Let's Rock Our World

I've heard it said that wherever the apostles went there was either revival or a riot, and it's true. It’s amazing when you read through the book of Acts and see the kind of persecution the apostles suffered for the name of Jesus and for preaching the gospel. A closer look at several particular instances also reveals something quite interesting about the source of the opposition—they typically only resisted the new doctrine because of their own human shortcomings…

Just look at Acts 16:16-19. Here’s where Paul is in Philippi and heals a girl by casting a demon out of her. Now, you’d think there would be rejoicing for such a miracle, but unfortunately, the human spirit got in the way in the form of greed. Instead of rejoicing, they through Paul and Silas into prison as it reads in verse 19:

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers

A similar situation occurred in Ephesus in Acts 19:23-28. Here a man named Demetrius stirred up the crowds against Paul, again because of greed.

24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

It doesn’t seem they were too worried about the great Diana until they realized they’d lose money in their trade of selling idols because of Paul’s teaching…

All throughout the book of Acts, we see this common theme—people attached the gospel and the messengers of the gospel because of pride, greed, jealousy, politics, and many other selfish reasons. Very rarely was the opposition sincere in their attacks, but typically had ulterior motives for not believing the gospel (i.e. they would lose their wealth, position, or status).

So we shouldn’t be discouraged when people don’t seem to want to hear about the salvation message today. We should pray and seek God’s direction in finding those who are hungry and willing to accept the gospel, just as they did in the book of Acts. After all, in the midst of all the turmoil, they had some of the most incredible revivals on record.

So let’s get out there and rock our world just like the apostles did, for even some of the naysayers recognized the power of the gospel in Acts 17:6 where they said, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.”