Zambia Hunt

Acts 17:1-15

It proved to be a fateful day in world history. A woman and a man made a choice to rebel and, in so doing, changed the course of the world. On that fateful day, sin entered the world and turned the world upside down in opposition to God’s created order.

Science tells us of creatures that live so long in the dark shadows of a cave that they become blind because the optic nerve in their eyes is never stimulated by light. To them, their dark world is normal, and should the day come that light pierces into their darkness, they will not see it. In like manner, it is possible for human creatures to live in a condition so long that they begin to accept the abnormal as normal. 

A person can live with a disease for so long that they no longer remember what it feels like to be well. In the early 1990s, while living in Mombasa, Kenya, we got accustomed to their milk… it was awful, quite unlike any fresh milk you might purchase here in Zambia. After drinking that milk for a long time, we began to accept it as normal, but when we tasted fresh milk, we didn’t like it! 

You see, it is quite possible for the abnormal to become normal, for the defective to be viewed as the desirable state.

The Thessalonians’ Accusation

It is on this basis that the Thessalonians made the statement, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also!” This was viewed as an undesirable thing!

Though sin turned the world upside down, God did not sit idly by but sent messengers to proclaim the light to a sin darkened world. This has always upset people because it upsets the system and disturbs the comfort of sinners.

Throughout history God has sent these messengers to point out to the people of the world that we have fallen short of God’s glorious standard. I think of the prophet Elijah who pronounced judgment upon Israel and her wicked King Ahab for his immoral and idolatrous lifestyle. After three years of drought Elijah presented himself to Ahab. 1 Kings 18:17-18 records, “Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, ‘Is that you, O troubler of Israel?’ And he answered, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.’”

Jeremiah was pronouncing God’s message to a doomed and rebellious people, yet from their upside-down perspective he was guilty of treason as Jeremiah 38:2-4 shows.

What characterizes a person who shakes up the world for God and His glory?

They Had Courage

They traveled from Philippi through Amphipolis (53km SW) and Apollonia (43km SW) arriving in Thessalonica (64km SW) 164km SW of Philippi. Thessalonica was the capital of the province with a population of 200,000 people.

Paul was attacked in Iconium, stoned in Lystra and most recently beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. Upon entering Thessalonica they again preach Jesus.

What gives men courage to turn the world upside-down? Courage – “I would define courage to be a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger and a willingness to endure it,” said General W.T. Sherman. Courage is doing what you know you ought to do in spite of personal risk or consequences.

Courage comes from knowing God intimately. As Psalm 27:1-5 and Ephesians 6:10 teach us, this means believing that God is in sovereign control. Think of Asa in 2 Chronicles 14:9-11. It means understanding the omnipotent power of God and trusting in His strength. Lack of courage comes from an inadequate understanding of God.

Psalm 56:11 declares: “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6 adds: “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” And Hebrews 13:6 confirms: “So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”

Courage comes from knowing you are right with God as Psalm 7:1-5,10 demonstrates. Courage comes from believing God will do what he says – that’s faith! See 2 Chronicles 20:20-22.

They Had the Right Content

But not only must we have courage, we must have the right message. Cults have courage but wrong message!

They reasoned from the Scriptures. Paul used dialog, informal discussion. He began where they were with the Old Testament Scriptures. He moved from the known to the unknown, showed them how the Old Testament prophesied of Messiah’s death and resurrection and drew powerful conclusions from Isaiah 53.

The word for “explaining and demonstrating” means to lay alongside – it speaks of judicial investigation.

Why is content – Scripture – so important?

• Scripture is our authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Scripture is God’s word to man – communication
• Scripture is the source of faith (Romans 10:17)
• Scripture is what brings light to man (Psalm 119:130)

The Bereans rightly searched the Scriptures daily. Scripture alone – not the traditions of a church or the words of a minister. The Jews were hung up on their traditions – their long, historic background and their understanding of Old Testament Scripture. Those who searched the Scripture believed what was taught by Paul because they saw it in the Word – not in a man, a church or anything else – Scripture Alone! As John 5:39,46 and 7:17 make clear.

How do you evaluate sermons and teachings? Always compare what you hear by God’s Word. One who delivers God’s message will never contradict or explain away anything found in God’s Word.

The reality of Christianity must be demonstrated by Scripture. How can we know God’s Word well enough to minister it effectively?

First, confess all sin. 1 Peter 2:1-2: “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”

Second, be diligent in Bible Study. 2 Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Third, commit to practice the truths you learn. Truth obeyed results in more truth. James 1:22: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Fourth, teach it to others. We retain far better that which we study and teach to others. 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

They Made Converts

Those who want to turn the world upside down cannot do it alone, they need to make disciples as 2 Timothy 2:2 teaches. Conversions were the result of convincing exposition. The Thessalonian church reproduced as Acts 20:4 shows and used their strategic location to spread the gospel as 1 Thessalonians 1:8 records.

There was response to the Word. Some accept. Others reject – in the face of clear Scripture some will reject. They did not refute the theology. Their opposition was rooted not in doctrinal purity but in envy.

They Faced Conflict

There will be conflict because we have an enemy, Satan. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 states: “Therefore we wanted to come to you–even I, Paul, time and again–but Satan hindered us.”

We preach a counter-culture message. Things were reversed at the fall. Sin rules on planet earth. We deliver a message from God that says it is all wrong, make it right.

Titus 2:11-14 explains: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

The world hates to be exposed and will hate you for it.

We are on the front line exposing sin. There is no compromise, no neutral ground. Those confronted must surrender or fight; accept or reject. The world must be made right and God is the standard for holiness!

The Challenge for Today

Have you come to the place in an area of your life where right seems wrong and wrong right? Do the values of the world seem normal to you? Have you grown so accustomed to the world that holiness seems absurd?

Will you surrender to God and allow Him to use you to “turn the world upside down?”

The world has been turned upside down by sin, but God calls His people to be agents of restoration – to turn it right-side up again. Like Paul and the early disciples, we need courage that comes from knowing God intimately, content grounded in Scripture alone, a commitment to making converts through the power of God’s Word, and the willingness to face conflict as we stand against the darkness.

The question is not whether the world needs turning – it desperately does. The question is whether you and I will have the courage to be the ones God uses to do the turning.

Sermon transcript edits by Claude.ai