Group #1 : The Hijackers of 9/11.
A decade ago they turned the world upside down. (Think about that number, only 19!)--Less people than it takes to fill two rows in a typical church caused trouble all over the world. 19 people, committed enough to sacrifice themselves for their cause, changed our way of life.
Although we disagree with their reasoning, none of us question their devotion to what they believed in.
The other group, a much smaller group, is found in the book of Acts.
In Acts 17:6, it was said of them (by someone who opposed them), “These men WHO HAVE caused trouble all over the world have now come here…”
• KJV, “These men that have turned the world upside down.”
• NASB, “These men who have upset the world.”
• The Message, “These people who are out to destroy the world, and now they’ve shown up on our doorstep, attacking everything we hold dear.”
Group # 2—a group of JUST TWO—was Paul and Silas.
At many points these two groups were night-and-day different.
• Group One did it to harm. Group Two did it to help.
• Group One's motivation was hate. Group Two's motivation was love.
However, in many respects the two groups were similar.
• Both groups believed that if something was not worth dying for it was not worth living for.
• Both groups were absolutely sold out to what they believed in.
• Both groups experienced resistance to their cause.
Today, let’s look at Group Two and see what they did that caused so much trouble. Their reputation preceded them in Acts 17 so let’s look at the Significant Steps Paul & Silas took in Acts 16.
First, let’s notice where they were, Acts 16:12, “…we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.”
Philippi was a very prestigious city. A significant stop on this, Paul's Second Missionary Journey. How Paul and Silas made their way through this city shows us how we too can make significant steps in our lives.
#1 Significant Steps involve PRAYER
People say: Its not “What you know” but …“whom you know” that matters. However, let me suggest, it is not just “whom you know” its also what you are doing “as you go” that matters. Being faithful to God opens doors for you that networking never will!
Twice Paul was on his way to pray in Acts 16 and twice significant things happened.
Acts 16:13 (NIV) “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.”
Acts 16:16 (NIV) “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.”
Significant things happen when we pray!
• Corrie ten Boom "Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees."
• William Cowper "Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees."
• Samuel Chadwick “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”
• "Seven days without prayer makes one weak."
#2 Significant Steps involve PEOPLE.
Acts 16:13b–15 (NIV) “We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.”
Two things that Lydia’s conversion teaches us:
1. As soon as she received the Lord she immediately opened her home for God’s use.
2. Just because you believe in God doesn’t make you a Christian.
James 2:19 (NIV) “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
Acts 16:17–18 (NIV) “This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.”
Some of the people that will come into your life will be great. We’ve all met our “Lydias”—people who respond positively to us and reach out in kindness toward us…they love us and give of themselves to make our lives easier and better. THANK GOD FOR OUR LYDIAS!
However, we also have people who saunter into our lives with an agenda. When we don’t do what they want us to do then we’ve got a problem! So consequently...
#3 Significant Steps involve PROBLEMS.
Acts 16:19–24 (NIV) “When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.”
Some people don’t like us and wish we had never come their direction (ditto by the way). However, it is these people that, unfortunately, OFTEN have more to teach us about how we are doing in our walk with Christ than the people that love us do. These people, that seem to be the worst thing that ever happened to us, force us to come to grips with what is really in us.
The September 11th Terrorists forced us to come together as a nation. They meant to cripple us but they actually strengthened us. They wanted to divide us but ended up uniting us.
How do you react when people hurt you? Where do you turn?
When Paul & Silas were hurt they prayed and sang. Acts 16:25–26 (NIV) “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”
1. When we sing at midnight our body listens!
2. When we sing at midnight our neighbors listen!
3. When we sing at midnight our God listens!
Even though they were in severe pain they sang!!
As a Christian, conditions have to have permission in order to affect our joy! I love how Chuck Swindoll put it, “I have discovered that a joyful countenance has nothing to do with one's age or one's occupation (or lack of it) or one's geography or education or marital status or good looks or circumstances. Joy is a choice! Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God—that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen. Either we fix our minds on that and determine to laugh again, or we wail and whine our way through life, complaining that we never got a fair shake. We are the ones who consciously determine which way we shall go."
When we choose JOY other people can't help but notice and, more importantly, GOD notices!
Paul and Silas chose JOY and they turned the known world upside down. …and in the process started a church that we will study together for the next 10 weeks.
As we study the book of Philippians together, we will be cheered up and cheered on to step over the edge and into the places God has for us. We will be reminded to live our lives looking forward not backward.
It only takes a few people to change the world, for good or for bad.
• Our world is different today because of the misguided devotion of 19 people.
• Our world will be better tomorrow as you and I develop the same God-guided devotion of Paul & Silas.
Will you take a significant step today and turn your world upside down?
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