Ezekiel 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.”

Isaiah 50:2 “Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.”

William Booth, training ministers, “If possible, I would have finalized the training of ministers with 24 hours hanging over hell, to see its eternal torment.”

A fervent disciple is an awful weapon in the hands of God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.””