Turning the world upside down
Acts 17:1-16 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. 5 But the unpersuaded Jews took along[a] some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. 6 When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers[b] before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!” 8 The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things. 9 When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there. 15 But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed. 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
Verse 6 “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
“I want to make a difference.” Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Facebook—everybody wants to go viral. And they are doing some of the craziest stuff in order to accomplish it. I watched the video of a guy, he was kind of hefty, he had no shirt on, and he had wrapped his upper body with several strings of firecrackers. You know the kind that you light one end, and thousands of firecrackers go off consecutively. And he had someone record it, no shirt on, as soon as the explosions started, he suddenly realizes the pain he has put himself in, and he dove into a snow-bank. He was badly burned. And I watched that, and I’ve watched some of the things that people are doing in videos, and I have to ask myself, “Why do they do it?”
And much of it comes down to notoriety. They want to be known. They want to be noticed, even if it is for stupidity, and only for a very brief time.
Now that kind of craziness is really an extension of a very basic human desire. The desire for your life to matter. The desire for your life to mean something. The sad reality is that people are looking in all the wrong places for that meaning. They are hoping to make a splash by doing something outlandish.
So, as a Christian, how can you find that meaning? How do you make your splash? That’s what we are looking at today. Paul and his band, Christian missionaries to a Gentile world, were described by people in that world as having “turned the world upside down.”
What did they do? They came to town and preached Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation. Why did these people think they were turning the world upside down? Well it comes down to this. We live in an evil world. It is run by an evil system, and populated by evil people. Now, you might that that would be a very uneasy circumstance for everyone in the world; it’s not. Evil people can be very comfortable in an evil world.
It would be like God established a perfect world, but people rebelled. It’s like math, said the math teacher. People didn’t like God’s system, so they came up with their own. In their system, 1 + 1 = 3. And they develop a whole world around that. How do you do that? Well you have to make 1, essentially equivalent to 1.5. So then 1+1, which is really 1.5 + 1.5, equals 3. And 2 + 2 = 6, 3 + 3 = 9. Everybody got it?
But then Paul comes to town and says, “You guys have had it wrong all along.” 1 + 1 = 2. Minds are blown. It upsets the whole system. Every part of their math world would have to be recalculated.
And that what Paul did. He showed up to town and preached Christ. And it turned their whole world upside down.
Now here’s the question for today. Do you want to have that kind of impact on your world? Do you want to see America turned upside down for Christ? Do you want to see Wichita turned upside down? Today we are going to learn how Paul and his band did it, and how you can do it.
Now before we begin, I want you to know that I borrowed my outline points from John MacArthur. I could have reworked and reworded them, but I just couldn’t think of anything better than the simplicity of what he wrote.
What do you have to have to turn the world upside down? Courage, Content, Converts, Conflict, Concern
Let’s pray
I. Courage
A. Definition: Confidence in God
Confidence that if you know God is in it, it will succeed, it will do what it’s supposed to. It will accomplish what it is supposed to.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
That does not mean that every time you speak the Word of God, or tell about Jesus, that the hearer will respond positively.
Note: The same sun hardens the clay, but melts wax. Some will hear the Word and reject it. But courage means that we take that message out with the confidence that God will accomplish His work with it.
And there really is no better example of that kind of courage than Paul. He goes to two towns in this narrative. Thessalonica and Berea.
B. Thessalonica
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,
They just left Philippi. Remember Philippi? Philippi was the first town they went to in Greece. They saw Lydia and her household converted. But remember what happened then? This girl who had a spirit of divination was following them around. She was a priestess for the local occultic temple. She was a slave and made her master’s money by consulting demons. And Paul cast the demon out of her, which killed the fortune telling profit. So, her master’s drag Paul and Silas into the marketplace, work up the crowd into a froth. The local magistrates have them beaten and thrown into jail. But while in the stocks in jail, Paul and Silas are singing. At midnight God causes a great earthquake, a very specialized earthquake that makes all the prisoners chains fall off and their prison doors come open. That’s some kind of earthquake.
The jailor runs in and sees this, and thinks, “I’ve lost all the prisoners” and is about to impale himself with his dagger when Paul calls out to stop him. He asks “What must I do to be saved?” and long story short, another household joins the Philippian church by baptism.
Now, what happens next? We really didn’t adequately conclude that story. But the jailor, now a Christian, has taken Paul and Silas into his home, tended to their wounds, and fed them.
The next morning, the magistrates who had them beaten, send word to the jailor saying to set Paul and Silas free. To which Paul replies, ““They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
38 The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city. 40 They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.
Now you want to talk about courage. Most of us, if we had been beaten and thrown into a dungeon over- night, in a foreign land, if the next morning, they said to the jailor, “Set them free,” we’d be saying, “Thank you Jesus, where’s the bus that’s heading out of this town.” But not Paul, he says, “No siree, you’ve beaten us with no trial, and we’re Roman citizens.”
By the way, I intended to make a point of this as a part of the previous sermon series. “How to live in a world that hates you.” You might recall that the last point was, “trust God.” The point I wanted to make was that trusting God isn’t just about sitting back, “Let go and let God have His way.” Trusting God also means taking the blessings that He has given you and using them in His service.
Paul was blessed with Roman citizenship. And he knew that Roman law forbad punishing a Roman citizen before he had been tried. And that’s what he is pointing out. “You guys messed up.” “You beat us before a trial.” Now why did he do that? He was protecting that new church in Philippi. He wasn’t going to slink out of town and leave those magistrates feeling that they had the upper hand. He wanted to make sure that that new church wouldn’t become the target of the same violence that he received. We know that it’s likely that the Philippian jailor, this new Christian, was also a Roman citizen. Paul didn’t want him getting any trouble from these magistrates. So, he threw them back on their heals a little bit. “You guys better hope I don’t take this matter to a higher court. Or your job as magistrate may be in jeopardy.”
But what courage. And not only does he demonstrate courage as he leaves Philippi, but look at what happens as he comes to a new town; Thessalonica.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,
where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 Paul, as was his custom, went into them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
He arrives in Thessalonica and finds out that there’s a synagogue there. There wasn’t in Philippi. There is in Thessalonica. Now that’s not to surprising, Thessalonica had a population of 200,000 or better. It was the capital of Macedonia. It had 3 great rivers going through it which went out to the sea. It was an important port city. It was right on a major thoroughfare, and today, now known as Salonica, it is still an important city.
So, where’s the courage? Paul enters Thessalonica, sees that there is a synagogue and decides that’s where he’ll start. Now hold on Paul! Do you have short term memory loss? We’re in chapter 17 of Acts, and every city that Paul went to, he did the same thing, he looked for and went to the synagogue. And after he went to the synagogue, what always happened next? Persecution. Chapter 13, Antioch of Pisidia, Paul goes to town, goes to the synagogue, then
44 The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
Chapter 14, Iconium, they enter the synagogue.
In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. 2 But the disbelieving[a] Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them,
19 But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
And after chapter 17, when Paul goes to a synagogue, trouble follows. So why does he do it? Because Christ sent him, and he has a plan from God, and he has a courage that derives from having confidence in God.
I want you to think about Paul’s courage for a moment. We read about what he does, and really can’t relate. So let me bring it into the present. Paul purposely went from city to city going to synagogue services on our Saturday, and taking opportunities to tell these Jews that Jesus is their crucified and risen Savior. Can you imagine being sent out by the Southern Baptist Convention today, you are a new missionary, and they tell you, we have a plan for you. We’re going to send you from city to city, in the U.S., maybe other countries, and on Saturday you will visit a new Jewish synagogue, and before you leave, you need to tell them that they have missed, and rejected their messiah. He is Jesus, who they crucified, He is the fulfillment of their Scripture. He is risen from the dead and sitting at the right hand of God the Father. How many of you would sign up for that job?
Now think about this. Paul’s ministry turned to the preaching of grace over law. The Jews had made God’s Word a legalistic religion. The Judaizers were trying to do the same to the church. Bring that into today. There are a number of representatives of Christian legalism today. Imagine if that missionary organization said to you, “Okay, so you don’t like the synagogue plan. How about this. Instead of visiting synagogues on Saturday, we’re going to send you to Catholic churches, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses on Sundays. We want you to attend their Bible Studies and services, and make sure that before you leave the service, to tell them that they don’t have to go to confession, to take the mass, to knock on doors, or to wear special clothes to be saved. They can simply be saved by grace through faith. Do you want that job?
That was the courage of Paul. He kept doing it.
C. Berea
Berea was different from Thessalonica. It was a nowhere town, about 50 miles from Thessalonica. But it was the same strategy. Paul had trouble after the synagogue at Thessalonica as well, but he still starts at the synagogue of the next town, Berea.
10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
D. How do I have courage?
1. Trust God
Leviticus 26:8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.
Confidence in God-One of the distressing things that has come out of this year of Coronavirus is the fear. So many Christians who are living in fear. I don’t intend to subject myself needlessly to danger. But my Bible says,
Job 14 “Man who
is born of woman Is of few days and full of [a]trouble. 2 He comes forth
like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue. 3 And do
You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring [b]me to judgment with Yourself? 4 Who can
bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!
5 Since his days are determined, The
number of his months is with You; You have appointed his
limits, so that he cannot pass. 6 Look away from him
that he may [c]rest, Till like a hired man he finishes his
day.
And I believe that! I believe God knows the very day and hour that I’m going to die. So how can I become courageous? Trust God. I might get Coronavirus, but if it isn’t my time, God will get me through. If it is my time, I am not afraid.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
2. Confess
Psalm 7: Yahweh,
my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver
me,
2 lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it
in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.
3 Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there
is iniquity in my hands, 4 if I have rewarded evil to
him who was at peace with me
(yes, I have delivered him who without cause was
my adversary), 5 let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it;
yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the
dust. Selah.
Make sure that the world can accuse you of nothing but your faith.
1 Peter 3 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, 16 having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
3. Thank Him in advance
A thankful heart is a courageous heart.
Psalm 28:7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.
4. Dig into the Word
The better you know God, the more you will have confidence in Him—that is the definition of courage.
II. Content
A. Definition: To turn the world upside down, to make an impact on the world for God. You have to have the content—the correct message. As I stated at the start, you can create a viral video by videotaping your grandbaby laughing, or saying something cute, you can become a proficient teacher or businessperson and make a splash in history. But turning the world upside down means doing something to upset eternity. And there is only one thing that will do that—the gospel of Jesus Christ. We’ve heard it said, “You can’t take it with you.” And it’s true. The only thing going into heaven and eternity are the souls of men women and children. So if your going to impact eternity, you’ve got to get the message right.
B. Thessalonica
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
He reasoned with them from the Scripture. What was he saying?
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
Don’t you love how Paul gets right to the heart of the issue? He’s going to a Jewish synagogue, and what is his message? His message is the precise thing that kept Jewish people from salvation. They were offended by the idea of a crucified Christ. Paul, in 1 Corinthians, said that the cross was a stumbling block to the Jews.
Now what was his message? He would go into the synagogue, and he does what Jesus did on the road to Emmaus. Remember that story? Two disciples, after the crucifixion, on resurrection day, meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus. They don’t recognize Him. And they start wringing their hands with this stranger talking about how the one they thought was the Christ, was crucified. We thought we got the right guy, they He was crucified. Then look at what Jesus says,
Luke 24: “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” 27 Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Paul does precisely this. He goes into the synagogue as a visiting rabbi. They say, “Hey Paul, why don’t you teach us a Bible lesson today!” Paul says okay. They say, “What are you going to teach us today?” Paul says, “I’ve got a lesson about the promised Messiah.” The Jews say, “Oh goodie, that’s one of our favorites.”
Then Paul opens the Scripture and begins to show them out of Scripture that the Messiah would have to die, to be crucified. He probably quoted
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
And he showed them how the Messiah would rise from the dead.
Psalm 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
He goes right to the content of the necessary message. This is the opposite of what church growth people tell us to do today. They want the church to preach non-confrontational messages that are positive and encouraging to everyone. And then when we have them hooked on the positive, maybe we sneak the offensive stuff in later. You can’t find an example of that in Scripture. People say, I witness by my life. Nobody becomes a Christian in Scripture by looking at a believer’s life. They become a Christian by responding to the content of the salvation message.
Our world, our nation, our city will not be turned upside down by living good lives alone. It comes by the content of the gospel being spoken.
C. Berea
The same occurred in Berea.
10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
They received the word with all readiness of mind,
Paul taught them the Word about the prophesied Messiah. He taught them from Scripture, and they took what he taught and examined it carefully to ensure that what he was teaching was truth.
D. How do I have Content?
How do I study and handle the Word so that you will impact the world?
1. Confession
First Peter 2:1, “Laying aside all malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word.”
Part of the armor of the Lord is the sword of the Word. Another is the breastplate of righteousness. If you have a flaw in the breastplate of righteousness it impairs your defense of yourself and your wielding of the sword.
2. Study
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed.
3. Personalize
Romans 12:2 he says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
4. Share
Philippians 2:15, “Be blameless, harmless, children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the Word of life.”
Courage, Content, Converts, Conflict, Concern
Next time
III. Converts
A. Definition: A little leaven, leavens the whole lump
B. Thessalonica; their response-“persuaded”
4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.
C. Berea; their response- “believed”
10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.
D. How do I have converts?
1. Recognize your obligation
2. Recognize that the results are not always positive
3. Recognize your power
4. Recognize His promise
John 15:16 16 You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.