Provoked Proclaimers

 “Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.” Acts 17:18 NKJV

The preaching of the gospel has always been strange news to sinners, backsliders, and the unrighteous systems of this world. Those who must dare to preach the gospel must be provoked by passion for souls and obedience to the mandate. Like Paul and his coworkers before the citizens of Athens in the New Testament, Elijah in the Old Testament was provoked by the need to preach the gospel to Ahab and the backslided people of Israel. Therefore, the three common lifestyles of provoked proclaimers include (1) being treated as strange fellows and babblers; (2) being threatened by exhaustion and depletion of the basic things of life; and (3) being blessed by consistent heavenly resources at the time of needs. Unfortunately, those who are not willing to endure the first two lifestyles cannot wait to enjoy the last lifestyle. The brook of Cherith will sometimes get dried up for Elijah, and the good news from Paul will get rejected at Athens; but the provoked proclaimers will always have enough strength to keep proclaiming that Jesus is the only way to life.


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