Paul was deeply stirred…
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Acts 17:16
And beginning at the synagogue…
He disputed…
with the Jews…
with devout persons…
with folks in the marketplace…
and with the philosophers of his day. Acts 17:17
Inquisitive, they pressed him with questions…
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Acts 17:18-21
Seizing the opportunity…
Paul stood up and preached…
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Acts 17:22-23
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; Acts 17:24-25
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31
Intriguing. Compelling. Inviting.
Some mocked the gospel…
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. Acts 17:32
While others believed…
Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:34
Unto the salvation of their souls!
Stirred by the Spirit of God…
For the superstition and idolatry of the people…
Paul seized the opportunity…
To publically glorify the Living God…
And to declare His truth to all who would listen!
Are you ready for your next opportunity to share the gospel?
In one, brief moment, you could touch the heart of one desperate soul, by ministering the words of LIFE.
I've really been noticing through your posts that Paul pretty much ALWAYS took every opportunity to preach the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteThat's going to be my goal today... to minister words of Life into someone's life today. The Lord knows that with more than 4 million people in the area, SOMEONE will be nearby.
Thank you for the encouragement, Kristenea!
Raquel
Amazing isn't it? How aggressive the Church was at it's inception. Notice how there is very little spoken about money or the giving of money, but rather the giving of the WORDS OF LIFE. It's the power of God at work through the testimony of those that have been transformed by it! Incredible!
ReplyDelete