Title: In Him We Live, Move & Have Our Being
Theme: It is in God (Christ) that we are complete. Now we must fulfill His purpose.
Text: Acts 17:28
Offering Scripture:
1 Timothy 6:19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Opening Scripture
Act 17:24-28 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. (25) Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (26) And He has made from one blood [78] every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, (27) so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope 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 also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
Introduction
Review of Acts 17 and last weeks message
Last week we looked at an overview of these scriptures. Paul had arrived in the city of Athens and as he waited on the other disciples to catch up with him, his spirit was stirred by the many idols that had been erected. As we noted last week it is estimated that there were over 30,000 gods that were recognized in this city. Paul’s focus was not on the many named God’s but the one statue or altar to the “UNKNOWN GOD”.
From here the discussion is open and he is brought before the “religious” leaders of the city called the Areopagus. He Paul makes some bold statements not only about Christ and the resurrection but to the very fact that this God is the only God. Out of the 30,000 he is the only one all other’s are false.
Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
Live – true life comes from God a belief in Jesus
Move – our physical life comeing from him. We live we breath we move because of God. He is not a god who is absent but active in the minute details of our life.
Have our being – He is the reason we exist.
Jesus put it this way:
Jesus said in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Peter said:
Peter “filled with the Holy Spirit” said it this way
Acts 4:10-12 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. (11) This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' [18] (12) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Not only is He the only God but he can be known but us.
Complete in Christ Jesus
So we are complete in Christ Jesus. Everything we need or will ever need is in him.
A person who is complete
I. Learns how to number their days
Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Paul put it this way in: Ephesians 5:15-17 NKJV See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, (16) redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15-17 MSG So watch your step. Use your head. (16) Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! (17) Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
We need to think about our days. Each day is important.
II. Finds purpose in God
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Beforehand – divine purpose and plan
Jeremiah_29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
These are very familiar verses when it comes to purpose. Yet there is so much meaning a settlement. When we find our identity in Christ.
16 times in Ephesians Paul’s uses the phrase “in Him” or “in Christ”.
III. Learns to trust, no matter
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct [3] your paths.
Faith
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
NLT 1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
MSG 1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.
IV. Does not allow oneself to be distracted
John 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,
How easy it is for us to become distracted by our surroundings.
We must remember this world is not our home.
Hebrews 13:14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
We are His ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
We are called to represent Christ not to take up permanent residence.
V. Has complete confidence in God
Psalm 27:1-4 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh, (To destroy me) My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear;
Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.
Difference between Trust and Confidence
Although these words are used interchangeably they are two different words. Trust is as a blind trust. You do it because you trust and know the person. Confidence is total surrender to the purpose and will of a person. There is peace in it.
Conclusion
Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
This is who we He is. This means that what ever we need He will provide.
Matthew_7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
