Acts Part 21 - the Subversive Mission

7/31/2019 Acts Part 21 - the Subversive Mission

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/acts-part-21-the-subversive-mission 1/18

a subversive

mission

R W GLENNDATE: 5.20.2012

SCRIPTURE: acts 17: 1-15

SERIES: acts series #21



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IntroductIon

Ideas can be dangerous.

• In1543,Copernicushadtheaudacitytoarguefortheideaofasolarsystem–thatthesundoesn’trevolvearoundtheearth,butthat

theearthrevolvesaroundthesun.Thestruggleoverthatidealasted

almost150years.

• Aroundthesametime,theProtestantReformersarguedthatall

ChristianshadtherighttointerprettheBibleforthemselves.Thisidea

blewassuresowideinthewesternchurchthatithasneverbeen

closed.

• Andinthemid-nineteenthcenturyamannamedCharlesDarwin

hadanideathatnotonlyhasforeveralteredthelandscapeofthestudy

ofbiology,butalsoofthestudyofthesociology,psychology,and

economics.Thatideahasconsequencesandisincitingcontroversyeven

tothisday.

Allthatistosayideascanbedangerous.Ideasleadtorevolution–notless

thanpoliticalrevolution(thinkoftheUnitedStatesandFrance),butmore–torevolutionthattoucheseverysphereoflife,dependingonthenatureofthe

idea.

WhatIamarguingaboutthismorningisthatthemessageofChristianityis

oneofthoseideas.ItisTHEidea.Properlyunderstood,ithasthecapacityto

overthrowEVERYTHINGaboutyouANDthecitywhereyoulive.Christianity

isGod’sdangerousidea,andthedangerousnessofthatideacomesintosharp

focusinthismorning’stext.

TurnwithmeinyourBiblestoA 17:1-15andreadwithme.

NowwhentheyhadpassedthroughAmphipolisandApollonia,theycame

toThessalonica,wheretherewasasynagogueoftheJews.AndPaulwent

in,aswashiscustom,andonthreeSabbathdayshereasonedwiththem



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fromtheScriptures,explainingandprovingthatitwasnecessaryforthe

Christtosufferandtorisefromthedead,andsaying,“ThisJesus,whom

Iproclaimtoyou,istheChrist.”Andsomeofthemwerepersuadedand

joinedPaulandSilas,asdidagreatmanyofthedevoutGreeksandnot

afewoftheleadingwomen.ButtheJewswerejealous,andtakingsomewickedmenoftherabble,theyformedamob,setthecityinanuproar,

andattackedthehouseofJason,seekingtobringthemouttothecrowd.

Andwhentheycouldnotndthem,theydraggedJasonandsomeof

thebrothersbeforethecityauthorities,shouting,“Thesemenwhohave

turnedtheworldupsidedownhavecomeherealso,andJasonhasreceived

them,andtheyareallactingagainstthedecreesofCaesar,sayingthat

thereisanotherking,Jesus.”Andthepeopleandthecityauthoritieswere

disturbedwhentheyheardthesethings.Andwhentheyhadtakenmoney

assecurityfromJasonandtherest,theyletthemgo.

ThebrothersimmediatelysentPaulandSilasawaybynighttoBerea,and

whentheyarrivedtheywentintotheJewishsynagogue.NowtheseJews

weremorenoblethanthoseinThessalonica;theyreceivedthewordwith

alleagerness,examiningtheScripturesdailytoseeifthesethingswere

so.Manyofthemthereforebelieved,withnotafewGreekwomenofhigh

standingaswellasmen.ButwhentheJewsfromThessalonicalearnedthat

thewordofGodwasproclaimedbyPaulatBereaalso,theycamethere

too,agitatingandstirringupthecrowds.ThenthebrothersimmediatelysentPauloffonhiswaytothesea,butSilasandTimothyremained

there.ThosewhoconductedPaulbroughthimasfarasAthens,andafter

receivingacommandforSilasandTimothytocometohimassoonas

possible,theydeparted.

Wearegoingtolookatthispassageunderthreemainheadings:(1)

Christianityisrational;thatis,theChristianfaithappealstoyourmind;(2)

Christianityisrevolutionary,whichmeansthatit’sdangerous.Ithasthe

capacitytooverthrowthesumtotalofyourlife;and(3)whichisreally

acombinationof1and2,isthatyourparticipationintherevolutionof

Christianitycanonlybesustainedbyit’sreasonableness.Orwecouldsayit

thisway–therevolutionissustainedbyreason.

SoChristianityisrational.It’srevolutionary,anditsreasonablenessmakesit



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revolutionary.

chrIstIAnIty Is rAtIonAl

WhenIsaythatChristianityisrational,Iwanttomakeadistinctionbetween

whatisrationalandwhatisrationalistic.(-isticmakesanywordabadword.

“Simple”isgood;simplisticisbad.Personal“piety”isgood;being“pietistic”

isbad).Well,thesameistruewiththeword“rational.”“Rational”isgood;

“rationalistic”isbad.

IfIweretosaythatChristianityisrationalistic,Iwouldbesayingthatthe

Christianfaithisheldcaptivebyreason.RatherthanbeingsomethingGod

reveals,Ireasonmywayuptoit.AndifIcan’ttitinmyunderstandingof

whatisreasonable,thereforeitmustnotbetrue.Thatwouldberationalistic.

Instead,whattheologianshavebeensayingforcenturies,isthatreasonis

thehandmaidoftheology.Christianitydoesn’tservereason.Reasonserves

Christianity.Christianityisrational,notrationalistic.

Byfailingtomakethatdistinction–betweenwhatisrationalontheonehand

andwhatisrationalisticontheother–manypeoplehavethrownChristianity

outassomethingirrational.

Themostcommonwayyouseethismanifestitselfinourcultureiswhen

peoplesaythatsciencedisprovestheChristianfaith;thatscienceproves

thateventslikethevirginbirth,theincarnation,Jesus’miracles,andthe

resurrectionofthedeadsimplydon’thappen.

TimKellerinhisexceptionalbook,TheReasonforGod,addressesthis

questiondirectlyinChapter6.Hesaysthatembeddedinthestatementthat

sciencedisprovesmiracles“isaleapoffaith”:

Itisonethingtosaythatscienceisonlyequippedtotestfornatural

causesandcannotspeaktoanyothers.Itisquiteanothertoinsistthat

scienceprovesthatnoothercausescouldpossiblyexist.

[Thescientist]isquiterighttoassertthat,whenstudyinga



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phenomenon,[he]mustalwaysassumethereisanaturalcause.[That’s]

becausenaturalcausesaretheonlykind[science]canaddress.It’sanother

thingtoinsistthatsciencehasproventherecan’tbeanyotherkind.

Therewouldbenoexperimentalmodelfortesting[it].Itisthereforea

philosophicalpresuppositionandnotascienticnding.[Thescientist’s]argumentisultimatelycircular.Hesaysthatscience,byitsnature,can’t

discernortestforsupernaturalcauses,andtherefore,thosecausescan’t

exist.1

See,it’sassumedthatifit’snotscientic,youcan’treasonyourwayintoit.

Youcan’tprovethesupernaturalqualitythroughsciencebecausescience

doesnotdealwiththesuper-nature.Sciencedealswithnature.

Sowhoisrationalnow?

Inpointoffact,thereisnothingrationalaboutthesupernatural.Itdoesn’tdefy

logic.ButitisonlywhenyoubecomerationalisticthatChristianitycanappear

tobeirrational.

SowhenItalkaboutChristianitybeingrational,Imeanthatitmakesitsappeal

fundamentallytoyourmind.Itinvitesyoutothinkcritically,toassess,to

measure,toexamine,touseyourhead.Christianityneversays,“Checkyourbrainatthedoor.”Insteaditsays,“Thinkdeeply.”Andthatnoteisstruckloud

andclearinthispassagewithvewords:

• V 2:“Reasoned”:WhatthismeansisthatPaulwasn’t

engaginginamonologue,butadialogue,aninterchange,a

conversation,adiscussion,adebate.

• V 3:“Explaining”:LukeusedthiswordattheendofVolume

OneofLuke-ActsinLuke24:32whenhetalkedaboutJesusexplaining

tothedisciplesthetruesignicanceoftheBible–thatitallpointedto

him.SotheideaisthatPaulwalkedhisaudiencethroughspecictexts

ofScripturestoshowhoweverybiblicalroadledtoJesus.Heisnot

askingthemtohaveafeeling.Heissaying,“Lookatthistext.Examine

this.”

1TimothyKeller,TheReasonforGod:BeliefinanAgeofSkepticism(Dutton,2008),85.



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• V 3:“Proving”:Inotherwords,Pauldemonstratedthe

truthfulnessofhisclaimswitharguments.Christianityneversays,“JUST

believe”…likeyou’reinDisneyworld.ItNEVERsaysthat.Itisalways,“Let

mePROVEthistoyou.LetmeDEMONSTRATEthisforyou.Lookhere!

Thinkaboutthis.Putyourmindtothis.”

• V 4:“Persuaded”:LukedescribesapositiveresponsetoPaul’s

teachingwithawordthatmeanstobeconvinced.Theyareconvinced

byarguments.TheyfoundPaul’sargumentspersuasive,convincingto

theirminds.

Andthen,fth,ifyoujumpdowntoverse11,you’llseetheBereans’approach

toPaul:

• V 11:“Examining”:Thistermmeans“toengageincareful

studyofaquestion.”Andapparently,astheycarefullystudiedPaul’s

argumentsfromScripture,theybelieved–verse12(“Manyofthem

thereforebelieved”).Clearly,theydidn’thaveblindfaith,butfaith

basedonacarefulconsiderationoftheevidence.Theywereexamining

thesethings.Itisactuallylanguagefromthelawcourt–it’sacross-

examinationterm.

Sovewords–reasoned,explaining,proving,persuaded,andexamining–all

ofwhichleadtooneconclusion.Christianitymakesitsappealtoyourmind.It

isnota“checkyourbrainatthedoor”kindoffaith.

ThisiswhatImeanbysayingChristianityisreasonable.Itassumesthatyou’re

anintelligentpersonwhocandiscernthetruthifthecaseisputbeforeyouin

good,logicalfashion,whichisexactlyhowPauldoesitinthispassage.2

Verse3actuallyhasalltheconstituentpartsofpartsofwhatinlogiciscalled

asyllogism.Readv 3withme.

[Hewas]explainingandprovingthatitwasnecessaryfortheChristto

sufferandtorisefromthedead,andsaying,“ThisJesus,whomIproclaim

toyou,istheChrist.”

2BenWitheringtonIII,TheActsoftheApostles:ASocio-RhetoricalCommentary(Eerd-

mans,1998),506



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Hereisthemajorpremise:TheChristmustsufferandriseagain.Heshows

fromtheHebrewBiblepassagesthattalkaboutthesufferingsofChristand

thegloriestofollow.HeshowshowtheChristwouldbearthesinsofmany

(fromIsaiah“TheLordwillnotallowtheHolyOnetoundergodecay).Paul

showedthemthesethingsfromtheBibleandsays,“TheChrist,theMessiah,issomeonewhowouldsufferandriseagain.”

Theminorpremise(assumed):JesusofNazarethsufferedandroseagain.

Thatiswhyitsaysinthemiddleofversethree“‘ThisJesus,whomIproclaim

toyou…’”.Sohereisthemajorpremise:TheChristmustsufferandriseagain.

Now,letmetellyou,thereisaguyfromNazarethnamedJesuswhosuffered

(justlikethissays)andwhoroseagain(justlikethissays).

Then,hereistheconclusion:Therefore,JesusistheChrist.TheChristmust

sufferandriseagain.ThatiswhattheBiblesays.Jesuststhatbill.Therefore,

JesusmustbetheMessiah.

Doyouseehowreasonablethatis?Thelogicistight.Thisiswhat’scalleda

validsyllogism.Assumingthepremisesaretrue(assumingthatit’struethe

Christmustsufferandriseagain,assumingthatit’strueJesussufferedand

roseagain),theconclusionisinevitable(JesusistheChrist).Nowyoumight

objecttotheideathattheChristmustsufferonthecrossandrisefromthedead.AndyoumightobjecttotheideathatJesusdiedandroseagain.But

whatyoucouldneversayisthattheconclusionisirrational.Itisrational.The

onlyquestioniswhetherornotit’strue.

Iwillgiveyouanotherreasonablesyllogism:alldogscany.Fidoisadog.

Therefore,Fidocany.Didyouknowthatconclusionisnotirrationalatall?

Thatisacompletely,totally,utterlyreasonableargument.Theproblemwithit

isthatthemajorpremiseisfalse.Alldogscan’ty.

Thelogicisairtight.Butisthepremisetrue?

ThesameappliestoChristianity.Christmustsufferandriseagain.Isthattrue?

Jesussufferedandroseagain.Isthattrue?Wellifthosethingsaretrue,then

theconclusioninvariablyfollowsandthereforeitiscompletelyrational.



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Thatisthequestionyouhavetooccupyyourselfwith.IstheChristianfaith

true?Ihopeyou’renotaChristianbecauseyouhavea“feeling”.Thatisnot

goingtosustainyouoverthelonghaul.ThatisTHEquestion.IsChristianity

true?Becauseifit’snot,donotwasteyourtimewithit!Abandonit,becauseit

isgoingtocostyousomethingtobelieveit.

ThepointhereisthatChristianitymakesitsappealtothemind.Truegospel

communicationNEVERasksyoutosuspendyourthinking.Italwaysappeals

tothemind.

OneNewTestamentscholarexplainsitthisway:

OneofthesignicancesofthissortofpresentationofPaul’sapproachis

thatitsuggeststhat…thegospelcouldbesubstantiatedandbeshownto

bereasonable…atthesametimeitwasassumedthatthegospelshouldbe

respondedtofreelyonthebasisoftheappealtothemind….Proclaiming

thegospelwasnottobeseenasanattempttodupeanunsuspecting

publicandsucktheminbymererhetoricwithoutrationalsubstance. 3

AndthereasonforthisisthatChristianityisTRUE.ChristianityIStrue.This

iswhatmakesitsocompelling.Examineit.Testit.Applyyourgreatest

intellectualpowertoit.Itwillbeabletostanduptoanythingyouthrowatit.

Nottoolongago,myoldestsonwasgettingreallyintothelateChristopher

Hitchens,theauthorofGodIsNotGreat.Thisisprobablybecauseofmy

inuenceasI’vealwayscalledhimmyfavoriteatheist.Andhewassaying

thingslike,“IwanttomakesurethatChristianityismineandnotjust

somethingIbelievebecauseyouguysdo.”Andsohewasaskingalotof

questions,theologicalandphilosophicalquestionsaboutChristianity.

AndasGayleandIweretalkingaboutit,Gaylewasfeelingalittlenervousfor

Noah.SoIremindedherofthistruth.ChristianityisTRUE.Itcanwithstand

anythinghebringstoit.Itanswersthequestionsaboutultimaterealitybetter

thananyotherphilosophyorreligiononEARTH.IfNoahjettisonsthefaith,it

won’tbeforintellectualreasons;itwillbeformoralreasons.

3Ibid.,506,fn.159.



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Yousee,intheend,ifapersonsaystheyhavewell-formedintellectual

objectionstoChristianity,sometimeswhattheyareobjectingtoisnot

Christianity,butastraw-manofChristianity.Theydon’treallyunderstandwhat

theChristianfaithis.Let’sputthattoonesiderightnow.

Intheend,apersonDOESNOTrejectChristianitybecauseitlacksrational

substance.YourejectChristianitybecausedeepdownwithintherecessesof

yoursoulyouareviscerallyopposedtotheideathattherewouldbeaGod

whohasownershiprightsforyourexistence,whodemandsyoursubmission

tohisrule,andwhogaveyouhissoninordertosaveyoubecauseyouwere

tooweak,feeble,andpowerlesstodoityourself.Thereisapartofyouthat

isSOfundamentallyresistanttothegospelthatnoamountofintellectual

argumentcangetyouthere.

Ourpassageisacaseinpoint.TherearesomeThessalonianswhodon’t

believethegospel.Istheirunbeliefrootedinwell-formed,intellectual

objectionstothetruthofthegospel,orisitrootedinsomethingelse?Read

v 5.

ButtheJewswerejealous,andtakingsomewickedmenoftherabble,they

formedamob,setthecityinanuproar,andattackedthehouseofJason,

seekingtobringthemouttothecrowd.

Lukeissettingupadeliberatecontrastherebetweenthebelievers’rational

andreectiveapproachandtheunbelievers’jealousandemotionalresponse

tothemessageofthegospel.Itisthedifferencebetweenrespondingand

reacting.It’slikemedicine:ifyouareresponding,that’sagoodthing.Ifyou

arehavingareaction,that’sabadthing.Herearethebelievers–theyare

respondinginaveryreective,rationalway.Herearetheunbelievers–why

aretheynotembracingtheChristianfaith?Becausetheyarejealousandthey

areemotional.4

ThisiswhyIsaythatyourjettisoningofthefaithwouldneverbefor

intellectualreasons,butformoralones.Youreadtheevidencethrough

eyeglassesthathavebeendistortedbyyourrebellionagainstGod.Anduntil

Godtakesthemoff,youwilleetowhateverwillmakeyoufeeljustiedin

4DavidGPeterson,TheActsoftheApostles(Eerdmans,2009),484.



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continuingyourrebellion–inthiscase,yourintellect.

Sothen,Christianityisreasonable.Itappealstothemind.It’snota“check-

your-brain-at-the-door”kindoffaith.Anyapproachtotruththatasksyouto

suspendyourthinkingshouldbeheldinsuspicion.TrueChristianitydoesn’thavetoresorttoanti-intellectualismtoreachtheworld.Thegospelcanhandle

it.Thetruthalwayssays,“Shinealightonme.Examineme.Idon’thaveany

aws.”

chrIstIAnIty Is reVolutIonAry

ThesecondthingyouneedtoseeinthistextisthatChristianityis

revolutionary.Youseethisveryclearlyinthetrumpedupchargethatis

broughtbeforetheauthoritiesin v 6-7.

Andwhentheycouldnotndthem,theydraggedJasonandsomeofthe

brothersbeforethecityauthorities,shouting,“Thesemenwhohaveturned

theworldupsidedownhavecomeherealso,andJasonhasreceivedthem,

andtheyareallactingagainstthedecreesofCaesar,sayingthatthereis

anotherking,Jesus.”

Theyareaccusedofbeingrevolutionaries.

Nowwhat’sinterestingaboutthischargeisthatit’sSOplausible.Andve

thingsmadeitplausible:

• Jesushimselfisonthebooksforhavingbeenexecutedfor

sedition.SotheleaderoftheChristianmovementisacriminalwhohad

beenofciallycondemnedforassertinghiskingshipoverandagainst

Caesar’s.Now,thisisn’ttrue.Butthatiswhathappened:itisonthe

books,soitwouldmakesensethathisfollowerswouldadoptthesame

adversarialposturetoRome.

• TheapostlesproclaimedthekingdomofGod,theruleofGodas

overandagainstCaesar.Acts14:22:Itisthroughmanytribulationsthat



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wemustenterthekingdomofGod.”Theyareproclaimingtheruleof

anotherkingratherthanCaesar.

• TherewasadecreeofCaesarthatmadepredictinganykindof

regimechangeacrime.Well,theapostlestalkedaboutthecomingkingdom,thecomingregimeofJesusChrist,theKingofkingsand

Lordoflords.PaulmentionsthathetaughtthisinThessalonicain1

Thessalonians4-5and2Thessalonians1-2.

• TheapostlesproclaimedJesusasLord,whichwasatermreserved

fortheemperor.Acts16:31:“BelieveintheLordJesus,andyoushallbe

saved.”TheytakeatitlebelongingexclusivelytoCaesarandputiton

Jesus.

• TherewasalreadyalotofJewishpoliticalunrestthroughout

Palestine.AndtooutsidersJewishunrestwouldbeindistinguishable

fromChristianunrest.FromRome’sperspective,Christianitywasjust

anothersectofJudaism.

Thisamountstoaperfectstormfortheapostles.Theyareaccusedofturning

theworldupsidedown,ofbeingrevolutionaries,treasonousdisturbersofthe

peace,politicalagitatorsstirringupunrest,ofbeingsociallyandpoliticallydangerous.Anditseemedthattheirpreachingonlyfunctionedtosubstantiate

theseclaims,astheypreached(verse7)ANOTHERking;namely,JESUS!

Now,ofcourse,itshouldalmostgowithoutsayingthatChristianswerenot

politicalagitators.That’snotourmission.Ourmissionistopreachrepentance

fortheforgivenessofsinstoallnations.Infact,ifyoureadPaul’sepistles,his

letterstothechurches,you’llseeexplicitcommandstobecompliantcitizens:

• Romans13:1:Leteverypersonbesubjecttothegoverning

authorities.

• 1Timothy2:1-2:Prayforkingsandallwhoareinhighpositions,

thatwemayleadapeacefulandquietlife.





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Youareprayingthelyricsofthesongbeforethesermon:

OGreatGodofhighestheaven

OCCUPYmylowlyheartOWNITALLandREIGNSUPREME

CONQUEReveryREBELPOWER

LetnoviceorsinremainthatRESISTSyourHOLYWAR.

That’smilitarylanguage.Wedon’tsingitlikethat,though.Butthatiswhatwe

arepraying.Thatisthelanguageofoverthrow.You’resaying,“Occupy,ownit,

reign,conquer.”

Youaresayingthatyou’retooweaktodefendyourself,toopowerlesstoght

foryourself.You’resayingthatyou’redirectionless–thatyouneedaleader.

You’resayingthatyoucan’trunyourownlifeandthatyouneedsomeoneelse

torunitforyou.Yousay,“Ineedaking.I’mterribleatrunningmyownlife.”

You’reprayingforREGIMECHANGE.YouareprayingthattheBenignDictator

wouldhavemercyonyou,wouldgiveyougracebyaregimechangeinthe

centerofyourheart.

Thisissucharevolutionarymessage!It’soneofthethingsthatmakeChristianityunique.ChristianitybeginswithSURRENDER–withadmittingthat

youdon’thavetheresourcestobeacceptabletoGod.Andyet,fromhead

totoe,youwanttothinkthatyoucanbegoodenoughforGod.Youwantto

believethatbybeingagoodpersonyoucanenterthekingdomofGod.

ButthekingdomofGodissofaraboveyou,soholyandrighteousandgood,

sobeyondyourreach,thattheonlywayyoucangetoverthemoatintothe

castleisforthekingtocomedownfromthetower,pickyouupandbringyou

inhimself–whichisexactlywhathehasdonewithJesusChrist.

InChrist,thekinghascome.He’scometorescueyoubyrulingyou.Submit

tohisruleandyouwillbesaved.Wavethewhiteagandsay,“Comeintomy

countryandruleme.Reignoverme.”Whatarevolutionarymessage!



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Sowhenyoupraythisforyourselfandforothers(Ipraythisforourchurch,

astheLord’sPrayerisacorporateprayer),youareprayingthatyourworld

wouldbeturnedupsidedown.Thatisadangerousprayer.There’sgoingtobe

arevolutioninyourlife.Youcancountonit.

Andsecond,you’realsoprayingtobeaninstrumentoftheadvanceofthe

kingdomthroughouttheworld.KingJesusisonthemoveaswespeak.And

he’susingyouashisinstrumentstobringtherevolutionofthegospeltoevery

people,tribe,nation,andkingdom.

Andyouareaninstrumentinhisrevolutionasyouwagewarbylovingyour

neighbor–bylovingtheminword(preachingthegospel)andlovingthem

indeed(byhelpingthemwiththeirneeds).Thegoal,ofcourse,isforthe

revolutionarychangeofheartthatwillbringthemundertheswayofKing

Jesus.

Butnotonlyareyouprayingforaninternalrevolutionandtobeusedasan

instrumenttobringrevolutiontoyourfriendswhoaren’tyetChristians,you’re

alsoprayingfortheoverthrowofeveryearthlyregime.Comeback,Jesus.Set

upyourkingdom.Usherinyourruleinanutterandcomprehensiveway.

You’resaying,“JesusdeposeCaesar.”You’resaying,“Jesus,deposeTheUnitedStatesofAmerica.”You’reprayingthatrepresentativedemocracywouldbe

replacedwithaMONARCHY!Doesthatfeelweird?Probablyfeelsweirdon

theFourthofJuly!

Soinverse6,whentheJewishleaderssaythat“thesemenhaveturnedthe

worldupsidedown,”thereisaveryrealsenseinwhichtheyhave–theyARE

andtheyHAVEandtheyWILL.Christianityisrevolutionary.ItbringsJesus’

revolttoyourheart,andthroughyoutotheworld–arevolutionofmercy,

grace,love,andjustice.

s ,Christianityisrational;itappealstoyourmind.Christianityisalso

revolutionary;it’sadangerousthing–itthreatenstounearthandoverthrow

thesumtotalofyourlife,toturnyourworldupsidedown.



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Mythirdpointisthis.IfyouandIaregoingtobesustainedoverthelonghaul

inthisrevolutionarymission,itneedstoberootedinandnourishedbyour

reasonablefaith.OrasIputitearlier:therevolutionissustainedbyreason.

the reVolutIon Is sustAIned by reAson

Revolutionisrevolution.Itismessyanddifcult.Itisfullofperil.Opposition

tothemissionthroughoutthebookofActsisaconstant.Chapter17isno

different.

Lookagainatv 5-7.

ButtheJewswerejealous,andtakingsomewickedmenoftherabble,

theyformedamob,setthecityinanuproar,andattackedthehouseof

Jason,seekingtobringthemouttothecrowd.Andwhentheycouldnot

ndthem,theydraggedJasonandsomeofthebrothersbeforethecity

authorities,shouting,“Thesemenwhohaveturnedtheworldupsidedown

havecomeherealso,andJasonhasreceivedthem,andtheyareallacting

againstthedecreesofCaesar,sayingthatthereisanotherking,Jesus.”

Gettinginvolvedisgoingtocostyousomething.Jasonandthebrothers(theotherunnamedChristians)whoarementionedheremusthavebeenreally

afraid.Theyaregettinglumpedinwiththeapostlesforjustgivingthema

placetostay.

Andtheywouldhaveknown,livinginThessalonica,thattheircitygotalotof

moneyandprotectionfromRome.Theywouldhaveknownthattheirofcials

werehighlyincentivizedto“enforceloyaltytoCaesarinordertomaintainthe

peaceandhelpthecitystayinthegoodgracesoftheemperor.” 6

Fortunatelyforthem,theygetoffwithaslaponthewrist– v 9.

AndwhentheyhadtakenmoneyassecurityfromJasonandtherest,they

letthemgo.

6Witherington,Acts,504.



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PayaneandpromisethatPaulandSilaswillleavethecity.Still,itcostJason

somethingjusttobeassociatedwiththeapostles.

AndasPaulandSilastravel45milesawaytoBerea,thehostilitytowardthem

inThessalonicafollowsthem.Checkout v 13-14.

ButwhentheJewsfromThessalonicalearnedthatthewordofGodwas

proclaimedbyPaulatBereaalso,theycametheretoo,agitatingand

stirringupthecrowds.ThenthebrothersimmediatelysentPauloffonhis

waytothesea,butSilasandTimothyremainedthere.

ThisgospelrevolutionisaWAR.Youwillbeopposedinit.Youmayhaveto

eeyourcitytoparticipateinit.Youmaybestonedforit.Youmaybebeaten

withrods.Youmaybemockedandridiculedandostracized.JointheJesus

revolutionofgraceandmercyandyouwon’tgetmuchofitfromthehostiles

youarepersuadingtojoinyou.

Sowhat’sgoingtogetyouthrough?Goodfeelings?Awarmfuzzy?No!

What’sgoingtogetyouthroughitisyourcondencethatChristianityis

TRUE!

Youhavestudiedit.Youhaveexaminedit.Youhaveaskedthequestionsandbeensatisedwiththeanswers.You’vebecomeconvincedinyourmindthat

JesusChristreallydiddieonthecrossforyoursinsandreallydidrisefrom

thedeadjustastheBiblesaidhewould!You’vebecomeconvincedthatthe

kingofkingsandlordoflordsreallyISJesus.Andbecauseofthis,youare

abletohanginthere.

IfChristianityisagmentofourimagination,ifitisnothingmorethanan

elaboratehoaxoradelusionofthefrightenedmasses,orifyou’resuspicious

thatitmightbe,youwon’tbeabletojoinJesusonhismissiontorulethe

world.Itwouldbetoohard.

Neitherwillapurelyemotionalresponsegetyouoverthehump.Ifyour

emotionsaren’trootedinFACTS,deepdownyou’llknowit.Sowhenitcomes

timetopaythepiperforyourcommitmenttoJesus,you’llrun.IfChristianity



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isn’treal,ifit’sjustanice,psychologicalcushion,thenyou’llabandonitforan

alternativecushionassoonastheheatgetsturnedup.

ButifyouareconvincedthatChristianityisrational,youcanbearevolutionary

untilKingJesusreturns.

conclusIon

Sowhereareyouatthismorning?Maybeyou’vethoughtthatChristianity

isnotanintellectualfaith.Maybeyou’vedrawnthefatalconclusionthat

faithandreasonareincompatible.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.

ChristianityisafaiththatINVITESyoutoapplyyourmindtoit.Sodoit.Apply

yourmindtoitandIpromisethatitwillstanduptoundermostrigorous

cross-examination.

Ormaybeyou’reattheplacewhereyoustillfeelthreatenedbytheideaof

someoneelserunningyourlife.Maybeyou’renervousaboutthatkindof

submission.Letmeencourageyou!Thepersonyouareaskingtoruleyou

isthesamepersonwholovedyousomuchthathesufferedonthecrossin

yourplace.HegaveyouJesus.HowwillhenotwithJesusfreelygiveyouall

things?Thatisthekingwholovesyou.HeisalsoyourFather,soyoucanpraycondently,“Theykingdomcome.”HisruleisaGOODrule.It’salovingrule.

It’samercifulrule.Youcantrusthim.Andbesides,youknowwhataterrible

kingyouare!Youneedsomebodyelsetoruntheshow.Youknowthat.You

knowyoucan’trunyourownlife.YoucantrustKingJesustodothat.Jesusis

readytoruleyou–withhisloveandmercyandgrace.Youcantrusthim!

© r W G

Pmii:Youarepermittedandencouragedtoreproduceanddistributethismaterialin

anyformatprovidedthatyoudonotalterthewordinginanywayanddonotchargeafee

beyondthecostofreproduction.Forwebposting,alinktothisdocumentonourwebsiteis

preferred.AnyexceptionstotheabovemustbeapprovedbyRedeemerBibleChurch.

Pleaseincludethefollowingstatementonanydistributedcopy:ByRWGlenn.©RWGlenn.

Website:redeemerbiblechuch.com



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Acts Part 21 - the Subversive Mission

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