WHEN GOD WINKED
Acts 17:30
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: BIBLE QUESTIONS
1. Q: Who was the greatest male financier in the Bible? A: Noah - he was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.
2. Q: Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible? A: Pharaoh’s daughter - she went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.
3. Q: What kind of man was Boaz before he got married? A: Ruth-less.
4. Q: What kind of motor vehicle is mentioned in the Bible? A: David's Triumph was heard throughout the land.
5. Q: Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? A: Samson - he brought the house down.
B. WHAT DOES IT MEANS TO WINK?
1. Wink (defined): “close and open one eye quickly, typically to indicate that something is a joke or a secret or as a signal of affection or greeting.”
2. A wink can also be a way to express sympathy, solidarity and encouragement, especially when the winker is trying to put the receiver at ease in a situation where they might feel nervous or uncomfortable. In such cases the meaning of a wink is not unlike that of a "thumbs up".
3. Not all humans are able to wink. When Frederick Spencer Chapman was training Chinese guerillas in Malaya to shoot rifles, he found that a large proportion of them were unable to close only one eye at a time.
C. WINKING IS SOMETIMES IMPORTANT
1. During a Quarter Final match of the 2006 World Cup between England and Portugal, Wayne Rooney was sent off, largely due to an impassioned argument from Cristiano Ronaldo. After Rooney's sending off, Ronaldo was caught on camera winking to the Portuguese bench. This received widespread criticism from the English press, who largely saw it as a sign of conspiracy from the Portuguese player.
2. During the 2008 United States vice-presidential debate, Republican candidate Sarah Palin winked at the audience several times. Her behavior was considered to be highly unusual in the context of a formal political debate and received considerable media attention. While some conservative pundits defended Palin, other individuals were critical of and even offended by her conduct.
D. THESIS
1. We’re going to look tonight at an instance of GOD WINKING tonight. We’re going to hear some wrong ideas of what that means, what it really meant, and why it’s important for us today.
2. The title of this message is, “When God Winked.”
I. WHAT DOES ‘GOD WINKING’ MEAN?
A. WHAT THE BIBLE ACTUALLY SAYS ABOUT GOD’S WINKING:
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.”
Acts 17:29-30
B. MODERN COMMENTS ABOUT GOD WINKING
1. CHRISTIAN DEVOTIONALSBLOGSPOT.COM; Friday, December 29, 2006, “When God Winks at You...” I'm reading a book called "When God Winks at You" by Squire Rushnell. It's a small book about how God communicates with us in our everyday lives. In both incredible and small ways.”
2. TOUCH OF JOY MINISTRIES, “God Winks Through Coincidences,” Jan. 2. 2012.
a. “Think about this. As a kid you are sitting at the dining room table and you look up and someone you love, perhaps Grandpa, gives you a little wink. What did it mean? Something like, “Hey kid, I’m thinking about you at this moment” or “I’m proud of you” or
b. “Everything is going to be all right.” That’s what a God Wink is like.”
3. These people haven’t even checked to see if there’s anything in the Bible about God winking; they’ve just made an analogy of God being like a grandfather and making up what a wink might mean.
4. Let’s look at what Paul really meant when he discussed this topic.
II. TWO EPOCHS OF HISTORY
A. COMPARISON OF JEWS & GENTILES
1. First, Paul said that the “all-knowledgeable” Athenians were ignorant! That must have let the air out of their balloon! They considered themselves some of the most educated people in the world. God considers the wise to be fools if they don’t look at the eternal perspective.
2. For long ages God had let the Gentiles go on in their ignorance.
a. He gave Israel prophets; but not the Gentiles.
b. He gave Israel Laws, but not the Gentiles.
3. The idolatries and sins of the Gentiles were hated and detestable in God’s sight, but He chose to “overlook” – not let the rays of His eyes rest on – their evil works, because of their gross ignorance.
4. He let them alone, because they didn’t improve the light they had, but were willingly ignorant. So He sent them no greater lights.
5. God showed them special grace in not immediately punishing them for their idolatry.
B. A NEW TIME/ NEW LAWS
1. But that time period is now officially over with. NO LONGER WILL GOD WINK AT/ OVERLOOK SIN -- since the going forth of the Gospel. The word ὑπεριδειν means “over-eye” or overlook.
2. All Gentiles are now held in strict accountability for their sins.
3. ALL Gentiles are now commanded to REPENT. To repent - To exercise sorrow for their sins, and to forsake them.
4. He commands, as the Sovereign, all men every where, to repent, μετανοειν, to “change their views, designs, and practices;” because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness; and, as justice will then be done. No sinner, no persevering idolater, shall escape punishment.
4. This day, this hour, says Paul, puts an end to the Divine forbearance, and brings either greater mercy or punishment.
5. This defeats the excuse “I didn’t know!” and means the world is universally guilty of sin.
III. PASTOR, WHAT DOES THIS MATTER?
A. LENGTH OF THE WINK
1. How long does it take you to wink your eye? Maybe a part of a second?
2. What if I were to tell you that God winked for four thousand years – would you believe it?
3. From Adam down to Christ God winked. That was a lot of forbearance, mercy on God’s part. The bad news is, it’s over with!
4. No more being passed over; no more ignoring the Gentile’s sins! What terrible news!
5. WINK = MERCY. NO WINK = NO MERCY!
B. GOD’S FINAL WINK
1. WAIT! GOD STILL HAS ONE SPLIT-SECOND OF WINK LEFT – ONE OASIS OF MERCY, ONE LAST PLACE OF PARDON – THE CROSS OF JESUS! The final moment & culmination of God's long wink was the Cross of Jesus!
2. The Cross of Jesus is the dividing point, the point of separation between the saved & the damned; between heaven & hell; between guilt & pardon.
3. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Heb. 9:22.
C. THE SCENE OF VICTORY
3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you redeemed for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: Tso-Po-Tao's Sacrifice
1. Once when Richard Wurmbrand was preaching in China (Taiwan), he tried to do so Chinese-style. He told his listeners a story from the Chuen-Chin period of Chinese history (15'h B.C.)
2. Tso-Po-Tao went on a journey with Yang-Chao-Ai, during which they were overtaken by a heavy snowstorm. Unprepared for this, they had neither the clothing nor the food to survive.
3. Tso-Po-Tao offered to undress and give all his clothing and food to Yang-Chao-Ai so that he at least might be saved. Yang said, “You can’t do that!” Tso-Po began taking them off anyway.
4. After removing his jacket and feeling the sharp cold, he surely must have felt a strong temptation to keep at least his shirt for himself.
5. But his face shone more and more. His features became even more determined. He did not stop before he was completely naked, like the first couple in paradise, who had no cause for shame.
6. Yang refused, but in vain. Tso was already naked and half-frozen. Tso died, and Yang's life was spared.
7. Certainly his surviving friend would never forget this moment of sacrifice and would forever feel indebted to his savior. [Wurmbrand, Richard]
8. Even more will we forever feel indebted to the Lover of our Souls, Jesus, who emptied Himself of His heavenly powers and allowed Himself to be stripped and beaten so that we might live. May our lives be a repayment of His love!
B. THE CALL
1. Prayer for forgiveness.
2. We should send the gospel to the pagans. God calls all nations to repent, and to be saved. It’s the duty of Christians to make known to them God’s command, and to invite them to the blessings of pardon and heaven.
