PAUL IN ATHENS. ACTS 17:16-34
Paul is in Athens and right at the start we are told as he walks around he is greatly distressed, he is distressed because there are idols to all types of false gods.
Now today in this country it may be seen as a good thing to have gods from all over the world, but Paul makes it quite clear here that he does not agree with this thinking.
This is a place that is chasing after the latest teaching and not much changes there, and in the Aeropagus they would always want to hear the latest ideas.
In Paul they have a guy equipped for speaking there from the cultural centre of Tarsus, he was a rabbi and had trained under the great Gamaliel.
Paul had studied and scanned the Scriptures, he was prepared. It is not enough to speak with conviction, like Paul, we need to prepare ourselves for when opportunities arise.
So how did Paul present his message about Jesus, to speak about Jewish tradition would have been meaningless to the Greeks, so Paul looked for common ground.
In verses 22-23 he speaks about all the different gods they have, he commends them for what is common ground between them.
Paul then talks about the temple they have to the Unknown God and tells them that what they worship as unknown he is going to make known to them.
Basically, what is happening here is that these people are very religious many of the values they held were in common with Christianity, but they did not know God.
Paul now sets out to introduce them to the one true God, but he does it in the manner of one introducing a friend.
He talks about creation and is specific, He is the Lord of heaven and earth, but Paul is not afraid to challenge their ideas as he states God does not live in a temple made by man.
Paul proceeds telling them God is not an image in the minds of men and that they should repent of these ideas.
There was a lot of immoral living also going on in Athens and Paul says now is the time to repent because at the given time God will judge all people.
Lastly, he talks about the death and resurrection of Jesus some sneered, but others said we want to hear more of this teaching.
As you are listening does it remind you of the modern day with all sorts of beliefs and ideas going on and I think it is only going to get worse.
It's no good telling people they are wrong and you are right we have to meet with them where they are and point them to Jesus.
Find the common ground so you can discuss not argue that is the way forward.
But lastly get yourself into position, God could have sent any of the disciples to Athens, but he sent Paul because he was a skilled debater.
We have to listen to God and get ourselves positioned for where He wants us, and we are all different, so He is going to send us into different situations.
So tonight, we take two things away with us:
We get ourselves in positions where God wants us.
We prepare, so that like Paul when the time comes we are ready.