The Gospel Message Is Disturbing! (Turning Worlds Upside Down) Series

Subject: The Gospel Message is Disturbing!

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.

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, palmists, advisers, 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 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, "Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine." 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. The council at Jerusalem was disturbed as they wrestled with the freedom of the Gospel and the unlimited effects of grace. Paul and Barnabas were disturbed about John Mark’s reinstatement and restoration. The gospel message is disturbing in its far-reaching effect. Men love to set limits, to regulate admission, to qualify some and disqualify others. It is really keeping things under our control. 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 both radical and disturbing. The gospel breaks down barriers of position, power, race and status open to whosoever will and embracing all who will believe. Paul and Silas were accused of turning the world upside down. The gospel message is disturbing for several reasons, first because it confronts human exploitation.

1. The gospel message is disturbing because it confronts human exploitation. Acts 16:16 “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.”