Be Provoked

Introduction

Paul in Athens

We are picking up the story with Paul in Athens

Remember, he was sent away by the believers in Berea because they were worried he was going to be killed

And Paul arrives in Athens and summons Silas & Timothy to join him

And last week we even talked about how to be world changers, we need to have people around us, other believers

And that is very true, but we’re going to see today, that Paul didn’t just sit on his hands and wait for them to arrive

Because, also like we talked last week…to be a world changer you must be constant, committed, and consistent

And so this morning, we’re picking up the story with Paul waiting for them in Athens

Alright…so Paul is in a city that at least in our records he has never been before.....Athens

Athens at this time was a pretty important and magnificent city, however it was nowhere near the importance it held in the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.....that title now belonged to Corinth…but Athens was still known all over the world for its art and architecture

And it was also still considered to be the cultural and intellectual center of the Roman empire

The people were smart…thinkers…philosophers

But it was also known for its pantheistic belief system

And their art and architecture depicted that…they had gods to so many different things

So you’ve got Paul, not only a born again believer who was on a missionary journey, but a Jew, who was monotheistic....and picture it with me, he’s waiting for them to arrive

And so daily he’d walk around and go to the marketplace to get food to eat, see the city, look at the architecture, you know....take it all in

And verse 1 told us as he was walking “he saw that the city was full of idols”

Ancient descriptions of Greece at this time indicate the the marketplace…where he would have gotten food....was lined with idols

Verse 23 says he even saw an altar that had inscribed on it, “To an unknown god”

And so everywhere Paul was going…he was coming face to face with these idols to these fake gods

And verse 1 also told us that, “his spirit was provoked within him”

Now…when you read that, if you’re like me at all, you read it like:

“Oh no, his spirit was provoked, he was upset”

You know you read it and try to understand it as it bothered Paul

Well, it definitely bothered Paul…but it know way does it mean he was just bothered

The word that is used here in english is nowhere near strong enough…and it doesn’t match the word that was used in the greek language

The greek word paroxyno

Where we get our word paroxysm, which means “a sudden attack or violent expression of something”

It means this, Paul was infuriated at the sight of the idols around him

He was so much more than just bothered by these idols

Why do you think he was so infuriated?

They were an affront to God....Paul is preaching that only Jesus is Lord, and he arrives in Greece to take in the belief system that all gods are real

And notice with me verse 1 again.... “his spirit was provoked within him”

Paul didn’t just see, and understand up here (head) that this was wrong

His response wasn’t a physical in your face, knock down drag out response either

It says that his spirit was greatly irritated

Who was Paul being controlled by?

This was a righteous infuriation, a righteous anger....an anger that was manifested by the Holy Spirit within Paul

He knew, yes, he knew it was wrong, and his spirit confirmed it

Don’t ever just rely on your head....rely on the Holy Spirit

And he did something about it…this wasn’t something that he could just let slide…he had to say something.

Well, the story goes on where Paul has a chance to preach before the Areopagus…which is pretty incredible…and he shares Christ with the great thinkers of Greece during this time..which I wish we had time to get into…but we don’t

Relate It

Relate It

Now, there is a question I want you to think about, and it’s the only question i have for you this morning…and one I want you to think about:

When is the last time you stopped and looked around you, and realized that the very people you are surrounded by are living in idolatry?

Because the truth of the matter is they are

And you wont see statues with golden heads like Paul saw....but you will see people who are living in the exact same idolatry

They’re worshippers of:

Celebrities

Sports

Athletes

Society

Government

Phones

Themselves

When’s the last time you looked around and realized that?

And I lied, i have a second question for you:

When’s the last time your spirit was provoked over it? When’s the last time you knew you had to do something about it?

Maybe you do see the things going on around you, and maybe you do believe they are wrong, and it can even bother you.....but that’s all just up here (in the head)

When’s the last time your spirit was provoked?

Because here is the truth....when your spirit is provoked…you’ll try to do something about it

Paul immediately started trying to reason and explain Christ to the Jews, to devout people, in the marketplace, with philosophers, and in court

Why? Because he couldn’t rest because his spirit was provoked

This week, I got to see some of you who’s spirits were provoked step up and try to do something about it:

To those of you who went to see you at the pole…I know we as leaders couldn’t be everywhere....but you stepped up and and stepped out and set an example for those in your schools that Jesus Christ is your hope:

Madi, Trevan, Elijah, Jake, Blake, Shmuffin, Lyndsie

Shmuffin....I’m so proud of you for volunteering…as a 9th grader, to step up and teach at FCA at Allegany on thursday…and to challenge that group to be people who share the gospel

Ashley....for standing up in front of your volleyball team and explain to them that you wanted to start praying together as a team…and then leading them in prayer

Trevan....for leading his football team in a devotional at a team meeting a few weeks ago

Elijah....for teaching every now and then in children’s church

For many of you who I know are spending time in God’s Word

As your pastor, as someone who’s goal is to see you step up and step out in faith and take hold of the great commission and live for Jesus....I was so encouraged and have been so encouraged by the growth I’ve been seeing in you guys, and even in those of you who I haven’t directly mentioned

I know I talk a lot about how we need to do more....and we do, myself included…but I don’t want you to ever think I don’t see God working in you guys, and that I don’t see you living for Him

And I know I probably left somebody out…and I don’t want you to be offended by that

I don’t know about a lot of other things you guys may be doing for Jesus....but I’d love to.

Tell me what you’ve been doing....tell me how the spirit’s been leading you

But I also know that some of you maybe aren’t living for Jesus…that yeah you may know things that people are doing are wrong…that they’re living a life against Jesus…but you aren’t doing anything about it

Are you listening to the Spirit? Can it even provoke you?

Time in God’s Word, time in prayer....focus on Him…and the Spirit will lead you into opportunities to proclaim Christ

My heart has been greatly encouraged by you guys this week....and I want you to know that.

And my encouragement to you today is this: don’t quit....as long as you have breath in your lungs, you have opportunity to proclaim Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord....

Seize the opportunities this week…allow the Holy Spirit to guide you…and live for Jesus