Oh! Good morning boys
and girls this morning.
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Good morning! I
guess some of your friends
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are still
sleeping in this morning.
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Well, our story today
is about a little girl,
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a young girl, by the
name of Flora Marshall,
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what's the name of
the girl? Flora Marshall.
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Oh! You remember
that well. Flora Marshall.
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Now Flora Marshall
in her home there were
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rules, how many of
you have rules in your
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homes? Some of
you do? Wow, are they
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good rules? No.
Rules are actually good
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for you, okay.
Especially, if you come from a
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Christian homes.
Flora Marshall had rules in
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her home that was
given by the mother and
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one of the rules was
that none of them was
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to touch any of the
fruit before mealtime.
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But one day Flora
was just sitting in her
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room waiting for her
friends and Linda and
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Janet to come over
and visit, and as she
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was waiting it was
kind of long wait and as
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she was waiting,
she was tempted to go
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down and take one
of the oranges that
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momma had said not
to touch until mealtime.
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So, Flora thought
about it, okay decided I'm
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going to go and
take one of the oranges,
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came out looked
through the hall where no
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one is looking, and
then ran right down the
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stairs going down to
the kitchen went into
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the dinning hall,
looked around, no one was
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in the dinning hall,
in the dinning room and
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then came right up to
where the oranges were,
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I know there are
only two oranges here,
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but the story there
were pile of oranges.
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She came and looked
at the oranges that's
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what she wanted
and then she looked
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carefully, look
carefully she was looking for
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the biggest orange.
Grabbed it, looked around,
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nobody is
looking, put in her pocket,
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came right into the hallway,
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looked around and
stormed right up the
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stairs in right
before she got into her room
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brother called Flora,
Flora, your friends are
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coming through the
gates. Now, she thought
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okay, I have to go
right back down before
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she got to the
room, she stormed right
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back down open up
the door and they were
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her friends Linda
and Janet. Oh! Hello
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friends, they came
right in, but you know
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something had
changed dramatically on
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Flora's attitude,
well not only that but
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Flora started to
turn pale, she looked
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miserable, she looked shameful.
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But of course her
friends had come in
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she had to treat
them well they're
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visitors, come on in
friends and Flora took
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her friends right
into the living room to
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where momma is.
They came over to
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momma, they
started talking with momma,
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laughing together
but you know there
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was a problem with
Flora, as I've shared,
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she was miserable,
she tried to laugh and
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talk happily but
she just couldn't,
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do you know
why? Do you think why
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she was like that?
Yes, she took one of the
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oranges, because
she took one of the
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oranges without
permission. You know she
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couldn't get her
mind off the oranges that
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she had taken
but not only that she
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hadn't had a chance to eat it.
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She hadn't had,
she couldn't have a
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chance to put it
away because everybody
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was around now,
but then they went
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on with their
visit together momma then
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said alright its
dinner time guys, so let's
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get together on
the table and its time
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to eat. So they
gathered together and
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they started
eating, as they were eating
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momma noticed
something on Flora.
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She looked over
Flora wasn't eating at all,
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momma then said
Flora dear, you're not
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eating what, is
there anything wrong?
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But this Flora was so miserable,
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she wanted just
burst out crying and
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just ask for
forgiveness. But then,
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she thought okay
she's just gonna hold on,
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then her time is
over. Now it's time for
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games and how many
of you like to play
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games? Yes, you
know even when your
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friends come over
there you play games
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with them right.
Well, it was game time.
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Now supper was
over, now game time is
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they gather
together, play games they
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played one game,
they played another game,
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they played another
game, but throughout
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this game you know
guess what happened
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to the orange it
kept oops, it kept falling
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down, and Flora was
sometimes oops could
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move over to the
corner and try to stuff
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things into her
pocket to block the orange
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in because it was embarrassing,
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she doesn't
want to get caught by
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momma. Now, game
time was over and
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you know usually
when the games are
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over it's. You
become sad because people
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are going home,
nothing to do now and that's
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exactly what
happened with Flora,
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friends went to
home, the brother and the
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rest of the siblings
went to sleep and only
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Flora and the
parents were still up.
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Flora then thought
to herself how could
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I have done such a
selfish and sinful thing.
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Poor Flora, she was
she had sinned against
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God and also to
her mother. And she had
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though this she sat
quietly for awhile and
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then she said okay,
I'm gonna go over to
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momma. She then
walked slowly over to momma,
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her heart started
beating a little fast,
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you know what she
is gonna do now right?
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What do you think
she is gonna do? What?
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Tell her mom what
she did. Tell the mom
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what she did
exactly, when she came over
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to momma, momma
looked over and said
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oh dear, you look so exhausted,
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you look tired, did
you just come to say
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goodnight to momma?
She then said, momma,
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I have been so
wicked and she cried and she
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knelt down and
held momma's part of the
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dress and put in her
face and cried and she
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reach into her
pocket, here you go momma,
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she handed the
orange over to mom.
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And you know what momma did?
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Momma then said
Flora, I'm not gonna punish
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you I've watched
what you've got through,
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I've watched
you've been so miserable,
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I watched you
pale, that was enough
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punishment
already. I forgive you.
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Well then momma
then said, well there is
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somebody else you need to ask
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forgiveness to, who
do you think that is?
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God, Jesus,
yes, momma then said,
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you need to ask
God for forgiveness.
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You see when we
do wrong at home not
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only are we doing
wrong to our parents
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but we are also
doing wrong to who,
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to God. Okay so there
is a little girl Flora
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knelt to her knees
and prayed dear Jesus,
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please forgive me
for taking the orange and
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please help me not to
fall into temptations.
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Amen, and that was her prayer.
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Just remember
guys when you do wrong,
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you don't feel
good and that's what the
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devil wants to
happen to you, okay.
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But when you
confess, when you ask for
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forgiveness to mommy and daddy,
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especially to God
you will be free and then
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you can get, then
you get to enjoy life
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once again, okay. So,
if you ever done wrong
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what do you do?
What do you do when
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you do wrong?
Tell your mom and dad
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what you did and pray to Jesus,
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okay good, good. Let
us pray together alright,
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anyone would like
to pray? Lets close.
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Okay, let's have
a prayer together.
00:10:04.79\00:10:06.76
Thank you for the
Lord, thank you for this day,
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amen, amen. God bless you all
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you can now to your seat.
00:10:15.88\00:10:17.49
About seven years
ago, in this church we
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decided to do a
mission trip. We wanted
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to go to the
Dominican Republic and build
00:11:08.26\00:11:12.04
a church
building for members that
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needed a place to
meet. And so, it was
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around 15 or 20 of
us that volunteered
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to go on the
trip. Jim Moret you were
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with us and Punk
you were with us I know.
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We went over to the
Dominican, we solicited
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the help of Luis
Leonor who was then
00:11:37.84\00:11:41.98
working with the
Lake Union. He coordinated
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the trip for us, we
met Luis in Santo Domingo
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from there we took
some buses to the city of
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Cotuí and then east
to a small little village
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just on the other
side of the city of Cotuí
00:12:02.96\00:12:05.76
and it was there
that the members of a
00:12:06.72\00:12:09.61
small little
congregation wanted us to build
00:12:10.10\00:12:13.41
a church. We stayed
right in that little
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village, we stayed
at the home of someone
00:12:17.69\00:12:21.60
who was willing to
just open up their home,
00:12:21.74\00:12:23.89
the ladies stayed
there in that home,
00:12:23.92\00:12:25.51
the men stayed in
the building which had
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been the place of
the church was meeting
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together, it was
a small building,
00:12:30.63\00:12:32.71
it had no
windows. The members had
00:12:32.74\00:12:35.98
brought together
some beds, so we had
00:12:36.09\00:12:37.73
a place to sleep and
the men slept together
00:12:37.76\00:12:39.76
in that building,
and everyday we would
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walk though town to
the site where we were
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going to build
this church building.
00:12:46.62\00:12:48.66
It was a small,
small piece of property and
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it was pretty rough,
took us quite a bit of
00:12:52.86\00:12:55.64
work to be able to
prepare the, the land
00:12:55.73\00:13:00.67
so that the church
could be built there.
00:13:00.70\00:13:02.71
But we did that,
we worked together and
00:13:03.74\00:13:06.13
as we went to work
everyday we began to
00:13:06.18\00:13:09.07
connect with the
people that lived there
00:13:09.10\00:13:10.45
in that little
village. Not just the church
00:13:10.48\00:13:12.50
members but all the
people along the way
00:13:12.53\00:13:15.21
in fact they took a
special fascination in
00:13:16.09\00:13:18.68
the project that we
were doing. And there
00:13:18.71\00:13:21.61
were very few if
any automobiles in that
00:13:21.74\00:13:24.36
little village but
there were motor scooters
00:13:24.46\00:13:26.14
and so as we were
on our way to the work
00:13:26.80\00:13:28.48
site they would give
us a ride on the back
00:13:28.61\00:13:30.25
on their motor
scooter. And we got to know
00:13:30.38\00:13:33.92
the people there
very well, they would
00:13:33.95\00:13:35.35
come and watch us
work and they volunteer
00:13:35.50\00:13:37.08
to work and
sometimes we didn't want
00:13:37.11\00:13:38.87
them to help us
out, but they would help
00:13:38.90\00:13:40.86
us anyway and we
were able to get a lot
00:13:40.94\00:13:44.84
accomplished. We
didn't finish that church
00:13:44.97\00:13:47.41
building but we were
able to put up the walls
00:13:47.44\00:13:49.29
and put up the
barn beam and hopefully
00:13:49.70\00:13:52.85
that church is in
use now and I know it is
00:13:52.88\00:13:55.46
because I remember
that it was finally
00:13:55.49\00:13:58.23
finished off. But
we had a very good week
00:13:58.26\00:14:01.39
there and I remember
the final night was a
00:14:01.42\00:14:04.77
Saturday night
before we left and we met
00:14:04.80\00:14:09.51
together, we invited
over some of the church
00:14:09.54\00:14:12.85
members to come
and just kind of have a
00:14:12.90\00:14:15.06
little farewell time
together. And not only
00:14:15.09\00:14:18.82
did the church
member show up but also
00:14:18.93\00:14:22.37
a good portion of
that community came out
00:14:22.65\00:14:24.79
that night and they
came over to the location
00:14:24.90\00:14:28.03
where we had been
staying and they were
00:14:28.12\00:14:30.88
just very excited
to see us and to talk
00:14:30.96\00:14:33.25
with us and even
though we had difficulty
00:14:33.28\00:14:36.31
talking back and
forth with our English and
00:14:36.87\00:14:38.79
their Spanish, they
were just so happy that
00:14:38.82\00:14:41.29
we had come.
And, I remember we had
00:14:41.34\00:14:44.66
a translator that
was going and I gave a
00:14:44.69\00:14:47.36
little speech, a
little thank you to the
00:14:47.40\00:14:49.14
community for all
that they had done and
00:14:49.20\00:14:50.73
we just wished
them the very best and
00:14:50.76\00:14:52.70
I got through and
I thought the evening
00:14:52.95\00:14:54.59
was over and no
they wanted hear a
00:14:54.63\00:14:56.79
speech from everyone,
each one of our group,
00:14:56.84\00:14:59.63
and we went on into
the night and shared
00:15:00.27\00:15:03.17
with them and talked with them,
00:15:03.20\00:15:04.65
and just had a
great experience together.
00:15:05.01\00:15:07.20
It was a very
bonding experience with that
00:15:08.43\00:15:11.05
community. And I
though about the Apostle
00:15:11.13\00:15:14.40
Paul and how Paul as
he began his ministry
00:15:14.47\00:15:18.36
called to be an
Apostle to the Gentile how
00:15:19.02\00:15:21.33
Paul must have
known that he had to be
00:15:21.37\00:15:23.51
all things to all
people. Although, Paul had
00:15:23.54\00:15:29.77
grown up in a
Gentile environment,
00:15:29.85\00:15:32.69
when God called
him now to be the
00:15:33.45\00:15:36.06
apostle to the
gentiles, the one that would
00:15:36.14\00:15:37.87
go out and preach
the gospel in many
00:15:37.90\00:15:40.16
different places he
realized that now he
00:15:40.26\00:15:43.07
would be going
into many communities,
00:15:43.10\00:15:44.66
many different
cultures and he would have
00:15:44.69\00:15:46.82
to learn how to
connect with the peoples
00:15:46.88\00:15:49.51
that were there so that he could
00:15:49.54\00:15:50.94
communicate the
gospel, the story of
00:15:51.08\00:15:53.86
Jesus Christ. That
takes quite a gift to do
00:15:53.91\00:15:58.23
that, doesn't it.
Evangelist Rick, but God
00:15:58.30\00:16:03.29
had called him for
that purpose, God had
00:16:03.32\00:16:05.78
called him to connect
with people all around
00:16:05.83\00:16:11.06
and to share the
Gospel story. One of
00:16:11.30\00:16:14.38
maybe the most
difficult experiences that
00:16:14.41\00:16:17.18
Paul ran into was
when he visited the city
00:16:17.23\00:16:20.70
of Athens. Athens
is the, and the time
00:16:20.78\00:16:24.29
of Paul, it's the
great cultural center of
00:16:24.32\00:16:26.53
the world, the
center of power of course
00:16:26.56\00:16:28.91
is Rome, under the Roman Empire,
00:16:28.94\00:16:31.18
but the center of
culture is Athens.
00:16:31.42\00:16:34.51
All the philosophers
of the age lived there
00:16:35.45\00:16:39.25
in Athens, all the
people with refined
00:16:39.28\00:16:42.80
knowledge and taste
they are the ones that
00:16:43.76\00:16:46.62
lived in Athens.
Paul now comes to speak
00:16:46.73\00:16:52.87
to this community,
actually God has given
00:16:53.00\00:16:55.81
him a call on his
second missionary journey
00:16:55.85\00:16:58.73
to come over to
Macedonia. So he travels
00:16:58.92\00:17:02.01
across the Aegean
sea, begins his work
00:17:02.04\00:17:05.46
and Macedonia,
stops in several different
00:17:05.49\00:17:08.40
locations along
the way and every place
00:17:08.54\00:17:10.90
where Paul
speaks there is trouble,
00:17:10.93\00:17:12.85
there is opposition
to the work that he's
00:17:13.47\00:17:15.00
doing, and so he
has to continue to move
00:17:15.05\00:17:17.98
on and on and finally
in the last place that
00:17:18.01\00:17:21.34
we read about in
Beria, there is opposition
00:17:21.37\00:17:23.72
again that takes
place and he has to leave
00:17:23.83\00:17:25.81
behind Silas and
Timothy. So that he can
00:17:25.84\00:17:29.78
be protected from
whatever violence may
00:17:31.24\00:17:33.98
erupt. He goes on
to Athens, he's waiting
00:17:34.06\00:17:37.52
for them to come and
this is where we pick
00:17:37.58\00:17:40.05
up the story in
Acts chapter 17 and verse
00:17:40.08\00:17:43.64
16 if you have your
Bibles this morning I
00:17:43.67\00:17:45.41
invite you to
open them up to Acts
00:17:45.44\00:17:47.77
chapter 17 verse
16, Paul is alone,
00:17:47.84\00:17:52.51
he is here in this
cosmopolitan city of
00:17:52.90\00:17:57.23
culture, Athens,
Grease. How is he going
00:17:57.41\00:18:02.07
to be all things
to all people here?
00:18:02.20\00:18:04.54
How is he going
to connect with the
00:18:04.58\00:18:06.06
people of Athens
and share the message
00:18:06.09\00:18:09.66
of the gospel? Acts
chapter 17 verse 16,
00:18:09.69\00:18:14.05
Now while Paul
waited for them at Athens,
00:18:15.69\00:18:18.57
his spirit was
provoked within him when
00:18:19.37\00:18:23.11
he saw that the city
was given over to idols,
00:18:23.20\00:18:27.79
there were idols
everywhere, there were
00:18:28.44\00:18:31.27
Roman idols,
there were Greek idols,
00:18:31.35\00:18:34.10
there were idols
that went back to all
00:18:35.50\00:18:36.77
sorts of, the many
forms of Pagan worship,
00:18:36.92\00:18:39.98
there were idols that
were all over the city
00:18:40.43\00:18:43.35
and it brought a
conviction to the heart
00:18:45.10\00:18:46.75
of Paul that he
must speak out, that he
00:18:46.78\00:18:50.35
must introduce
the men and women of
00:18:50.39\00:18:52.38
Athens to the true
God, the one and only
00:18:52.43\00:18:56.45
true God. Verse 17
therefore he reasoned
00:18:56.48\00:19:00.49
in the synagogue
with the Jews, and with
00:19:00.53\00:19:03.01
the gentile worshipers,
and in the marketplace
00:19:03.04\00:19:06.11
daily with those who
happened to be there,
00:19:06.14\00:19:08.65
then certain epicurean and stoic
00:19:10.02\00:19:11.96
philosophers
encountered him and some
00:19:11.99\00:19:14.77
said what does this
babbler want to say?
00:19:14.88\00:19:18.06
These are men
that are probably well
00:19:20.01\00:19:21.96
trained in
communication and in philosophy
00:19:22.03\00:19:26.83
and they look at
Paul and they say,
00:19:28.35\00:19:30.00
what is this man babbling about?
00:19:30.12\00:19:32.36
Others said he
seems to be a proclaimer
00:19:34.88\00:19:36.71
of foreign Gods,
because he preach to
00:19:36.74\00:19:38.79
them Jesus and the resurrection.
00:19:38.82\00:19:41.38
And they took him
and brought him to
00:19:42.91\00:19:45.01
the Areopagus.
Now, the Areopagus
00:19:45.13\00:19:49.34
was a place but it
was also a group of
00:19:49.44\00:19:51.33
men, it was a
place on Mars Hill where
00:19:51.38\00:19:56.48
people had came
together to talk, debate,
00:19:56.80\00:20:01.44
philosophize, it
had been a place where
00:20:01.80\00:20:04.18
actual trials had
been held. The meaning
00:20:04.41\00:20:08.42
of the word
Areopagus is actually a rocky
00:20:08.45\00:20:10.96
hill, it was on
that rocky hill that Paul
00:20:11.08\00:20:13.97
was brought before
this group, the council
00:20:14.02\00:20:16.98
if you will of
Athens. Now think about this,
00:20:17.01\00:20:20.78
Paul had an
opportunity here to preach
00:20:20.85\00:20:26.06
the gospel, to share
the story of Jesus as
00:20:26.15\00:20:29.94
probably as
publicly as could be as could
00:20:30.47\00:20:33.79
be wanted for him.
This is what he was
00:20:33.82\00:20:36.07
looking for, the
opportunity to share the
00:20:36.13\00:20:38.71
gospel now in front
of all the well known men
00:20:38.74\00:20:43.14
of Athens. He has
the opportunity to tell
00:20:43.17\00:20:46.46
the story about
Jesus. They took him,
00:20:46.49\00:20:50.01
they brought him to
the Areopagus saying,
00:20:50.11\00:20:52.62
may we know what
this new doctrine is
00:20:52.73\00:20:55.41
of which you speak?
For you are bringing
00:20:56.05\00:20:58.95
some strange things to our ears,
00:20:58.98\00:21:01.49
therefore we want to
know what these things
00:21:02.13\00:21:04.10
mean, for all
the Athenians and the
00:21:04.14\00:21:06.60
foreigners who were
there spent their time
00:21:06.63\00:21:09.48
in nothing else,
but either to tell or to
00:21:09.75\00:21:12.30
hear some new
thing. They wanted to
00:21:12.33\00:21:15.98
hear whether they
believed it, whether they
00:21:16.04\00:21:18.00
followed it or not,
not important, they just
00:21:18.03\00:21:19.89
wanted to hear it,
what was it that Paul
00:21:19.92\00:21:23.02
was saying? What
was it that he wanted
00:21:23.05\00:21:24.41
to share, verse 22,
then Paul stood in the
00:21:24.44\00:21:29.34
midst of the
Areopagus, and said, "men
00:21:29.37\00:21:32.19
of Athens, I
perceive that in all things
00:21:32.22\00:21:36.29
you're very
religious, for as I was passing
00:21:36.95\00:21:40.58
through and
considering the objects of your
00:21:40.61\00:21:42.93
worship, I even
found an altar with this
00:21:42.99\00:21:46.42
inscription: To the unknown God.
00:21:46.47\00:21:49.50
Therefore, the
one whom you worship
00:21:50.97\00:21:54.07
without knowing
him I proclaim to you".
00:21:54.21\00:21:57.88
So you worship
the unknown God well I
00:21:59.37\00:22:00.96
want to tell you
about the unknown God.
00:22:00.99\00:22:03.00
I want to tell
you who he really is.
00:22:04.62\00:22:06.28
People of Athens
had a lot of Gods.
00:22:08.02\00:22:10.81
Politically
correct, wanted to make sure
00:22:12.10\00:22:14.83
that every God
got mentioned, you can
00:22:14.87\00:22:17.76
worship any God
that you wanted to,
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.30
that you wanted to
worship, didn't matter
00:22:19.81\00:22:21.42
which ever was
fine. In fact somebody
00:22:21.78\00:22:24.44
wanted to be so
politically correct and
00:22:24.51\00:22:26.76
wanted to make
sure that no God was
00:22:26.84\00:22:28.86
missed out on
and so they put up a
00:22:28.89\00:22:31.41
monument of some
kind to the unknown God.
00:22:31.44\00:22:34.46
Now let me
suggest this morning that
00:22:37.32\00:22:38.52
having an unknown
God is rather convenient,
00:22:38.58\00:22:42.18
it's rather
convenient for a sinful heart.
00:22:43.93\00:22:46.53
What kind of
characteristics would an
00:22:49.06\00:22:51.21
unknown God have?
Oh! An unknown God
00:22:51.25\00:22:56.96
would not be
very personal right,
00:22:57.78\00:22:59.35
would not be a
God that knew you,
00:23:00.97\00:23:03.24
if you don't
know Him then he must
00:23:03.44\00:23:06.52
be pretty impersonal,
he must be like the clock
00:23:06.55\00:23:10.36
maker God, the
one that just kind of
00:23:10.39\00:23:12.05
puts the parts
together and set it
00:23:12.20\00:23:13.69
in motion but really
has nothing to do beyond
00:23:13.72\00:23:17.98
that. This the
kind of God that the
00:23:18.02\00:23:21.64
Athenians are worshiping the,
00:23:21.69\00:23:23.71
the God that is
unknown, we don't know
00:23:24.69\00:23:27.19
who God is. He is
out there, there is
00:23:27.22\00:23:31.50
a divine power
that's out there some place
00:23:31.70\00:23:34.02
but we really don't
know much about him,
00:23:34.13\00:23:36.90
so we really
can't say much about who
00:23:36.95\00:23:39.63
he is what he is
like. And of course if God
00:23:39.66\00:23:44.67
is an impersonal
God, then he cannot
00:23:44.70\00:23:48.82
make many
demands upon your life,
00:23:48.92\00:23:52.43
if you don't know
God, if you don't know
00:23:53.25\00:23:55.27
what he's about
you don't know what
00:23:55.30\00:23:57.35
his character is
like, then he is not gonna
00:23:57.38\00:23:59.78
make any
demands upon your lives.
00:23:59.81\00:24:02.20
You can do as you
please and you can
00:24:03.18\00:24:05.63
have the approval
of God, because you
00:24:05.73\00:24:09.05
don't really know
what God wants and
00:24:09.23\00:24:10.69
what God approves
of. So everything's fine,
00:24:10.76\00:24:15.59
that is the unknown
God. I'd like to suggest
00:24:16.98\00:24:20.07
this morning that a
little of people like to
00:24:20.19\00:24:21.94
serve the unknown
God. They like to serve
00:24:21.97\00:24:25.58
the God that is
unknown, that is impersonal,
00:24:25.64\00:24:27.60
that is way out there
some place, that makes
00:24:27.63\00:24:29.73
no demands upon their
life, so they can live
00:24:29.76\00:24:33.94
anyway that they want
to. Not a personal God,
00:24:33.97\00:24:38.97
not a God that takes
specific interest in you,
00:24:40.38\00:24:42.93
amen. Boy, the
unknown God so different than
00:24:44.04\00:24:48.87
the Jehovah God that
is talked about in the
00:24:48.91\00:24:51.09
Old Testament
right? The Jehovah God that
00:24:51.12\00:24:55.86
was the God of
Israel, was a very personal
00:24:55.89\00:24:58.33
God. In your face
God, not in a bad way,
00:24:58.41\00:25:02.46
but close up that's
right. God calls Abraham,
00:25:02.98\00:25:09.42
he calls him, Abram,
he's Abram first calls
00:25:10.82\00:25:12.69
Abram, go from
your land, I want you to
00:25:12.77\00:25:15.87
move to a different
location He tells him
00:25:15.90\00:25:18.44
where to go, that's
a pretty personal God,
00:25:18.58\00:25:21.13
when He tells you
where to move right?
00:25:21.50\00:25:23.14
Amen. God changes
His name, He says we're
00:25:24.07\00:25:27.41
not gonna call you
Abram anymore we're
00:25:27.50\00:25:29.30
gonna call you
Abraham. Man, if a God
00:25:29.35\00:25:33.40
changes your name
that's pretty personal
00:25:33.46\00:25:36.33
too, usually just
your parents think over
00:25:36.36\00:25:38.26
that right. And not
only that, one day God
00:25:38.31\00:25:43.48
shows up for lunch,
you remember that story
00:25:43.51\00:25:46.64
Abraham, sitting out
in front of his tent,
00:25:47.31\00:25:48.88
suddenly coming down the road,
00:25:49.91\00:25:51.45
there is God, a
couple of angels with Him
00:25:51.53\00:25:53.53
want to stop in for
lunch. Abram, what you
00:25:54.28\00:25:56.59
got for lunch
today. Hey, that's a pretty
00:25:56.62\00:25:59.56
personal God I
think. Story of Jacob,
00:25:59.65\00:26:04.43
Jacob is coming back
to the land of Israel
00:26:05.90\00:26:07.32
again and he is so
worried about what his
00:26:07.35\00:26:08.57
brother's gonna do
and in the middle of the
00:26:08.61\00:26:10.65
night guess what he
ends up wrestling with
00:26:10.68\00:26:15.43
God the Bible says.
Boy, the God of Israel
00:26:15.51\00:26:21.49
is a personal God;
the God of Israel is one
00:26:21.52\00:26:25.45
that knows you,
that cares about you,
00:26:25.48\00:26:28.30
that is concerned
about you and certainly
00:26:29.04\00:26:31.18
one that makes
demands upon your life.
00:26:31.44\00:26:33.26
Aren't those that
know you and love you,
00:26:35.75\00:26:37.42
ones that are
going to make some,
00:26:38.20\00:26:40.53
have some
expectations for you life,
00:26:41.70\00:26:43.76
like mom, did
you brush your teeth?
00:26:44.60\00:26:47.88
Did you change
your underwear this
00:26:49.41\00:26:50.82
morning? Take a
sweater before you go
00:26:50.85\00:26:55.20
to school and when
you get out there look
00:26:55.23\00:26:57.42
both ways before
you cross the street.
00:26:57.46\00:26:59.88
There is someone who loves you,
00:27:01.52\00:27:02.85
there is someone who
has expectations for you,
00:27:03.79\00:27:06.45
someone who is very personal,
00:27:08.45\00:27:10.01
who can be more
personal than mom,
00:27:10.36\00:27:12.07
that is the God of
Israel, that is not an
00:27:14.75\00:27:17.92
unknown God. Now
people of Athens,
00:27:17.95\00:27:22.35
the Athenians
worship an unknown God,
00:27:22.41\00:27:26.32
I believe a lot of
people today still want to
00:27:26.68\00:27:28.41
worship the unknown
God, they want to worship
00:27:28.60\00:27:31.88
a God that doesn't
make any demands upon
00:27:31.91\00:27:34.97
them. So yeah there
are a force out there
00:27:35.00\00:27:36.85
somewhere, some
place, but we really don't
00:27:36.88\00:27:41.17
know anything
about God so you know we
00:27:41.20\00:27:43.84
can't come to any
conclusions about what is
00:27:44.17\00:27:45.63
right and wrong.
Folks, I believe evolution has
00:27:45.66\00:27:49.85
helped teach us that
God put it all into the
00:27:49.91\00:27:53.88
work somewhere,
not the God that leaned
00:27:53.91\00:27:58.02
over man, formed
him from the dust of the
00:27:58.05\00:28:00.53
ground, breathed into
his nostrils the breath
00:28:00.61\00:28:02.97
of life. Now
somehow just like push the
00:28:03.00\00:28:07.75
button up in heaven
some place and or if
00:28:07.88\00:28:10.13
some chemical
reaction happened down here
00:28:10.23\00:28:12.02
on earth, and
life was formed in some
00:28:12.05\00:28:14.67
primeval pond and
it all got started.
00:28:14.72\00:28:18.80
Bible consistently
tells us that God is a
00:28:22.64\00:28:26.39
personal God, He
knows us individually,
00:28:26.42\00:28:29.72
He knows everything
about us, He made us,
00:28:29.88\00:28:32.98
He is our creator
and that is exactly the
00:28:33.10\00:28:37.04
argument that the
Apostle Paul used when
00:28:37.64\00:28:40.62
he was in Athens,
when he was dealing with
00:28:40.65\00:28:44.83
this group of wise
philosophers, he said
00:28:44.86\00:28:48.87
wait a minute I
want to tell you, you
00:28:48.95\00:28:50.78
worship the
unknown God I want to tell
00:28:50.81\00:28:52.94
you who that God is.
Verse 24 he said God,
00:28:53.03\00:29:00.35
who made the world
and everything in it
00:29:00.44\00:29:03.08
since he is Lord
of heaven and earth,
00:29:03.71\00:29:05.49
does not dwell in
temples made with hands,
00:29:05.52\00:29:08.93
nor is he
worshiped with men's hands,
00:29:09.96\00:29:12.66
as though he
needed anything, since he
00:29:12.69\00:29:14.66
gives to all life,
breath, and all things.
00:29:14.70\00:29:19.09
And he has made
from one blood every
00:29:20.12\00:29:22.18
nation of men to
dwell on all the face of the
00:29:22.26\00:29:24.40
earth, and has
determined their pre-appointed
00:29:24.43\00:29:27.26
times, and the
boundaries of their habitation.
00:29:27.29\00:29:29.92
See what Paul is
saying here not only did
00:29:30.67\00:29:32.56
God create man from
the dust of the earth,
00:29:32.59\00:29:34.91
not only did he make
each of us individually
00:29:36.19\00:29:39.71
but he is working
in our lives, he is
00:29:40.19\00:29:43.17
determining where
we're gonna go and
00:29:43.23\00:29:44.98
what we're going to
do. God is involved in
00:29:45.08\00:29:47.52
your life. God is a
personal God. Verse 27,
00:29:47.61\00:29:54.80
so that they
should seek the Lord,
00:29:54.87\00:29:56.43
in the hope that
they might grope for Him
00:29:57.39\00:29:59.42
and find Him,
though He is not far from
00:29:59.54\00:30:01.69
each one of us;
"For in him we live and
00:30:01.78\00:30:05.97
move and have our
being." as also some
00:30:06.00\00:30:09.27
of our own poets,
your own poets said,
00:30:09.30\00:30:12.04
for we are also his
offspring, we are his
00:30:12.54\00:30:16.20
children. We're sons
and daughters of God.
00:30:16.23\00:30:19.83
You may not know it,
you may not recognize it,
00:30:20.49\00:30:22.83
but you're a son
and daughter of God.
00:30:23.03\00:30:25.22
God made you, he
knows everything about you,
00:30:25.57\00:30:28.27
He knows your
thoughts, He knows your desires,
00:30:29.22\00:30:32.76
he knows your
wants, he knows your needs,
00:30:33.35\00:30:35.80
he is a God that cares
about you. There is always
00:30:36.82\00:30:39.85
a temptation to
think that God is out there
00:30:39.88\00:30:41.71
some place He
really doesn't know me,
00:30:41.74\00:30:43.85
He really doesn't
care about my life why
00:30:43.88\00:30:46.49
doesn't He give me
the things that I want
00:30:46.54\00:30:48.05
you know when I
ask something in prayer
00:30:48.10\00:30:50.11
why doesn't He
give me exactly what
00:30:50.14\00:30:51.73
I want? There is a
temptation that's always
00:30:51.76\00:30:54.80
out there to think
that God doesn't know me,
00:30:54.85\00:30:56.93
he doesn't really
care for me and the Bible
00:30:57.14\00:30:59.41
says that God does
know us individually and
00:30:59.44\00:31:03.56
He is active in our
lives. God is a personal
00:31:03.59\00:31:08.39
God, and this is
the message that Paul is
00:31:08.49\00:31:10.81
preaching to the
Athenians. And because
00:31:10.88\00:31:15.32
He is a personal
God, because He knows
00:31:15.35\00:31:18.01
us so well, because
He loves us so much,
00:31:18.09\00:31:20.67
He has demands
that he is going to make
00:31:20.97\00:31:23.26
in our lives. His
expectations of what he
00:31:23.76\00:31:27.71
wants to see
happen to us. Verse 29
00:31:27.79\00:31:32.34
"Therefore since we
are the offspring of God,
00:31:32.42\00:31:35.05
we are not to think
that the divine nature
00:31:36.46\00:31:38.61
is like gold or
silver or stone, something
00:31:38.71\00:31:41.99
shaped by art
and man's devising,
00:31:42.08\00:31:45.05
we loose our
picture of how big and great
00:31:45.98\00:31:48.78
God is when we make
an idol. Truly, these
00:31:48.88\00:31:54.03
times of
ignorance God overlooked,
00:31:54.14\00:31:57.07
but now commands
all men everywhere to
00:31:57.64\00:32:01.10
what? To repent,
it's time to repent now.
00:32:01.15\00:32:04.18
Because he has
appointed a day on which
00:32:07.33\00:32:09.31
He will judge the
world in righteousness,
00:32:09.34\00:32:11.94
by the man whom He has ordained;
00:32:11.97\00:32:15.15
there's gonna be a
judgment, there is gonna
00:32:16.21\00:32:18.96
be an accounting for
everything you've done
00:32:18.99\00:32:20.61
in this life,
because God has expectations
00:32:20.64\00:32:24.99
of you lives. So if
you are a sinner and
00:32:25.02\00:32:28.67
all of us are, then
it's time to repent.
00:32:28.72\00:32:31.39
Make your life
right with God, God who
00:32:32.64\00:32:36.06
loves you, how
knows everything about you
00:32:36.23\00:32:38.50
who knows
everything that you've done
00:32:38.53\00:32:40.19
wrong since now,
repent because the day
00:32:40.36\00:32:43.21
of judgment is
coming. That's the argument
00:32:43.65\00:32:46.23
that Paul uses to this
very sophisticated group
00:32:47.26\00:32:52.79
of Athenians who
are trying to worship an
00:32:53.43\00:32:55.63
unknown God. Guess what folks?
00:32:55.66\00:32:59.66
That is a message
that is going to the world
00:33:00.79\00:33:03.39
before Jesus comes
again, this message
00:33:04.04\00:33:05.66
right here in Act 17,
God is the creator and
00:33:05.82\00:33:10.35
a day of judgment
is coming. Revelation
00:33:10.38\00:33:13.94
chapter 14, you
know I was going there
00:33:14.04\00:33:16.07
didn't you.
Revelation 14, verses six and
00:33:16.12\00:33:19.96
seven, tell me
this, how many angels are
00:33:20.24\00:33:22.65
in Revelation
chapter 14? How many angels,
00:33:22.68\00:33:26.36
no? How many
angels, six angels, you need
00:33:27.91\00:33:31.43
to know that. The
three angels, the last
00:33:31.49\00:33:35.18
three angels are
involved in the harvest of the
00:33:35.31\00:33:37.22
world right. And
that's when Jesus returns,
00:33:37.34\00:33:41.24
but those first three
angels in Revelation 14
00:33:41.75\00:33:44.66
are taking a
message to the world before
00:33:44.69\00:33:47.03
Jesus comes again.
Revelation chapter 14
00:33:47.14\00:33:50.49
verses six and
seven Then I saw another
00:33:50.80\00:33:53.02
angel flying in the
midst of heaven, having
00:33:53.16\00:33:55.03
the everlasting
gospel to preach to those who
00:33:55.06\00:33:57.56
dwell on the earth
to every nation, tribe,
00:33:57.59\00:33:59.65
tongue and people
to everyone, all things
00:33:59.92\00:34:03.95
to all people
that's what God's called us
00:34:04.05\00:34:06.21
for in the last
days right, saying with a
00:34:06.32\00:34:10.16
loud voice, here's
the message, fear God and
00:34:10.19\00:34:13.48
give glory to him
why for the hour of his
00:34:13.51\00:34:16.31
judgment has come.
There is a judgment,
00:34:16.35\00:34:19.82
there is an
accountability because
00:34:20.57\00:34:22.52
God has
expectations of your life,
00:34:22.55\00:34:24.68
and also worship
him who made heaven
00:34:27.11\00:34:31.11
and earth the sea
and the springs of water,
00:34:31.63\00:34:35.71
because God is
the creator. He made
00:34:35.99\00:34:38.41
everything and He
made you, and God is
00:34:38.44\00:34:42.52
a personal God and
he knows you and He
00:34:42.60\00:34:44.50
loves you.
Therefore He wants you to
00:34:44.60\00:34:47.30
repent, before that
final time of judgment
00:34:47.36\00:34:51.50
ends and it is too
late that is a message that
00:34:51.62\00:34:55.42
goes to the world
and folks our world is
00:34:55.59\00:34:58.29
even more
sophisticated today than Athens,
00:34:58.32\00:35:01.45
Greece was back in
Paul's time. Much more
00:35:01.48\00:35:04.48
sophisticated and
there are many people
00:35:04.51\00:35:05.89
have decided that
they don't need a God,
00:35:05.92\00:35:07.81
they certainly
don't need a personal God,
00:35:08.42\00:35:10.44
if there is some
kind of power out there
00:35:10.51\00:35:12.09
somehow that's
fine, okay but don't
00:35:12.12\00:35:14.05
expect that God to
make any expectations
00:35:14.08\00:35:16.49
upon me or any
requirements upon me.
00:35:16.52\00:35:19.12
Folks that is not
what Bible teaches,
00:35:19.25\00:35:21.69
the message they
need to hear is that there
00:35:21.98\00:35:24.23
is a God that
knows you, that loves He
00:35:24.30\00:35:26.27
is a personal God,
He wants to work in your
00:35:26.30\00:35:28.45
life and He wants
you to repent and turn
00:35:28.51\00:35:32.35
to him before
Jesus comes back to this
00:35:32.38\00:35:35.20
world again, amen.
That is what we are
00:35:35.23\00:35:37.44
called to preach to
this sophisticated world
00:35:37.51\00:35:40.81
today. In Paul's
situation unfortunately
00:35:40.89\00:35:48.02
there were not
many that responded.
00:35:48.19\00:35:49.81
Acts chapter 17
verse 32, the end of
00:35:52.22\00:35:56.83
the story here,
and when they heard of
00:35:56.88\00:36:00.18
the resurrection of
the dead, because Paul
00:36:00.21\00:36:02.19
was talking about
Jesus who's raised back
00:36:02.22\00:36:04.57
to life again.
When they heard of
00:36:04.80\00:36:07.19
the resurrection of
the dead, some mocked;
00:36:07.22\00:36:09.51
while others said,
we will hear you again
00:36:09.92\00:36:13.85
on this matter. At
a later time you can
00:36:14.28\00:36:17.24
come back and tell
us again we will put it
00:36:17.27\00:36:19.54
off for now. The
same thing that Felix told
00:36:19.57\00:36:23.18
Paul at another
date at a better time,
00:36:23.31\00:36:28.32
come back and I'll
hear you again, I'm too
00:36:29.10\00:36:31.62
busy right now. And
opportunities are missed,
00:36:31.71\00:36:37.73
opportunities for
salvation, because people
00:36:39.36\00:36:43.43
are not listening
to the voice of their
00:36:43.74\00:36:46.09
conscious, the Holy
Spirit speaking, convicting
00:36:46.18\00:36:49.36
their hearts that
they need to respond to
00:36:49.48\00:36:52.34
the gracious
mercies of God and be
00:36:52.37\00:36:55.96
forgiven of their
sins. However there is
00:36:56.09\00:37:01.09
some good news
verse 33, so Paul departed
00:37:01.12\00:37:03.36
from among them,
however some men joined
00:37:03.48\00:37:06.70
him and believed,
among then Dionysius
00:37:06.73\00:37:10.52
the Areopagite, a
woman named Damaris,
00:37:12.85\00:37:15.96
and others with
them. There were a few
00:37:15.99\00:37:18.32
that listened even
in Athens, even in this
00:37:18.79\00:37:21.77
sophisticated center
of culture there were a
00:37:21.86\00:37:24.97
few that listened
and responded and folks
00:37:25.03\00:37:28.48
there are still a few
that will always listen,
00:37:28.76\00:37:31.46
there are some that
are open and ready to
00:37:32.26\00:37:34.66
respond to the
spirit of God that's why we
00:37:34.76\00:37:37.01
have to keep telling
the gospel, that's why
00:37:37.04\00:37:39.34
we have to keep
preaching the message,
00:37:39.37\00:37:41.14
because there will
be a few that will hear
00:37:41.81\00:37:44.40
and respond and don't
get discouraged if it's
00:37:44.59\00:37:48.67
not in huge numbers,
because it wasn't that
00:37:48.75\00:37:53.22
way always in
Paul's time either.
00:37:53.25\00:37:55.25
But God used him
and there were a few
00:37:56.85\00:37:58.89
that responded. And according to
00:37:58.95\00:38:02.11
church history
Dionysius became the elder
00:38:02.14\00:38:05.64
of that church in
Athens, amen. And there's
00:38:06.34\00:38:08.90
been a Christian
Church in Athens ever since
00:38:08.97\00:38:12.94
that time, there were a
few that responded to him.
00:38:12.97\00:38:18.22
When I was a
young boy, growing up
00:38:20.35\00:38:22.77
in rural Texas our
electricity was provided
00:38:22.80\00:38:28.25
through a group that
through a co-op group.
00:38:29.28\00:38:32.55
That wanted to
promote the usage of
00:38:33.81\00:38:36.28
electricity, can you
imagine that, we talk
00:38:36.41\00:38:38.51
about too much use of
all sorts of things that
00:38:38.54\00:38:45.54
are out there
today, that all sorts of
00:38:45.57\00:38:47.73
resources that are
available, but back at
00:38:47.79\00:38:50.41
that time they
wanted to promote the usage
00:38:50.44\00:38:52.71
of electricity and
so now and then our
00:38:52.74\00:38:55.76
co-op in the area
would have special
00:38:55.79\00:38:58.05
meetings and they
would invite people to
00:38:58.08\00:39:00.01
come and they would
giveaway free things
00:39:00.08\00:39:01.73
like toasters and
special gifts to the children
00:39:01.76\00:39:04.86
and one time they
had a silver dollar,
00:39:05.14\00:39:07.94
back when there
were silver dollar,
00:39:08.59\00:39:10.06
they gave a silver
dollar out to each child
00:39:10.75\00:39:13.47
that came up and
I came up and I got
00:39:13.55\00:39:16.33
my silver dollar
and I was so proud of
00:39:16.42\00:39:19.56
that silver dollar.
And a couple of weeks
00:39:19.67\00:39:22.43
later we were gonna go visit my
00:39:22.46\00:39:24.72
grandparents in
Oklahoma and I was so
00:39:24.77\00:39:27.60
excited about that
because I could show
00:39:27.67\00:39:30.11
my grandparents
that new shiny silver
00:39:30.46\00:39:33.70
dollar that I had. And
I laid it carefully right
00:39:33.97\00:39:38.09
there on my chest of
drawers in my bedroom
00:39:38.20\00:39:41.02
and it laid there
and it laid there,
00:39:41.93\00:39:45.22
and the day came,
the night that we packed
00:39:46.75\00:39:50.09
to go the next to
see my grandparents.
00:39:50.71\00:39:53.57
And that night as I
was packing my clothes,
00:39:54.75\00:39:57.27
I came up and I
looked on my chest of drawers
00:39:57.50\00:40:00.50
and my silver dollar
was not there, I don't
00:40:00.95\00:40:04.80
know where it went,
I don't remember moving
00:40:04.88\00:40:07.69
it, but you know my
wife thinks I forget
00:40:07.72\00:40:10.39
things for all the
time and she's probably
00:40:10.46\00:40:12.58
right, but I don't
remember moving it,
00:40:12.69\00:40:15.58
but it wasn't
there. Now, I'm only a boy
00:40:16.64\00:40:21.57
of about seven
or eight years old,
00:40:21.62\00:40:23.44
I don't know what
to do, I start looking
00:40:25.99\00:40:28.60
through my bedroom, I
look everywhere through
00:40:28.69\00:40:30.29
that bedroom I
looked under sheets,
00:40:30.32\00:40:32.47
under pillows,
under the bed, past the
00:40:32.53\00:40:35.64
dust bunnies you
know, I look all around,
00:40:35.67\00:40:38.42
I look through the
closet, I look through the
00:40:38.45\00:40:40.00
chest of drawers, I
cannot find it anywhere,
00:40:40.56\00:40:43.88
I'm very upset, but I
decided to pray, amen.
00:40:44.13\00:40:49.15
I get down on my
knees by the side of my bed
00:40:49.89\00:40:51.76
and I began to
pray and I said, Lord,
00:40:51.79\00:40:53.40
and this is probably
a pretty selfish prayer
00:40:54.37\00:40:55.86
but I prayed it
anyway Lord I want that
00:40:55.89\00:40:57.84
silver dollar, I
want to show grandma and
00:40:57.89\00:41:00.64
grandpa that silver
dollar, help me find that
00:41:00.76\00:41:03.51
silver dollar, and I
get up and I look around
00:41:03.68\00:41:06.58
and I can't find it
anywhere and I look and
00:41:06.63\00:41:08.77
I look and I look and
I go through the house
00:41:08.80\00:41:10.16
now and I'm looking
through the whole house
00:41:10.21\00:41:12.17
and I can't find it
now I go back and I pray
00:41:12.20\00:41:14.40
Lord help me find the
silver dollar and I do
00:41:14.51\00:41:17.22
this quite a few
times back and forth and I'm
00:41:17.25\00:41:19.37
praying and praying
and finally I can't find it
00:41:19.42\00:41:22.37
and I'm mad, I'm mad
at God and I'm mad at
00:41:22.53\00:41:24.71
whoever took my
silver dollar and I am just
00:41:24.80\00:41:27.22
upset, I was gonna
go to bed I don't care
00:41:27.25\00:41:29.63
anymore and I
come stomping into the
00:41:29.66\00:41:31.73
bedroom and I looked
at my chest of drawers
00:41:31.78\00:41:34.12
and right out in
the open it's there,
00:41:34.34\00:41:37.52
it's laid on top of
my chest of drawers,
00:41:38.98\00:41:41.02
and I know I couldn't
have missed it before.
00:41:43.52\00:41:45.45
I know something
special happened and I
00:41:48.67\00:41:51.91
don't know what kind
of means that God used
00:41:51.94\00:41:54.14
to get it there, but
for some reason it's there,
00:41:54.17\00:41:57.03
amen. And I know God
answered that prayer,
00:41:57.64\00:42:03.01
and suddenly I
was filled with this
00:42:07.55\00:42:09.98
overwhelming sense
that God is a personal
00:42:10.62\00:42:14.99
God, that he even
listens to silly selfish little
00:42:15.20\00:42:21.84
seven or eight year
old boys as they're praying
00:42:21.94\00:42:25.72
about their silver
dollar, suddenly I know that
00:42:25.77\00:42:30.42
there is a personal
God that cares for me
00:42:30.50\00:42:34.63
and if there is a
personal God I know that that
00:42:35.51\00:42:37.93
God has expectations
in my life. Folks, that
00:42:38.03\00:42:43.46
is a message
people need to hear today.
00:42:43.49\00:42:45.90
There are so many
trying to live their lives
00:42:47.82\00:42:49.26
without God. There are
so many individuals that
00:42:49.35\00:42:53.90
have no sense that
God cares for them,
00:42:53.93\00:42:56.36
that God is a
personal God, that He is there
00:42:56.86\00:42:59.35
for them, that He will
respond to their needs.
00:42:59.39\00:43:02.73
That is a
message that Paul gave,
00:43:03.76\00:43:05.55
that is a message
that we are called to give
00:43:05.69\00:43:08.65
to the world, by the
grace of God may we be
00:43:08.81\00:43:14.76
faithful in telling
the world it is not an
00:43:14.93\00:43:18.33
unknown God.
There's a God out there that
00:43:18.36\00:43:22.23
knows us and loves us and wants
00:43:22.51\00:43:27.59
us in His kingdom some day.
00:43:27.62\00:43:29.27