The Living One - Week 24: Unknown Known!

This account takes place on Paul’s second missionary trip, on his trip to the city of Athens, A city that prided itself on knowledge and education, learning, culture and the arts. It was also a city filled with idols.

As Paul looked around and saw all the idolatry it just really riled him up and he began passionately sharing the gospel message in the synagogues and even in the market places. He worked to draw people to Jesus and not to idols. His impassioned message caused much interest, but also much controversy.

Paul teaches us to not give up - when we are confronted with issues or by people who reject what we believe we don’t give up - we are kind, gracious, we are generous and merciful, but we can be encouraged by Paul’s example. In this story we learn that we do not need to hesitate to say what we believe and why.

Paul’s persistence cases those listening to become curious. They ask questions and want to know more and more. While they were curious, they were still not wanting to believe. So Paul says that he noticed how “religious” they are, but what they took as a compliment Paul meant as a warning because what is necessary is a relationship with the Living God and not mere religious behavior.

But stating he noticed their “religiosity” was a great starting point for keeping them listening. He tells about all the idols he’s seen and points out an altar they have with the world, “to an Unknown God” on it. He points out to this group of people (who despised ignorance and prided themselves on wisdom) and goes on to say that he will tell them about the Unknown God. Paul will make the Unknowns KNOWN!

Today many are influenced by an Unknown God:
1. Never heard of Him
2. Never understood anything about Him
3. Never cared to know about Him
4. Never believe in Him

These were the issues Paul was facing - the same issues we face today.

Paul goes on to say that the God who made the world is not a statue and is not confined to a building. He’s not served by human hands (like their idols are) and it is God that gives everything life and breath. God, from one man, made all nations, thus showing His concern for all nations and that God has mapped out each nation’s appointed time in history. Nothing that happens on earth happens without God’s foreknowledge and without His plan coming to fruition.

Paul’s life had been transformed when he came to know Christ, and it is Paul’s desire that these people experience that same thing.

1. Talks about the natural knowledge of God which all have instinctively - that we innately know there must be a divine being.
2. Talks about the revealed knowledge of God, that He has revealed Himself as Creator of all and loves us and desires we know Him.
3. Tells them that having natural knowledge and revealed knowledge requires a response, that human ignorance is not overlooked by God.

God calls us to repentance, making a U-turn in our lives and having a changed mind and attitude - re-directed lives. If God truly is God — He cannot be manipulated through statues. We are called to yield to Him.

Paul ends with the story of Jesus Deity, Death, resurrection and Return. Without Jesus and a relationship of faith we are lost.

God is God!

Many listening to Paul repented and received relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ - the Savior or ALL nations.

The fruit of Paul’s efforts were many becoming believers and followers of Jesus because Paul had the courage to share Jesus with them and confront them with TRUE Wisdom.

Scripture for the message: Acts 17:16-34

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