The up close God we claim to know
Acts 17:22-17:32
Introduction
This morning I want to talk to you about worship.
I know that worship means different things to different people, and we will address that in a few minutes.
I think it is sad that churches have worship wars.
Churches have been split because of music selection all in the name of worship.
Can God be pleased or get glory if churches are split? No.
Can God get glory when people worship different in the same service? Yes, I think so, and believe Scripture backs it up.
Songs of worship, prayers of worship, praising God with hands raised, saying amen, standing or sitting down are all parts of worship. Why? Because all these things are outward signs of worship and true worship of God happens on the inside.
Now, if on the inside amen comes out, hands are lifted, we praise God, it is not wrong.
If the hands are moving but nothing is happening on the inside from God, it is man’s attempt at worship and will usually leave us empty inside.
Apostle Paul in Acts 17 gives us a glimpse of worship and a glimpse of created idols for their own benefit.
Paul visited different temples in Thessalonica, Athens, Berea, Corinth, and Ephesus.
He got a different response as he visited each of them.
Some embraced him, some ran him off, some believed what he taught, and some stuck their feet in the sand and wanted no changes.
The text this morning is Paul at the temple in Athens.
Acts 17:22-17:32
Have we been worshipping this morning? And if we are, are we doing it for our benefit or God?
How many are worshipping a God that they do not know?
Apostle Paul found out as he went to different temples that they worshipped a God they did not know.
They were so afraid of those gods they attempted to worship them all.
They were so afraid of offending one that they build an altar to an unknown god so generically they would not miss any.
(22) “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, men of Athens! I can see that in every way you are very religious. 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.”
I. observation #1- Worship of God requires more than religion
Illustration-
Two preachers were on the roadside with a sign that read, “The end is near- Turn back now.” A passing driver yelled “leave us alone you religious nuts” Then the preachers heard squealing breaks followed by a loud splash. One preacher said to the other, “I told you we should have just said “bridge out.”
Why build an altar to an unknown god?
It was safe.
It was generic.
It did not cost them anything.
Churches can be full of people that are religious, but only a few that worship.
Religious people think it is all about them. The Pharisee’s, Sadducees, Stoics, Epicureans, all the philosophers of the world that think they know more than God.
They get religious and think that God is pleased.
James 1:26
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
God’s definition of religion is not about self- it is about others, it is about staying pure in a world that wants to pollute you.
Worship cannot be about you. It is all about God.
The reason most cannot worship is because they think worship is about them. Coming into God’s presence and God making them feel good.
Worship is about pleasing God, and finding joy in Him.
It is about relationship; the relationship between the God of the universe and you.
Religion won’t draw you close to God.
Religion will not allow you to worship. Relationship with God will allow you to draw close and will allow you to be able to worship.
Religion won’t save you.
Religion won’t allow you a relationship with God.
All man-made religion will have you fall short of fulfillment.
In the name of religion is why we have many wars.
Apostle Paul dealt with people that wanted to be religious but missed the relationship with the one true God.
If God remains unknown to you- seek relationship with Him rather than trying to please Him by religion.
True worship will never happen while trying to be religious. It does happen when we worship God in Spirit and truth and seek Him wholeheartedly rather than fitting Him into our schedules.
Worship is not telling God when I take care of a few things I’ll be back to worship. It is presenting yourself to Him warts and all and seeking Him.
I want you to see something important here- it is found in verse (23) “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.”
Did you catch that? They had so many idols because they did not want to anger any gods. They did not want to miss any blessings that were offered. Jews had a law that said you could not introduce a new foreign god. He says (grab this) the God that you already worship as unknown- I am going to proclaim to you.
Brilliant Evangelism! Close door now wide open!
The God of Scripture sent Jesus Christ.
His life, death, resurrection, was the reason for His coming.
(32) “When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, we want to hear you again on this subject.”
II. Observation #2- Worshipping God requires you to believe the truth and let the truth transform you life.
“Now what you worship as unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”
Some recognized Paul’s words as God’s truth.
He (Jesus) created everything.
He is self-sufficient. He loves us. He desires a relationship with us. He needs nothing from us to be God.
When we seek a relationship with Jesus, it will transform us. It will change us from the inside out, where religion is always outward changes.
Worship comes from the heart and from the mind centered on Christ.
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
Galatians 2:20
“ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
Transformation! Change! We believe the truth.(Jesus is the truth) and we let the truth change us- we are then able to worship.
There are over 60 verses on transformation in the Bible- I think He wants to tell us something!
To worship God, we have to be seeking God. He does that by transforming us from self to loving God. It is what God desires from us and desires for us.
Listen as I read verses farther down Acts 17 (Do not put on screen) v26-29
God is not man-made- He is Spirit and Truth. You cannot put that in an image of stone or steel.
God desires people to seek Him and He desires to be found and worshipped.
God does not play hide and seek- it is seek and you will find.
When we are driven to know our creator, we will seek Him, and God says- “you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Closing
I hope at this point, you are past thinking it is all about you. It is about the Lord Jesus Christ. It is about entering into a relationship with Him and entering this sanctuary to worship Him for who He is and what He has done for you.
I will tell you a relationship with Jesus will change your life
It will make you a better father or grandparent.
It will make you a better husband /wife.
It will make you a better friend.
It will make you a better child.
He will allow you to deal with hurts, habits, and disappointments in life.
He can take additions and anxieties away.
Paul told the people of Athens and for us today that you cannot worship an unknown god.
He proclaimed the Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection as transforming our lives if we will let Him.
He desires our worship.
He desires a relationship. If you already have a relationship with Him, I urge you to get closer.
God is as close as you want Him to be.
If there is anyone or anything keeping you from getting closer, put it in the right perspective right now.
Worship the one true God that gave His life for you- you give Him your life back to Him.
As Christians, we should be able to say that we are resting on certainties, not on chance. We don’t know the day or the hour of Christ’s return, but we do know He is coming to take us to be with Him forever. That is a comfort and certainty we share.
“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life”
(1 John 5:11-13).
We call that worship!
Amen.
