Provoked To Produce

C. Just as much as our emotions and flesh are provoked so is our spirit. Ac 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred (or provoked) in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 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.

1. Abraham was provoked to leave his family and dwell in a land he knew not, It was an Egyptian soldier that provoked Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; it was a kings decree that provoked Daniel to go home and open his windows and pray, it was an angel that provoked the disciples to stop gazing up and return to the upper room where the HS would fall on them, it was Jesus that provoked Peter out of the boat, it was the doctors reports that provoked the women with the issue of blood to push through the crowd.

2. It was Elijah that provoked Elisha that there was life beyond the plow, Esther was provoked to go before the King at risk of losing her life, Goliath and the philistine army would have never been brought down had David never been provoked, Joshua and Caleb were provoked to take the promise land.

3. Over 2000 years ago Heaven kissed earth and Jesus came to upset and provoke the religious system of the day. Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. He stood up against the religious elite, He challenged the system, He dined with sinners, performed miracles on holy days, and He challenged fishermen to become fishers of men. Jesus said he came to heal the broken hearted, to give liberty, to open blinded eyes, by his strips we are healed, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. His name is above all names His name alone provokes change, with His name there is salvation, healing, power, devils tremble, sickness flees, etc…No other name I Know That can calm your fears and dry your tears and wipe away your pain When you don't know what else to pray When you can't find the words to say; Say the name of Jesus.

4. The great revivals of the past were fueled by men and women that were provoked to seek God for more. It was people like DL Moody, The Wesley brothers John and Charles, Charles Parham, William Seymour, Jonathan Edwards, A.A. Allen, Katherine Kulman, Jack Coe, Lester Sumrall, & Smith Wigglesworth that were provoked by sin, provoked by religion, provoked by the state of man, provoked by what they read in scripture. Just as much as our emotions and flesh are provoked by this world so is our Spirit. It’s what causes our Spirit to groan the Bible says; even we ourselves groan within ourselves, the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.