God’s Troublemaker

God’s Troublemaker 2022 03 20

Acts 21:27 – 36 

Have you ever been told you can’t talk about religion or preach the gospel? Have you been through the experience of being accused of ramming religion down people’s throats when in reality you were doing the most loving thing anyone can do – telling them about a Creator who loves them? Have you ever been accused with doing something wrong or even illegal when you weren’t? Have you heard that Christianity is the root of all the evil in this world?

Acts 21:27 – 36

Paul was doing everything possible, at the advice of the elders in Jerusalem, to keep the peace and not antagonize the religious Jews in the city.  He even went down to the temple to purify himself according to the Law, as they had suggested. But even as he did his best, doing everything humbly and according to the Law, some of the Jews from Asia who were in Jerusalem at the time found out he was there, and stirred up the people against him. Had word not gotten to the Roman authorities in the city at the time, he may even have been killed.

I The Accusation

  1. These people brought multiple false charges against Paul
    1. That he preached falsehood everywhere
    2. That he preached against the Jews
    3. That he preached against the Law
    4. That he preached against the temple, God’s house
    5. That he brought a Gentile into the temple, which was forbidden. They had seen him with an Ephesian Gentile and made the assumption that he had brought him into the temple, not that they cared for the truth, anyway.
  2. They were accusing Paul of being a common troublemaker, but in reality, he was God’s troublemaker; what he taught and preached was the truth, the Gospel, God’s good news, which greatly offends unrepentant sinners and troubled the religious Jews, just as Jesus had troubled them.           

II  The Reason

  1. The world hates being shown the truth, that all men are sinners and have come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The world hates Jesus, the only one who can reconcile us to God (John 14:6), and for that reason will hate his followers. Jesus said, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”  John 15:20
  2. Jesus was hated and is still hated because the devil hates Him and deceives the whole world into thinking that true Christianity, which is an actual close relationship with our Creator, is the true cause of all the trouble in this world.
    1. Many people think that being a Christian takes away your fun and freedom, rather than knowing that trusting in Jesus Christ as your Saviour is the one thing that makes us truly free.

III  Peace in Trouble

  1. These people wanted to kill Paul, but there is no sign in our passage or later in the words of Paul, himself, that he was troubled by his troubles. He wasn’t fighting these people who wanted to kill him.  He came to Jerusalem knowing full well that he could be killed there.  The Holy Ghost had told him in city after city during his travels that tribulation and bonds waited for him in Jerusalem, yet still he went, because he was doing what he knew God wanted.
    1. The first thing that any one of us must do once we have truly put our faith in Jesus Christ is to trust Him. The proof that we love Him is in the way we trust and obey Him.
    2. Jesus said, John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

IV Don’t Be Surprised

  1. Paul did what he could to be a peacemaker, but there is no doubt that he wasn’t surprised when the mob showed up and dragged him out of the temple. They did the same thing to his Saviour in Gethsemane.  God tells us not to be surprised when the world turns against us.
    1. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”  1Peter 4:12 – 14

V  God is in Control

  1. No matter how much trouble you may find yourself in, no matter how serious the charge against you may be, no matter how violent those who come against you are, God is still in control.
    1. These people wanted to kill Paul and were intent on doing just that. But as they went about to kill him, God made sure that the Roman soldiers who were charged with keeping the peace in Jerusalem heard about it, and they came and arrested Paul.
      1. That very likely saved his life.
    2. According to Paul’s own words in verse 13, he was ready to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. But God still had more for him to do.
    3. God is with you, no matter what is happening, and he will be with you, leading you, strengthening you and comforting you, even at your death, no matter how it comes. Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
      1. And “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalms 116:15

Conclusion

If the world calls you a troublemaker, let it be because you are God’s troublemaker to trouble awake a world that is asleep and going to hell.  God is in control and will take you through it all the way.  “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”  1 Peter 4:14 – 19

Amen.