The Light Shines On Mars Hill Part 1

Lawrence looking to Jesus phone number for Mars Hill in Athens is the mounds of granite facing the famous Acropolis with its temples to pagan gods.

Dear Paul the apostle preaching the gospel with power to a group of philosophers who enjoyed argument they were watching the beginning of our spiritual title away from the Moody Church in Chicago this is running to win with Dr. when Sir was clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line.

Estimates are you when I stood on Mars Hill. Once a place with a commanding view of the Acropolis. I remember that very well.

Of course we were younger.

At that time.

But here's the point that I want to make weed today are on Mars Hill were surrounded by philosophers in a culture that is totally against us. And yet the apostle Paul gave us an example of how to share the gospel in the midst of that context and you and I need to know how to share it.

I've written a book entitled, no reason to hide standing for Christ and a collapsing culture. Let me ask you this question is America being Soviet time is that's an interesting question and I'm going to be answering it at the end of this broadcast but I need to tell you that the book is available for a gift of any amount. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or if you prefer, call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for the book no reason to hide. Paul did not hide on Mars Hill and we should not hide in our culture either. Let us listen as all of us know atheism is growing in Europe but it's also growing here in the United States of America. I didn't see it on a bus that somebody gave me a Tribune article that showed a bus with the slogan in the beginning man created God.

That slogan would be correct if they had changed the last word. If they had put it in lowercase and then pluralized it. I hope there's a word like pluralized, at least there is now in the beginning man created God's that would be true.

Like the great theologian Calvin says that man's mind is an idol factory always developing idle sand every time we preach the gospel. We have to confront the idols of our culture. In a few moments were going to see how the apostle Paul did it, but first of all, in context, call your member he began in Philippi.

The preach the gospel there last time we noticed. Remember this is a series of messages in title light shining in darkness how the gospel impacts culture and there were three people at least two were converted there in Philippi. Many comes to Thessalonica acts chapter 17 it says now when they had passed through, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews and Paul went in as was his custom and on three Sabbath days.

He reasoned with them from UC when the apostle Paul went to the city. He went to those who are already seeking God. He went to them first when we share the gospel. It is easier to share the gospel with those who are open on the God word sigh and he know that those who were in the synagogue, they were open to the possibility of knowing God better and instructing them and so he went there and he reasoned with them from course.

He ran into problems with the law. You'll notice it says in verse seven and Jason who received them. There is now a riot that is breaking out and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus will notice.

Caesar decreed that there is only one and that is Caesar, and they cannot tolerate another God by the name of Jesus. Someday I am going to speak on the topic of the role of law in American give you some examples of how the church is being marginalized simply because of laws that are being enacted when we were gone.

Recently we saw something on the national news that said that there was an area of California in which parents did not have an option their child were talked about homosexuality.

The age of five very being force-fed that agenda and it was against the law to take them out of school watch laws. Show me your laws and I will show you your God. Why wait.

Paul then goes to Athens and that's the story right here in the 16th verse, Paul believes that he goes to Athens and you'll notice it says in verse 16. While he was waiting for them. That is for Silas and Timothy in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. You and I as we walk the streets of Chicago or any other American city should have hearts that are burden to because were living in a nation filled with idolatry filled with idols. There's the Idol that we could call the God of my health and wealth of the God who exists in order to give me money and to make me happy. There is that God is an idol of the imagination.

There's also the God of my sexuality. No matter what I do. God comes and approves it, because after all, I know better than God, and no matter what his word says I have my own idea and by the way, who are you to say that God doesn't approve of what I do so you have God of your sexuality will allows you to do whatever your desires date. We also have God of my self authentication God because I am basically God. I'm thinking for example of that car totally in the book entitled the new earth in which he says you are the way the truth and the life. When Jesus spoke those words he meant all of us and Rhonda Byrne in the book entitled the secret which was so heavily promoted says you are God and the flash and so there we are the idols of our culture itself is God.

It's the oldest lives. The oldest idle one could ever imagine.

But men always make idols in the beginning man created God's so the question is how did Paul confront these folks. Now let's look at the text it says in verse 17 so he reasoned in the synagogue there it is again with the Jews and devout persons, and in the marketplace every day so he's in the synagogue and he's talking to those who are open to God, who are more open to God than those who are in the marketplace. One time I was flying from Regina, Saskatchewan all the way to Toronto and I intended to rest because I was tired and I wanted to read a little bit, but in God's providence next to me sat at a very well educated, articulate Hindu so we talked for more than three hours and I found that he was more open. Actually to the gospel and more open to spiritual things. Then the businessman that I normally sit next to wants to just know how he can earn his next buck and could care less about God. Yes, there are people who are open and what we need to do is to recognize that they are more likely to believe the gospel. But Paul also he go to the marketplace and there he would dialogue that's wonderful and low and behold he comes across two kinds of philosophers the Epicureans will notice verse 18 and the stokes the epic Koreans were materialists. They didn't believe in spirit.

They didn't believe in miracles spires. They were concerned. All of the world was nothing but molecules they'd of love Charles Darwin and the implications of Darwinism. They were the materialists of their time, but you have the Stoics and they were much more spiritual. They were pantheists. They believe that the highest good of man. Of course, is to deny the existence of the empirical world which has so much pain they have a great deal in common with Hinduism, a great deal in common with the New Age movement that says that God is found in the depths of our soul, so you have these two kinds of philosophers and the Stoics.

Of course, in denying the existence of the external world something like Plato did or downplaying it. Believe that the best that you can do is to learn to endure and so today we even talk about a stoical approach to life. And Paul is going to preach to these two kinds of philosophers and by the way, essentially today we stand on Mars Hill. Don't wait on the one hand of the materialists the atheists who don't believe in any kind of revelation, any kind of miracles.

All exists is matter and then on the other side you find those who are into the new spirituality and they are much more akin to the Stoics and we join Paul on Mars Hill and the gospel to the idols of our culture. How did Paul do it. First of all, notice how he connected with them. He connected with them. You'll notice it says that verse 22 Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus, that's Mars Hill. By the way can go to Mars Hill today have been there a couple of times you can climb to the top of Mars Hill. It's also possible that the apostle Paul preached on the other side of the hill, which is where oftentimes philosophers met. We don't know exactly where it is. But if you ever visit Athens and you're there, you know that close by. It is here that Paul preached is very powerful and important sermon which models for us how to confront the philosophers of our day, decent men of Athens, I perceive that in every way. You are very religious for as I passed along in absurd the objects of your worship.

I found also in altar with this inscription to the unknown God actually in Greek. It is agnosticism, agnosticism, fat loss and of course you know that that's where we get our word agnosticism. So you see the opinions they had all of these idols, and they thought possibly they had left out of God, and they didn't want to open the God that they had left out. So they had an altar to an unknown God, and that was for their agnosticism because they weren't sure whether or not they had spoken and and acknowledged all of the God Apollo picks up on that as you have an altar to the unknown God, the one that you are agnostic about and that that's the one I'm going to proclaim to you what a wonderful way to begin a sermon and so the apostle Paul.

He connects with them because he knows that they are now going to dispute with him and the whole question will be about whether or not they are able to receive this message so first of all, he connects with them and then secondly, he explains to them. Now what is it that people need to know in our culture. Three or four things in poll covers all of them in this wonderful sermon. First of all they need a more accurate conception of God, and that's where Paul begins. He says in verse 24. The God who made the world and everything in it being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and then thing and you'll notice any major from one man every nation of mankind to live on old face of your first of all what he needs to do is to help them to understand who God is and he begins with God is creator. He's saying God made you who you didn't make God look at all of the idols around here.

They are man-made. But the God that I am proclaiming to you is not man-made. As a matter fact, he is the creator of all things that exists, and because of him you have your existence. That's the God I proclaim to you, and that's the God who can redeem you so begins by saying yes indeed God is creator God is omnipresent. He doesn't exist in temples made by hand that was you can't build the temple and you're saying I'm building this temple for God and God is going to dwell there. No, no, no, it says in the Old Testament, the heaven of the heavens cannot contain the Solomon said how much less this house that I have all yes in Old Testament times, God was localized for the purpose of able connecting with him, but God pervades the entire universe and is everywhere and is not limited to a temple or an idol that is made with man and then you'll notice Paul says you need to have a straightened out your doctrine of God and also your doctrine of man.

That's the next part of the sermon. You'll notice it says verse 26 and he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods that could refer to the seasons and the boundaries of their dwelling place that they should seek God in the hope that they might feel their way. One of the translation says grope their way to ward him and find him, yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being is even some of your own poets have said, were indeed we are his offspring. I read it quickly. We have to go through now and understand that in a little bit more detail. The apostle Paul is saying that first of all that God created man from one person and by the way, I had lunch with someone who is an astronomer whose name most of you would know but a month ago and he said that now science continues to have evidence that we all descended indeed from one set of parents and of course we believe that long before science caught up to us.

You know I remember one time. Time magazine had an article entitled about that.

The city of Jericho and it's his score one for the Bible and it talked about how recent archaeological discoveries actually confirm the biblical record and I thought, no, no, no.

Score one for time magazine. They finally got it right.

So the apostle Paul here in speaking to them about human being said, God determined the seasons and got determine where all of the various tribes would live if you asked the question why did Hamm go into Egypt and Jephthah went to Europe and Seth stayed in the Middle East is attributed to God that men might grope after God know what's in that text what he saying is, is that as people moved out into different areas and they began to understand that the earth was created for man, and that's why they were able to live in different parts of the country through agriculture and what have you. They should have said to themselves. Surely God created this world. Surely this is all of him because of the light of history because of the light of nature because of the light of conscience.

They grow after God hoping to find him and everybody groups for God they don't know it. They have all kinds of substitutes the man who's involved in addictions and sexuality in and ruining his life trying to find fulfillment in in some reason to live. He's groping for God, but he doesn't know it.

He thinks that he can get by by filling his life with all kinds of substitutes people grope for God and then noticed that you say will is God difficult to find. Well, there's a sense in which God is hidden, but there's also a sense in which he is revealed himself. He is hidden can be found. Look at what Paul says that they should seek God in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him, for he is actually not far from each one of us will listen that encouraging God is not far from any one of us. But at the same time you and I know that we have to approach them through the Lord Jesus Christ at the top of this broadcast. I raise the question of whether or not America was being Soviet ties and the answer I think is yes. Let me give you two quick reasons. First of all, in the Soviet Union there was no escape from the ideology which controlled the country today. I'm told that if you apply for a job, you will not be able to escape ideology. You'll be asked whether or not you believe in multiple pronouns, whether or not you are willing to celebrate pride.

How are we going to navigate this culture. Those are the kinds of questions I ask and answer in my brand-new book entitled no reason to hide standing for Christ and a collapsing culture and by the way, let me give you another reason and that is in the Soviet Union. The press and the ideology. The ruling ideology.

They were refused and that's the way it is today. You look at the media you can see big tech oftentimes wanting to cancel those with alternate opinions so we are in the same kind of situation as people and Christians have found themselves years ago.

That's why I've written this book.

No reason to hide it can be yours for a gift of any amount. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com you can go there right now or if you prefer you can call 1-888-218-9337 if you want to receive help on how to navigate our collapsing culture. I believe that this resource will be of tremendous blessing and insight for you. Thanks in advance for helping us financially because together were making a difference, as we proclaim the gospel around the world is time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor lutes or a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Deep in all of us is the desire for a life beyond this veil of tears and having the matter of our future destiny settled gives us a great sense of security. One of our newer Remington when listeners has emailed us this question. Documents are how can we be sure we have eternal life. I can think of a question that I would rather answer because this is surely the most important question that could ever be asked is much more important than whether or not global warming is true of whether or not we should have nationalized healthcare.

This is the pivotal question, how can we have eternal life and be sure that we do now. As long as you believe that salvation is based on our good works, even if you say God does most of it but we have to come along and he grants us the grace to be good so that we can save ourselves. If you believe something like that. I can assure you that you will not have assurance because the question always is. Have I upheld my part of the bargain. Have I done enough. Even if God grants us the grace to do good works. The question is are my good works good enough and are there enough of them. What a rat race. What uncertainty. So what I'd like to say to you is that when Jesus died on the cross of you believe that when Jesus died on the cross and that he rose again. His death is a sufficient sacrifice for your sins. 100% meeting the demands of a holy God, and you embrace that for yourself and you receive Christ as Savior as your Savior, then you not only have eternal life. But you know it, and the way in which you know it is first of all, the Holy Spirit of God within you ministers to you that you are a child of God. Furthermore, your assurance doesn't depend upon your own performance, which is very unpredictable and often fluctuates. It's based on the perfect work of Christ we are saved by the righteousness and the works of another, not our own and we are saved by faith.

When John wrote the first epistle of John.

He says these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

I love this illustration. I'd been at the airport flying standby when I fly standby. I never know whether I'm going to get on the plane when the plane is beginning to feel they tell me sit down will tell you if we have an empty seat and I'm unsure and that you pace back and forth.

But when you have a ticket you can sit in the lounge and you can read a newspaper because you know you're going to get on that plane through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We get the ticket we can enjoy life, because we know that when that plane leaves. We are going to be on it. God bless you my friend, through faith in Christ we have eternal life. And we know it. Thank you Dr. Luther for telling us once again the greatest news. Anyone can ever hear if you'd like to have one of your questions answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor lutes or or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 all was the apostle to the Gentiles. He moved aggressively to cities in Greece and beyond with the power of the spirit.

Directing his energies next time will hear more of Paul's dialogue with the intelligentsia of Athens and focus on the best way to approach people who've never heard the gospel. It's no secret that America is in crisis.

Pastor's book no reason to hide standing for Christ in a collapsing culture will be sent as our gift to you when you give a gift of any amount to support running to win. Just call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 online go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or write to running to win Moody Church 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago 60614 running to win is all about helping you understand God's roadmap for your race of life. This is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody Church