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ACTS 17:22-29

"KNOWING THE UNKNOWN GOD"

Intro: Paul had come to Athens for an R&R. As he walked about this city that represented  the
       Apex of Greek culture, he was stirred as he saw their pantheism. He began to  share in
       the Agura daily.

I. "I PERCEIVE YOU ARE VERY RELIGIOUS"
        A. Indeed they were.
                1. Above Paul was the Acropolis, with the Erechtheum and Ayekee.
                2. Below him the market place known as the Agura with its many  temples and
                   altars.
                3. The Greeks had deified about everything.
                        a. The forces of nature, planets, stars.
                        b. The emotions of man -- love, joy, hate, sorrow.
                4. In case there might be some god that was aver looked, they erected  an 
                   altar to the "unknown god."
        B. Paul was saying this God does exist and you can known Him.

II. WHO IS THE UNKNOWN GOD?
        A. The God who created the world and all of the life forces within.
                1. In their warship they were guilty of worshipping the created rather  than 
                   the creator.
                2. So many today guilty of same error. 
        B. "Lord of heaven and earth."
                1. Over all of these forces of nature.
                2. Over all the emotions of man.
                        a. He doesn't dwell in these Temples made with hands.
                        b. The heavens cannot contain Him.
                        c. This is not the house of God.
                                1. He doesn't dwell here as opposed to some other place.
                                2. We did not build this for God to dwell in, but for us
                                        to worship God in.
                        d. Men are only deceiving you when they tell you that you
                                must build some lavish church for the glory of God. He
                                was happy with the tent, "the place of meeting."
                3. Not worshipped with our hands.
                        a. i.e,  Our handiwork,  these golden or silver altars that
                                adorned their streets, where people were encouraged to
                                leave their coins; as though He were a beggar and needed
                                their support.
                4. He is a giving God.
                        a. He has given you life, breath, alI things.
                        b. He doesn't depend on us,  we depend on Him.
                5. From one stock, Adam, He has created all the nations. 
                        a. He rules over all nations.
                                1. Appoints their boundaries.
                                2. The length of their stay.
                        b. He rules over your boundaries and sojourn.
                6. He is not far from us.
                        a. All religions think of God as being very far away.
                        b. The distance is moral not positional.
                        c. "In Him we live and move and have our being."
                                1. I am surrounded by Him.
                                2. I cannot escape Him. 
                7. "We are His offspring."
                        a. We have not evolved from the lower forms of nature.
                        b. "We have fallen from the image of God"
                        c. Man searching for his roots is looking in the wrong direction.

III. HOW TO KNOW THE UNKNOWN GOD.
        A. verse 27, "Seek the Lord that you might find Him."
                1. He surrounds you.
        B. "Repent" which means to turn.
        C. The unknown God has been revealed by His Son.
                1. Matt., "No man knows the Father but the Son, and to whomsoever He  will
                   reveal Him."