Is There Not a Cause (090824)
Pastor Joseph Campbell
Truth in Love (2024) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 43:27
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Scripture Reading: Acts 17:13-21.
Message: Is There Not a Cause?
Message: Is There Not a Cause?
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
Paul is in his second missionary journey.
In Acts chapter 17, we have seen Paul in Thessalonica and in Berea.
However…
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
While Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea, some of individuals (we do not know who) accompanied Paul from Berea to Athens.
Athens
Athens
When Paul arrives in Athens, he sends instructions back to Berea that Silas and Timothy should “with all speed” join him in Athens.
From my study, it seems that Paul did not intend to stay long in Athens.
It seems that he was merely biding his time until he could go back to Thessalonica to continue his ministry there.
However, it seems that, from Silas and Timothy, he did not receive a favorable report. Therefore...
Turn to and read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-7.
Since, apparently, it was not possible for him to go back to Thessalonica himself, Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage them in their faith while, according to 1 Thessalonians 3:1, he stayed in Athens again probably hoping that he’d be able to get back to Thessalonica soon.
Acts 17:16 tells us that Paul waited for them at Athens.
A little bit about Athens:
Athens was, at this time, the seat of the world’s culture as Rome was the seat of the world’s government.
It was also the university city of the ancient world.
One writer stated that Athens “represented the epitome of Greek culture in architecture, sculpture, literature, oratory, and philosophy.”
Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary (a) The Intimidating Effect of the City’s Boasted Intellectualism (17:15)
Athens illustrates to what great heights of achievement man can ascend and still be ignorant of God.
Notice vs. 18:
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
The Epicureans and Stoics were the Gentile equivalents of Sadduceeism and Phariseeism.
They were men’s attempts to come to terms with life.
Education cannot answer all of man’s questions.
Culture and refinement cannot answer all of man’s questions.
Riches and material possessions cannot answer all of man’s questions.
Man-made religion cannot answer all of man’s questions.
But that’s exactly what Paul saw when he was in Athens!
Paul, to the Romans, describes it this way:
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Turn to and read Romans 1:19-25.
Allow me to illustrate for you what was taking place in Athens (and in our own world today):
2+2=4. That’s a settled truth that I don’t believe any of us have difficulty accepting.
However, what if you decided that you were not going to accept that 2+2=4? If you removed that truth, you would have to fill that void somehow or with something; maybe with 2+2=5 or 2+2=8. In fact, if you remove the truth, anything is “fair game.” If you remove the truth then 2+2=5 is just as valid as 2+2=8!
That’s exactly what Paul faced in Athens. They had removed the truth of the Creator and tried to replace it. (In Acts chapter 17 we are specifically told of the Epicureans and the Stoics - two man-made philosophies that were man’s attempts at replacing the truth!)
However, in spite of all of this, the Athenians were still skeptical that maybe they were missing something.
Notice what Paul says in vs. 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.
All of their religion, culture, riches, and education still “left them short.”
But that should come as no surprise to us just as I’m sure it came as no surprise to Paul:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Now, go back to vs. 16:
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
When Paul saw all the ways in which the Athenians were seeking to replace God - the Truth - it stirred his spirit within him!
In other words, he couldn’t just sit there and do nothing about the spiritual condition that he saw in Athens!
The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, said:
Then I said, I will not make mention of him, Nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, And I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Paul later, in writing to the Corinthians, stated:
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
The old preacher, John R. Rice, said:
“Oh, for a burning heart! Oh, for a holy stirring over people who are lost and need salvation!”
Does the condition of the world around us stir us to action?
Turn to and read 1 Samuel 17:4-32.
As Paul waited in Athens, Paul realized that there was a cause and that cause drove him to take action!
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
The word disputed that’s used there simply means to converse; to discuss.
Verse 18 tells us exactly what his message was:
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
He preached the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Does the spiritual condition of our world stir you up?
Is it stirring you up to the point of taking action?
Our world needs us - as Bible-believing Christians - to be so stirred up that we will take action just like David and just like Paul.
May we, like David, say, “…thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
May we, like Paul, converse with others - daily - and declare unto them the Gospel message!