WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.379 Brothers and sisters, in Paul's day, Athens was still the symbol of great philosophers. 00:00:06.100 --> 00:00:12.240 This is the city where Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle earned their fame. 00:00:13.019 --> 00:00:17.760 It's also known for its many statues dedicated to gods and goddesses. 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:24.519 Pliny, one of the Roman historians, he reckons that in his day, 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:28.620 it's about maybe the second century, 00:00:29.560 --> 00:00:39.079 he reckons that the statues in Athens, Athens has no less than 73,000 statues. 00:00:40.539 --> 00:00:44.359 That's, I think, Edinburgh has to say, okay, you win. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:47.719 In this case, I will not defend you also. 00:00:48.040 --> 00:00:51.880 You have a lot, but they have 73,000 statues. 00:00:52.120 --> 00:00:57.640 No wonder, Brothers and sisters, they have a god or a goddess for everything. 00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:00.039 They have a goddess for a virgin. 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:03.439 They have a goddess for the virgin getting ready to get married. 00:01:03.820 --> 00:01:11.280 They have a virgin for a woman married without children, married women with children, 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:15.019 married women conceiving a child. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.219 They have every goddess for everything. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:20.960 So they have at least 33,000 statues. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:26.839 The Parthenon, this picture, the temple of Athena, the city's patron goddess, 00:01:27.219 --> 00:01:29.599 was built in 447 BC. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.699 And it was still there in the time of Paul. 00:01:34.539 --> 00:01:40.799 Even today, you can see from the ruins that it was a very wonderful architectural wonder. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:45.379 It was in this setting that we find Paul in this passage. 00:01:46.739 --> 00:01:50.280 But, brothers and sisters, Paul was not in a vocation mood. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:56.459 He was not there for visiting Athens for Athens' fringe. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:57.079 No. 00:01:57.400 --> 00:01:58.700 Or Athens' hokmanai. 00:01:58.819 --> 00:01:59.019 No. 00:01:59.759 --> 00:02:06.519 He was there, and Luke wrote that actually Paul was provoked in his spirit. 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:13.960 While Paul was there waiting for his friends at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him. 00:02:14.740 --> 00:02:18.439 The Greek word used here is paroxinomai. 00:02:18.819 --> 00:02:25.579 It literally means that upset at someone or something involving severe emotional concern. 00:02:26.859 --> 00:02:29.939 But why, brothers and sisters, Paul's spirit was so troubled? 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:37.520 In this beautiful city with all its prosperity, with all its richness, why he was so troubled? 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:43.159 He noticed that the city was full of idols, brothers and sisters. 00:02:44.859 --> 00:02:50.099 He noticed that the people living in the beautiful and wonderful city, 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:56.560 educated and they were secure in political, economic, they were worshipping idols. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:02:59.120 They don't know his living God. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:02.500 They don't glorify the true God. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.460 And that provoked Paul's spirit. 00:03:06.200 --> 00:03:09.520 He was deeply troubled by this fact. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:16.960 So, brothers and sisters, Paul then get himself into action. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:23.879 If you look at verse 17, the word so at the beginning of the verse, 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:24.879 Paul then gets into action. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:33.280 It means that the fact that Paul was provoked in his spirit, it led him into action. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:42.379 So, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:44.419 What we can conclude from this verse? 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:48.899 He reached out, brothers and sisters, every day, day to day. 00:03:49.399 --> 00:03:53.199 He reached out everywhere, in the synagogue, in the marketplace. 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:58.299 This is, don't imagine it's like in Indonesia maybe. 00:03:58.659 --> 00:04:04.419 If we think of markets, it's a place like wet, muddy, very smelly. 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:07.679 You have piles of garbage everywhere. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:10.699 Here, maybe you don't have market like this. 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:15.119 But don't also imagine it's a place like Asda or maybe Lidl. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:16.699 No, it's not a place like that. 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:24.879 Marketplace maybe is more like, maybe today like George Square maybe, or maybe Princess Street Gardens where people gather together. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:32.680 Or maybe, I don't know, maybe like in front of St. Giles where people gather, chatting each other like that. 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:37.379 It's a place where people gather and talk about everything. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:41.079 And a lot of them are like philosophers also there. 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:45.579 So, he engaged with people every day, everywhere, and to everyone. 00:04:45.899 --> 00:04:52.279 To the Jews, to the devout persons or God-fearers, and to those who happened to be there. 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:58.059 It means that to the passers-by, to everyone, to total strangers. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:01.279 He come to them, he spoke to them. 00:05:02.379 --> 00:05:10.219 Some scholars said that because Paul was in Socrates' city, he used Socrates' methods. 00:05:11.799 --> 00:05:18.479 And an ancient description of Socrates has him in the marketplace where it was most crowded. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:23.360 And then Socrates will converse with whomever he met. 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:27.460 So, is Paul here imitating Socrates? 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:28.360 Maybe. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:40.000 But if we observe how Jesus was in his ministry, he always also engaged persons in deep conversations. 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:43.200 And then he went on from there. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:48.959 And I think Paul also did this in the whole book of Acts. 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:53.180 So, he may be using Socrates' method, but maybe not. 00:05:53.539 --> 00:05:57.879 Maybe it's just his way of engaging everybody he met. 00:05:59.419 --> 00:06:03.800 Now, brothers and sisters, before we continue, I want to bring us to maybe our context. 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:05.019 How about us? 00:06:05.539 --> 00:06:06.240 How about us? 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:09.720 We also live in great cities. 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:12.439 Above, it's Jakarta. 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:17.120 Jakarta with its icon, the national monuments. 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:21.040 We don't have that much monument, but we take pride in this one. 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:24.560 We have 50 kilograms of solid gold up there. 00:06:25.960 --> 00:06:30.340 So, we take pride in our one national monument. 00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:34.799 But I think in many ways, Edinburgh is a better city. 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:40.539 And sometimes we forget that we live in such a wonderful city also. 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:41.959 It is clean. 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:43.060 It's safe. 00:06:43.679 --> 00:06:44.519 It's beautiful. 00:06:45.039 --> 00:06:47.099 You have national health service. 00:06:47.859 --> 00:06:51.519 Okay, maybe some of you will say in your heart it's not well funded. 00:06:52.179 --> 00:06:54.139 Okay, I also read that in Metro. 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:58.339 But, you know, it's much, much better than in Indonesia. 00:06:58.339 --> 00:07:08.659 In Indonesia, you will not hear ambulance going to and fro just in minutes arriving. 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:15.120 If an ambulance went by, people will quickly follow behind the ambulance. 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:18.120 That's the password in the midst of the traffic jam. 00:07:18.779 --> 00:07:22.139 And you have to pay for the ambulance service. 00:07:22.719 --> 00:07:25.500 If you don't pay, maybe they will not take you. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:28.259 They will say you take a taxi or something like that. 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:36.279 So, actually, you have a much, much better health service in most of the rest of the world. 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:38.959 And you have nice government funded schools. 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:43.859 Students don't only learn theories but also practical skills. 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:47.379 Even a year here, my daughter learned a lot, I think. 00:07:47.859 --> 00:07:52.579 She's very proud of her handcraft made at school. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.719 He made a wooden mirror. 00:07:54.979 --> 00:07:59.539 And she said, you have to bring this home or else I'll be very angry with you. 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:05.360 It's wood, solid wood and mirror, and it's very fragile and very heavy. 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.300 I don't know how I'm going to bring it home. 00:08:07.700 --> 00:08:09.040 But she is very proud of it. 00:08:09.080 --> 00:08:10.660 And she said, you have to bring this one home. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:14.520 You have social and youth centers funded by the government. 00:08:15.460 --> 00:08:21.700 And even as a guest for a year here, Leticia, my daughter, got to publish her comic. 00:08:22.580 --> 00:08:23.720 That's wonderful. 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:32.160 See, we don't spend a cent, a penny for the comic to be published, brothers and sisters. 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:44.180 In Indonesia, even as maybe we faculty members or theologians, if we write something and we want to get it published, 00:08:44.660 --> 00:08:49.399 you better dig deep into your pocket to get the book published. 00:08:49.660 --> 00:08:50.360 But not here. 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:52.820 It's wonderful, brothers and sisters. 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:57.100 You have University of Edinburgh, ranked fifth in the UK. 00:08:57.500 --> 00:08:59.640 You have Harriet Watt Napier. 00:09:00.060 --> 00:09:02.500 It's also worldwide known. 00:09:03.180 --> 00:09:04.960 And you have Scottish shortbread. 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:07.620 And of course, Haggis, Nip and Tatties. 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:08.620 Cannot beat that. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:10.400 Yeah, I really like it, actually. 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:17.120 Brothers and sisters, this is the wonderful world cities we are living in. 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:25.399 And sometimes we forget that we also live among people who do not know God. 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:30.120 I know this is a Christian country, if I can say so. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:38.460 But just like in Jakarta, I think a year here, I met a lot of my fellow students, very wonderful persons. 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:42.259 But they don't really trust God or God's word. 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:46.580 There are always people like that, including here in this city. 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:52.360 Brothers and sisters, they found their security and confidence in other things. 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:57.660 Maybe we don't have 73,000 statues in this city. 00:09:57.659 --> 00:10:06.659 But we have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of reasons people do not believe in God and God's word. 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:12.219 Brothers and sisters, are our spirit provoked within us? 00:10:12.699 --> 00:10:14.500 How do we feel inside? 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:23.000 As you walk along the road and you see people, maybe you see events that's not according to the word of God. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:24.079 How do you feel? 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:54.060 How do you feel? 00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:57.500 Nobody can say that everything is true. 00:10:57.980 --> 00:10:58.700 Everything is true. 00:10:58.759 --> 00:10:59.320 No, we cannot. 00:10:59.900 --> 00:11:01.000 How do we feel inside? 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:03.560 And do we put ourselves into action? 00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:06.240 Do we seek the opportunity? 00:11:07.160 --> 00:11:08.780 Maybe not every day, every week. 00:11:09.560 --> 00:11:12.740 Do we seek the opportunity with everyone? 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:20.200 With at least maybe the people we meet in our office, in our class maybe, in our lecture classroom? 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:23.980 Do we then engage with nominal Christians? 00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:27.220 Do we engage with unbelievers? 00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:28.680 Sow the seed among them. 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:32.720 Sometimes we think that what we do is not very important. 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:33.680 It doesn't matter. 00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:35.120 It doesn't really matter. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:35.860 Yeah. 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:35.940 Yeah. 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:35.980 Yeah. 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:36.019 Yeah. 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:36.340 Yeah. 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:38.000 But we cannot be more wrong. 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:42.500 In fact, everything, if we do that, it does matter. 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:48.740 If we return to Paul then, Paul then gets the attention of the philosophers. 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:51.840 Brothers and sisters, take Paul here. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:54.580 His effort did not go unnoticed. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:59.340 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. 00:12:00.040 --> 00:12:05.340 And although they considered Paul a third-class journalist, they called him a scavenger. 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:07.620 Literally, they called him a scavenger. 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:11.879 It means that these are one of the guys who have information. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:15.660 They don't know that he picked it from where. 00:12:15.900 --> 00:12:17.860 And he tried to talk about it. 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:20.400 He don't really understand what he's speaking about. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.559 That's a scavenger. 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:31.819 And they then, after listening to this scavenger, they cannot but took him and brought him to the Areopagus. 00:12:32.579 --> 00:12:38.819 The Areopagus or the hill of Arras was the ancient seed of the court of the same name. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:45.139 It was responsible seeing laws being observed in civil or religious matter. 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:49.759 Socrates was brought here in his days. 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:54.299 And then he was condemned to death at Areopagus. 00:12:55.199 --> 00:13:00.039 The fact that Paul was taken and brought to Areopagus means that they really wanted to know more. 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:03.019 And wanted the opinion of those with authority. 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:09.500 Some people said that actually not in front of the council, not the people with authority. 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:12.559 Only they took it to that place. 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:14.820 What for if the council is not there? 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:22.279 And the fact that there's a man like Dionysius in the final verse that we read, he was there. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:26.559 The fact that Dionysius, one of the Areopagus, was there. 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.860 It means that perhaps it was a council. 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:35.080 Brothers and sisters, they were puzzled by the gospel Paul brought. 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:40.720 And this reminds me of a conversation I had with Kyle several days ago. 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:44.900 Kyle Lincoln with his wife Lizzie was here. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:46.320 You know them. 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:56.660 Several days ago before he went home to the States, he came over and slept over for two nights. 00:13:56.940 --> 00:13:58.600 And we have a wonderful conversation. 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:07.240 And among the conversations is about a couple coming and living with them during their time in Edinburgh. 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:16.060 This couple, not married, and then also kind of a little resistant against Christianity. 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:23.139 But then when they come and they know that Kyle is a pastor, they start engaging in conversations. 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:27.080 They start to talk about faith. 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:31.620 And Kyle said that they actually become interested. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.020 And they are considering. 00:14:34.040 --> 00:14:43.060 Brothers and sisters, you see that when Paul come out and reach out to them, somehow he got some attention. 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:45.660 And somehow people want to know more. 00:14:47.020 --> 00:14:53.220 And especially we remember that Paul was not like any of Jesus' other disciples. 00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:55.259 He was a Pharisee. 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:57.879 He was an expert in the law of God. 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:02.539 And he mastered, he knows philosophies. 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:06.740 So what he does, what he did was wonderful. 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:10.819 But at this point, maybe we want to say, hold up. 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:12.120 Wait a minute. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:13.220 Wait a minute. 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:18.120 Paul was a man specially chosen and appointed by God. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:23.220 I am just one Christian. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:24.519 I am not like Paul. 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:30.279 It's Acts 17, 16 to 34 for everyone. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:32.419 Maybe it's not for every one of us. 00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:35.519 I am a high school student. 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:37.480 I am a university student. 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.980 I am a worker. 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:41.080 I am not a pastor like Pastor James. 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.220 It's not for me. 00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.720 It's for Paul. 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:46.940 It's for Fergus MacDonald. 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:51.879 It's for one of the ETS faculty members like Bob. 00:15:52.660 --> 00:15:53.779 It's for Daniel. 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:57.040 It's for John McIntosh. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:02.060 It's for missionaries like Catriona or Neil and Rachel Ray. 00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:03.179 Not for me. 00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:06.559 Brothers and sisters, is this for everyone? 00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:10.559 I think the answer is an emphatic yes. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:12.599 This is for everyone. 00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:20.819 Although here, we see that the person who was provoked and who was in action was Paul. 00:16:21.199 --> 00:16:22.639 But I believe this is for everyone. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.019 Why? 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:32.059 We have to admit that during Paul's time, there were not many educated and influential people among the Christians. 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:36.860 And Paul was only one among very few educated people. 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:43.740 And we know that God chose Paul specifically to reach out to the Gentiles. 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:47.059 But today, the situation is different. 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:56.359 Brothers and sisters, I think in most parts of the world, Christians are among those most educated, I think. 00:16:57.859 --> 00:17:02.239 Church always have school, at least in Indonesia. 00:17:02.859 --> 00:17:06.419 When the missionaries come to Indonesia, they build schools. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.819 They build hospitals. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.679 They have cemeteries everywhere. 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:11.700 Everywhere. 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:18.759 And as a result, one among the most educated persons in Indonesia are Christians. 00:17:19.580 --> 00:17:25.240 Among the luckiest, among the wealthiest in Indonesia are Christians. 00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:35.539 And that's one of the reasons why sometimes the rest of the people in Indonesia, they envy the Christians and the wealthiest. 00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:40.000 Because usually they are the minorities educated in churches, etc. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:47.619 But today, we know that we are not like Paul's time. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.700 It's totally different. 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:51.299 We can name a lot of philosophers. 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:53.920 I take from a book, Christian philosophers. 00:17:54.420 --> 00:18:00.019 We can name Christian scientists with flying colors like that. 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:03.019 James Tore, he's quite famous in YouTube also. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.920 And then we have Francis Collins. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:09.140 We have whoever. 00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.300 You mentioned them. 00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:13.039 And, okay, these guys are all Americans. 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.320 Sorry for that. 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:18.300 But also, in case you notice, I also put some British names. 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:20.480 You have John Lennox. 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:25.539 He is a professor of mathematics at Oxford University. 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:28.019 Simon Morris, a British paleontologist. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:34.660 You have Sir Collins Humphries, a former professor of material science from Cambridge University. 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:43.139 These are all Christian scientists, scholars, people of influence among Christians today. 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:46.259 And I believe even some of them are here. 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.400 I'm not kidding. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:55.319 You are the influential people in Edinburgh today. 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:55.480 You are the influential people in Edinburgh today. 00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:04.740 We are God's poles for today's better. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:09.879 The young people are living in unique youth culture out there today. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.259 Who will engage them? 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.460 You young people. 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:17.460 Who will speak to young people about sexuality? 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:19.460 Not Hollywood. 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.139 No, not Hollywood. 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:23.299 And not Bollywood too. 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:25.220 We will. 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.279 We will. 00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:26.639 We will. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:31.020 And who understand the businessmen and professionals struggling out there. 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.500 Maybe with Brexit. 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:33.720 We will. 00:19:34.040 --> 00:19:42.280 We will bring them the good news of Jesus that our business, that our professional life, they don't end with Brexit. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.860 We still have more than that. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.020 And we have Jesus with us. 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:50.580 Who will struggle together with the atheists or agnostics? 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.120 We will. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:54.679 We who have struggled with our faith also in this world. 00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:56.339 We have struggled with our faith. 00:19:56.699 --> 00:19:59.539 And we have experienced God's presence and trustworthiness. 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:02.059 We will share with the agnostics and the atheists. 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:05.179 Who will engage with those struggling with creation and evolution? 00:20:05.699 --> 00:20:06.219 We will. 00:20:06.739 --> 00:20:07.759 We will burn the sisters. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:15.819 However, we also notice that in this part, Paul was doing something very important. 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:21.279 He did not engage with them philosophically and then stop there. 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.420 He did not stop there. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:30.220 If we look at how he did it after he spoke philosophically, he then moved on to Revelation. 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:37.720 The fact that we cannot depend on our lives, our knowledge, and philosophy to win people over to God. 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:38.100 We cannot. 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:46.519 We don't believe that people can come to God without encountering God's word, without encountering God's revelation. 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:50.019 Culminated in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:50.620 We cannot. 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:55.400 So Paul, after he spoke philosophically, he then moved on. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:57.740 He spoke about repentance. 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:57.980 He spoke about repentance. 00:20:58.620 --> 00:21:01.420 He spoke about God's judgment. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.539 There will be a judgment for sin. 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:07.059 He spoke about forgiveness in the risen Jesus. 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:12.039 You will not find your forgiveness for sin anywhere else, only in Jesus. 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:22.240 Friends, sisters, in Europe today, I think, and even in Indonesia also, people started to speak, not in this term. 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:26.019 They tried to play down sin a little. 00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:28.359 A softened sin. 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.200 Yeah. 00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:32.240 They called sin as some mistake you do. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:36.079 They call sin some kind of choice. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:38.720 We all have choice and we make choice differently. 00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:39.779 Yeah. 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.460 That's sin. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.079 They tried to make it soft. 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:47.619 And they also make God a sentimental lover. 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:54.960 A sentimental lover too weak to punish those who transgressed against him. 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:59.200 They never speak about God's judgment anymore. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:07.759 And the true story of Jesus who was crucified, resurrected, and thrown in heaven and will come, will return as the judge. 00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:10.380 They never speak about it anymore. 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:16.880 Any religion that's just the same, any believer just the same, don't be too fanatic. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.799 Some, they will say that. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:26.240 In Indonesia, we often have religious, inter-religious dialogue. 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:28.919 My sisters, we love to do that. 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:39.619 But usually, sometimes, then they ask us, Christians, why don't we not talk about Jesus? 00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:42.679 You can talk about God is love. 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.899 You can talk about God is good. 00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:47.259 But let's not talk about Jesus. 00:22:47.719 --> 00:22:55.279 Especially not talk about Jesus that he was crucified, that he was resurrected, and he was ascended. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.979 Let's not talk about Jesus. 00:22:58.119 --> 00:23:06.759 But, brothers and sisters, of course, we cannot talk about Jesus who was crucified, who was risen, and who ascended into heaven. 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:10.960 We cannot talk about Christianity without Jesus. 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:19.319 If we do, we will not be speaking truthfully about who God is, about his redemption, about his love. 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:29.980 Without Jesus and his death and his resurrection and his ascension, we have no true God's love in Christianity. 00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:30.879 We cannot do that. 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:34.980 And here, Paul cannot hold himself. 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:38.319 These people, they don't know God in this term. 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:47.920 They don't know God, Jesus himself, come, crucified, win, resurrected, and then ascended into heaven. 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:50.720 They don't know, and that tore him apart. 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:54.360 He was provoked in his spirit, and he just had to tell them that. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:00.059 Brothers and sisters, Paul cannot not take action. 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.980 He just has to do it. 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:05.980 Now, let's see how the people responded. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:10.660 But before that, I will introduce our president. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:14.400 President Joko Widodo. 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:17.940 Maybe some of you have seen his picture. 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:20.140 Not very convincing, actually. 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.960 He is very skinny. 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.500 Actually, he is a very skinny man. 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:28.480 And he sometimes smiles, quote, unquote, sorry. 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:31.339 Not because I am not respectful. 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:33.539 Kind of with silly face, you know. 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:35.740 I have another picture you can see later. 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:38.579 So, he is not very convincing. 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:44.400 And he was a former carpenter, furniture maker like that. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:49.580 But this president, he was elected in 2014. 00:24:50.100 --> 00:24:52.620 We are going to have another election in 2019. 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:55.740 He builds infrastructure everywhere. 00:24:57.360 --> 00:25:03.360 73 years Indonesia independence. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:10.259 Mostly our development was done in Java. 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:12.259 We have Sumatra. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.259 We have Kalimantan. 00:25:14.219 --> 00:25:14.859 Sulawesi. 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:15.859 And we have Papua. 00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:17.759 We have Maluku. 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.879 We have other islands. 00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:22.619 17,000 in all. 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:26.299 And some of them are not even touched at all. 00:25:26.659 --> 00:25:28.419 Mostly are in Java. 00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:29.199 Mostly. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:33.600 Half of our citizens, Indonesia citizens, are in Java. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:42.080 A sack of rice will cost hundreds of thousands. 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.900 That's about 30 pounds. 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:49.700 A sack of rice, 25 kilograms, costs 30 pounds. 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:52.059 Maybe you think it's not a lot. 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:54.039 Then compare it with Java. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:57.960 In Java, you will get a sack of rice, 25 kilograms, 00:25:57.960 --> 00:26:01.940 for about seven pounds. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:05.160 Seven pounds for a sack of rice. 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:10.460 But here, you will get a sack of rice for 30 pounds. 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:13.400 A sack of cement. 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:17.480 You will get it for millions of rupiahs. 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.400 Yeah. 00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.400 Even more. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:24.700 And brothers and sisters, a few, few. 00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:27.039 Six thousand. 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.120 Six thousand. 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:31.420 Six thousand, maybe about 30 pence in Java. 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:36.960 You will get it for about three pounds in Papua. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:43.100 But during his time, he built a lot of infrastructure. 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.920 He buys ships. 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:48.840 And then, now, the price are equal. 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:52.180 In just this short three or four years. 00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:58.560 He built several thousands of trans-Kalimantan highways. 00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:01.820 He built highways trans-Sumatra. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:03.500 Not fully done yet. 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:06.960 And he also built highways in Papua. 00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:09.340 Never done before in 70 years. 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.680 Never done before. 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:14.940 Brothers and sisters, people love him. 00:27:15.340 --> 00:27:15.960 People love him. 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.840 I also love him. 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.680 I admire him a lot. 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:24.840 Wherever he comes, people will flock and come and try to shake his hand. 00:27:25.320 --> 00:27:25.400 Yeah. 00:27:25.840 --> 00:27:26.980 He's a very humble man. 00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:28.259 A lovable man. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:32.620 And you see, he can joke easily like that. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:37.840 However, brothers and sisters, not everybody is happy with him. 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:42.699 Some people said that in 2019, we will change our president. 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.439 Let's vote for another president. 00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.319 Why? 00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.859 I cannot understand that. 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:50.220 Why a very nice president? 00:27:50.439 --> 00:27:53.359 Why on earth anybody want to change this president? 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.720 I don't know why. 00:27:55.419 --> 00:27:56.759 I cannot understand why. 00:27:58.159 --> 00:28:05.179 Brothers and sisters, but then this, a reality like this, I think also speaks to us a lot about 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:07.880 people's rejection toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:13.680 For us, we cannot understand why Jesus did all that he has done for us. 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:16.580 What have we done to deserve this? 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.759 We don't deserve it. 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:20.060 We are so lucky. 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:21.720 We are so blessed to have him. 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:28.259 But then, brothers and sisters, when we talk about Jesus, when we speak about Jesus to others, 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:31.080 we cannot understand why you have to reject him. 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:33.019 Why you have to reject him. 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.000 We cannot understand. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:40.779 And I think this kind of thing also happened among the Athenians and the people in Athens. 00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:46.180 The Bible said, verses 21 to, sorry. 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.700 Next slide, please. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:50.759 Yeah. 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:58.180 I cannot understand why these people are eager to hear something new when they hear about resurrection, 00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:58.980 about Jesus. 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:01.500 They mock Paul. 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:04.039 Maybe, maybe. 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:10.220 Because they want to hear something new, but they are not ready to hear the truth. 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:12.380 They are not ready to hear the truth. 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:18.099 They want to hear something good, something to scratch their itching ears. 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.799 That's Paul's term. 00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:23.000 He wrote it to Timothy. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:28.660 The people just want something to scratch their itching ears. 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:31.019 They are not ready to hear the truth. 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:34.740 And then, they rejected Christ. 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:42.119 Brothers and sisters, maybe when we go out there, we will also find people who get really interested, 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:44.400 and they want to accept Jesus. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:51.380 But maybe sometimes we are so reluctant to go out there because we thought maybe they will be there. 00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:55.080 Brothers and sisters, don't worry about that. 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:58.080 It has, it has happened in the past. 00:29:58.820 --> 00:30:04.420 It is happening now all worldwide, and it will happen again. 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:12.060 People will reject Christ, not because Christ is not good enough, but because they are not just ready. 00:30:12.300 --> 00:30:14.519 They are just not ready for the truth. 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:17.100 What did Paul do? 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:19.240 He did not lose heart. 00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:23.500 When people rejected Christ, what did he do? 00:30:24.320 --> 00:30:28.200 He know that as a Pharisee, he know that the Lord already said to Ezekiel, 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:32.620 If I say to the wicked, you shall surely die, and you give him no warning, 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:38.120 nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way in order to save his life, 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:41.759 that wicked person shall die for his iniquity. 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:44.440 But his blood I will require at your hand. 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:49.180 As a Pharisee, I think, you know, this verse. 00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:53.880 And he must also knew that Jesus gave his disciples the great commission. 00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:58.460 And it was not the great option or the great omission. 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:07.240 Brothers and sisters, Josephus lived during the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:15.520 And he wrote that the Athenians severely punished those who initiated people into the mysteries of foreign gods. 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:26.799 Forbidden by their law, the penalty against such people, including Paul, actually, was there. 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:30.900 Somehow, Paul got lucky. 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:34.240 Or we can say that's God's providence. 00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:37.879 He was not punished as severely during that time. 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.700 Paul knew the risk. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:45.180 But he also knew that Jesus promised his presence and his protection and with his presence. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.000 Victory. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:49.160 Paul was provoked into action. 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.420 He had to come. 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:52.480 And now he went out from their midst. 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:54.539 Is he desperate, maybe? 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:56.279 I don't think so. 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:59.759 I don't think he went out like so sad. 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.059 Boo-hoo. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:01.960 Too bad. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.920 So sad. 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.960 I'm rejected. 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:06.180 Not gonna do this ever again. 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.359 I don't think so. 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:10.000 We can see from here he moved on. 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.480 And he preached on. 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:14.860 He was provoked into action. 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:16.819 And he just cannot stop. 00:32:17.360 --> 00:32:18.880 The mission must go on. 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:29.259 But brothers and sisters, maybe at this point, some people said that it's futile. 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:32.500 Is it at best a faint and fruitless effort? 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:35.539 We are lucky to live in this era. 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:39.119 We know that what Paul did was not in vain. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:49.440 We know that what the missionaries done for thousands of Christian history is not in vain. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:33:07.160 In one of the islands of Indonesia, Sumatra, tens and maybe hundreds of missionaries were butchered and eaten by one of the tribes in Indonesia. 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:09.820 We have about 700 tribes in Indonesia. 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:13.320 And one of them, they literally eat everything. 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:19.700 We said that everything, walking, with feet, they will eat at least, but not a table. 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:23.099 A table also have legs, but they will not eat table. 00:33:23.439 --> 00:33:27.960 Besides that, everything with legs, they will eat, including missionaries. 00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:30.099 They eat a lot of missionaries, brothers and sisters. 00:33:30.679 --> 00:33:33.279 But then come Ludwig Nommensen. 00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:40.259 He came, and then he preached, and then he warned the people over to God. 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:45.339 And among these tribes are many Christians in Indonesia today. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:51.879 Brothers and sisters, the book of Acts shows us that in preaching the gospel, many will reject us. 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.379 Many will take us for fools. 00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.160 They will mock us. 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:55.519 They will humiliate us. 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:58.539 And then maybe they will persecute us. 00:33:58.900 --> 00:34:03.579 But despite all of that, God's purpose will prevail. 00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:06.299 Look at Acts 17 here. 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:09.679 But some men joined him and believed. 00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:15.160 Among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagus and a woman named Damaris. 00:34:15.580 --> 00:34:20.220 Damaris must not be in Areopagus because it's forbidden for women. 00:34:20.700 --> 00:34:22.360 And also others with them. 00:34:23.060 --> 00:34:28.880 You see, what Paul did, although he was formally rejected there, it was not in vain. 00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:30.680 It was not futile. 00:34:31.540 --> 00:34:33.720 Dionysius, in fact, became a believer. 00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:46.000 And if you study early Christian literature, there are writings claiming to be writings of Dionysius. 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:56.519 This fact, I think, means that perhaps this Dionysius, we don't close the possibility that there are other Dionysius, of course. 00:34:56.519 --> 00:35:00.599 But perhaps this Dionysius become an influential person. 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:03.280 And that's why Luke put down his name. 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:04.860 Otherwise, people will be confused. 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:05.619 Who is this guy? 00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.539 Who is this guy? 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:09.719 He put down his name because this guy is influential. 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:13.539 And a lot of people, at least Luke's reader, know this guy. 00:35:14.219 --> 00:35:16.699 And also Damaris and others with them. 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:23.079 Brothers and sisters, we know that Paul suffered a lot in his ministry. 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:26.679 But in Romans chapter 8, 18, he said this. 00:35:27.259 --> 00:35:33.639 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:34.799 He was provoked. 00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:35.719 He got into action. 00:35:35.819 --> 00:35:36.519 He got rejected. 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:42.259 But he said, this is nothing compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us. 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:49.019 Brothers and sisters, even Lord Jesus himself, he said this to comfort and to give us a guarantee. 00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:49.679 He said this. 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:52.819 In the world, you will have tribulation. 00:35:53.419 --> 00:35:54.059 But take heart. 00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:56.619 I have overcome the world. 00:35:57.199 --> 00:36:03.719 Brothers and sisters, maybe this is my last opportunity also to share the word of God with you here. 00:36:04.279 --> 00:36:08.019 And I am really, really blessed to have this opportunity. 00:36:09.279 --> 00:36:15.319 Brothers and sisters, whatever we do here, we know that it's not futile. 00:36:15.320 --> 00:36:18.460 We know that in this world, we will have tribulation. 00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:19.880 But take heart. 00:36:20.200 --> 00:36:22.880 Jesus has overcome this world. 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:26.619 And I will have tribulation. 00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.300 . 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:30.320 And I am really blessed to be here. 00:36:36.660 --> 00:36:36.920 They are very conf body. 00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:39.420 But we do not live in darkness. 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:39.960 Nicht se긴? 00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:40.599 They are not so much in view. 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:41.579 Never will, dear. 00:36:41.860 --> 00:36:41.880 And we are here very much. 00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:42.760 Where we are. 00:36:43.220 --> 00:36:43.820 honor. 00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:44.640 Welcome back to the short story. 00:36:44.680 --> 00:36:45.059 I am. 00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.660 And I'm really blessed to have the true�. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.039 But I am a cruel position to order a place to think of it that it is to be made from a place. 00:36:47.260 --> 00:36:52.360 And I know we will have to be there with the peace and we live here.