2023-02-05 Setting the World Right

SETTING THE WORLD RIGHT (Acts 17:1-9) February 5, 2023 Read Acts 17:1-9 - I think we all agree we live in a messed-up world. The Columbine HS shootings in 1999 which took 13 lives and injured 24 others, shocked the nation. But such events are now commonplace. The terrorist bombing in OKC in 1995 was the worst disaster in US history, seemingly unsurpassable - until Sept 11, 2001. There is no longer a safe place! And, since the mid-1960's we have been in the midst of a moral revolution unlike any in human history - a revolution where almost any sexual or behavioral aberration is normal; where even such foundational issues as sexual identity is now defined by how a person feels rather than by the irrefutable biological facts. Philosophically, society believes all truth claims are equally valid even though they contradict each other. Psychologically, we have concluded that our past defines us, thus even criminals are victims and not really responsible for their crimes. We now believe life does not exist in the absence of personhood characteristics, the definition of which are all over the map, thus clearing the way to kill unborn and newborn babies and elderly and disabled individuals without conscience. Meantime, the threat of nuclear annihilation hangs heavy over all of us. We live in a messed-up world. But -- so did Paul and the apostles. With the exception of the nuclear threat, their world was just as messed up as ours. So what did they do and what should we do? Organize protests? Get political? Throw up our hands in despair? The apostles did none of these things. And yet they changed their world. Even their opponents said in 6b: "These men who have turned the world upside down." Sure, that's ambiguous and more accusation than compliment. But this generation of believers did dramatically impact their world - turning it right up, not upside down. Life improved where they went. How'd they do that? Changed HEARTS set the world right. Here's how! I. Faithfulness to the Message of the Gospel P&S have been thrown out of Philippi. But that does not stop them. 1)Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews." Thess 100 miles from Philippi, city of 200,000 on several trade routes, a free city under Rome. Arriving there, Paul earned his own way. I Thess 2:9: "For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God." He and Silas set up shop as tent-makers or leather workers, perhaps in the agora, or in someone else's home/shop - perhaps Jason. Paul made no financial demands on those to whom he ministered. Having set up shop, Paul continues his God-directed efforts to right the world in which he lived by preaching the gospel. He was also helped by a gift from Philippi: Phil 4:16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again." No wonder he loved these partners in the gospel. As usual Paul went first to the Jewish synagogue. There he found Jews and Gentile "God-fearers", worshipers of Yahweh. His standing as a rabbi and his knowledge of the OT perfectly suited him to get an immediate audience, who knew the OT. His synagogue ministry lasted only 3 weeks before he was pushed out. But his message was always the same as seen here. A. A Message That is Consistent Paul's message never changed. He fit his approach to his audience. But the authority of his ministry never varied: 2) "he reasoned with them from the Scriptures." The Word was primary - the OT, supported now by NT truth he had from Jesus Himself. Paul looked to the Word for truth. Like Paul, Martin Luther turned his world upside down. The Reformation he started changed everything. But when asked what he did to bring it on, he replied, "I simply taught, preached and wrote God's Word. Otherwise, I did nothing; the Word did it all." Our authority is in the Word. It can't be a little self-help here, a little pop psychology there, a dash of Oprah. The Word is all. God says in Isa 55:11: "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Michael Lawrence asks in light of that verse, "What do you think churches should do when they gather? Should they concentrate on entertainment or on preaching the Word? I suppose it depends on whether they want a ministry designed to amuse the dying or a ministry aimed at raising the dead." Blunt but true! If we are to change our world, the Word is everything. First in our life; first in our church. First in any church we give ourselves to. It alone is God's power to salvation. B. A Message That is Credible Four words describe Paul's ministry. In v. 2, he "reasoned" with them. διαλέγομαι - root for our word dialogue. He led a discussion. In v. 3, "explaining" - διανοίγω = "to open." Used in Lu 24:31-32 as the resurrected Christ speaks to the two disciples on the Emmaus Road: "31 And their eyes were opened (same word), and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened (same word) to us the Scriptures?" Jesus opened the Word to them to reveal truth they'd never seen. Paul was doing the very same thing. Further, he was "proving" - παρατίθημι - "to set before", used of setting out food. Paul set the table of spiritual truth before them. And "proclaim" - καταγγέλλω - to make public. In other words, Paul is making an appeal to the mind in a logical, reasonable manner - opening the true meaning of Scripture they'd missed, setting the table and then spoon-feeding them. It wasn't just "Believe". It was "Believe, and here's why." Contrary to what many say, you don't abandon intelligence to come to Christ. You enhance it! Some treat Xnty like the man who had a stuttering problem. A therapist had him talk with his mouth filled with marbles. Each week, he removed one marble and amazingly, his speech began to improve. In fact, after he lost all his marbles, he became a preacher! Many see Xnty that way - as believers in nothing! And let's admit the idea that sins can be forgiven based on the death of a single castaway 2,000 years ago is ludicrous on the surface. But once you make a logical case for God's existence, for the integrity of the Bible, for the resurrection of Jesus - you see it has intellectual credibility. So, study, "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (I Pet 3:15b). We have a credible message. C. A Message That is Christ-Centered But at the heart of Paul's message is Christ. He's showing the OT prophecies point squarely to Him. He was born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2), of David's line (II Sam 7) with attesting miracles (Isa 35; 61). So far, so good. All Jews expected a political deliverer based on these and many other OT prophecies. But what of the suffering Messiah? Prophecies of Him being rejected by men and despised (Isa 53:3), betrayed by a friend (Psa 41:9), sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:13), silent before His accusers (Isa 53:7), nailed to a cross (Psa 22:16; Isa 53:5); bones out of joint (Psa 22:14), but none broken (Psa 34:20) and finally forsaken by God (Psa 22:1). What an inglorious picture. But unquestionably biblical; and unquestionably true of Jesus of Nazareth. But why would God have allowed all this? Isa 53: 5) "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." There's the answer; He was the ultimate lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. He could only rule politically over those in whose cleansed heart He ruled by faith. And the proof? He was crucified with criminals but buried with the rich (Isa 53:10). The Father would not allow His holy one to see corruption (Psa 16:10; Isa 53:10). All of this prophesied in detail hundreds of years ago. But then Paul dropped the bomb: 3 "explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ [Messiah] to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." Wow. Paul's point? To win millions in a lottery, you have to guess 6 numbers out of 50 balls. Odds -- 175,000,000 to one. You have a better chance of drowning in the bath. So what if you won the lottery ten times in a row - untold millions, right? No! You'd win an all-expenses paid long-term to prison. Why? Because the odds of getting 6 correct numbers 10 times straight are astronomically impossible. Yet it is indisputable that hundreds of ancient prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled -specifically, particularly, and perfectly-in one man -- Jesus. Impossible odds. That makes Him the one and only, exclusive way to the Father. Don Wyman was cutting timber in PA one morning in 1993 when a tree fell on him. Shattered his shin bone. Left him pinned. He tried every means to get out. Nothing worked. No one came. Realizing he would bleed to death, he did the unthinkable. Tying a tourniquet to his upper leg, he amputated his own leg using his pocket knife. He got to his truck, a farmhouse and survived. He said, "It was terrible. But I had a choice - life or death. I chose life." Now, do you think Don would have taken such extreme measure had there been any other way to save himself? Of course, not.. And Paul's point was Jesus' death and rez proves - it's Jesus or nothing. Would God have sent His only Son to suffer and die if there were any other way? No! He is the only way of hope, cleansing, salvation, peace with God. That was the life-giving message Paul brought to Thessalonica that was turning his world upside down. The result of this Chris-centered message was heartening: 4 "And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women." Not everyone believed, but some did, including Jews and Gentiles - men and women. This message can change anyone's world. It is wonderful - exclusive in its content, but inclusive in its reach. It's one Lord - but available to anyone who will come. II. Fearlessness in Meeting Opposition to the Gospel As usual, opposition arose to Paul's preaching. Jealous Jews went out and found some of the rabble of the town, formed a mob, and attacked Jason's home where P&S were staying. Failing to find P&S, they dragged Jason to the city officials, accused P&S of having "turned the world upside down" and falsely charged them of "acting against the decrees of Caesar." It was true Paul proclaimed King Jesus - but as the rulers knew He represented was no threat to the empire. Their motivation was jealousy. Paul was stealing their friends and Gentile converts, with their contributions, and these guys were hot. Without the actual presence of P&S, they devised another strategy. 9 "And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go." The security was to ensure that P&S left town. Jason's bond would have been forfeit had there been any more trouble. Paul saw Satan's hand in this: I Thess 2:17 "But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you-I, Paul, again and again-but Satan hindered us." But tho Satan hindered Paul, God made sure he didn't hinder the gospel - maybe even fueled the fires: I Thess 1:6 "And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." Conc - So, P&S were faithful to the message and fearless in the face of opposition. Trouble at Philippi didn't keep them from Thessalonica. And trouble there didn't keep them from their next stop in Berea. Our message is worth suffering for. We must never water it down, never be ashamed. That same powerful gospel can impact our world as well. We face daily the decision John Stott identified: "Either we are unfaithful in order to be popular, or we are willing to be unpopular in our determination to be faithful. It is not possible to be faithful and popular at the same time. We have to choose." Let's choose the gospel and turn our world right side up. Let's pray. DONE 7