Turning The World Upside Down

The 11 disciples were generally:
Uneducated
Unsophisticated
Simple
Ordinary
Inexperienced


And they lived in a culture that was closed to outsiders.

Yet they were given this task:
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28: 19-20 NIV)

To fulfill this commission, they would have to overcome cultural barriers, language barriers, financial barriers, and educational barriers, as well as their own prejudices. What allowed these unsophisticated tax collectors and fishermen to be able to spread the gospel through Asia, into Africa, and into Europe as far west as Spain in less than one century? What changed these simple men to the point that it was said of them that they had “turned the world upside down”?

Let’s look at some of the things Jesus told them close to His departure:

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14: 25-26 NIV)

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15: 26-27 NIV)

I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: (John 16: 7-8 NIV)


Jesus promised to equip and empower this loosely aligned band of common men to carry the good news of new life to the whole world. The barriers we face in our world may seem great, but it would be difficult to compare our task to the uphill climb that these simple men faced. Yet Jesus did come through on His promise – and in no uncertain terms!

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2: 1-4 NIV)

This is the explosion that Jesus had predicted. The Holy Spirit fell on these common ordinary men, and 3000 people were saved in one day!

We still have this power today. We have not been given this task, and then been expected just to figure out how to accomplish it by our own will, strength and cleverness. Jesus has left us His Holy Spirit to teach us, remind us, testify through us, and to convince others through us. The power is available to turn our neighborhoods, workplaces, our area, and our world upside down.