THE UNKNOWN GOD
Today’s Reading: Acts 17-18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
The Parthenon in Athens is the most famous surviving building of Ancient Greece and one of the most famous buildings in the world. The Parthenon has stood atop the Acropolis of Athens for nearly 2,500 years and was built to give thanks to Athena, the city's patron goddess, for the salvation of Athens and Greece in the Persian Wars. The building was officially called the Temple of Athena the Virgin. "Parthenon" comes from the Greek word parthenos, "virgin."
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Acts 17:30-31
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.
Our key verses are taken from Paul’s message delivered while he was standing on a rise of rock just above the marketplace of Athens. Towering above him, already 500 years old, was the Parthenon. Imagine the boldness of Paul as he proclaimed Jesus and compared Him to the altar they had erected “to the unknown god.” What an example for us! We must never allow great temples of man’s creation, ridicule or persecution to intimidate us in any way. Paul spoke fearlessly and wisely. He even quoted one of the Greek poets. It has been said that “all truth is God’s truth.” Paul knew the Scripture found in Proverbs 11:30b, “He who wins souls is wise.” God promises wisdom to us when we ask Him (James 1:5). Ask! Open our hearts and mouths to those we encounter today. “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Just start to witness…you’ll be amazed where God takes you!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord, grant me the grace to practice today this very message being shared with me and my blog partners. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When I have preached on the streets, I have had to fight and win over fear. It was the same when I went on TV for the first time almost 53 years ago. It’s really no different from the hesitation I feel in one-to-one ministry. I’ve had to just start speaking. Starting is the hard part. Once I’ve started, I know I have to keep going. Of course, I’ve had to be willing to fall apart and look like the biggest fool around. But God never let me down! Also, God lets me know when to stop. The thoughts which I’m expressing cease to come to me. I’ve heard of the person who had nothing to say, but he had to have a place to say it! We, however, have the most important message in the whole world. A preacher was asked how he got his message across so clearly. He answered, “I tell them what I’m going to tell them. Then I tell them what I’m telling them. Then I tell them what I told them.” May I always remember that “Jesus” is my message.
Yours for communicating “Jesus” to the whole world and one-to-one to every individual we meet,
David
Amen, David Mainse, amen!!! Oh, that we know the power of Jesus above all things…amen!!!! And Jesus remains stronger than ever with us, every second of every minute of every hour of every day as we spread the Word and share Him with those we meet, along the way.
“Above All” by Michael W. Smith
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders
The world has ever known
Above all wealth
And treasures of the earth
There’s no way to measure
What You’re worth
Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all
Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders
The world has ever known
Above all wealth
And treasures of the earth
There’s no way to measure
What You’re worth
Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all
Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all
Like the rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjYiEyu8Si8
Beautiful, Beverlee Thanks.
Amen!
Amen, Beverlee! So meaningful lyrics!
P.S. Blessings dear saints and fellow friends on the blog. May today and this week-end be happy for all!
So happy that my Tablet is all in English now. I had a problem a few days back when the scripture references (blue) came out in “easy to read Arabic”! THEN the tablet started converting all my past scripture references to Arabic?! I think I may have clicked on the Arabic bible tab from Bible Gateway in the past just out of curiosity and that started the whole thing. My son fixed that for me. Can you imagine that my son, Mark, is programming surgical arms for surgeons to use FROM REMOTE (OUTSIDE OF THE PATIENT’S HOSPITAL) locations? Technologies! Information/technology going ahead full speed (as the Bible said it would).
Praise God, Doreen for your son Mark’s amazing work!!! 🙂 Keeping you and your husband Ross in my prayers, today, dear sister-in-Christ!
I love that song. Thank you Jesus!
Thank you Pastor David for your encouragement to spread God’s Word to those around me. blessing to you!
Love Paul’s perseverance! So happy to know you were nervous about engaging souls about Jesus Rev. Our religion is so faith-based that there is nothing to show people when we try to convince them that Jesus lives and God is our Master and Lord; nothing except our bible. I believe, but can understand why others are doubtful.
The pic of the Parthenon in Athens is amazing. How could a man-made structure last so long?
Praying for all dear souls suffering in silence from various illnesses.
Blessings fellow students of this study.
Thank you David, family and fellow bloggers. Love that song Beverlee. Would appreciate your prayers as have had some trials the last few days. Thanks and God bless.
God bless you, dearest Ger, sister-in-Christ. Be assured that our “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. “Selah” There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day” Ps 46:1-5. Rest in the peace of the moment, Ger. “Be still and know that I am God” Ps 46:10.
Thank you for the beautiful song by Michael W Smith. I love his music.
I had a restless night as I have had the flu. I was up at four a.m. and thinking of you Rev. David. Thank you for your faithfulness to this blag.
It is a blessing to so many.
I love being in the book of Acts. It is a very encouraging book of the Bible.
I found some of the OT difficult even after years of study.
God bless all of you that blog. I enjoy reading your comments.
Yes, thank you Pastor David for your perseverance! for your encouragement.
In the same way in which Paul persevered through all the mocking, in the Wisdom of the Lord! Through all trial to gain the Great Prize in Jesus Christ Our Lord!
Psalm 141:3 “set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” only Your words Lord, for Your Glory!
How often in scripture we read “fear not, for I am with you always” and yet we fear man, rather than God!
Thank you Beverlee for that song…what a blessing!!
Thank you Beverly for that inspiring song…Sang along with it so beautiful
so meaningful ….R…
Thank you dear Beverlee for your prayers and those encouraging scriptures. The Lord has just answered a prayer for me here showing that He is still hearing our prayers and is concerned about each one of us even to the small details. Have a good evening Beverlee.
bless the young man Mark and for the work he is doing AMAZING dancing a joyful dance for an answered prayer Ger PRAISE THE LORD someone told me that GOd was very interested in the “Details” and is in the “Details” of life and I find that very amazing! I got out of the house and went swimming and in the tanning booth for a boost, will be doing this most of December…..thankful that I did not have any cold sores….I am thankful that God has provided me some ways to cope with a chemical imbalance…..blessings to everyone…..