YOU WILL EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES
TO YOUR FAITH. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES TO YOUR
FAITH. DON'T GET THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SALLY FORTH
AND NOT BE CHALLENGED. TODAY, IF YOU ARE A BIBLE-BELIEVING
CHRISTIAN, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES TO YOUR FAITH. ADRIAN
ROGERS' UNIQUE ABILITY TO APPLY BIBLICAL TRUTH TO EVERYDAY LIFE
WAS ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT MADE HIM SUCH A REMARKABLE
PASTOR, BIBLE TEACHER AND WRITER. AND TODAY HE'LL BE
BRINGING THAT UNIQUENESS TO THIS STUDY FROM GOD'S WORD. HAVE YOUR
BIBLES OPEN AND JOIN US FOR THIS POWERFUL MESSAGE. AND IF YOU
WERE ENCOURAGED BY TODAY'S MESSAGE, REMEMBER, YOU CAN
STREAM THIS MESSAGE AGAIN AND DOWNLOAD OUTLINES, NOTES, A
TRANSCRIPT AND OTHER RESOURCES TO GO ALONG WITH THIS MESSAGE,
ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW, LET'S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. FIND IN THE BOOK OF ACTS CHAPTER
17. AND WHEN YOU'VE FOUND IT, LOOK UP HERE AND, AH, I WANT TO
SAY A WORD TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY MEANINGFUL
TO ME AND REALLY VERY DISTURBING TO ME. AND HERE'S THE THOUGHT:
WE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM A CHRISTIAN CONSENSUS IN AMERICA.
NOW, IT IS TRUE THAT THERE ARE MANY WHO LOVE THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST. IT IS TRUE THAT THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE THE BIBLE
TO BE THE WORD OF GOD AND JESUS CHRIST THE ONLY SAVIOR. BUT
THOSE WHO DO SURVEYS, LIKE THE BARNA INSTITUTE AND OTHERS, HAVE
TOLD US SOMETHING THAT IS VERY ALARMING. THE BARNA RESEARCH
REPORT SAID, “THAT NEARLY TWO OUT OF THREE ADULTS IN AMERICA
CONTEND THAT THE CHOICE OF RELIGIOUS, ONE RELIGIOUS FAITH
OVER ANOTHER,” LISTEN, “THE CHOICE OF ONE RELIGIOUS FAITH
OVER ANOTHER IS IRRELEVANT.” AND WHY DO THEY SAY THIS? “BECAUSE
THEY SAY ALL RELIGIONS TEACH THE SAME BASIC LESSONS ABOUT LIFE”"
AND INCREASINGLY, AMERICANS ARE BELIEVING THAT JESUS CHRIST IS
FINE, WONDERFUL INDEED, BUT HE IS ONLY ONE OPTION AMONG MANY
OPTIONS. AND WHAT WE'RE CALLING THAT TODAY IS PLURALISM, AND
THAT WE'RE CALLED UPON TO ACCEPT ALL RELIGIONS AS EQUAL, AND
SOMEHOW WE'RE UN-AMERICAN IF WE DON'T PUT OUR ARMS AROUND OTHERS
AND OTHER FAITHS AND SAY, “YOUR RELIGION IS JUST AS GOOD AS
MINE.” AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY TELL US THAT TOLERANCE IS WRONG.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TOLERATE THEM, FOR THAT ASSUMES THAT WE
DON'T AGREE WITH THEM BUT THAT'S OKAY. NO, NOW THEY WANT TO GO
BEYOND TOLERANCE TO ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL, AND IT IS AN
INSINUATION THAT WE THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR
FAITH IF WE EVEN TOLERATE IT. NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT
ARE WE TO DO? ARE WE TO WRING OUR HANDS, OR WE TO GIVE UP IN
DESPAIR, OR ARE WE TO GIVE A CREDIBLE RESPONSE TO THESE
CHALLENGES TO THE CROSS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST? IN
THIS MESSAGE I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT WE ARE TO DO IS TO
RAISE THE FLAG OF OUR FAITH AND EXPECT OTHERS TO SALUTE IT,
OTHERS TO BELIEVE IN THE LORD THAT WE BELIEVE IN. NOW, THE
EPISODE THAT I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY IS TAKEN HERE
FROM THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF ACTS. IT'S AN
EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL. THE APOSTLE PAUL
IS IN THE GREAT CITY OF ATHENS, THE INTELLECTUAL, THE CULTURAL
CENTER OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. HE'S WAITING FOR HIS COMRADES TO
JOIN HIM. SO, TIMOTHY AND SILAS ARE ON THEIR WAY, AND PAUL IS
ALONE IN THIS BIG CITY. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ALONE IN A BIG CITY?
MAY I TELL YOU THIS; THE TEST OF YOUR CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU DO
WHEN YOU'RE ALONE IN A BIG CITY! PAUL IS ALONE IN THIS BIG CITY.
HE'S WAITING FOR HIS FRIENDS. AND SO, WHILE HE'S IN THE CITY
OF ATHENS, HE'S WALKING THE STREETS OF ATHENS. AND AS HE'S
WALKING THE STREETS OF ATHENS, HIS SPIRIT IS STIRRED WITHIN
HIM. HE FINDS SOMETHING MOVING BECAUSE HE SEES, AH, THE DEPTH
OF DEPRAVITY AND THE WICKEDNESS OF THAT CITY. PAUL SAW FALSE
TEACHERS WHO WERE PEDDLING SOUL DOPE, A NARCOTIC FOR THE SOUL.
HE SAW PAGAN TEMPLES THAT WERE FILLED WITH EMPTY PEOPLE. NOW, I
WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT ANCIENT ATHENS WAS THE CULTURAL CENTER
OF THAT ANCIENT WORLD. THE GLORY OF ATHENS WAS OVERWHELMING. I'VE
VISITED MODERN ATHENS MANY TIMES AND I ALWAYS WANT TO GO TO SEE
THE RUINS OF THE ACROPOLIS, TO SEE THERE THE PARTHENON AND ALL
OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE LEFT OVER THERE FROM THE CITY
THAT WAS THERE IN PAUL'S TIME, AND EVEN BEFORE PAUL'S TIME.
PAUL HAD COME TO THE CITY AFTER WHAT WAS CALLED THE GOLDEN AGE
OF PERICLES, AND THIS CITY WAS ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMING TO SEE.
PAUL LOOKED UP AT A MOUNTAIN CALLED THE ACROPOLIS AND THERE
SITTING ON THE ACROPOLIS WAS THE MOST ARCHITECTURALLY-PERFECT
BUILDING, PERHAPS, THAT MAN HAS EVER CREATED, THE PARTHENON, AH,
DEDICATED TO THE SEX GODDESS, ATHENE. AND PAUL SAW THE
PARTHENON THAT WAS THERE. AND THEN, EH, UH, NOT ONLY WAS IT
THE CULTURAL CITY, AH, CENTER OF THE WORLD, BUT, AH, ATHENS WAS
THE INTELLECTUAL CENTER OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. IT WAS THE
INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL OF MANKIND. ART, LITERATURE, PHILOSOPHY;
THIS WAS THE STUFF THAT ANCIENT ATHENS WAS MADE OF. IT WAS THE
NATIVE HOME OF SOCRATES AND PLATO, NAMES THAT ARE SPOKEN
WITH REVERENCE IN THE REALM OF PHILOSOPHY. NOT ONLY WAS IT THE
NATIVE HOME OF, AH, SOCRATES AND PLATO, BUT IT BECAME THE ADOPTED
HOME OF ARISTOTLE AND EPICURUS AND ZENO. AND THESE PHILOSOPHERS
WERE THERE. AS A RESULT OF THIS CULTURAL SUPERIORITY, AS A
RESULT OF THIS INTELLECTUALISM, IT WAS A CITY THAT WAS FILLED
WITH CYNICISM. IT WAS A CITY THAT WAS FILLED WITH SNOBBERY.
IT WAS A CITY THAT WAS FILLED WITH DEBATE. AND PAUL IS THERE,
AND PAUL IS GOING TO SHARE JESUS CHRIST AND HE'S GOING TO MEET
STRONG RESISTANCE. AND WE'RE GOING TO LEARN SOME LESSONS,
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED SO LONG AGO, FRIEND, IS HAPPENING TODAY
IN OUR SOCIETY. THIS SCRIPTURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO STUDY IS NOT
JUST WHAT HAS HAPPENED; IT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT IS NOT
JUST WHAT GOD HAS SAID TO OTHERS SO LONG AGO; IT IS WHAT GOD IS
SAYING TO OUR SOCIETY TODAY, BECAUSE HISTORY IS LIKE A BROKEN
PHONOGRAPH RECORD; IT JUST KEEPS REPEATING ITSELF. THERE ARE
THREE THINGS THAT PAUL MET IN ANCIENT ATHENS, AND THOSE ARE
THE THREE THINGS THAT YOU WILL MEET, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN
CHICAGO, NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, DALLAS OR MEMPHIS OR MIAMI. WHAT
THREE THINGS DID PAUL MEET THERE IN ATHENS SO LONG AGO? FIRST OF
ALL, HE MET SUPERSTITIOUS IDOLATRY. SECONDLY, HE MET
STERILE ORTHODOXY. THIRDLY, HE MET SOPHISTICATED PHILOSOPHY.
AND GOD GAVE HIM AN ANSWER FOR THESE. NOW, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE TODAY AS YOU STAND FOR YOUR FAITH IN A
PAGAN SOCIETY. AND GET READY; AND GET YOUR CHILDREN READY
BECAUSE, FRIEND, IT'S ALL AROUND US. HERE'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS
YOU GO OUT TO LIVE FOR CHRIST. POINT NUMBER ONE, YOU WILL
EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES TO YOUR FAITH. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE
CHALLENGES TO YOUR FAITH. DON'T GET THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE JUST
GOING TO SALLY FORTH AND NOT BE CHALLENGED. TODAY, IF YOU ARE A
BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES TO
YOUR FAITH. WHAT DID PAUL EXPERIENCE AS A CHALLENGE? I'VE
ALREADY TOLD YOU, NUMBER ONE, SUPERSTITIOUS IDOLATRY. NOW
LOOK, IF YOU WILL, IN ACTS CHAPTER 17 AND VERSE 16, “NOW
WHILE, PAUL WAITED FOR THEM AT ATHENS.” THAT'S SILAS AND
TIMOTHY. HE'S WAITING. “NOW, WHILE PAUL WAITED FOR THEM AT
ATHENS, HIS SPIRIT WAS STIRRED IN HIM, WHEN HE SAW THE CITY
WHOLLY GIVEN OVER TO IDOLATRY”" AND THEN GO DOWN AND LOOK IN
VERSE 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.'” THERE WERE IDOLS EVERYWHERE; PAGAN
IMAGES EVERYWHERE. SOMEONE SAID, “IT WAS EASIER TO FIND A FALSE
GOD IN ATHENS THAN IT WAS TO FIND A HUMAN BEING.” THEY HAD
SOME 30,000 DIFFERENT GODS THAT THEY WORSHIPPED IN ANCIENT
ATHENS. WELL, YOU SAY, “PASTOR, I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT DAY
WOULD BE LIKE OUR DAY? WE DON'T HAVE 30,000 DIFFERENT GODS.” NO,
WE HAVE MORE! WE HAVE MORE! THIS CITY, AND EVERY MAJOR CITY IN
AMERICA, IS FILLED WITH IDOLATRY. THE DIFFERENCE IS WE
GIVE OUR IDOLS DIFFERENT NAMES. WHAT IS AN IDOL? GET IT DOWN
BIG, PLAIN, AND STRAIGHT. HERE IS AN IDOL. NOW, LISTEN. AN IDOL
IS ANYTHING THAT YOU LOVE MORE, FEAR MORE, SERVE MORE, OR TRUST
MORE THAN ALMIGHTY GOD. MAY I TELL YOU THAT AGAIN? LISTEN TO
ME. AN IDOL IS ANYTHING THAT YOU LOVE MORE, FEAR MORE, SERVE
MORE, OR TRUST MORE THAN ALMIGHTY GOD. AN IDOL IS
WHATEVER IS IN FIRST PLACE IN YOUR LIFE. THAT IS AN IDOL,
WHATEVER YOUR HEART CLINGS TO. WHATEVER YOUR HEART TRUSTS IN,
THAT IS YOUR IDOL. NOW, MAY I TELL YOU THIS, THAT IDOLATRY IS
THE GREATEST SIN THAT A MAN, A WOMAN, A BOY OR A GIRL CAN
COMMIT. WHY? BECAUSE IT TRANSGRESSES THE GREATEST
COMMANDMENT. WHAT IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT? “THOU
SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, ALL THY SOUL, ALL
THY STRENGTH, ALL THY MIND”" THAT'S THE FIRST AND GREAT
COMMANDMENT. IDOLATRY, THEREFORE, HAS TO BE THE
GREATEST SIN BECAUSE IT BREAKS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT. NOW, I
SAID THAT WE HAVE, PERHAPS, MORE GODS THAN THEY DID IN THAT DAY.
AND WE'LL FACE THOSE GODS. YOU'LL FACE THEM TOMORROW AS YOU
GO OUT INTO THIS GREAT CITY. WE'VE JUST CHANGED THE NAMES.
THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE GUILTY. LET ME GIVE
YOU SOME OF THE MODERN GODS THAT HAVE OLD NAMES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
GOD OF MATERIALISM. THEY HAD A GOD OF MATERIALISM. THEY DIDN'T
CALL IT MATERIALISM; THEY CALLED THIS GOD MAMMON, MAMMON. NOW,
THERE ARE MANY IN THIS CITY WHO WORSHIP, AH, THE GOD OF MAMMON.
THE, THEIR LIVES ARE DEVOTED TO WEALTH. THEIR LIVES ARE DEVOTED
TO BUSINESS. THEIR LIVES ARE DEVOTED TO SUCCESS AND
ACHIEVEMENT. AND THERE ARE SOME IN THIS AUDIENCE. IF YOU WERE TO
BE ABSOLUTELY HONEST, IF I WERE TO ASK YOU, “WHAT IS THE MAJOR
THING IN YOUR LIFE?” IT WOULD BE YOUR POSSESSIONS. NOW, YOU MAY
BE IN CHURCH THIS MORNING, YOU MAY TIP YOUR HAT TO GOD, BUT
GOD'S NOT GOING TO TAKE SECOND PLACE. GOD IS NOT SOME SORT OF A
MOONLIGHTING GOD WITH A DUPLEX FOR A THRONE. MANY OF YOU
WORSHIP, AH, THIS MATTER OF MAMMON. AND IT'S ALL OVER. THINK
OF WHY, HOW MAMMON, THE GOD OF MAMMON HAS INFLUENCED OUR LIVES.
THE DRUG DEALERS. WHAT MOTIVATES THEM? THE GOD OF MAMMON. THEY'RE
WILLING TO DESTROY OUR YOUTH FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY. THE
PORNOGRAPHERS; WHAT MOTIVATES THEM? WITH THEIR FILTH THEY ARE
WILLING TO DIS, AH, DESTROY THE NATION'S MORALS FOR MONEY. THE
LIQUOR INDUSTRY; WHAT MOTIVATES THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY? STEALING
AWAY AMERICA'S BRAINS; THE GOD OF MAMMON. PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO
BETRAY AMERICA'S INTEGRITY FOR MONEY ARE WORSHIPPING THE GOD OF
MAMMON. THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY WORSHIPS THE GOD MAMMON. I SAW,
THIS CASINO DOWN HERE, THAT ADVERTISED ON A BILLBOARD, “WE
MAKE WINNERS.” FRIEND, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, YOU OUGHT TO WILL
YOUR BRAIN TO THE SMITHSONIAN. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] IF THEY MAKE
WINNERS, THEY'RE OUT OF BUSINESS. THEY HAVE TO MAKE
LOSERS. HOW FOOLISH CAN PEOPLE BE? WHAT MOTIVATES THE GAMBLING
INDUSTRY? THE GOD OF MAMMON. THAT'S ONLY ONE GOD. THERE'S
ANOTHER GOD, THE GOD OF ALCOHOL. WELL, YOU SAY, “IS THAT A GOD”"
YES. THE ANCIENT PEOPLE GAVE THIS GOD A NAME. HIS NAME WAS
BACCHUS, THE GOD OF LIQUOR, THE GOD OF ALCOHOL, THE GOD OF
DRUNKENNESS, DRUGS, AND DEBAUCHERY. WE WORSHIP IN
AMERICA THE GOD OF SEX. THEY, THEY GAVE THIS GOD A NAME. HER
NAME WAS VENUS, APHRODITE, ATHENE. THIS WAS THE SEXSH
GODDESS, THE GOD OF SEXUAL LUST AND PROMISCUITY. IN AMERICA, IS
NOT SEX A GOD? WE LIVE IN A SEX-SATURATED SOCIETY. AND NOW
IT SEEMS LIKE THE SLUICE GATES OF HELL HAVE BEEN BROKEN ON US
TODAY AND AROUND WE ARE IMMERSED IN A SWAMP OF ADULTERY AND
FORNICATION AND HOMOSEXUALITY, PORNOGRAPHY, WHICH THEY CALL A
VICTIMLESS CRIME. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A VICTIMLESS
CRIME. WHAT ABOUT THE GOD OF VIOLENCE? DO WE WORSHIP THE GOD
OF VIOLENCE? LOOK AT SOME OF THE VIDEO GAMES YOUR KIDS ARE
PLAYING. THEY WORSHIP THE GOD OF VIOLENCE. THEY JUST GAVE HIM THE
NAME MARS, WHICH WAS THE GOD OF POWER AND STRENGTH AND REVENGE.
WELL, YOU SAY, “I'M MORE INTELLECTUAL THAN THAT.” WELL,
PERHAPS YOU WORSHIP THE GOD OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. THEY NAMED
THIS GOD SOPHIA, THE GOD OF, THE GODDESS OF WISDOM, AND THEY
WORSHIPPED IT. AND, TODAY, WE WORSHIP AT THE SHRINE OF OUR
COMPUTERS AND OUR CYCLOTRONS AND OUR UNIVERSITIES. IDOLATRY. PAUL
FACED IDOLATRY. AMERICANS FACE IDOLATRY. ANYTHING YOU LOVE
MORE, FEAR MORE, TRUST MORE, SERVE MORE THAN GOD IS AN IDOL.
JESUS SAID, “SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS.” WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO WORSHIP ANYTHING OTHER THAN
ALMIGHTY GOD. WHAT IS AN IDOL? AN IDOL IS JUST A MAGNIFIED
SINNER. A MAN TAKES HIS WORST VICES AND LUSTS AND HE WORSHIPS
THEM, AND NOTHING IS TOO GOOD FOR A MAN'S GOD. THE APOSTLE
PAUL TELLS US ABOUT IT, AH, IN ROMANS CHAPTER ONE VERSES 24,
“WHEREFORE GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP UNCLEANNESS THROUGH THE LUSTS OF
THEIR OWN HEARTS, TO DISHONOR THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN
THEMSELVES. WHO CHANGED,” AND THAT WORD LITERALLY MEANS
EXCHANGE, “THE TRUTH OF GOD A LIE, AND WORSHIPPED AND SERVED
THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR, WHO IS BLESSED
FOREVER.” I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. WHICH WOULD BE EASIER
FOR A PERSON TO DO ON TELEVISION OR RADIO, IN THE NEWSPAPER
TODAY? SAY SOMETHING DISPARAGING ABOUT SOMEBODY'S RACE, ETHNICITY
OR TO BLASPHEME GOD? NOW, DON'T MISUNDERSTAND THE ILLUSTRATION.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE OUGHT TO SAY SOMETHING DEROGATORY ABOUT
SOMEBODY'S RACE OR ETHNICITY. I'M NOT, I'M NOT TALKING IN
FAVOR OF RACISM. BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. WHICH WOULD
BE EASIER? IT WOULD BE FAR EASIER, FAR EASIER TO BLASPHEME
GOD THAN TO SAY SOMETHING DEROGATORY ABOUT SOME HUMAN
BEING, IS THAT NOT RIGHT? WHY? BECAUSE WE WORSHIP THE CREATOR
LESS THAN WE WORSHIP THE CREATURE. NOW PAUL, FIRST OF
ALL, HE FACED SUPERSTITIOUS IDOLATRY. AND WHEN YOU LEAVE
THIS BUILDING, FRIEND, YOU'RE GOING TO FACE IT HEAD ON. THE
SECOND THING PAUL FACED THIS DAY IN ATHENS WAS SELF-RIGHTEOUS
ORTHODOXY, SELF-RIGHTEOUS ORTHODOXY. LOOK IN VERSE 17,
“THEREFORE DISPUTED HE IN THE SYNAGOGUES, OR IN THE SYNAGOGUE
WITH THE JEWS, AND WITH THE”" UNDERSCORE THIS, “THE DEVOUT
PERSONS, AND IN THE MARKET DAILY WITH THEM THAT MET HIM.” NOW,
PAUL IS NOT FACING IDOLATRY; HE'S FACING THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN
THE ONE TRUE GOD. BUT THEY ARE SELF-SATISFIED. THEY DO NOT KNOW
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD. THESE
ARE THE [CLICK-CLICK] RESPECTABLE SINNERS. THERE'RE
MANY IN THIS BUILDING LIKE THAT TODAY AND LISTENING TO ME. YOU
LOOK DOWN UPON OTHERS WITH THEIR SUPERSTITION, BUT YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN YOURSELF IN NEED OF A SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD BEEN THIS SAME KIND OF A SELF-RIGHTEOUS
BIGOT TILL HE MET THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
AND HAD HIS LIFE TRANSFORMED. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO MEET MANY IN
THIS CITY WHO MAY NOT BE OPEN, DEVOUT IDOLATERS, BUT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE SELF-RIGHTEOUS AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO NEED, SEE
THEIR NEED OF THE SAVIOR. THERE'S A THIRD CATEGORY THAT
THE APOSTLE PAUL MET THIS DAY IN ATHENS, AND THIS WAS
SOPHISTICATED PHILOSOPHY, SOPHISTICATED PHILOSOPHY. THESE
ARE NOT, AH, SUPERSTITIOUS IDOLATERS, THESE ARE NOT THE,
AH, SELF-RIGHTEOUS ORTHODOX, BUT THESE ARE THEY WHO SEE
THEMSELVES AS INTELLECTUAL GIANTS. WE'RE GOING TO FACE
THOSE. LOOK IN ACTS CHAPTER 17 VERSE 18, “THEN CERTAIN
PHILOSOPHERS OF THE EPICUREANS, AND OF THE STOICS, ENCOUNTERED
HIM. SOME SAID, ‘WHAT WILL THIS BABBLER SAY?' OTHERS, SOME, ‘HE
SEEMETH TO BE A SETTER FORTH OF STRANGE GODS' BECAUSE,” AH, “HE
PREACHED UNTO THEM JESUS, AND THE RESURRECTION.” NOW, I'VE
ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT ATHENS WAS NOT ONLY THE CULTURAL, BUT THE
INTELLECTUAL CENTER OF THE WORLD AT THAT TIME, AND PHILOSOPHERS
CLUSTERED TO THE CITY. PHILOSOPHY ABOUNDED. NOW, WHAT
IS PHILOSOPHY? THE WORD LITERALLY MEANS A LOVE OF
KNOWLEDGE. SOMEBODY SAID, “PHILOSOPHY IS THAT SYSTEM THAT
TELLS US WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW IN WORDS WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND.” HAS
PHILOSOPHY MET THE NEED OF A MAN'S HEART? LET ME READ TO YOU
WHAT SOME NOTED PHILOSOPHER SAID ABOUT PHILOSOPHY. SCHOPENHAUER,
WORLD FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER, GOT TO THE BOTTOM LINE AND HE SAID
THIS, “LIFE IS A CURSE OF ENDLESS CRAVINGS AND ENDLESS
UNHAPPINESS.” WELL, FOR HIM, PHILOSOPHY WAS A DEAD-END ROAD.
HUXLEY, BRILLIANT MAN, JULIAN, JULIUS HUXLEY WROTE THIS, “IT
SEEMS TO ME,” HE'S LOOKING AT, AT THE HUMAN RACE, AND HE SAYS,
“IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE ARE A CANCER ON THE GLOBE.” THAT'S
PHILOSOPHY. BERTRAM RUSSELL, ARROGANT, CONCEITED, BUT HONEST
ENOUGH TO SAY, “PHILOSOPHY PROVED A WASHOUT TO ME.” H. G.
WELLS, HAVE YOU HEARD THAT NAME? THE NOTED HISTORIAN AND
PHILOSOPHER SAID THIS, AND I QUOTE, “UNLESS THERE IS A MORE
ABUNDANT SCHEME BEFORE MANKIND, THIS SCHEME OF SPACE AND TIME IS
A BAD JOKE, AN EMPTY LAUGH BRAYING ACROSS THE MYSTERIES”"
OUR OWN DR. ROBERT G. LEE, FORMER PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH,
SAID, “PHILOSOPHY IS A CHUNK OF CLOUDBANK BUTTERED WITH THE
NIGHT WIND.” HE KNEW THAT PHILOSOPHY, THE LOVE OF
KNOWLEDGE, CAN NEVER SATISFY THE DEEPEST LONGING OF THE HUMAN
HEART. AND HERE'S THE APOSTLE PAUL, THERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF
ATHENS, AND HE SEES THIS IDOLATRY, HE SEES THIS
ORTHODOXY, HE SEES THIS PHILOSOPHY. WHAT KIND OF
PHILOSOPHY WAS IT? WELL, THERE WAS, FIRST OF ALL, THE
PHILOSOPHY OF, AH, PLEASURE. LOOK IN ACTS 17:18, “THEN
CERTAIN PHILOSOPHERS OF THE EPICUREANS.” WHO WERE THE
EPICUREANS? EPICURUS LIVED ABOUT 300 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST AND HE
HAD A PHILOSOPHY THAT SAID THIS, SIMPLY, THAT, “YOU REALLY CAN'T
MAKE SENSE OUT OF LIFE.” AH, “THE SEARCH FOR REASON OR FOR
PURE TRUTH BY REASON IS, IS IMPOSSIBLE. YOU'RE NEVER GOING
TO FIND ABSOLUTE TRUTH.” AND SO, WHAT EPICURUS SAID IS THIS,
“ENJOY YOURSELF. THIS IS ALL YOU HAVE. THIS IS ALL YOU CAN BE
SURE OF.” AND SO HE SAYS, “THE WISEST THING IS PLEASURE BASED
ON YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.” AND WE TALKED TODAY
ABOUT EPICUREANS, LOVERS OF PLEASURE. AND, AH, WE SEE THIS
ALL AROUND. WHAT ARE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY LIVING FOR? WHAT IS
THEIR PHILOSOPHY? IT'S JUST A PHILOSOPHY OF PLEASURE. AS A
MATTER OF FACT, ONE SAID, “EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY, FOR
TOMORROW YOU DIE.” THAT'S THE EPICUREAN. SOME YEARS AGO, A
BEER COMPANY PUT IT IN A SLOGAN. YOU WILL REMEMBER THE SLOGAN,
“YOU ONLY GO THROUGH LIFE ONCE”" SO WHAT? THAT'S RIGHT, “GRAB ALL
THE GUSTO YOU CAN GET.” “YOU ONLY GO THROUGH LIFE ONCE, GRAB
ALL THE GUSTO YOU CAN GET”" THAT'S THE EPICUREANS. NOW,
FOLKS, THIS STUFF IS NOT, AH, NEW TO US; IT'S ONE OF THE
MOLDIEST, DUSTIEST THINGS AROUND. AH, THERE WAS THE
PHILOSOPHY OF PLEASURE TAUGHT BY THE EPICUREANS. GO BACK TO VERSE
18 AGAIN. AND THERE WAS ALSO THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRIDE. “THEN
CERTAIN PHILOSOPHIES OF THE EPICUREANS, AND OF THE STOICS
ENCOUNTERED HIM.” NOW, WHO WERE THE STOICS? THEY WERE LED BY A
PHILOSOPHER NAMED ZENO. AND WHAT, WHAT DID THE, AH, STOICISM
BELIEVE? WELL, IT'S SORT OF A, A FORM OF FATALISM, THAT
EVERYTHING IS JUST HAPPENING TO US, THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANY REAL CHOICE. THEY WERE REALLY PANTHEISTS; THAT IS,
BELIEVING THAT, AH, “EVERYTHING IS GOD AND GOD IS EVERYTHING,
AND, AND, THEREFORE, WE'RE JUST CAUGHT UP AND SWEPT UP IN IT,
AND LIFE HAS NO REAL, VITAL MEANING.” AND SO, YOU JUST, AH,
JUST SIT BACK AND ENDURE IT. IT WAS REALLY A FORM OF
INTELLECTUAL PRIDE. AND THEY JUST SMIRKED AT THOSE WHO
THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD SOME ANSWER. IT WAS SELF-SUFFICIENCY
BUILT ON NIHILISM. STOICISM; JUST SITTING AROUND. NOW, THE,
THE STOICS AND THE EPICUREANS ARE WITH US TODAY. THE TWIN
PHILOSOPHIES OF PLEASURE AND PRIDE, THEY'RE WITH US TODAY. I
MEAN, THESE ANCIENT GODS ARE WITH US TODAY. THESE
PHILOSOPHIES ARE WITH US TODAY. THIS STERILE ORTHODOXY THAT
FEELS NO NEED OF GOD IS WITH US TODAY. NOW, HERE'S THE SECOND
THING I WANT TO LAY ON YOUR HEART. NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING
TO, AH, CONFRONT THESE THINGS, NUMBER TWO, YOU CAN EXPRESS
CONFIDENCE IN YOUR FAITH. I WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THIS. I DON'T
WANT YOU TO THROW UP YOUR HANDS AND SAY, “WELL, HA, HA, WHAT IS
THE USE THEN? WE'RE UP AGAINST ODDS TOO GREAT FOR US.” OH, NO,
YOU'RE NOT. YOU CAN EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN YOUR FAITH. LOOK,
IF YOU WILL, NOW IN ACTS CHAPTER 17 VERSES 19 THROUGH 21, “AND
THEY TOOK HIM,” THAT IS, PAUL, “AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE AREOP.
OPAGUS, SAYING, ‘MAY WE KNOW WHAT NEW DOCTRINE WHEREOF THOU
SPEAKEST?'” THEY ALWAYS WANTED THEIR EARS TICKLED. THEY SAID,
“LET'S, LET'S LET THIS STRANGER TALK.” “‘FOR THOU BRINGEST
CERTAIN STRANGE THINGS TO OUR EARS, FOR WE WOULD KNOW
THEREFORE WHAT THESE THINGS MEAN.' FOR ALL THE ATHENIANS AND
STRANGERS WHICH WERE THERE SPENT THEIR TIME IN NOTHING ELSE, BUT
EITHER TO TELL, OR TO HEAR SOME NEW THING.” HUH, THEY SAID,
“LET'S HEAR WHAT THIS BABBLER WILL SAY.” THEY HAD A PLACE
THERE CALLED MARS' HILL; I'VE BEEN UP ON MARS' HILL MANY
TIMES, WHERE THEY, THEY WOULD COME AND MAKE THEIR DISCOURSES.
PAUL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY NOW. REMEMBER, HE'S IN THE CITY OF
ATHENS. HE'S SEEN ALL OF THIS. AND THEY SAY, “HEY, BUD, LET'S
HEAR FROM YOU.” IF THAT HAD BEEN YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? WOULD
YOU BE READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER? NOW, PAUL IS GIVEN A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. REMEMBER NOW THAT HE'S LOOKING AROUND AT
THE ACCOUTREMENTS OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF PERICLES. REMEMBER NOW
HE'S IN THE SHADOW OF THE PHILOSOPHERS, PLATO AND SOCRATES
AND ZENO AND EPICURUS. REMEMBER NOW THAT ALL OF THIS, THIS
BEAUTY IN, INDESCRIBABLE BEAUTY IS ALL AROUND HIM. BUT THE
APOSTLE PAUL KNEW THAT THIS HUMAN WISDOM AND BEAUTY WERE
MAGNIFICENT FOOLISHNESS WITHOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. RELIGION
WAS A MOCKERY AND BEAUTY WAS VAIN WITHOUT THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST. AND SO, PAUL LOOKS AT THEM. HE ALL, HE ALMOST SAYS
SOMETHING HUMOROUS. HE REALIZES THEY HAD COVERED ALL OF THE
BASES. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, DOWN IN VERSE 22, “THEN PAUL STOOD IN
THE MIDST OF MARS' HILL, AND SAID, ‘YE MEN OF ATHENS, I
PERCEIVE THAT IN ALL THINGS YOU ARE TOO SUPERSTITIOUS. FOR I
PASSED BY AND BEHELD YOUR DEVOTIONS, AND I FOUND AN ALTAR
WITH THIS INSCRIPTION, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. WHOM THEREFORE YE
IGNORANTLY WORSHIP, HIM DECLARE I UNTO YOU.'” PAUL, WALKING DOWN
THE STREETS, HERE'S A GOD HERE, HERE'S A GOD HERE, HERE'S A GOD
HERE, HERE'S A GOD HERE, A GOD HERE. AND THEN IN CASE THEY,
THEY MISSED IT, THEY PUT A GOD ON THE SHELF AND SAID, “THE
UNKNOWN GOD. WE DON'T WANT TO OFFEND HIM, WHOEVER HE IS. WE'RE
GOING TO WORSHIP HIM.” YOU SEE, WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS
COVERING ALL THE BASES, LIKE THE WOMAN WHO MARRIED FOUR MEN IN
SUCCESSION. ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE SHOW, THREE TO GET
READY, FOUR TO GO. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] SHE'S COVERING ALL THE
BASES. THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DOING. NOW, PAUL BEGINS TO
SPEAK, AND I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT PAUL SAYS ABOUT GOD, AND
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HURRY. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SAID? PAUL
BEGINS TO MENTION THE ONE TRUE GOD. HE BEGINS TO STAND FOR THE
FAITH IN A PAGAN SOCIETY. NUMBER ONE, HE SAYS THIS, THAT GOD IS
THE GOD OF CREATIVE POWER. LOOK IN AT SS, ACTS 17 VERSE 24. HE
SAYS, “GOD THAT MADE THE WORLD AND ALL THINGS THEREIN, SEEING
THAT HE IS THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, DWELLETH NOT IN
TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS; NEITHER IS WORSHIPPED WITH MEN'S HANDS,
AS THOUGH HE NEEDED ANY THING, SEEING HE GIVETH LIFE, GIVETH TO
ALL LIFE, AND BREATH, AND ALL THINGS.” AH, WHAT PAUL SAID
ABOUT THIS GOD IS HE MADE EVERYTHING. HE'S THE GOD OF
CREATIVE POWER. THEREFORE, HE STANDS ABOVE AND DISTINCT FROM
CREATION. NOW, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN AMERICA TODAY IS THIS, WE'VE
GONE FROM FATHER GOD TO MOTHER EARTH. HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW MUCH
RELIGION THERE IS BASED ON THE EARTH TODAY? IN OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TODAY WE CANNOT CELEBRATE EASTER, BUT WE CAN
CELEBRATE EARTH DAY SO WE CAN GO OUT AND WORSHIP DIRT. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] THINK ABOUT IT. PAUL, WITH THIS ONE STATEMENT, HE
BANISHES ALL THE GODS, ALL OF THE GODS OF ATHENS, AND HE SAYS,
“YOU CAN'T PUT THIS GOD IN A CORNER IN YOUR TEMPLE. YOU CAN'T
PUT THIS GOD ON A SHELF. HE IS THE GOD OF CREATION.” BUT, ALSO,
NUMBER TWO; HE'S THE GOD OF PERSONAL LOVE. LOOK IN VERSES 26
AND FOLLOWING, “AND HATH MADE OF ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS OF MEN FOR
TO DWELL ON THE EARTH, FOR TO DWELL ON ALL THE FACE OF THE
EARTH, AND HATH DETERMINED THE TIMES BEFORE APPOINTED, AND THE
BOUNDS OF THEIR HABITATIONS”" NOW, NOTICE THIS. WHY DID HE
CREATE THEM? “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. FOR IN HIM WE LIVE, AND MOVE, AND HAVE OUR
BEING.” HE IS A GOD OF INFINITE LOVE WHO LOVES US. WHY IS
IDOLATRY THE GREATEST SIN? BECAUSE IT IS A REPUDIATION OF
THE VERY PURPOSE OF LIFE. WHY DO YOU EXIST? WHY THIS PLANET? WHY
THIS CREATION? GOD MADE YOU. GOD CREATED YOU. AND GOD CREATED YOU
TO KNOW HIM AND TO LOVE HIM. AND DOWN IN YOUR HEART, DOWN IN YOUR
HEART YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO KNOW HIM AND LOVE HIM. I HAVE A
PASTOR FRIEND, NELSON PRICE. BROTHER JIM, YOU KNOW HIM.
NELSON PRICE PASTORED IN MARIETTA, GEORGIA. HE HAD A
FRIEND NAMED CLAUDE BROWN. CLAUDE BROWN HAD A TRUCKING
FIRM. BEFORE HE EMPLOYS ANYBODY, GIVES THEM A POLYGRAPH TEST. ONE
OF THE QUESTIONS ON THE POLYGRAPH IS, “DO YOU BELIEVE IN
GOD?” IT'S A LIE DETECTOR TEST. HE HAS A SWORN AFFIDAVIT FROM
THE MAN WHO GAVE THE POLYGRAPH TEST. HE SAID IN EVERY INSTANCE,
IN EVERY INSTANCE WHEN A PERSON PROFESSES TO BE AN ATHEIST AND
HE COMES TO THAT QUESTION, THE POLYGRAPH SAYS, AND HE SAYS,
“NO, I DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD”" THE POLYGRAPH SAYS HE'S LYING.
EVERY ONE! EVERY ONE! HE'S LYING. WHY? BECAUSE DOWN IN THE
HUMAN HEART, CRUSHED BY THE TEMPTER, FEELINGS LIE BURIED
THAT GRACE CAN RESTORE. WHAT IS PAUL SAYING? HE IS THE GOD OF
CREATION. HE IS THE GOD OF INFINITE LOVE WHO MADE US TO
KNOW HIM AND WORSHIP HIM. AND HE IS THE GOD OF SUPERNATURAL
SALVATION. LOOK IN VERSE 31, “BECAUSE GOD HATH APPOINTED A
DAY, IN WHICH HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THAT
MAN WHO HE HATH ORDAINED; WHEREOF HE HATH GIVEN ASSURANCE
UNTO ALL MEN, IN THAT HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.” NOW, PAUL IS
TALKING ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. HE'S TALKING ABOUT
A SAVIOR, THEREFORE, WHO SUFFERED, BLED, AND DIED ON A
CROSS, WAS BURIED, WALKED OUT OF THE GRAVE, AND SHOWN TO BE THE
SON OF GOD WITH POWER BY THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. HE'S
NOT ASHAMED TO PREACH THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST THERE ON
MARS' HILL. THUMB, SOME THOUGHT HE WAS INSANE, BUT HE DID IT. I
HAVE MORE THAT I WANT TO SAY ON THAT, BUT I WANT TO RUSH ON TO
THE THIRD POINT. YOU SHOULD EXPECT CONVERTS TO YOUR FAITH.
YOU SHOULD EXPECT CONVERTS TO YOUR FAITH. LISTEN. AH, THERE,
THERE'RE GOING TO BE, THERE'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGES TO YOUR
FAITH. BUT EXPECT CONVERTS TO YOUR FAITH. WHEN YOU SHARE THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST, I CAN TELL YOU AFTER MANY YEARS OF MINISTRY
AND PREACHING, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL BELIEVE. NOTICE IN ACTS
CHAPTER 17 VERSES 32 AND 34, “AND WHEN THEY HEARD OF THE
RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, SOME MOCKED, AND OTHERS SAID, ‘WE
WILL HEAR THEE AGAIN OF THIS MATTER.' SO PAUL DEPARTED FROM
AMONG THEM. HOWBEIT CERTAIN MEN CLAVE UNTO HIM, AND BELIEVED”"
AND LET ME JUST STOP RIGHT THERE. THE GOSPEL HAS POWER TO
CHANGE LIVES. THIS MORNING, AND EVERY TIME WHEN I PREACH, ANY
TIME YOU WITNESS, THERE WILL BE ONE OF THREE RESPONSES. FIRST OF
ALL, THERE WILL BE DERISION. SOME MOCKED. SOME LAUGHED. ARE
YOU WILLING TO BE LAUGHED AT FOR YOUR FAITH? DID YOU KNOW THAT
SOME PEOPLE WOULD RATHER FACE A LION THAN FACE RIDICULE? WHAT A
FEARFUL WEAPON THAT DERISION IS. THEY LAUGHED AT THE APOSTLE
PAUL. NOW, PAUL WAS BRILLIANT. HE HAD THE EQUIVALENCY OF A
TRIPLE PH.D., BUT HE WAS WILLING TO BE THOUGHT A FOOL FOR
CHRIST'S SAKE. SOME OF YOU LADIES ARE BEING LAUGHED AT BY
YOUR UNSAVED HUSBANDS. SOME OF YOU KIDS AT SCHOOL MAY BE
LAUGHED AT, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNIVERSITIES, BY YOUR
SOPHISTICATED PROFESSOR BECAUSE YOU'RE AN OLD-FASHIONED BIBLE
BELIEVER. SOME OF YOU BUSINESSMEN MAY BE LAUGHED AT
BECAUSE YOU KEEP A BIBLE ON YOUR DESK AND BOW YOUR HEAD IN PRAYER
IN THE CAFETERIA AND THANK GOD FOR YOUR FOOD. YOU WILL BE
LAUGHED AT. HARRY IRONSIDE, FORMER PASTOR OF MOODY CHURCH IN
CHICAGO, WAS ON A FERRYBOAT AND THEY WERE GOING FROM OAKLAND,
AH, AH, TO SAN FRANCISCO, AND THEY WERE SINGING AND
FELLOWSHIPPING AND HAVING, AH, LOVE OF GOD. AND A MAN
CHALLENGED THEM, AND SAID, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” HE SAID, “WE'RE
WORSHIPPING GOD.” HE SAID, “YOU'RE A BUNCH OF FOOLS.” HE
SAID, “THAT'S TRUE.” HE SAID, “WE'RE A BUNCH OF FOOLS, BUT
WE'RE FOOLS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. WHOSE FOOL ARE YOU?” [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] WHOSE FOOL ARE YOU? SOME LAUGHED. AND THEN OTHERS
SAID, “WE WILL HEAR YOU AGAIN”" NOT ONLY DERISION, BUT DELAY.
THEY JUST PUT IT OFF. BUT THE BIBLE SAYS, “BOAST NOT THYSELF
OF TOMORROW, FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH”"
AND THERE ARE SOME OF YOU WHO ARE NOT GOING TO LAUGH, BUT
YOU'LL JUST SIMPLY SAY, “WELL, NOT TODAY. PERHAPS TOMORROW.
SOME OTHER TIME I'LL GIVE MY HEART TO JESUS CHRIST.” ONE OF
THE DEVIL'S FAVORITE WAYS TO SEND A SOUL TO HELL. SOMEONE HAS
WISELY SAID, “THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS”"
IF YOU EVER INTEND TO GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS, DO IT NOW. THERE
WAS DERISION. THERE WAS DELAY. BUT THERE WAS DECISION. AND THE
BIBLE SAYS, “AND OTHERS BELIEVED.” AND I'VE BEEN
PREACHING THIS BOOK LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THERE IS POWER IN THE GOSPEL. AND I KNOW THAT NOT EVERY SEED
WILL SPROUT, BUT I KNOW WHEN YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
CHRIST, WHEN YOU SHOW THIS GOD TO BE THE GOD OF CREATION, THE
GOD OF PERSONAL LOVE, THE GOD OF SALVATION, THE GOD WHO MADE IT
ALL, THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE HUMAN HEART THAT WILL SAY, “YES,
THAT IS THE TRUTH, AND I WILL ACCEPT THAT AS MY TRUTH.” YEARS
AGO, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, THERE WAS A STEAMBOAT IN THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER THAT MADE A TRIP FROM VICKSBURG DOWN TO NEW
ORLEANS, AND THAT BOAT LEFT EVERY WEDNESDAY. IT WAS THE
PLUSHEST RIVERBOAT ON THE OLD MISSISSIPPI. ONE NIGHT A FIRE
BROKE OUT IN THIS, THAT STEAMBOAT, AND THE CAPTAIN SAID
TO THE FIRST MATE, “GO DOWN THE HALLS, THE CORRIDORS, WAKEN THE
PEOPLE, TELL THEM THE SHIP IS ON FIRE. DO IT AS QUICKLY AS YOU
CAN.” THEY HAD NO ALARM SYSTEM. THIS FIRST MATE GOT UP AND BEGAN
TO RUN DOWN THE HALL OF THAT SHIP, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, SAY,
“GET UP! GET UP! GET UP! THE SHIP IS ON FIRE!” DO YOU KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED? THERE WERE SOME WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE AND
THEY JUST LAUGHED AND WENT BACK TO SLEEP. THEY THOUGHT PERHAPS
IT WAS A PRANK. THERE WERE OTHERS WHO GOT ANGRY. THEY
THOUGHT PERHAPS SOME DRUNK DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT. THEY ROLLED OVER AND WENT BACK TO SLEEP. THERE WERE OTHERS
WHO WERE SLEEPING SO SOUNDLY THEY NEVER, EVER EVEN HEARD THE
KNOCK. AND THERE WERE OTHERS WHO AWAKENED, GATHERED THEIR THINGS,
GOT OUT BEFORE THE FIRE CLOSED THE CORRIDORS AND SAVED THEIR
LIVES. DERISION; DON'T LAUGH YOUR WAY INTO HELL. DELAY; DON'T
TURN OVER AND GO BACK TO SLEEP. DECISION; GIVE YOUR HEART TO
JESUS. FRIEND, LISTEN TO ME. I DIDN'T COME HERE TO MAKE A TALK.
I CAME HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT JESUS, TO TELL YOU THAT GOD
LOVES YOU AND HE WANTS TO SAVE YOU, AND HE WILL SAVE YOU IF
YOU'LL TRUST HIM. IF I COULD DO IT FOR YOU, I WOULD, BUT I WANT
YOU TO COME TO JESUS AND DO IT TODAY. BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER.
HEADS ARE BOWED; EYES ARE CLOSED. IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED,
CHRIST STANDS AT THE DOOR. IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE AND OPEN
THE DOOR, HE WILL COME IN. WOULD YOU PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THIS,
“DEAR GOD, I NEED YOU. I WANT YOU. JESUS, YOU DIED TO SAVE ME.
YOU PROMISED TO SAVE ME. YOU SHED YOUR BLOOD TO SH, SAVE ME
IF I WOULD TRUST YOU. I DO TRUST YOU. I BELIEVE YOU'RE THE SON OF
GOD. I RECEIVE YOU INTO MY HEART TODAY, NOW, THIS MOMENT, NOW, AS
MY LORD AND SAVIOR. I GIVE YOU MY LIFE AND I RECEIVE YOUR LIFE
INTO ME. SAVE ME, LORD JESUS. AND BEGIN NOW TO MAKE ME THE
PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE. AND GIVE ME THE COURAGE TO MAKE IT
PUBLIC. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY. AMEN. FRIEND, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER
MOMENT OF YOUR TIME? AND MAY I ASK YOU A VERY PERSONAL
QUESTION? DO YOU KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? OR IN OTHER WORDS,
HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED? TO BE SAVED MEANS THAT EVERY SIN IS
FORGIVEN. TO BE SAVED MEANS THAT GOD, THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT,
HAS COME TO LIVE IN US, TO DWELL IN US. AND TO BE SAVED MEANS
THAT WHEN WE DIE OR WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO
HEAVEN. NOW WE CANNOT EARN SALVATION; IT IS THE GIFT OF
GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS, “FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH
FAITH.” GRACE MEANS GOD'S UNMERITED LOVE AND FAVOR TOWARDS
SINNERS LIKE WE ARE. WOULD YOU PUT YOUR FAITH WHERE GOD HAS PUT
YOUR SINS, ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! WOULD YOU PRAY TODAY AND
SAY, “LORD JESUS, I NEED YOU, I WANT YOU, I RECEIVE YOU AS MY
PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR. SAVE ME LORD JESUS.” IF YOU PRAY A
PRAYER LIKE THAT, WRITE US AND LET US KNOW. AND, UH, WE WILL
SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE TO GET YOU STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN
LIFE. WE HOPE THAT TODAY'S MESSAGE HAS BEEN AN
ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU AS WE'VE STUDIED GOD'S WORD TOGETHER. FOR
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