"why The Gospel May Cause An Uproar"

Subject: "Why The Gospel May Causes An Uproar"

Text: Acts 16:16-24 “One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” 18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.

19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. 21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”

22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

The summary of the accusation if found in Acts. 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”

Introduction: As Paul and his company respond to the Macedonian call, directed by the Holy Ghost, they entered 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 seaport. 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 a 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 conflicts with the kingdom of this world. Today, there is an attempt to lower the standards of Christianity 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 message will create conflict and separation. It will disturb family lines and family ties. It will bring separation in some of the closest relationships.

Have you ever thought about why someone would attempt to burn down a church? Bomb a Church? Persecute Christians? Or Why the Gospel may cause an uproar? This gospel message is a disturbing message because it calls us to a lifestyle of love and self denial. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a radical and disturbing gospel for several reasons, first because it exposes the lost-ness of humanity.

1. The Truth of Gospel Exposes the Depravity of Man.

Ro 3:10-12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”