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A Reliable Word That
Provoked Them
Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
October 1, 2009
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When we come to Acts 17,
we find Paul and Silas, the Spiritual Minority, in a
conflict with the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica, the
Secular Majority! Not being content with investigation, Paul
and Silas chose to get involved. They have come to get in the
game!
Quickly finding themselves on
the defensive, the secular majority rises in opposition and
cries, “These that have turned the world upside down are come
hither also” (vs.6). Paul and Silas upset the city of
Philippi and they are doing the same thing to the city
Thessalonica. What these unconverted Jews have to say about Paul
and Silas reveals A Reputation That Proceeded Them,
“These . . . are come hither also.” When we think of this
reputation, we must ask ourselves, “What is the origin of this
reputation?” This leads us to A Repetitive Habit That Pushed
Them, “as his manner was” (vs.2). The word
“manner” in verse 2 means ones acts prescribed by a
habit or law, one’s custom. While all of us are creatures of
habit, when we look at the repetitive habit that pushes them, we
are looking at the spiritual aspects of Paul’s life! When the
opportunity presented itself, Paul was going to find a religious
assembly.
This brings us to our final
thought, A Reliable Word That Provoked Them, “reasoned
with them out of the scriptures” (vs.2). When Paul was given
any opportunity, he gave forth the Word of God! Having set at
the feet of some of the best know religious leaders of his day,
Paul could proclaim the wisdom of men! While that may have been
what he could have done, it was not the case. The Word of God
occupied the place of preeminence in Paul’s life and on his
lips.
If we are going to turn the
world, the Word of God must be preeminent! Most likely, there is
no one single element that is as crucial to the performance and
productivity of the Christian life as the Word of God. Paul knew
and understood this great truth. Please note Paul’s dependency
upon the Word of God.
Acts 16:14
“Lydia . . . heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she
attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”
Acts 17:2-3
“reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging,
that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the
dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”
Acts 17:11
“they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched
the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Acts 17:17
“disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews.”
When describing the subject
and source of his message, Paul said, “And my speech and my
preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom” (I
Corinthian 2:4).
(I) The Central Theme of the
Word – vs.3
When your read and study the
Word of God, there is one central theme, there is one major
image that is projected, there is one ever prevailing person;
the Lord Jesus Christ! When you read and study the Word of God,
if you miss Him, you have missed what God wants all men to see!
In Paul’s delivery to the
people at Thessalonica, he proclaimed the central theme of the
Book! Paul proclaimed His death, His burial, and
His resurrection, “that Christ must needs have
suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus,
whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” Paul preached unto all
men the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. When confronting the
religious Jews in Jerusalem, Jesus said of Himself, “Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and
they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
(II) The Cultivating Truth of
the Word
When describing the Word of
God, the writer to the Hebrews said, “For the word of God is
quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of
the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The servant of the
Lord knows that it is only by and through the Word of God that
anything is accomplished in the life of the saint or the sinner.
Paul knows that it is the proclamation of the Word that will get
the job done! Paul’s proclamation reveals the method of
cultivating truth. Paul began with discussion,
“reasoned with them out of the scriptures.” The word
“reasoned” means to say thoroughly or to discuss. This was
followed by discloser. This is seen in the word
“opening” which means to open thoroughly or to expose.
Paul’s final act was deposit. This can be seen in the
word “alleging” which means to place alongside, to
present truth by implying to deposit. In this method, Paul put
his confidence in the fact that the Word of God would do its
job.
As we study the Word of God
we can see the message of cultivating truth. Within our
text we can see the message of salvation. This was
revealed earlier as we looked at Paul’s discourse in verse 3.
But, the message of the Book does not stop at salvation, but
continues on to such things as separation, “Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (II
Corinthians 6:17) and sanctification, “For this is
the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should
abstain from fornication” (I Thessalonians 4:3). The Word of
God is sufficient for every aspect of the believer’s life. The
Word is our light, lamp, bread, seed, and sword. The Word of God
is our everything!
(III) The Combative Truth of
the Word – vs.5-6
There is a truth that we must
acknowledge! The truth is; these men’s fight was not with Paul
and Silas, but with the Word of God that they proclaimed! The
world is in opposition to the Word because the god of this world
is in opposition to the Word. “But if our gospel be hid, it
is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath
blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of
the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine unto them. II Corinthians 4:3-4 The reason for the
opposition is the message of the Book is totally contrary to the
manners and methods of the world. As these men gathered before
the rulers of the city, they said of Paul and Silas, “these
all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar” (vs.7). The first
area of spirituality that Satan attacked was the Word of God,
“And he said unto the women, Yea hath God said” (Genesis 3:1).
The combative tactics of Satan is to separate you from the Word
of God. You are totally ineffective in the Christian life if
Satan can distance you form this Book. That includes all of us!
Your relationship to this
book determines:
The Quality of your Christian
life
The Effectiveness of your
Christian Service
The Success of Your Christian
Warfare
These that have turned the
world are marked by a reputation that proceeded them, a
repetitive habit that pushed them, and a reliable word
that revoked them. Will you be one that turns the world?
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