Paul and Silas have preached in Thessalonica and as a result have a mob after them. Acts 17:5-6, They (the mob) attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. [1]
The mob now blames Paul and Silas for turning the world upside down and now disturbing their city. But who is so disturbing that it has the power to turn the world upside down? Jesus. I have found that when I speak of God in generic terms, most people will listen. But if I mention the name “Jesus,” people become much more defensive. Why would that be? If they think Jesus is a nobody, why would they become so disturbed?
Are people disturbed by the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus? John 14: 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.[2] Or is it the fact that Jesus is Lord and we should submit our will to His? Phil. 2: 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.[3]
The name of Jesus has power that the enemy wants to avoid and doesn’t want to acknowledge. How about you? What does the name of Jesus mean to you?
To hear how there is a harvest of souls in the battle, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/mission-trip-two-radio-show/harvest-in-the-battle
[1, 2, 3] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.