WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:02.160 Well today is one of my favorite topics from the 2 00:00:02.200 --> 00:00:06.160 apostle Paul, who gives the sermon of all sermons. 3 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:09.199 This message that he preaches. I heard a message probably 4 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:12.119 twenty five years ago, radically changed my life, so changed 5 00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:14.519 the direction in my life. So he's Chris, I'm Jeff, 6 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:15.359 and we're the Bible Guys. 7 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:29.399 Well, Jeff, Yes, a few weeks ago, we did a 8 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:32.880 segment throughout the entire week where it's called stump. 9 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:34.399 The pastor yeah, yeah, those are fun. Yeah. 10 00:00:34.439 --> 00:00:37.159 People had sent in some questions and some comments, and 11 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:39.359 so we took a few of those and sort of, 12 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:41.359 you know, picked five of them throughout the week. 13 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:42.960 Well, we're going to do that again this week. 14 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:43.479 Oh cool. 15 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:46.159 So every day this week we're going to take a 16 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:48.880 question that people had sent in from our last segment. 17 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:52.280 They'd send in questions. By the way, if you want 18 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:55.439 to send in a question, please do so at info 19 00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:56.960 at Bible guys dot com. 20 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:00.799 Right here. So anyway, so here is the first question. 21 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:02.479 This is sent in by Alice L. 22 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:04.799 We're going to have like a drum rule. 23 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:07.480 Yeah, sure, why not. Here's the question. 24 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:09.879 Do you believe that people who have already died are 25 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:13.040 waiting in heaven waitings in quotes for those of us 26 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:15.560 still living, I have started to wonder if perhaps the 27 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:18.400 resurrection will bring us all there at once, meaning the 28 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:21.079 same time. Not that people have to wait to get 29 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:25.079 to heaven, but the nature of time is not understandable 30 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:28.959 to us when one considers eternity, kind of like waking 31 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:31.120 up after a long time but not realizing that time 32 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:34.480 has passed because it sort of did not pass in 33 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:35.560 your consciousness. 34 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:36.239 Wow. 35 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:37.879 So there it is. 36 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:38.640 What a question. 37 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:40.159 Well, I've actually heard this a lot. 38 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:41.920 Yeah. Yeah, Hey. One thing I want to say is 39 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:44.040 our listeners are really smart people. I don't know why 40 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:47.239 they listen to us, but they do. Yeah, smart people. Man, 41 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:49.599 that's a really thoughtful question. 42 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:50.959 It is. Yeah. 43 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.040 So the question is, you know, are people when they 44 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:56.319 when they pass away, are they in some sort of 45 00:01:56.439 --> 00:01:58.400 like soul sleep slumber? 46 00:01:59.120 --> 00:01:59.879 Does every to get to have? 47 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:02.680 And at the same time, I've once heard a pastor 48 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:05.760 talk about and totally believes and supports the fact that 49 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:08.639 like the criminal on the cross when it says, you know, 50 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:10.560 Jesus looks at the criminal on the cross and says, 51 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:13.439 today you'll be with me in paradise. And that's a 52 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:15.759 great example because it's one of the only times where 53 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:18.639 Jesus is speaking of eternity, and he uses the word 54 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:22.680 today meaning no time in time, and and and then 55 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:26.000 and then, and this person, uh said, well, we're going 56 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:28.439 to get to Haven the same exact moment that the. 57 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:30.560 Thief on the cross will so. 58 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:35.080 But at the same time, I I sort of lean 59 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:39.280 toward sat Corinthians, where it says to be absent from 60 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:40.800 the body is to be present with the Lord. 61 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:44.759 Christians chapter five, Chapter five, I think is six. He 62 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:47.319 literally says in the King James, which is what you quoted? 63 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:49.000 This what I wouldquote, to be absent from the body 64 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.240 is to be present with the Lord. Paul was looking 65 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:53.319 forward to the day that he's saying. At that point, 66 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:55.080 he says, I really don't care if I die for 67 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:56.960 the for the faith or I don't die for the faith, 68 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:00.520 because if I'm still alive, I'm just gonna keep serving Jesus. 69 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.400 If I die, I'm going to immediately be with him. 70 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:05.520 That was his thing. So the question that she's asking 71 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:09.199 is more of a semantical question, because what she's recognizing 72 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:11.400 here is either way your experience would be you're dead 73 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:14.400 and your immediately with Christ. Right but what happens in 74 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:17.439 that intermediary thing, So her question really is more about 75 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:20.960 time than it is about death. And I think that 76 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:24.159 so the premise would be in what that pastor you 77 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.680 were talking about, his premise would be the Bible says 78 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.680 to a day is as a thousand years, one thousand 79 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:32.719 years as a day, which is referencing the idea that 80 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:34.759 God is outside of time, and which is one of 81 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:37.159 the most extraordinary concepts that a book that was written 82 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.639 two thousand years ago. Peter actually wrote those words. Who 83 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:42.680 would have no concept of the idea that time can 84 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:44.960 be sped up or slowed down, that time is variable. 85 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:47.319 We didn't even know that till the twentieth century when 86 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:49.960 Einstein put out the theory relativity. Then all of a 87 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:52.280 sudden you beginn to realize, Okay, gravity can change time, 88 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:57.120 speed can change time, distance changes time. So time is meliable, 89 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:02.080 and God is the creator outside of time. So for him, yesterday, today, 90 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:05.280 and forever it's the same. He never changes. So in 91 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:08.759 that then he's not bound by time, and he's not 92 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:11.400 experiencing time like we are. He's allowing time to play out, 93 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:16.240 and then he intercedes in time moments. So I think 94 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.399 that The bigger question is how does time work with God. 95 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:21.920 God's outside of time. So that's why it's not an issue. 96 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:23.680 And by the way, that's why the cross works two 97 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:27.839 thousand years ago. Right, the sacrifice is available for me 98 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.240 now in my time, but it's because it's happened and 99 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:34.160 is happening in God's mind, right, all those things. So 100 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:37.079 this is super complex. I think it's great. But I 101 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:39.879 would say that the technical answer to her question is 102 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:44.759 it's going to be the same experience for you, right 103 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:47.720 that you are alive, then you die, you're present with 104 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:49.040 the Lord according to the way Paul says. 105 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:51.480 Because Paul wrote that for the purpose of comfort, that's 106 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:54.800 exactly right. And so both views are comforting. Yeah, so 107 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:58.000 in the goodness is either way we are comforted. Right, 108 00:04:58.040 --> 00:05:00.720 we don't have to worry about it. But which view 109 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:02.920 do you lean toward? Do you lean toward? 110 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:04.199 Do we all? 111 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:06.120 Because you know, there's also the reference in the Bible 112 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:09.240 where it talks about the resurrection of the bodies coming 113 00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:12.079 out of the graves or of the saints, and so 114 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:13.560 you know, there's a lot. 115 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:15.920 Of Yeah, I expect I agree with you on it. 116 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:17.720 That you know, Paul, so many times when he talks 117 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.560 about death, and when he talks about heaven, it's usually 118 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:23.480 in response to questions being asked, so he's giving them 119 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:27.240 as comforting things people are concerned or wondering about it. One, 120 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.160 we just have to know God's going to take care 121 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:30.839 of us. It's going to be okay if you've placed 122 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:32.639 your faith in trust in Jesus Christ. Now if you haven't, 123 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:36.279 the consequences are there's no more opportunity for repentance. So 124 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:38.959 in this life, while you're breathing breath, you need to 125 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:41.800 get right with God. But if you've trusted Christ is 126 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:44.680 your savior, then from that point God is going to 127 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:46.079 be good and he's going to do the right thing. 128 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:48.279 I personally believe to be absent from the body is 129 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:49.959 to be present with the Lord. And I think that 130 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:53.160 those are individual experiences, not one big group experience. But 131 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:55.839 he does talk about at the very end there is 132 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.959 this group resurrection, and that's a whole other issue because 133 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.639 now at that point, uh, there's the judgment after that, 134 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:04.480 and that that's a different thing than what happens to 135 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:04.959 your spirit. 136 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:07.079 Yeah, and then also let's not forget that there are 137 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:10.519 two references of some of Old Testament characters that went 138 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:12.399 to heaven without dying. 139 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:14.560 Yeah, yeah, yeah, right, So we have Enoch. 140 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:17.600 And Elijah, right right? Or is it is Elijah Elijah? 141 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:18.639 Yeah yeah, I was gonna say. 142 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:20.399 I always get confused with Elijah and Elijah. 143 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.839 Yeah, and their their buddies and they work together in 144 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:23.959 the same spot in the Bible. 145 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:28.560 So Elijah rides up and before us and oh yeah, 146 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:29.839 Jason for us, that's a good way. 147 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:31.600 That's the only way I passed any of my Bible 148 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:33.240 college quizzes about Elijah. 149 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:36.000 It's like thirty days has September, April, June, and November 150 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:40.720 thirty one. So anyway, So the bottom line is is, 151 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:43.720 you know, we have Enoch who just wasn't he he was, 152 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:46.279 then he wasn't, and then we have a fiery chat 153 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:50.800 with Elijah. Well, if truly the theory is that we're 154 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:53.839 in some sort of soul slumber with our bodies, well 155 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:57.199 that doesn't add up for Elijah or for Enoch. So 156 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:00.360 so so I believe that that as time plays out, 157 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.519 you know the the you know, the word in the 158 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:07.120 Greek is chronos, which is linear time as it plays 159 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.639 out for us. Uh, you know, I believe that there's 160 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.800 evidence and references, especially in the Old Testament where they 161 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:15.839 refer to people being you know, they've died and now 162 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:19.040 they've gone to the Lord, and that seems to play out, 163 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.000 uh in the chronos linear time. 164 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:25.639 That's right, right, that's right. So God's not bound by cronos, right, 165 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.079 but we are, and so he chooses to intervene or 166 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:30.120 interact within the time we're in. 167 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:32.279 Yeah, yeah, yep, So there's my answer. 168 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:34.920 That's great, man, That what a good question. And for 169 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:37.800 those of you that are still awake after that explanation, 170 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:42.560 we're really glad you're still well. We think it's I mean, 171 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:45.120 for a Monday, that's that's a heavy topic from Monday. 172 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:48.759 But I think it's one of those little mind benders. 173 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:51.000 And again I think we've already said most of the 174 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:53.800 answers to Stumpy's pastor are we're not exactly sure? 175 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:56.240 Yeah, yeah, well, which is why there, which is why 176 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:57.399 there's some questions. 177 00:07:57.480 --> 00:07:59.120 Right, Yeah, but what a good what a good question, 178 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:01.879 and it's fun. I'm glad that our listeners are thinkers. Right. 179 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:05.279 It really speaks about Alice in the way that she's 180 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.680 paying attention, So that's great. Well, hey, we are continuing 181 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:12.279 in the life of Paul the beginning of the First 182 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:16.040 Church the Book of Acts, and we paused in Acts, 183 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:20.240 chapter seventeen, and now we're moving into a critical moment 184 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:24.360 in Paul's style, in Paul's preaching, and we get to 185 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:28.120 take a peek at how he deals with non Jewish 186 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.480 people and how he presents the Gospel. We saw one 187 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.240 time a while back how he did that. But most 188 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.799 of the time up to this point, we're seeing him 189 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:38.879 preach in synagogues and we're hearing him talk about Jesus 190 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:42.480 is the Jewish Messiah. And then this one he pivots 191 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:44.799 just a little bit. So let's just start in verse 192 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:47.960 sixteen in chapter seventeen of the Book of Actses says, 193 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:50.639 while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was 194 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:53.000 deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in 195 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:55.440 the city. He went to the synagogue to reason with 196 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:57.559 the Jews and the god fearing gentiles, and he spoke 197 00:08:57.679 --> 00:08:59.840 daily in the public square to all who happened to 198 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:01.919 be there. He also had a debate with some of 199 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:05.080 the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about 200 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.320 Jesus and his resurrection. They said, what's this babbler trying 201 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:10.679 to say with these strange ideas he's picked up. Others 202 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:13.120 said he seems to be preaching about some foreign gods. 203 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:16.320 Then they took him to the High Council of the city. 204 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:18.759 Come and tell us about this new teaching. They said, 205 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:21.039 you're saying some rather strange things, and we want to 206 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.279 know what it's all about. It should be explained that 207 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:26.279 the all the Athenians, as well as the foreigners and Athens, 208 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:29.039 seem to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas. 209 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:33.080 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows. 210 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:35.679 Men of Athens. I notice that you are very religious 211 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:38.000 in every way. For as I was walking along, I 212 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.720 saw your many shrines, and one of your altars had 213 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:44.559 this inscription on it to an unknown god. This god, 214 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:47.200 whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling 215 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:49.679 you about. He's the god who made the world and 216 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:52.080 everything in it. And since he's Lord of heaven and earth, 217 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:54.679 he doesn't live in man made temples, and human hands 218 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:56.799 can't serve his needs, for he has no needs. He 219 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:59.799 himself gives life and breadth to everything, and he satisfies 220 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:02.519 every every need from one man. He created all the 221 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:05.679 nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they 222 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:07.960 should rise and fall in me to determine their boundaries. 223 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:11.519 His purpose was for the nations to seek after God 224 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:14.240 and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find him, 225 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:16.360 though he's not far from any one of us, for 226 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.600 in him we live and move and exist. As some 227 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:22.240 of your own poets have said, we are his offspring. 228 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:25.000 And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God 229 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:27.399 as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver 230 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:30.639 or stone. God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in 231 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:33.559 earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent 232 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:35.799 of their sins and turn to him, for He has 233 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.080 set a day for judging the world with justice by 234 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:40.679 the man he has appointed. And he proved to everyone 235 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:43.720 who this is by raising him from the dead. And 236 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:46.399 when they heard Paul speak about the resurrection, then some 237 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:48.399 laughed in contempt, but others said, we want to hear 238 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:51.720 more about this later. That ended Paul's discussion with them, 239 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:55.320 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, 240 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:58.240 a member of the council, a woman named Demrus, and 241 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.200 others with them. Yeah, what a cool one. So this 242 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:04.000 is Paul at the Areopagus. Is what this is called, right? 243 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:04.240 Yeah? 244 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:07.279 Yeah, So that council that he's at is this council 245 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:08.360 called the Areopagus. 246 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:11.559 Yeah, And so Luke stayed back in Philippi while Paul, 247 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:14.720 Silas and Timothy continued on. Remember they were in Thesalonika. 248 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:17.759 Then when trouble rose in Thesalonika, they fled to Bria. Yes, 249 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:22.120 when enemies from Thesalonika pursued them, they they Paul set 250 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:24.799 sail for Athens. And and so there's a couple of 251 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:30.159 different big categories of observations that I absolutely love about 252 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:34.000 this this this passage, and and they're sort of like 253 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:37.120 setting the stage type of things. It's not about Paul's message, 254 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:42.279 it's about the awesomeness of the situation. So number one, 255 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.600 it starts off by saying Paul was just waiting in 256 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:48.600 Athens for his friends, and so he wasn't necessarily going 257 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:51.240 to Athens for a destination to you know, who would 258 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:52.919 have ever thought that he was going to preach this 259 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:56.360 amazing message, you know up on the aero Opagus, you know, 260 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.720 which is like a limestone type mountain. 261 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:02.840 Is at Mars Hill, at Mars Hill, and the council 262 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:06.120 the Areopagus met at Mars Hill. This is like a 263 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:08.279 similar to the Roman form just a little bit. It's 264 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:11.039 where ideas would be exchanged. All the smart leaders of 265 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:13.200 the village in the town would come there to gather 266 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.720 to talk about big ideas. 267 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:15.679 Yeah. 268 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.759 And by the way, I have a note here in 269 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:21.960 my study Bible, and it says that the Epicureans and 270 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:26.679 the Stoics. The Epicureans were actually more concerned with They 271 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.519 believe that happiness was the most important thing in life, 272 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:33.440 and the Stoics believe that intelligence and thinking was. So 273 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.759 they were actually very very disciplined, and so they were 274 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:37.639 actually you know, debating more intellectually. 275 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:40.600 And so someone was about experience, Yeah, there was about 276 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:42.799 thoughts and philosophy. Yeah, yeah cool. 277 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:45.879 And so anyway, so the first observation is this is 278 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:49.639 that Paul wasn't there on a mission necessarily. He was 279 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:51.840 there waiting for his friend. That's what the scripture says. 280 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.879 While he was there in Athens waiting for them, he 281 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:56.440 was bothered. And what ended up happening is is like 282 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:59.879 his spirit was stirred and then he saw an opportunity 283 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:02.759 took advantage of it. So I think that the application 284 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:05.559 of that is really rich for all of us, because 285 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:08.240 sometimes we find ourselves in a place thinking that. 286 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.080 It's there by accident. 287 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:11.519 You know, we're just at this bus stop, we're at 288 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:14.519 this restaurant, and you know, surely, surely nothing great is 289 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:17.080 going to happen. And you know, with this interaction with 290 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:19.240 this waiter that comes over and starts talking to us, 291 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:23.320 you know, it's like, don't ever underestimate the moment where 292 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:26.559 God places you strategically, and it may not be your 293 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:29.240 mission to be there, but that's when great things happen 294 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:31.559 when we least expect it. You know that they'll come 295 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:35.080 up and surprise us. And then then the second thing 296 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:38.039 is is that I love the fact that Paul is 297 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:43.000 perfectly qualified to be the man in this situation. So 298 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.919 think about all his qualifications, all his knowledge. 299 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:48.720 Is there anybody else who could you know? Was it Luke? 300 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.360 Is it is it Barnabas? 301 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:53.080 No, these guys aren't qualified like Paul is, right, and 302 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:56.480 he's a Roman citizen, and he's get so much intelligence, 303 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.600 even quotes one of their own poets, right, And then 304 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:03.240 how smart is it to say, let me. Let me 305 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:06.440 tell you, I'm going to honor you. His his strategy. Anyway, 306 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.960 I have more to say, but let's. 307 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:10.559 Well, no, I love that and I don't need to talk. 308 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:15.440 I was really riveted by what you were saying. The 309 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:19.679 idea is I think that you're conveying Paul being perfectly 310 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:23.559 designed for this. So he was a philosopher, yes he was. 311 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:29.360 He was a Pharisee who rejected pleasure, right, right, So 312 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:31.120 so he kind of leaned more on the Stoics than 313 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.279 on the on the Epicurean side of things. But his 314 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:39.799 culture was a debate culture. Anyways, he came from that 315 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.159 kind of world, right. He was one of the most 316 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:45.799 educated people. He was widely traveled, which would mean he'd 317 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:48.600 have a broad worldview as opposed to a narrow worldview. 318 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:53.200 And he was a Roman citizen from Tarsus, which is 319 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:55.559 in that area that region. Right, He's not He's he's 320 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:59.919 closer to home when he's in Athens than he would 321 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:02.159 be when he was in Jerusalem. Right, So I think 322 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:05.559 it's very intriguing to me. He's perfect and God will 323 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:09.279 do that. You our listeners are perfectly designed to reach 324 00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:12.200 people around you that the rest of us would never 325 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.799 be able to reach that's right, and so this was 326 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.919 a divine appointment. Paul just didn't realize it. And I 327 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.840 think we have lots of divine appointments that sometimes we 328 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.039 don't realize what's happening. 329 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.919 Yeah, God places you where you are for a reason. 330 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:24.600 And by the way, there's another quick reference before we 331 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.759 even get into Paul's message, and that is it says 332 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:29.360 that he was speaking of the town square and other 333 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:33.600 versions translated as the marketplace. So he was preaching the gospel, 334 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.840 telling the good News of Christ, telling the story of 335 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.960 Jesus in a public setting. And what's really interesting about 336 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.399 that is that earlier it had said that, you know, 337 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:45.679 he was preaching in synagogues, so you know, synagogues, it 338 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.559 would be expected to preach, you know, the message of 339 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:53.120 the good News and synagogues, but to have that same message, 340 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:58.440 that same ministry in the marketplace is entirely different. And 341 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:02.039 what I love about that is I believe, for you know, 342 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:05.639 first and foremost, that the most effective ministry is that 343 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:09.799 ministry that happens outside of church. And it's it's because 344 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:13.360 it's unexpected, and it's like whoa, and it's like when 345 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:16.279 when when somebody who's in your business. You know who 346 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:18.399 in other words, like not in your business, like in 347 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:21.799 your you know, in your story, but like who works 348 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:23.159 in your business. 349 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:24.120 In your office, in your office. 350 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:29.320 When when they decide to bring religion or God or 351 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:33.200 anything like that into that environment, it's it stands out, 352 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:36.240 makes a lasting impression, way more than if you were 353 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.519 to walk into church, because it's expected to hear something. 354 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:41.639 Yeah, and he comes into this conversation without being a jerk, 355 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:48.320 right right, He disagrees fundamentally. His view about their belief 356 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:51.279 system is one hundred and eighty degrees. Yes, but he's 357 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:53.440 not a jerk about it. He comes in and he says, 358 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:56.879 men of Athens, I notice that you're very religious in 359 00:16:56.919 --> 00:17:00.600 every way. And then he compliments him. I'm recognizing your culture. 360 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:03.919 I see how you're living your lives. And I noticed, 361 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:06.240 of all these gods that you have, you have this 362 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:08.640 one pedestal and it doesn't have an idol on and 363 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:11.079 it just says to the unknown God, let me tell 364 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:14.480 you about him. Right, so there's something missing in your 365 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.720 life and I can introduce you. 366 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:19.079 He has them already. Yeah, Yeah, he's hit. They're leaning 367 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.880 in Yeah, because what's. 368 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:23.359 This foreigner doing talking about our culture and our situation. R. 369 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:28.079 Yeah, it was very very intelligent, very clever, which which basically. 370 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.440 And he says, whom you worship without knowing? 371 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.079 Right? 372 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:33.480 He doesn't say you pagans, right, he doesn't say that. 373 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.319 He says, you're intrigued by this god you don't even know. 374 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:38.599 Let me tell you about it. I'll introduce him to you. 375 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:41.720 And I love this idea. So then he not only 376 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:44.559 does he do that, but then he begins to unpack it. 377 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.799 This is the God who created everything. That's the beginning 378 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:49.440 for somebody who has no concept of scripture, which is 379 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:52.680 most of our culture today. Most of our culture doesn't 380 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:55.559 know scripture, you know, twenty five years ago, a lot 381 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:57.759 of our culture did. Fifty years ago, most of our 382 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:00.240 culture and new scripture, and now they don't. So we're 383 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.759 starting every time. What There's a God who created the world, 384 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:05.200 and he made you, and he made you for a purpose. 385 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:08.440 But we're sinners, we're separated from God. So God solved that. Right. 386 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:10.759 This is kind of the is. 387 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:13.319 The purpose of who we why we call ourselves the Bible. Guys, 388 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:16.200 that's right, because some people might get the impression because 389 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.880 we call ourselves the Bible, guys. We have to be 390 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:20.279 super deep in theological. 391 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.880 The Bible scholar guys. 392 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.920 The Bible scholar guys, that's not our name. 393 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:25.640 What's a couple of dudes like to talk about the Bible? Right? 394 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.599 And so? 395 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:30.799 So if our purpose is to bring literacy and basic understanding, 396 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:34.480 and not only that, but the purpose of all scriptures application. 397 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:35.079 That's right. 398 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:37.319 So you know, there's not there's not you know. 399 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:40.039 If the goal is just simply more depth and knowledge, 400 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.559 then you can go somewhere else. But but for us, 401 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:44.480