Are You Provoked You Should Be | Pastor Shane Idleman

Pastor Shane Idleman: Living virtuously and fulfilling one one's duties. You can be stoic but not saved. And I've came across people. You've heard me talk about this and but they would say, but I'm a good person. They live virtuously and you see that. That that's actually the argument against people who go to the church down the street or other places and knock on your door. But Shane, they're such good people. Okay, according to who? What what you see in the light, you don't know what happens behind closed doors. And let's say they are according to what definition of good? Because the Bible says nobody is good.
Guest (Male): Thank you for joining us here at West Side Christian Fellowship, located in Leona Valley, California, 1 hour north of Los Angeles. Today on Regaining Lost Ground, we hear part one of this charging message titled, Are you provoked you should be? Friend and fellow California pastor Jack Hibbs once shared, we see it repeatedly throughout the Bible in examples such as Nehemiah, Josiah, and Hezekiah. First, these men personally renewed themselves in the Lord, and then they set out to influence the culture and their nation for what was right. Today, Pastor Shane takes aim at the spiritual battle before us, calling the church to humility, but living truth boldly and not accepting a cowardly Christian life. Take a listen.
Guest (Male): You can hear the whole message at Pastor Shane's YouTube and Rumble channels. Make sure to subscribe today. For more information, visit us online at westsidechristianfellowship.org. We also encourage you to hear more truth from Pastor Shane with the Idle Man Unplugged weekly podcast. And now from West Side Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, here's Pastor Shane Idle Man.
Pastor Shane Idleman: Are you provoked? And then I added you should be. Are you provoked? And last week in Acts 17, if you remember, Paul was sent to Athens due to persecution. So, if you have your Bibles, we encourage you to bring your Bibles. I use a new King James version of the Bible, Acts 17 verse 10, and you can start to highlight things if God put something on your heart. So, last week again, Paul was sent to Athens because he was getting persecuted. And now we pick up in verse 16. And so now while Paul waited for them, so he's waiting for the disciples in Athens, this this this next phrase is very interesting. Many sermons have been preached about it, lots of commentaries on it, but it says his spirit was provoked within him. Why? He saw that the city was given over to idols. So, he's waiting for them in Athens, and some estimate Boy, I should have wrote it all down, but uh 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 idols. Some of them corrupt images looking and and everywhere he went, he saw these these idols. And so you're going to see something that Paul does as we get into this that is very important for you to do. It's very important for me to do. He's going to talk to these group this group of people differently than he talked to the Jews in the synagogues cuz the Jews in the synagogues, they knew the word of God. So, he would take the whole approach differently. Like, hey guys, remember the Old Testament, remember God? And he explained, this group of people doesn't even they don't even know the one true and living God. They've got all these idols, and then they even have one that says to the unknown God to make sure we cover everybody. And so that's a good approach for you to remember is is when you're talking with someone, you got to hit them. You know, like if somebody knows the Lord, they've drifted, you've got to preach return, repentance. And then when it comes to people who don't even really know what you're talking about other than they they know there's God, there's a concept of God. You know, you can point them maybe to Genesis, to creation, and well, how did all this just happen? And and you can tell your heart's not you know, there's something off there. It's because to know the one true and living God. So, he gives a great example of just there's different ways to approach people. Now, there's principles to follow for evangelism, but ultimately, you're going to have to just trust that the Lord is going to show you. And many times you don't know exactly what to say. Have you been there? The conversation, you know, takes an interesting turn and you're like, okay, let me what am I going to do with this one? Or it takes a good turn. And somebody might say, well, I didn't ever thought about it that way. And it it opens a door. So, the main point of this this is what's hard when I preach. I've got all these verses to cover. And then what I need to say shortens them because I don't want to just rush through the book of Acts because this topic is so important, guys. Are you provoked? Because sin should sadden and provoke us to action. Now, let me talk about this. Depending on your translation, I I'd say that we're provoke is like insight, you know, to anger, to to upset, to you know, you see something and you're just like I just drove by Planned Parenthood yesterday on on Pono Boulevard and there's man, just the I just picture the ladies walking in there over the years. And there's something that that and that's the the Bible calls it holy indignation or righteous indignation. Now, we have to be careful because you can be on the same side of somebody politically and you're both provoked, but they're provoked because higher taxes, what's better for me, it's superficial. I'm not talking about that kind of provoked. I mean, it's okay to, you know, want a better life and things like that, but I'm talking about provoked in spiritual matters. So, in other words, you you you you're going to let's say vote for the same person and they're you're both provoked, but they're provoked again, gas prices and food prices and and all that it's good, but that's not the provoked I'm talking about. They they don't share the same spiritual concerns that you concern. You're You're provoked. You're in in there's there's something in you that's like, oh Lord, this this breaks my heart. Have you ever been to Hollywood? Just take an hour drive and you'll see the uh actually the Babylonian courts. It's called the courts of Babylon. It 's got the the you know, it's like, God, wake up, world. Wake up. Haven't you read the word of God? But again, they're on the wrong side of of of faith. And there's only two groups of people, children of God and children of the lie, Satan, satanic. It is. And there's no way you you can't really candy coat that. Child of God or as Paul would say, Jesus would even say, sons of the devil. You you you your father is the father of lies. And you differentiate, that's the two groups of people. So, that's why most people are not going to see things like you do. However, this is a good test. Do the things of when when God is mocked, when Jesus's name is ridiculed, when you see things on social media, does it does it provoke you or is it no big deal? Mm. Because it's a sure sign of decay, spiritual decay when you no longer blush as the prophets would say. God says you don't even blush anymore. You don't You don't even blush the you say, uh it's no big deal. What What else is on? When it should it should rattle us. It's be because the closer you draw to Christ, the more sensitive you are to the things of God, the more you're provoked when those things are uh minimized or blasphemy takes place. It's just it's just it's who you are because it's been in your heart. And that that's the the you you can tell if somebody is is doing good spiritually by what provokes them. And we have to be careful because like that analogy, I don't know, I've never tried it. If I do, I won't tell you. But you put a you put a frog right in in warm water and you turn up the heat slowly and it boils to death, you know, because it doesn't doesn't really know. Uh have you ever jumped in or stepped into a really cold pool? It's like, oh, no way. But then if you you know, eventually you're down here, it's not too bad. What happened? The water didn't change. You adapted to it. Just look it and I've done this before and I've I've talked about this many times, but it's many of you are new um new audience too on radio and different things. So, I sometimes it it's good to clarify important points. But if you just look look at what was not allowed just watching TV in the '60s and '70s compared to now. I remember my mom hiding my eyes just on like, oh, that shouldn't be on just like stuff that's today's commonplace. But for most Christians, it's no big deal. It doesn't if it doesn't if if if if ungodliness and blaspheming the Lord and and and and and and and and doing things that are just sickening and if it doesn't provoke you, you really have to look at your heart. What what's going on my heart that this doesn't We watch movies that again, they would have said this is borderline. It would have It would have It would have shocked them, but it no longer shocks, now it amuses. And when it begins to amuse us, be careful because that is a condition of the heart. That That's all that is. And and that's why you maybe those of you what what they refer to when I say when they say the word spirit filled, the well, look at the opposite emptied of the spirit or we could say quenching and grieving the spirit. So, when you're filled with the spirit, you're not going to even those quenching and grieving the spirit aren't going to agree with you. Have you ever experienced that? Well, we got a holiday coming up this month and some some celebrate, some don't, right? That whole It's like I'm I'm I'm just every year it's the same old stuff, right? But you wonder why aren't more people like I went to the mall, I walked into that store Spirits, you know, for Halloween. I'm like, my I'm so provoked. What is this is I just It's just evil and darkness, right? But you see people in there, Christians, they got their cross. I go, this is so cool. Let's dress up as Eddie from Freddy or whatever. That's cool? No, that's not cool. That's demonic. And so but but but so I don't understand that's why. People just fill the spirit. You can get a pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, roast pumpkin seeds. If you want to dress your kid as Dave in the Bible, I'm not You know what I'm talking about. I'm talking about, you know, just like it's no big deal. It 's no big deal. It should provoke us, shouldn't it? It's like this is not good. Death in the demonic realm, how is that entertaining? When darkness beginner begins to entertain you, be careful. When you think it's no big deal, it it's it's a sure sure sign. And I've been there. I've been there. I can go back there quickly as well. I start grieving and quenching the spirit. I'll start to compromise in areas just like everybody else. That's why we want to stay full of the spirit and repent when warranted. But something should provoke us provoke us. I do want to just say this briefly. Um I I didn't know if I was going to fit in the notes, but many of you have been asking. I think it's important. We've been talking about as you know, Kevin back there in sound put together um a prison ministry um uh that we went to I don't even know if I can say the prison. I don't know. But we went to the prison and uh did ministry there. They had a band and then West, a pastor who has been in prison, gave his testimony and then Richard Andrew. And then I spoke briefly at the end. But um it it was it was pretty incredible. But you can tell those spirit filled. And uh and they actually we were in the yard. So, what you see I'm I'm in the yard. These guys come up inmates walking all around just uh the yard. And I so I'm preaching and I'm on their track and you got guys walking by me and all, you know, skinheads and all tattooed up and gang bangers. And I'm like, this is incredible what God is doing. And you know, many of course didn't want to many of course don't want to listen. You can tell. Um but just you can but you can feel the heaviness, right? And I could just tell and Kevin will probably know, but like 10 minutes in my message, I'm like, Lord, I need it's time to drop the hammer. And it just went something I can't explain it. I don't know if I can ever explain it just and I and I I don't actually remember what I said, but something like you need to, you know, run to this altar and cry out like David and just and just man. I'm like, man, this is going to upset. I saw a guy a couple of guys get up and leave and you know, it's like this is I'm I'm in the yard. That we're all sitting in the yard. Kevin's right there. And I I just pretty much everybody that was watching came forward. Like I'm like, no, did you Wait, I I didn't say everybody, but they and guys were starting to come as I'm still speaking. And so you're not supposed to touch them, you know, in contact. And but it was hard to lay hands and and you got this, you know, I don't know probably 40 guys up front, 50 guys up front. You know, just just were coming wanting to be prayed for and you could see the spirit of God was there moving powerfully. And one guy came I think you came he said I can't think you came just for me because we need to ignite the spirit of God back into this prison. We need to get We need to get the fire of God into our studies. And uh I just encouraged him. Right? I'm encouraging him, talking to him, laying hands and praying for him. I'm not supposed to do that. It was so hard. That was one of the hardest things cuz I want to go through and lay hands and but you got to watch out cuz they can, you know, their shanks and different things. It was It's it's a hard environment um for sure. But you know, um so I I I said um well, yeah, just get that spirit going, that fire going then you know, when you're out, you know, God will keep that going. And uh he goes, I'm I'm I'm lifer. You're in here for life. Yeah. And you think we came here and I just started almost crying. Like we can't You You needed to hear that. You're going to like get just here You need the fire to restart, but you're here for the rest of your life. And he's only 40 or so. I am like just so just how God even ministered to us that were there serving. And it was just it was incredible, but you could see what what provoked you and what, you know, just the guys that that that were the ones that were callous and didn't want to hear anything, didn't want to have anything to do with God. And and you see the other side those those saying amen and tears and and like they they they were provoked for more of God. They're hungry for more of him. And so let me get back to here. Paul waited for them at Athens. His spirit was provoked and he saw that the whole city was given over to idols. Therefore, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. So, what he would say in the synagogue was a lot different than what he would say in the street to the people. But I find this interesting. It's good a reminder for some of you possibly. You can be in church but not saved. You can be in church but not saved. All these people in the synagogue were not saved. They thought they were. Listen, I've seen it just even recently a while ago I was in the baptism when a guy comes in, I have to be baptized. He starts crying, breaking down. He's running from the Lord. He's finally turning himself over, repenting, same thing we see in the You guys see it. They they they realize you can you can go to church and be saved not be saved because church attendance doesn't save you. You actually can be a Christian and not go to church. I don't encourage that, but you can because it's about what Jesus did on the cross. And you repent and you believe versus going through the motions and just just sitting in church and and and we and I talked to people and and and I and as you're talking to them, you you why then if you're not saved, why do you But But they oh, I know I need to hear it. It's like therapy for them. Oh, I know I need to hear it. And then they leave, right? They drive away. Probably don't walk. They drive away. And they go, oh, I need to hear that. It was so refreshing. It's like I went to therapy. And then they come back, you know, a month later when they're feeling bad. I need to hear that. Or I got to get to church. You know, it's Easter, it's Thanksgi- it's yeah, all the holidays, Chris. Right? They're coming, but they're not saved. So, Paul actually went into the synagogues often and talked to people who thought they were right with God. And they're not. And that's why you need those those harder voices from time to time to to call the people to repentance, to fix that broken relationship. And that's all I did, maybe 13-minute message at the prison was was calling them to repentance. That's what helps. That's what restores that broken relationship. And so then certain Epicureans and stoic philosophers Oh, oh, now we're getting the philosophers involved. So, these philosophers, you know, they teach philosophy in school. And it's without a biblical grounding, it's be careful. It's kind of pointless. But it's you know, it's about knowledge and learning and can we really know? We're always growing and learning, but it's void of God in many of the classes. So, this is back they they had philosophers back then. The the Epicure- Epicureans, the stoic philosophers. And some of them said, what does this babbler want to say? Whoa, whoa, whoa, what's he talking about? Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba. That Charlie Brown commercial or mo- remember my dating myself? You guys know some of you remember. What what what's he trying to say? Well, others said he seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. You can imagine, I mean, the passion of Paul's heart, it must have been no matter where he goes, I'm going to preach Jesus and the resurrection. Talk about singularity of message. That That was it. He saw Jesus. He's going to persecute Jesus. Jesus knocks him off. Whatever he was writing, this light shines and now he's blind for 3 days and he just he just sits there. The scales fall off his eyes as the hands were laid upon him. He's filled the spirit of God. And now he's got to deliver this message in persecution. It says in starvation and hunger and in stripes and in beatings. I I I went through all of this because when you experience God, when there's a fullness of the spirit, that message has to get out. That's why we're not seeing mass evangelism. That's why we're not seeing churches exploding and and people growing and brain because many have been dulled down. Their spiritual health has been dulled down. It's like a knife that no longer works. And so he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. Epicureans, Epicureans. Anybody wonder what that word means? I had to look it up a little bit too. I know what the stoics believe, but they say that pleasure is the ultimate goal of life. So, the Epicureans lived in Hollywood. Okay, help us remember. So, that was the goal of life. You see those guys. You know, that that that's the goal of life. Remember Do you have on your computer the software that protects against virus McAfee? Well, that guy was bad news. If you watch biography, he's just not a good guy at all at all. But the whole goal of life was his goal pleasure. I mean, that's what they live for. That that's so that that's if that's the goal of life, your choices are going to be a little bit different than God's choices. You're going to compromise in so many areas. Now, here's the thing. We might not people many you know, Christians obviously are Christians. That's not their ultimate goal. But that Epicurean what they would call the Epicurean mindset begins to come in where it's all about comfort and relaxation and pleasure. And that can also take you away from God because some of those things are are good. Pra- Praise God. He gives us He created us with those things. It's good to take rest and vacation. But if if you become if you live in vacation mode or pleasure mode, it's going to become very off balance. And stoics, of course, if you heard that term stoic, he was very stoic. She was very stoic. That it comes from here. It means living virtuously and fulfilling one one's duties regardless of the pain. So, they were very stoic. And uh you can be stoic but not saved. And I've came across people. You've heard me talk about this. And but they would say, but I'm a good person. They live virtuously. And you see that. And that that's actually the argument against uh people who go to the church down the street or other places that knock on your door. But Shane, they're such good people. Okay, according to who? And what what you see in the light, you don't know what happens behind closed doors. And let's say they are according to what definition of good? Because the Bible says nobody is good. No, not one. And did you know that most of those religions actually they have to do good. So, if if we taught and you believed and you went to a church said, listen, you've got to be good to go to heaven. You don't think you're going to look a little good? You're going to You're going to You're going to give the appearance of a pretty good person because that's your ticket to heaven. Christians know we can't be good enough. We are our good works flow from a heart that's right with God. They don't lead to salvation. It says work out your salvation with fear and trembling. So, we do good works because we're saved, not to get us saved. That is actually if you look at all the major religions, it it they that's the big difference is you have to be a good person.
Guest (Male): You've been listening to Regaining Lost Ground with Pastor Shane Idle Man. You can find more information at westsidechristianfellowship.org. That's westsidechristianfellowship.org. And for all the latest on what God is doing with his ministry here, please be sure to follow us on most social media platforms. West Side Christian Fellowship is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles in Leona Valley, California. Thank you again for listening to today's message of Regaining Lost Ground where we are reminded daily. Times change, truth does not.