Experiencing God

Acts 17:16-31 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 `For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, `We are his offspring.’ 29 "Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

We are not unlike the people in Athens - searching - trying anything, looking for loopholes

Running from parent - you can’t catch me - betcha can’t tickle me!

A tickle is an unbearable pleasure. We want to be tickled - - experience the ultimate - ecstasy - anyone with half a brain realizes that Mountain Dew is over promised. We have tried it all - drugs, toys, adventures, sex

Today’s generation want to know "Can God be experienced?" (what to do with S of S?)

Why doesn’t our contagious joy and gratitude infect others with a longing to experience Jesus? Why do we prefer to read the road map rather than visit the palace?

By the way - where is the palace anyway? (Dominique found it - I will take you there later)

Christians have been their own worst enemies. Diet testimonials - before & after pictures.

Unfortunately it is hard to tell before and after with many Christians

We don’t experience God without letting go -

Follow me first part of a relationship- let go of the nets, stuff

Have you taken that step? Join the rotary and you get a pin, join the church and you get drowned! Die daily. Baptism in 2 weeks! Come on in the water’s fine - dinner my home the 7th

But don’t get fooled on the next step

Don’t come up out of the water and try to get in good with God. Too late.

We try religous stuff - prayer, devotions, try to "Butter Him up" - too late - He’s already buttered

Truth is we are still Running from God - You can’t catch me (secretly hoping He will)

You can’t tickle me - tickle is an unbearable pleasure you need a tickle from God.

Don’t control yourself, give in - laugh and enjoy it

God cannot ravish - He can only woo - court - Best way to win us is to meet us

God’s holiness did not separate Him from sinners GASP!

The secret to finding God - to experiencing God is to go where God is - where God lives