Focused Instruments of Revival

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 17:1-15

 

Acts 17:6.

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

(ESV)

 

Turning their world upside down, that was the reputation Paul, Silas, and Timothy had established in their ministry.  While the Bible does not specifically tell us why they had gained this reputation, it could have something to do with the shaking of the prison in Philippi and a jailer who was saved, possibly spreading the word of his conversion (Acts 16:25-34).  However, the Jews commenting on how they had turned the world upside down did not mean it in a complementary manner and instead were trying to stir up trouble.  Paul, Silas, and Timothy were not attempting to turn their world upside down and instead had a focused purpose of declaring who Jesus was to both Jews and Gentiles in obedience to the Great Commission of Christ (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  Acts 17:1-15 provides a lesson on how to effectively share the Gospel.  The passage shows us,

 

1)      Method (Acts 17:1-3;10-12) – The method used by Paul when entering a new community was to find a synagogue and since he was a Pharisee, reason with the Jews over three sabbaths proving from scripture that Christ needed to die and rise from the dead and that Jesus is the Messiah.  So profound was his teaching that many Jews and even some Greeks came to believe (Acts 17:4;12), but not everyone (Acts 17:5).  While the Lord desires that none reject Him (2 Peter 3:9), the truth is some will, choosing eternal condemnation over God’s offer of eternal life (John 3:16-18).  However, this should not deter anyone from sharing how God has changed their life. 

2)      Acceptance and Rejection (Acts 17:5-6) – Just as the Lord shook the Macedonian jail, allowing Paul and Silas to be free, the message of the Gospel coming from the Apostle Paul would shake up the community, causing division over whether to accept or reject Jesus as Messiah.  While this shaking up in the community may seem destructive, deciding to accept Jesus as Messiah or Savior or to reject Him is a decision every individual must make.  This is because every individual has an eternal destiny and must decide where they will spend eternity.  For those choosing to accept Jesus as Messiah or Savior, the destination is eternity with God (John 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).  For those choosing to reject Jesus, the destination is eternal condemnation and death (John 3:18). 

3)      Opposition forming (Acts 17:13) – So strong was the opposition to the teaching of Paul in Thessalonica, that it followed him to Berea.  However, even this mounting opposition did not deter Paul from his mission of bringing the gospel message wherever he went with him moving on to Athens and asking Silas and Timothy to join him there (Acts 17:14-15).  Paul, Silas, and Timothy gained a reputation of turning their world upside down by staying focused on sharing Jesus wherever they went. 

 

Paul, Silas, and Timothy allowed God to use them as instruments of revival and did not allow rejection or the stirring up of a mob to deter them from their mission.  The Church today must focus less on numbers, facilities, and running the church as an organization and more on the Church as an instrument of revival.  For those reading this who have not accepted Jesus as their Messiah of Savior, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead, and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Congratulations to those that just prayed and know that your eternal destination is with Christ for eternity and not the eternal condemnation of death (John 3:16-18).  May God bless everyone reading this post and may every believer in Jesus as their savior become a focused instrument of revival in a world that is desperately seeking answers.