Turning The World Upside Down (Acts [17]1-6)
Turning The World Upside Down
Text: Acts 17:1-6
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (10/04/98)
Introduction:
Explain context of Passage.
Meaning of “upside down” – Unsettling, uprooting, stirring up, exciting.
This was the accusation of their enemies.
Sometimes the highest compliments are paid to you by those who oppose you.
Eg. Acts 11:26 “ …..And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
How can we do it?
One Individual at a time!
Emphasize Salvation
Individual lives are being destroyed by drugs & alcohol, by lust and envy,
Illus: Newspaper headlines…..
Individual lives are also being destroyed and even more subtly by pride and apathy.
Illus: The frog who learned to fly.
People are dying.
Their lives can be transformed by the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Gospel.
I Cor. 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
II Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
One Family at a time!
Emphasize Discipleship
The family is a God-ordained institution intended to bring a tatste of heaven on earth.
It is the place where the most precious relationships exist.
Yet, the family is under attack. Many unhappy homes. Many marriages ending in divorce courts. Abuse etc.
· 1910 – 10% of marriages end in divorce
· 1948 – 25% of marriages end in divorce
· Today – 50%+ of marriages end in divorce
· Today – 60% of young people of divorcees feel rejected by at least one parent.
The Bible will teach us how to be better husbands & wives. How to be better parents. How to meet the challenges of family life in the 1990’s and 2000’s.
Acts 16 31-34 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
One Neighbourhood at a time!
Emphasize Soulwinning
Blanket a Neighbourhood with Gospel literature
Blanket a Neighbourhood with John/Romans
Knock on 50/100 doors in a day.
Make a Difference for Christ in your neighbourhood!!
ILLUS: Making a difference for one.
One City at a time!
Emphasize Church Planting
This city and many others across Canada need to be turned upside down for Christ!!!
How did they do it?
What made it possible to turn the world upside down?
Through the ………..
I. Priority of Scripture vs.2
Psalm 138:2 “……for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
A. Reasonable vs.2
This was Paul’s pattern in every city.
It reveals the…..
B. Righteousness of Christ vs.3
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
It is alive with….
C. resurrection Power vs.3
I Corinthians 15:14-20 (LOOK UP & READ!!)
II. Power of the Spirit I Thess. 1:1-5
I Thess. 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
The book of Acts is permeated with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit of God.
Examples:
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 2:1-4 (PENTECOST)
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
If the Holy Spirit were taken away today’s church might not even notice. It might just be services as usual.
A. He is powerful
He is omnipotent God
B. He is Holy
Definition of Holiness -
C. He never contradicts His Word
Ephesian 6:17 “……..and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
III. Prayers of the Saints
The early church was a powerful church because they were a praying church.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Acts 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
No prayer = No power
Little prayer = Little power
Much prayer = Much power
IV. Practice of Sanctification
I Thess 1:6A And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord,
V. Praise in Suffering I Thess. 1:6-7
I Thess 1:6B -7 ……having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
Conclusion: