Post on 21-Jul-2015
transcript
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Paul has fled from Berea to
Athens, Greece to escape the
Thessalonican Jews who followed him
to Berea.
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He has found the city wholly given over to the
worship of false gods and graven images.
He has started to preach the
Gospel, beginning with their altar to the
unknown god.
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Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the
midst of Mars' hill, and
said, Ye men of Athens, I
perceive that in all things ye
are too superstitious.
Superstitious = Root: the compound of a derivative
of the base of G1169 fear or awe, and G1142
daimon or demon.Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
Paul implied that any power these false gods
had, came from demons.
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23 For as I passed by, and
beheld your devotions, I
found an altar with this
inscription, TO THE
UNKNOWN GOD. Whom
therefore ye ignorantly
worship, Him declare I unto
you.
They had made this altar -- just in case --
Perhaps they had left out a god they knew not about.
They didn't want him mad at them.
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The Creator of all does not need a temple to live in.
He is the all powerful, all wise, ever present God.
24 God that made the world
and all things therein, seeing
that He is Lord of Heaven
and earth, dwelleth not in
temples made with hands;
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25 Neither is worshipped
with men's hands, as though
He needed any thing, seeing
He giveth to all life, and
breath, and all things;
John 4 (Jesus) 23 But the hour cometh, and now
is, when the true worshippers shall worship the
Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh
such to worship Him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they
that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in
Truth. You can't buy His favor with gifts.
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26a And hath made of one blood (Adam) all nations
of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth,
The Greeks, and especially those in Athens,
thought that they were really special.
To be told that they were descended from one
man, and the same man as everyone else --
Would be a blow to their pride.
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26b and hath determined the times before
appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
The times = God determined the history of
each nation, before they existed.
God had placed each nation where He wanted.
No nation is more special that another.
All must come to God through Jesus Christ.
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Unlike modern science which teaches that people
and animals landed somewhere accidentally, and
had to adapt through evolution.
The Truth is that our places were determined by
God, and He made us and the animals fit for the
place before we were there.
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27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they
might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be
not far from every one of us:
God had revealed Himself in creation, so that
people would seek and find Him.
God involved Himself in the affairs of men so
that we can know that He is close to us.
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Matthew 7 7 Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to
him that knocketh it shall be opened.
He is faithful.