The Word Of Revival Series

Acts 17:16-34 THE WORD OF REVIVAL

1. The Preparation For Revival.

i. The Need For the Word - 16 while Paul waited for them at Athens

Paul's Concern - his spirit was stirred in him,

Paul's Conviction - when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry

Paul's Contention - 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

ii. The Nature Of the Word - It had to be - Functional - Three Classes

17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, Jews Believed In the Law (A Salvation By Works)

18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, ENJOY Life Believed In Liberty (No Salvation Necessary) Denied life after death.

18 and of the Stoicks, encountered him.

Believed In Labour - ENDURE Life - Fatalism

It had to be - Factual - wise in Athens and Faithful All needed the Lord.

iii. The Nuture In the Word - 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you

2. The Proclamation In Revival. - 23 him declare I unto you. HE IS -

1. The Sole Creator - 24 God that made the world

His Power - 24 God that made the world and all things therein,

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

His Position - 24 seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth,

His Person - 24 dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

His Pre-eminence - 25 neither is worshipped with men’s hands,

as though he needed any thing,

2. The Sovereign Controller - His Grandeur - - 26 seeing he giveth

His Grace - he giveth to all, His Gifts - life, and breath, and all things;

28 for in him we live, and move, and have our being;

3. The Sacred Counsellor -

His Pleasure - 26 and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth,

His Placement - and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

His Plan - 27 that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Their Pursuit - 27 that they should seek the Lord,

Their Prize - if haply they might feel after him, and find him,

Their Presence - though he be not far from every one of us:

4. The Saving Conqueror -

God's Portrayal - 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.

God's Patience - 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at;

God's Prerogative - but now commandeth all men every where to repent: The Urgency of repentance. The Universalism of repentance

God's Pronouncement - 31 because he hath appointed a day,

The Plan - 31 because he hath appointed a day,

The Place - in the which he will judge the world

The Principle - in righteousness

The Prosecutor - by that man whom he hath ordained;

The Promise - whereof he hath given assurance unto all men,

The Proof - in that he hath raised him from the dead.

3. The Permutation Of Revival.

1. Derision - The Message was Foolish - 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked:

2. Delay - The Message was Fanciful -

32 and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

3. Decision - The Message was Factual - 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.