Post by Zac Loh on May 24, 2010 0:55:21 GMT -5
Turned The World Upside Down
Acts 17:1-6
But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. (Acts 17:5-6; underline mine)
Just very recently, I wrote that “the church turned the world upside down”. I used this phrase in a positive manner to demonstrate the powerful positive impact of the church on society.
In the account of Acts 17:1-6, one will notice that the uproar was caused by the persecutors of the Gospel. They who coined `turned the world upside down’ were the perpetrators of it. They framed Paul and his followers. So, this “turned the world upside down” was not a positive thing.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4; underline mine)
Paul himself said that we ought to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence without compromising the Gospel, without ever putting the Gospel at an disadvantage. Be peaceful for the sake of the Gospel.
Should the Gospel be an offense, and we pay the price of trouble, then so be it. We should not cause trouble because we are prone to it. We are in Christ, and by nature, we are not troublemakers. Instead, we are peacemakers.
The Gospel is a two-edged sword. We have the peace of God. We are the people of peace. Yet, at one point or another, the Gospel will draw negative, even violent, reaction. The Gospel at certain times will cause division among people. The Gospel at its pure and uncompromising state, will incur repercussions – something you and I won’t like. The Gospel is devalued when we are not willing to bear the cost.
The Gospel is a two-edged sword. The Gospel make peace by reconciling men to God. The Gospel opens the way to have a divine peace that surpasses human understanding. The other edge of the sword is that the Gospel will rock the boat. I know we have sweet wrappers nowadays. We wrap the Gospel message so that it looks sweet and appealing. You can’t escape the unpleasant edge of the sword unless you choose to compromise. You can’t use `God willing’ for this. Because God is not willing to dilute or repackage the Gospel.
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)
The Gospel will confront, and it is an affront. The Gospel will convict, and it is a death verdict. The Gospel is a persuasion, it is also a provocation. The Gospel is a proclamation, and we might suffer defamation. Even though the Gospel is well able to convince, it pushed some people away ever since. The Gospel can convert, if we don’t divert. When the Gospel can surely save, many reject it to the grave.
Brethren, while never tone down the Gospel, aim to be at peace with all men as much as it allows.
Keep the Gospel at full blast and don’t let up. In doing so, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Acts 17:1-6
But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. (Acts 17:5-6; underline mine)
Just very recently, I wrote that “the church turned the world upside down”. I used this phrase in a positive manner to demonstrate the powerful positive impact of the church on society.
In the account of Acts 17:1-6, one will notice that the uproar was caused by the persecutors of the Gospel. They who coined `turned the world upside down’ were the perpetrators of it. They framed Paul and his followers. So, this “turned the world upside down” was not a positive thing.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4; underline mine)
Paul himself said that we ought to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence without compromising the Gospel, without ever putting the Gospel at an disadvantage. Be peaceful for the sake of the Gospel.
Should the Gospel be an offense, and we pay the price of trouble, then so be it. We should not cause trouble because we are prone to it. We are in Christ, and by nature, we are not troublemakers. Instead, we are peacemakers.
The Gospel is a two-edged sword. We have the peace of God. We are the people of peace. Yet, at one point or another, the Gospel will draw negative, even violent, reaction. The Gospel at certain times will cause division among people. The Gospel at its pure and uncompromising state, will incur repercussions – something you and I won’t like. The Gospel is devalued when we are not willing to bear the cost.
The Gospel is a two-edged sword. The Gospel make peace by reconciling men to God. The Gospel opens the way to have a divine peace that surpasses human understanding. The other edge of the sword is that the Gospel will rock the boat. I know we have sweet wrappers nowadays. We wrap the Gospel message so that it looks sweet and appealing. You can’t escape the unpleasant edge of the sword unless you choose to compromise. You can’t use `God willing’ for this. Because God is not willing to dilute or repackage the Gospel.
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)
The Gospel will confront, and it is an affront. The Gospel will convict, and it is a death verdict. The Gospel is a persuasion, it is also a provocation. The Gospel is a proclamation, and we might suffer defamation. Even though the Gospel is well able to convince, it pushed some people away ever since. The Gospel can convert, if we don’t divert. When the Gospel can surely save, many reject it to the grave.
Brethren, while never tone down the Gospel, aim to be at peace with all men as much as it allows.
Keep the Gospel at full blast and don’t let up. In doing so, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.