In Acts17:16-34 we find the Apostle Paul in the great city of Athens, Greece. Athens was the premier city of the ancient world for education, philosophy, arts, and architecture. It was the great university city of the world for hundreds of years. Everybody knew about Athens. It had been the foremost Greek city-state since the 5th Century B.C. and it was the city of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. By the time Paul visits the city it has lost some of its luster, but it was still an often spoken of and reputable city. This is where the great philosophers lived. So, in Acts 17 we find the Christian Apostle Paul in the midst of the glories of ancient Greece. He was surrounded by some of the brightest people in the world. They spent their days thinking and debating. They were people who pursued knowledge and understanding. They wanted to understand the world and articulate what it meant to live in harmony with it.
You could not be blamed if you thought that Paul may have gotten caught up in all the glories of Athens. Paul was a great thinker. He was trained at the highest level of Judaism and was a leading Jewish Rabbi before he became a Christian. If you have read much of the NT then you know how intelligent this man was. He did not become a tourist when he entered Athens. He was not overwhelmed by the architecture, nor was he consumed with the rhetoric of the town. What is recorded by Luke by inspiration of the Holy Spirit is that Paul “was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” Paul’s spirit is provoked within him. His heart is broken over these people. They were given over to idolatry or maybe, we can say more literally, they were smothered with idols, swamped by them. The Athenians, despite all their earthly glory, were idol worshipers. Many of the supreme minds of the world bowed their knees to metals and stones, things crafted by the hands of men.
It is for this reason that the Apostle went to work instead of spending his time site-seeing. He went to the synagogue first (to the Jew first and also for the Greeks) and then he went to the marketplace. It was in the marketplace that Paul sparked curiosity and even confusion. The people said, “What is this babbler trying to say?” A “babbler” was someone who poked around the marketplace quite often and picked up bits and pieces of philosophy and then tried to articulate it. The “professionals” (like the Epicureans and Stoics) resented these people and coldly called them babblers. Other people said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods” which could actually be a fatal offense in the city. It appears that the people in the marketplace thought that Paul was teaching of two new gods a male one “Jesus” and a female one “resurrection.”
So they took Paul to the Areopagus, or Mars Hill, and asked for him to explain himself. Luke notes in v21: “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.” This is where we read our text for today’s Scripture. vv22-31 give us a summary of the content of Paul’s message to the Athenians.
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
Athens and America, a Similarity?
“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.”
This is what we have become in America, simply religious. We have idols all around us, we are literally swamped with them, and we are constantly waiting for the next new thought. One things after another steals away our attention and threatens to trap us. Our homes are situated around our televisions, not our Bibles; the culmination of our weekly activities is sport and not worship; and we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of our reputations, not our God. It is a condemning statement veiled in familiar terms, “People of America! We are in every way very religious!”
To an Unknown God
Paul found a launching point with a particular altar that he saw. This altar had an inscription on it that said: “To an Unknown God.” The people were so “religious” that they did not want, by some chance, to leave a god out of their worship. So, they built an altar to an unknown god to cover all their bases.
This is how Paul could connect with them. He started his evangelistic message, not by using unfamiliar ideas, pictures, or language, but using things that were recognizable to them. In the midst of a crooked and perverse people who worshiped as many gods as they could conceive and create, Paul was going to proclaim to them the One, true God of the world.
The God Who Made the World
Luke records many items of interest that Paul said to the people of Athens and I would like to focus on three of them for just a few short minutes. These are relevant for us today and I would like for you to think of them in the coming week as you pray for the revival next weekend.
1) v25 “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
This is the message that the people of the world do not like to hear. We must overcome this idea that God needs us or something from us. “God is self-sufficient, so self-sufficient that we can’t make any contributions to Him. We can’t improve upon Him.”
The Apostle, alluding to some OT Scriptures, in Rom 11 says, “For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” Here is the Gospel that we need to cling to and promote in this community: God is the Giver. We are told to do simple things like believe and receive.
I can provide you with a couple of verses that make this point most clear:
Matthew 20:28 “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Luke 22:27 “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
God gives life to all and wills to give life more abundantly to those who believe in Christ.
2) v31 That last sentence leads me to my next point. God has given us proof of these things.
“He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
In John 10:18 Jesus said, “No one takes [My life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
1 John 3:16 says, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.”
And Luke states in Acts 1:3 “[Jesus] also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs…”
There is no reference made to the cross in this message – only resurrection. He starts with the resurrection of Jesus (the Man He has appointed) and calls it proof of the things that he proclaims. For Paul, the resurrection was just as valid as the cross. The empty tomb was just as valuable as cross of Calvary. In 1 Cor 15:14 Paul says, “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
3) v27 “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
This is a statement about the reason for being. Why are we here? To seek and find Him.
Oh that the people of Henry County could hear this sentence. We are here to have abundant life, satisfaction and joy in Christ Jesus. A revival can be a means to that end. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” The Scripture also says, “And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” People are blinded by sin and trapped in darkness without Christ.
They need to hear that He is not far from any one of us…
Conclusion: Let me return to that first point: v25 “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
If God does not need us to serve Him, why do we serve Him? If He does not need our obedience, why obey? Because when God serves us, we in turn find joy in doing His will. And when we find the ultimate satisfaction of joy in Him, He is most glorified. And that is why we’re here.
We need to return once again to the Biblical picture of the transcendent God. People need to hear that God is sovereign and supreme over all things.
He made the world and everything in it.
He is the Lord of heaven and earth.
He does NOT live in temples built by human hands.
He is NOT served by human hands as if he needed ANYTHING.
In Him we live and move and have our being.
He commands all people everywhere to repent.
He has set a day when He will judge the world.
He has given proof of this to everyone by raising the One Man, Jesus, from the dead.
AND He is not far from any one of us.
This is the Gospel…This is our God…This is what I that pray you, me, and so many others will hear next weekend as we are reminded of salvation that is offered by grace through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:10-16 Single-Minded Devotion
There is a link from peacemaking to persecution. Not everyone wants peace. Evangelism is not always successful, which gives no indication of the ministering we have done. Reconciliation is not the desire of every person’s heart.
What I would like to show you in these verses is:
1) The necessity of persecution
2) How they are all connected
3) Christ is calling for single-minded devotion toward God
4) How I can connect this to Mother’s Day!
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
Point 1: Blessed are those who are Persecuted (v10a)
A. Persecuted: Chased Maliciously
a. 2 Tim 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ…will suffer persecution.”
b. Not only physical – many brethren around the world. Also verbal, etc. (v11)
B. Explanation of Persecution: v11
a. SEE 1 Pet 4:12-19
b. SEE John 15:18-23
C. “The prophets before you” – SEE Hebrews 11:32-38
D. For Righteousness’ Sake
a. Because of Righteous Living
b. Which is “for My sake” (v12) Righteousness = Jesus
c. The disciple is not above his Master!
Point 2: Theirs is the Kingdom – Rejoice and be Exceedingly Glad (vv10b-12)
A. This is an attitude, not an emotion –
SEE James 1:2 “brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials”
B. The reward is not a status in the life to come, but in fact is that life (heaven).
a. SEE Rom 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
b. SEE 2 Cor 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”
Connective: What links the next two illustrations with this note of persecution are the prophets. Those prophets who came before us were persecuted for their faith and message. Among their generations they were the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Thus, it fits like this: “Like the prophets before you, you are the salt of the earth…Like the prophets before you, you are the light of the world…”
Point 3: Salt of the Earth
What are some uses for salt?
1) Practical Uses: seasons, preserves, purifies, melts ice, in all living organisms
2) Figurative Uses: creates thirst (for righteousness), melts (cold hearts), OT sacrifices, OT covenant faithfulness
3) Greco/Roman Uses: soldiers were paid with, represents- loyalty, peace, wisdom, was said to be beloved of the gods
*I will argue in just a few minutes that Christ means “single-minded devotion” which is very close to the Old Testament idea of covenant faithfulness.
Point 4: Light of the World
A. v16 marks the end of the Beatitudes
B. Good Works = tenacity under pressure
SEE Phil 2:14-15 “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”
C. This world is constantly placing pressure on us from all sides (and also our kids/grandkids)
Summary: Single-Minded Devotion
Two Scriptures will make this point for me:
1) Luke 14:25-35 Jesus ties in this salt illustration with the intention of v33
2) Mark 9:42-50 Nothing should stand in the way of us entering life/kingdom of God
Single…Minded…Devotion!
Conclusion: Now, let me conclude this way:
God wants our full allegiance. He wants our full, undivided attention and loyalty.
Simply put, He wants us to trust Him with all that we are…
I am glad that today is Mother’s Day and that we have so many mothers here-
1) Mothers are a great illustration of single-minded devotion
2) Mothers can encourage single-minded devotion toward God in their children
(No matter their age!)
I brought this up in Sunday School last week, but it is so significant I would like to mention now:
1) David was possibly the most sinful man in the OT, yet God calls him a man after His own heart. Acts 13:22 says, “He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.”
2) God considered David near and dear not because he was sinless, but because he had single-minded devotion toward God. Some have called him a “pure Yahweist.” David never worshiped the false gods of foreigners unlike his son, Solomon. David trusted God. He was fully loyal to God and God alone. That is what the Lord requires of us. When he sinned, he confessed it to the Lord. That is single-minded devotion.
Happy Mother’s Day!
What I would like to show you in these verses is:
1) The necessity of persecution
2) How they are all connected
3) Christ is calling for single-minded devotion toward God
4) How I can connect this to Mother’s Day!
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
Point 1: Blessed are those who are Persecuted (v10a)
A. Persecuted: Chased Maliciously
a. 2 Tim 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ…will suffer persecution.”
b. Not only physical – many brethren around the world. Also verbal, etc. (v11)
B. Explanation of Persecution: v11
a. SEE 1 Pet 4:12-19
b. SEE John 15:18-23
C. “The prophets before you” – SEE Hebrews 11:32-38
D. For Righteousness’ Sake
a. Because of Righteous Living
b. Which is “for My sake” (v12) Righteousness = Jesus
c. The disciple is not above his Master!
Point 2: Theirs is the Kingdom – Rejoice and be Exceedingly Glad (vv10b-12)
A. This is an attitude, not an emotion –
SEE James 1:2 “brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials”
B. The reward is not a status in the life to come, but in fact is that life (heaven).
a. SEE Rom 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
b. SEE 2 Cor 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”
Connective: What links the next two illustrations with this note of persecution are the prophets. Those prophets who came before us were persecuted for their faith and message. Among their generations they were the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Thus, it fits like this: “Like the prophets before you, you are the salt of the earth…Like the prophets before you, you are the light of the world…”
Point 3: Salt of the Earth
What are some uses for salt?
1) Practical Uses: seasons, preserves, purifies, melts ice, in all living organisms
2) Figurative Uses: creates thirst (for righteousness), melts (cold hearts), OT sacrifices, OT covenant faithfulness
3) Greco/Roman Uses: soldiers were paid with, represents- loyalty, peace, wisdom, was said to be beloved of the gods
*I will argue in just a few minutes that Christ means “single-minded devotion” which is very close to the Old Testament idea of covenant faithfulness.
Point 4: Light of the World
A. v16 marks the end of the Beatitudes
B. Good Works = tenacity under pressure
SEE Phil 2:14-15 “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”
C. This world is constantly placing pressure on us from all sides (and also our kids/grandkids)
Summary: Single-Minded Devotion
Two Scriptures will make this point for me:
1) Luke 14:25-35 Jesus ties in this salt illustration with the intention of v33
2) Mark 9:42-50 Nothing should stand in the way of us entering life/kingdom of God
Single…Minded…Devotion!
Conclusion: Now, let me conclude this way:
God wants our full allegiance. He wants our full, undivided attention and loyalty.
Simply put, He wants us to trust Him with all that we are…
I am glad that today is Mother’s Day and that we have so many mothers here-
1) Mothers are a great illustration of single-minded devotion
2) Mothers can encourage single-minded devotion toward God in their children
(No matter their age!)
I brought this up in Sunday School last week, but it is so significant I would like to mention now:
1) David was possibly the most sinful man in the OT, yet God calls him a man after His own heart. Acts 13:22 says, “He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.”
2) God considered David near and dear not because he was sinless, but because he had single-minded devotion toward God. Some have called him a “pure Yahweist.” David never worshiped the false gods of foreigners unlike his son, Solomon. David trusted God. He was fully loyal to God and God alone. That is what the Lord requires of us. When he sinned, he confessed it to the Lord. That is single-minded devotion.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Ezekiel 36:26 A Prayer for Unbelievers
There is not a worse feeling than having a loved one (family or friend) that does not believe or, worse yet, they believe but have not committed to Christ in faith. We all know at least someone that we have told the Gospel to for years and he/she continues to reject the message. We have prayed for him/her day after day for decades even. We have invited them to church on countless occasions. We love them and do not want them to go on anymore without the love of God in their life. They are missing a peace that surpasses all understanding and an exceedingly great joy that is only found in our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. There is One who can set us free and if He sets you free, you are free indeed!
I would like to call your attention to a Scripture that would be most helpful in prayer for those uncommitted lives of the ones you love. You know, we can’t continually badger people about Christ and the church. For many individuals, we are simply pushing them farther and farther away from the Lord. We must proclaim the Word of the Lord, the Gospel, to the dieing, but we are never told to preach to individuals without ceasing. What we are told to do is pray without ceasing. And that is what we will do, but how should we petition the Lord? I will give you a simple outline to pray from Ezekiel 36:26. I invite you to read that with me.
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
Point 1: The “New” Theme
A. It was during the exile that this prophetic theme really emerged.
B. Ezekiel states this theme in a few places. For example…
1. Ezekiel 11:19-20 “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”
2. Ezekiel 18:31 “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.”
C. Other Prophets also stressed this theme:
1. Isaiah
a. 42:9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them”
b. 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth”
2. Jeremiah
31:31-34 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers…”
D. Why was this theme of newness stressed?
1. Israel as a whole had failed to uphold the name of the LORD
(Unfaithfulness of the people)
2. The Old Covenant could not atone for the sins of the people
(Sinfulness of the human heart)
Point 2: The New Theme becomes the Rule of Faith
A. The newness described by the prophets has become the distinguishing feature of the NT.
B. God was using the prophets as mouthpieces to declare the renewal of the nation and the covenant people. He would restore them to their land, but that would not be enough. He would need to cleanse them, give them a new heart and a new spirit. He would have to take out their heart of stone, which is to figuratively say their “dead heart,” and put a real, sensitive heart of flesh in them. Then He says that He would do this by putting His Spirit within the people.
C. To do this “new thing” God would reveal the mystery of the ages, His Son Jesus Christ.
“And the Word became 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 was the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” That is why the One who sits on the throne can say, “Behold, I make all things new.” The people were restored to their land, forgiven of their unrighteousness, and cleansed from their idolatry so that the plan of God may continue- the redemptive work of Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Point 3: Prayer
A. Now, let’s come back to the prayer issue. It is an enormous privilege that we can bow before God Almighty with our concerns. It is also fear-provoking endeavor to petition the Lord.
B. One of our greatest concerns in this life is for our loved ones who are outside of Christ. Not only are they missing out on the blessings of God in this life, but they face the wrath to come.
C. Thankfully Jesus says, “The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
“The Lord is…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
D. So this is how we can pray:
“Father, give my loved one a new heart and put a new spirit within him; take the heart of stone out of his flesh and give him a heart of flesh. Put Your Spirit within him.”
Conclusion:
The main point of this passage of Scripture comes from v22, “…Thus says the Lord GOD: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake…”
One function of this point was to find the one unfailing thing from the past that could establish a basis for salvation in the future. It was God’s faithfulness to His promises and to His name that would determine grace and mercy for the people. It was because of His name that He would do something new in their behalf. In Ezekiel’s prophecy we do not hear one word of God’s compassion or love because Ezekiel is too busy focusing on the overwhelming majesty of God.
How great is His name now because of the New Covenant? How glorious is He now that He has made salvation available to all people? “Therefore, since we have such hope [in the New Covenant], we use great boldness of speech…”
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace [with this prayer],
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help…” (Heb 4:16)
I would like to call your attention to a Scripture that would be most helpful in prayer for those uncommitted lives of the ones you love. You know, we can’t continually badger people about Christ and the church. For many individuals, we are simply pushing them farther and farther away from the Lord. We must proclaim the Word of the Lord, the Gospel, to the dieing, but we are never told to preach to individuals without ceasing. What we are told to do is pray without ceasing. And that is what we will do, but how should we petition the Lord? I will give you a simple outline to pray from Ezekiel 36:26. I invite you to read that with me.
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
Point 1: The “New” Theme
A. It was during the exile that this prophetic theme really emerged.
B. Ezekiel states this theme in a few places. For example…
1. Ezekiel 11:19-20 “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”
2. Ezekiel 18:31 “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.”
C. Other Prophets also stressed this theme:
1. Isaiah
a. 42:9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them”
b. 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth”
2. Jeremiah
31:31-34 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers…”
D. Why was this theme of newness stressed?
1. Israel as a whole had failed to uphold the name of the LORD
(Unfaithfulness of the people)
2. The Old Covenant could not atone for the sins of the people
(Sinfulness of the human heart)
Point 2: The New Theme becomes the Rule of Faith
A. The newness described by the prophets has become the distinguishing feature of the NT.
B. God was using the prophets as mouthpieces to declare the renewal of the nation and the covenant people. He would restore them to their land, but that would not be enough. He would need to cleanse them, give them a new heart and a new spirit. He would have to take out their heart of stone, which is to figuratively say their “dead heart,” and put a real, sensitive heart of flesh in them. Then He says that He would do this by putting His Spirit within the people.
C. To do this “new thing” God would reveal the mystery of the ages, His Son Jesus Christ.
“And the Word became 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 was the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” That is why the One who sits on the throne can say, “Behold, I make all things new.” The people were restored to their land, forgiven of their unrighteousness, and cleansed from their idolatry so that the plan of God may continue- the redemptive work of Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Point 3: Prayer
A. Now, let’s come back to the prayer issue. It is an enormous privilege that we can bow before God Almighty with our concerns. It is also fear-provoking endeavor to petition the Lord.
B. One of our greatest concerns in this life is for our loved ones who are outside of Christ. Not only are they missing out on the blessings of God in this life, but they face the wrath to come.
C. Thankfully Jesus says, “The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
“The Lord is…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
D. So this is how we can pray:
“Father, give my loved one a new heart and put a new spirit within him; take the heart of stone out of his flesh and give him a heart of flesh. Put Your Spirit within him.”
Conclusion:
The main point of this passage of Scripture comes from v22, “…Thus says the Lord GOD: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake…”
One function of this point was to find the one unfailing thing from the past that could establish a basis for salvation in the future. It was God’s faithfulness to His promises and to His name that would determine grace and mercy for the people. It was because of His name that He would do something new in their behalf. In Ezekiel’s prophecy we do not hear one word of God’s compassion or love because Ezekiel is too busy focusing on the overwhelming majesty of God.
How great is His name now because of the New Covenant? How glorious is He now that He has made salvation available to all people? “Therefore, since we have such hope [in the New Covenant], we use great boldness of speech…”
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace [with this prayer],
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help…” (Heb 4:16)
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