Turning the World Upside Down

These are the people who are turning the world upside down! they yelled. Now they’ve come here!

Acts 17:6 (NTE)

Our encounter with the perfect community of the Trinity allows us to move purposefully in the right direction, joining God and partnering with Him in His mission to a lost and broken world.

Consider the apostles. They often change directions after seeing and sensing God guiding them to new places and out of their comfort zone. God enables them to be both disruptive and effective because they are willing to go and spread the good news.

How disruptive and effective were they?

The apostles were really turning the world upside down.

They go around announcing the kingdom, curing the sick, casting out demons, and performing all kinds of miracles. Regardless of their good works, they were rejected and persecuted. Rather than allowing setbacks to impede their progress, they increase their level of involvement. As a result, everywhere they went, people and cities enjoyed a new level of normalcy never known before. 

God works with us when we let God work through us. 

How eager are you to go the distance with God and accomplish extraordinary things for Him? If you are willing, go beyond what is familiar and venture into the new and undiscovered paths of the Kingdom. 

The Apostle Paul would never have mixed with Gentiles, lived with them, or eaten their food if it had not been for and because of the gospel. Similarly, if the gospel we now believe in does not inspire us to love the unlovable, the difficult, and the different, we must question whether it is the true gospel we first heard. 

The gospel we proclaim will have no greater impact on others than it has on us. This principle is derived from Paul's word, "You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ." (1 Corinthians 4:16) Imitate Christ by doing what He would do. This obedience flows from His true love towards us and our genuine relationship with Him.

By Pastor Richard Tan, Australia

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