Introduction: As Paul and his company respond to the Macedonian call, directed by the Holy Ghost, they entered into the district of Macedonia. Some historians say that Luke the beloved physician grew up and was educated in this area. This area was thriving metropolis, a trade center and sea port. This was the beginning of Paul’s second missionary journey.
Although these new Christians evangelist had suffered disputes, stoning, and ridicule at the hands of the Jews in many places, this new venture would be totally different. In Macedonia, there was no synagogue, which means that there were less than ten Jewish males in the city. The area was steeped in idolatry, witchcraft, diviners, palmist, adviser, and seers of every kind. The official religion was "emperor worship" for each emperor declared himself as God. Judaism was a tolerated sect but, the Jews were not allowed to try to convert Roman citizens.
Paul, Silas and Timothy and others brought the disturbing message of the gospel to this region. The message of the Gospel is a disturbing message. To disturb means to excite from a state of rest or tranquility. It means to awaken, to agitate the mind, or to ruffle. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a gospel of the Kingdom. And the kingdom of God is in conflict with the kingdom of this world. Today, there is an attempt to lower the standards of Christianity in an effort to make it more appealing; to do away with the conflicting nature that it may be more easily accepted. But there has always been a gap between right and wrong. God has never tried to conceal the conflicting nature of the gospel message. Jesus said,
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man ’s foe shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:34-38
Jesus said that the gospel I bring is a gospel of conflict and separation. It will disturb family lines and family ties. It will separate the closest relationships. This gospel message is a call to love and self denial. It is a radical and disturbing message.
1. It is a disturbing gospel because it exposes the lost-ness of humanity. The message of gospel was not designed to avoid conflict. The very nature the gospel exposes the hopelessness of man without God. Paul always remained true to the message even though it created conflict. The scope of Paul’s preaching was to prove that Jesus is the Christ. This lesson is a reminder of the core of the message of the Gospel. The truth is, that God Almighty created man in his image and likeness. Mankind lost his place, his way and plunged headlong into sin. God hates sin, every single sin and has appointed a day to judge sin. (1) Every sinner in the world has the sentence of death hanging over his head. (2) Jesus, God’s Son took upon himself the sin of the whole world and completely satisfied man’s sin debt. It was the only way he could purchase redemption for us. (3) God raised him from the dead for our justification. His resurrection was proof that the debt had been paid and justice was satisfied. (4) therefore we preach that Jesus is the Christ and the only hope of salvation is in him. But not only are we saved by him, we are bound to him for Jesus is Lord.
2. It is a disturbing gospel because it declares truth in a world of deception.
The principle of the gospel is Truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Satan, the prince this world is the father of lies, the only true facts he reveals are designed to serve his purpose.- Today, People are so hungry for the supernatural, for the mystical, that causes them to be vulnerable to Satan’s deceptions.
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. " Matthew 24:24
The soothsayers, sorcerers, and diviners of Paul’s day displayed supernatural abilities, but the supernatural abilities only affected what they did, not how they lived. The abilities had no moral or ethical value. The elect of God are not deceived because we understand that the same power of God that works through us must also work in us. Before God gives of the power to do, we receive power to become the Sons of God. Truth will expose and confront a lie. Light will expose darkness and so on. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light " 2 Corinthian 11:14
Satan will use whatever tactic needed to deceive mankind. Whatever will aid him in his destructive efforts. Truth will always collide with a lie and error.
3.It is a disturbing gospel because it demands a response which does not allow anyone to remain neutral. I realize that only God can open up a heart and cause it to respond to the Gospel, but the gospel demands a response. Lydia , a wealthy business woman, a Jewish proselyte, a worshiper of God responded positively. The Lord opened her heart as Paul preached and witnessed to her. We must faithfully proclaim the message of the Gospel because God still opens heart. Our message should be accurate, convincing and convicting, but God must open the heart. Lydia was converted and baptized, she opened her home and provision for the support of the work. Jews responded with jealousy and anger.
The gospel message demands a response. Sooner and later, we all must respond. The gentile leaders had little regard for the new sect until it interfered with their profits. The Jews in the synagogues despised the popularity of Paul and his company, so they had tried to silence them. But these gentiles were angered because this message put them out of business. They were prevented from doing what they wanted to do. The message of Christ cuts against the grain because He demands not just a place in your life, it demands first place; before money, property, husband, wife, children and even your own life, because he is Lord of all.
"And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone..." That was the real
problem. They said these men are trouble makers because they "
...teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. "
The truth of the matter was, "They had upset our lives."
Today, many will praise God and his messenger, if the message do not upset their lives. Pastor, I enjoyed the message. The word of God was wonderful. Bishop Eddie Long said that one member approached him and said, "Pastor that message sure hurt me today, it wounded me." He said "I told him, "I sorry I missed, I was not trying to wound you, I was trying to kill you! Everything of self needs to be killed that Christ may formed in you."
Has the word ever wound you? Has it ever cut across the grain of your life? Does it disturb you when you compare your life to the message? Has the word always been pleasing to you?
5. It is a disturbing gospel because if obeyed, it will turn your world upside down. It’s worth being disturbed, if it turns your life right side up - Paul and his company were accused of "exceedingly troubling our city" or of "turning the world upside down." The Gospel message believed, received and obeyed will turn your life right side up. It is disturbing to know that we cannot saved ourselves; that God has a holy and righteous standard; that there is a difference between darkness and light; wrong and right, Christ and Belial, that we cannot serve God and money.
After working on a project, I needed to put the door back on it hinges. The door was out of place, leaning against the wall, I picked the door up and started aligning the hinges. The door was nearly aligned but the hinge pins would not go in. I began to jar and shake the door, then the pin started sliding in, soon the door was back in its place and proper working order.
You see, it is worth being disturbed, if it puts your back in its place and proper working order. Operations are painful and sometimes dangerous, but sometimes are necessary to put your life back in good working order. You might not like the medicine, it might not taste good, but it may be necessary to put your life back in order. It took a disturbing message to save me, and it takes a disturbing message to keep me. I am glad because it has changed me and it will change you.
Conclusion: We could have left the door hanging with only one pin in place, but the door would not have been in proper working order. The purpose of the word is not just to make you better than what you use to be. The Word of God comes to restore you and put your life in its proper place and proper working order. There is a way, a purpose that God has intended for your life! So the word may jar you, shake you, disturb you, but it is worth it!
