Do You Know Him

Acts 17:22-26

Acts 17:22–26 CSB

22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.

Introduction

In a report published last month by the American Culture and Faith Institute 7 out of 10 Americans still consider themselves to be Christians. Even though some studies would show that Christian culture is declining, over 70 percent of our population holds to a profession of the Christian faith. However that was not the alarming part of this study. In this same study it was discovered that even though the research reflects Christianity is still the dominant religious practice in America only 1 in 10 hold a biblical worldview.

We are experiencing a Godless Christianity

The number among millennials with a biblical world view was 4 percent.

Over 6,000 people were given a test on their beliefs "Christian 101" questions and questions about their life practices.

The numbers would suggest that many of us who call his name. Actually don't know him at all.

Background

Main Idea

Sermonic Points

Our God is the Creator

Paul stands in the assembly and he proclaims that the God that he is preaching about is the creator of all things.

Now we know according to the Genesis account that God was creator of the Heavens and the Earth.

We know that God is creator of every living and breathing thing.

We also understand that he holds creation under His control.

This was not the belief system in Athens.

The Bible paints a picture of the Athenians as a people who created many Gods for themselves.

They daily carved for themselves a new God to appease there fleshly longing and desires.

They had crafted so many Gods for themselves that they began to run out of room. They get done with one God and move on to worshipping the next "culturally relevant" thing!

Before we turn our nose up at the people in Athens I must contend our culture is very similar.

This era which is being defined as the Post-Modern Era is very similar to the culture in Athens.

We are in a time where the people make countless idols for themselves and we long for the next things to fill the space we pushed God out of.

Even Christians

The Epicureans were what we would consider to be polytheistic.

They worshipped many things.

We've become the same way. We take the honor from or creator and place it on created things.

Illustration:

(Have Ahmir or Derrick grab chair)

Many of us dont see God reign in our life because we have cluttered the throne.

Jobs - Pepsi Shirt

Material Things - Blazer

Relationships - A Woman

Car - Keys

Sports Team - Terrible Towel and Basketball

Kids - Toys

A Pastor

Invite God to sit

He's going to choose the vacant seat everytime because our God is not going to compete with the mess you created.

The problem with the Gods we create is that they can and will fail us.

If someone was to push one of created gods over it could break it. - But we serve a God that we don't have to fix but when we are broken he's able to restore us.

They placed there God in the appropriate place for worship but we serve a God who is not constrained by our temples and sanctuaries.

We serve a God who is in all things but nothing can contain him. He is God.

We must tear down the Gods we've created for ourselves so that the God we serve would have creative authority over our lives

Whatever you want to do Lord Do it!

Our God is Credible

Acts 17:25 CSB

25 Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.

Paul goes on to say in verse 25 that he is not worshipped by human hands, and I like this part; as if he needed anything since he gives to all life, breathe and all things.

We tend to believe God is God based on our vailidation.

The are many doctrines and occults resurfacing and trying to discredit our God.

This is happening because the Gods the culture has set up for themselves are failing.

The enemy thinks that if he can get you to discredit "who God is to you" he can then get you to devalue God.

I came to tell you today that no matter if you validate Him or not he's still gone be God.

You can turn your back on him but he's still God.

You can try other things but when they fail you he's still gone be God.

I wish I had somebody in the building today that would declare he's still God.

I ain't got no witness in here so let me call one.

He was Moses' staff

He was Abrahams Ram in a bush

He's Ezekiel's wheel in the middle of a wheels.

Aww shucks I'll be my own witness today.

He's bread when I'm hungry.

He's water when I'm thirsty.

He's my light out of darkness

He is God!

Psalm 50:10–12 CSB

10 for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine.

And so Paul says he can not be worshipped by human hands. He don't need you going through the motions. He's still gonna be God.

But do I have anybody in this church today that when you think about how he's been God in your life you can't help but to wave your hands.

Can somebody just hop on their feet and praise the Lord for the next 15 secs because you know he's a credible God.

He is God! (Give examples)

Our God is a Connector

My brothers and my sisters I've presented this entire message to you today because I wanted to get you to this thought.

As we continue to move forward you have heard me say every Sunday over the last year that "We are church in transition but we're headed in the right direction if we follow God."

As i was praying about what to speak to you today. The Holy Spirit layed it on my heart that it is my responsibility to make sure we are all worshipping the same God.

But my question was how am i supposed to do that.

We all come from different backgrounds.

You have created us all differently

We dont always agree or think the same.

Verse 26 gave me the answer it says "and he has made us with one blood"

Acts 17:26 CSB

26 From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.

Blood is often used to trace the link between many things.

God from one blood line created all of mankind.