https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QekPh9XfhM0&list=PLPhb5GPf3Rfc944An2iDh_kTHkrKhoCED&index=22
World Upside Down
Paul was in Thessaloniki teaching about Jesus in the Synagogue, and many Jews and also some God fearing Greeks believed his message. But some of the leaders who did not believe became jealous of Paul's following, and started a riot. They spoke of believers in Jesus as being those who have turned the world upside down. Previously, idolatry and human wisdom had reigned, but followers of Jesus see things differently.
Riot in the City
Acts 17:5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” 8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.
From there Paul made his way to Athens. The people of Greece enjoyed philosophical debate. Plato and Aristotle had developed methods of discussion of how things are. Things are what they are, and what we perceive them to be may be flawed. The writings of Plato have survived until this day, and Aristolean logic has provided the platform for many religious arguments. Augustine used logical platforms to develop his ideas about faith alone (Sola Fide).
Yes, to save our life we must first lose it. We must give up selfishness and become servants. Jesus said "It is more blessed to give than to receive." It is by giving and service that we find joy and contentment. Doing good makes us feel good. Help someone and enjoy the blessing. But do not give the gift in order to receive a blessing , but give because it is God's will. But submitting to God's will involves first knowing Him. You must learn about Jesus from those who serve Him, and from the Bible, which is a message about Him.
Fight the Good Fight
11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you 14 to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
A Call to Holy Living
1 Pet 1:13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.[d] 17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,[e]so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure[f]heart love one another constantly,[g] 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For
All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.[h]
And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
Riot in the City
Acts 17:5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” 8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.
From there Paul made his way to Athens. The people of Greece enjoyed philosophical debate. Plato and Aristotle had developed methods of discussion of how things are. Things are what they are, and what we perceive them to be may be flawed. The writings of Plato have survived until this day, and Aristolean logic has provided the platform for many religious arguments. Augustine used logical platforms to develop his ideas about faith alone (Sola Fide).
But the people of Athens did not know or understand the God who created all things. They even had a temple dedicated to the Unknown God.
Paul reveals to them that Jesus the Jewish Messiah is the unknown God they worshiped in ignorance. And this God is different. Instead of satisfying human desires by supplying the things needed for happiness, Jesus calls us to sacrifice. He turns the world upside down.
Take Up Your Cross
Mark 8:34 Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? 37 What can anyone give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:34 Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? 37 What can anyone give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Yes, to save our life we must first lose it. We must give up selfishness and become servants. Jesus said "It is more blessed to give than to receive." It is by giving and service that we find joy and contentment. Doing good makes us feel good. Help someone and enjoy the blessing. But do not give the gift in order to receive a blessing , but give because it is God's will. But submitting to God's will involves first knowing Him. You must learn about Jesus from those who serve Him, and from the Bible, which is a message about Him.
But coming to Jesus in search of happiness and the good life is a wrong motive. The prosperity gospel is a big lie. We do not come to Jesus to please ourselves, but we must come to Him at the cross. We must come to Him at a place of sorrow and pain, realizing that we are not to live life to please ourselves. We must die with Christ in order to live with Him. Rom 6:1-4.
False Doctrine and Human Greed
1Tim 6:2 Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.[c] 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and[d] we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing,[e] we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root[f] of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1Tim 6:2 Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.[c] 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and[d] we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing,[e] we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root[f] of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Fight the Good Fight
11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you 14 to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
The pursuit of happiness by what we can get is a miss direction. Money does not produce happiness, unless we use it for righteous deeds, for helping others. "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith."
The Apostle Peter, who made the good confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, calls believers to Holy Living. Sexual immorality, hatefulness, slander, lying, and disrespect of government officials has no place in the life of believers. Romans 13:1-7.
A Call to Holy Living
1 Pet 1:13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.[d] 17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,[e]so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure[f]heart love one another constantly,[g] 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For
All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.[h]
And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
Love one another. Love tells the truth. Love points to Jesus. Life is not so much about the pursuit of happiness, but about pursuit of righteousness in Jesus Christ, by Whom we gain eternal peace and happiness.
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