Heralds Digest

  “ Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.” Acts 17 : 16 NKJV The primary purpose of worldliness is the breeding of settled spirits; but those who must pursue godliness are rather stirred up than get settled down. Either by getting provoked by the Holy Spirit or by getting persecuted by the evil spirit through envy, the penalty for godliness is well laid out. For example, apostle Paul had just narrowly escaped persecution from unbelievers in Berea; but he immediately got arrested by the Holy Spirit on arrival in Athens. It implies that godliness is only possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit in the life, ministry and affairs of true believers, with evident manifestations including (1) conviction against worldliness; (2) confession of waywardness; (3) conversion into watchfulness; (4) consecration for winsomeness; and (5) conservation against wastefulness. When a soul is consistently stirred...

  “ 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...