Acts 17:16-21 – While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” As Paul walked around Athens he viewed many, if not all, of the estimated more than three thousand idols around in the town. The many idols must have shouted out to Paul that the devil claimed these people as his own. In the face of every idol was the hated enemy threatening Paul to leave. He shouted at Paul’s face that these people belonged to him. Yet all this had quite the opposite effect, it aroused Paul to lust for the salvation of the people. So what did he do? He talked to them. He reasoned with them. He was not intimidated by this city with supposedly the highest intellect. They worshipped their own intellect and supposedly great knowledge. Paul, a scholar and intellectual himself, understood that though these men possessed thoughts and theories that intimidated some, he was not intimidated. Paul understood one simple truth, they were all wrong. He knew that the devil did not care what any person believes at long as it was not the Gospel. He hates all people, even those who worship him, he wants them all to suffer in eternity with him. So whatever they believe is okay with him, just not the Gospel. It could be one false belief, or three thousand false beliefs, just, he thinks, it cannot be the only truth and way that leads to salvation, the Gospel. What Paul knew was that he knew the truth. If one knows the truth, then all lies are exposed. Anything that does not line up with the Word of God is a lie.
Family, we can find witnessing so difficult because we don’t know everything about what false philosophies and religions believe, so we think we cannot witness to them. Not true. It is a lying fear the enemy whispers into our ears. Jesus has said that the Holy Spirit will guide us and give us what to say (Matthew 10:19). Jesus said it and He meant it. We often let the wrong thoughts get into our heads and into our churches. For instance, we wonder what we should do when someone says to us “I don’t believe in the Bible so don’t quote it to me. It means nothing to me.” What, do we shrink back and let them dictate what we may say or not? It is a bullying and controlling statement. What if we said “The Bible defines my beliefs and so it is unfair to say that I cannot quote what holds all that I believe and would like to share with you? Would you allow me to say that you cannot quote or recount what any teacher, philosopher, or book from which you have developed your beliefs. Since knowledge is always based on something, true or not, then you would have nothing to say. So to tell me that I cannot speak what the Bible says then, if you are a fair minded person, you cannot speak anything the world has taught you, which mostly, is not what I believe.” Family who says that the other person can control the conversation? A conversation is two people who are equally able to express themselves. We know this powerful declaration from God “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) We cannot make this claim of our own words, but God who cannot lie, has said it to be true of His words. So we must not stop speaking His Word, whether whom we talk to understands that or not. What the Word of God states will have an effect. The Word of God says of itself “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Consider that we do not have to say “Hebrews 4:12 states…” Rather just state the truth. Quoting chapter and verse means little to them (unless they ask). What matters is the truth and the truth is what enlightens and frees, not our knowledge of what is the man designated chapter and verse. So tell them the Truth. We don’t have to say “the Bible says” because we are releasing living the living Word that has power in and of itself because it comes from God Himself. Paul was not afraid of speaking to anyone, intellectual or otherwise.
We may think “Well if I knew as much as Paul I would not be timid either. Or if Paul was with me then I could be bold. Yet we must remember what Paul said about the words he used “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4) Paul depended on the Holy Spirit to give Him the words to say. Also he did not depend on his own charisma, but on the power of the Holy Spirit to convict and change the souls of man. He knew that he spoke the words he was given and he knew that only God, and not himself, actually saved souls. So we don’t need to have the knowledge of Paul, and we don’t need Paul with us. We have something and someone much greater, we have the Word of God to share and we have the Holy Spirit with us. We have all we need. And remember, not all that heard Paul straight away became Christians, not at all. Paul taught us that conversion is a process by the Holy Spirit, there are usually stages of being called by God. Paul said that “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) So we do what God calls us to do and God is the one uses us to grow His Truth in the hearts, minds and spirits of people.
So what is our role, merely to share the Gospel of Truth wherever we are and whenever we can. The enemy makes us timid, but God calls us to be bold (1 Corinthians 16:13). Our God, who defeated the enemy is with us. We cannot fail. We only fail by not obeying and sharing the Word. When we do that, when we believe the lies of the enemy and do not witness, then we show greater honor to the enemy then to our Savior and Lord who suffered and died for us. Let us praise and glorify God by knowing that as we share, we are victorious. Let’s just obey God and leave everything else to Him. Praise our God! Really, He has called us to a simple life, just love and obey. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Have fun, obey God, and walk in the freedom and victory we already have received from Jesus. Praise God! Yes, praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”