When God Disturbs You — E.A. Johnston

Christ’s Disturbing Presence in His Earthly Ministry

Everywhere that Jesus went in his earthly ministry, there was a disturbance. The disturbing presence of Christ caused amazement to many. All of creation was disturbed by his life and ministry. Demons cried out in recognition of him.

Christ Challenges Demonic Powers and False Religion

He disturbed the unseen demonic world that was around him, and he made them cry out. He disturbed the laws of nature by defying gravity, by walking on the tumultuous sea. He disturbed the crooked commerce of religion with a whip and a force of righteous indignation by chasing the money changers out of the temple.

Christ Exposes Sin and Calls for Repentance

He disturbed the religious leaders of his day, the scribes and the Pharisees, by revealing the wickedness and rottenness of their hearts and the emptiness of their profession. He disturbed his hearers when he preached repentance to them, for they tried to seize him and destroy him by throwing him headlong off the brow of a hill.

Christ’s Miracles and the Disturbance of the Cross

He disturbed physical nature by healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, making the lame to walk, and even raising the dead to life. He disturbed those officers and officials who had power over his life through the death of the cross by a general mob-like commotion that cried out in unison, Crucify him!

The Cosmic Disturbance of Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection

Even on the cross, in his crucifixion and death, he disturbed all of creation by turning the very skies to blackness, making the earth to tremble and rumble, and tearing the veil of the temple in two in the order of old things.

Yes, even Christ in his resurrection was disturbing, but there was a great earthquake where an angel rolled back the stone of his sepulture to where the Roman guards shaked with fear and became as dead men.

The Risen Christ Brings Conviction and Awe

Christ is disturbing when Christ is present. Even the apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, when confronted with the risen Christ on the Isle of Patmos, the sight of him was so disturbing he fell down before him, becoming undone as one who was dead.

Revival Reveals Sin Through Christ’s Presence

When the manifest presence of God shows up in revival, there is a disturbance, for the disturbing presence of Christ in the midst of God's people reveals hearts and brings conviction of sin. And if by God's grace, in this meeting tonight, friend, if you are confronted with the reality of Christ, you will tremble over your guilt of sin, as Moses trembled before Sinai altogether on a smoke and the fiery tempest, as the unbending law of God was given, and as men and women and boys and girls are confronted with the strictness and severity of God's unbending law by the Spirit of God, there will be a disturbing presence of Christ with his finger on sin.

And if you're listening to a preacher, friend, and if the finger of God is placed on an area of your life, bringing you concern and conviction, you can be assured you better respond promptly and properly by repentance and reformation.

The Danger of Delayed Repentance

You better change your ways, friend, or face the consequences. And if you, as a lost religious person, are in a meeting where the power of God is felt and the disturbing presence of Christ comes in, and you are suddenly awakened to your lost condition and filled with dread over your perilous position of dying in your sins and being forever damned in a devil's hell, then you can say with Job, Therefore I am troubled at his presence, when I consider I am afraid of him, for God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me.

And there you are, confronted with the destiny of your soul and the majesty of God and the man. You yourself, under conviction of sin, stand trembling, as it seems, on the very verge of eternity, faced with the realities of the immense joys of heaven and the terrible miseries of hell.

The Coming Judgment of Christ

And all is laid open and revealed about your life, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Reconciliation to God Through Christ

I appeal to you, friend, as an ambassador for Christ, to be reconciled to God, for now is the day of salvation. We are in a day of grace. You are not in hell yet. You have time now to turn to God and forsake your sins and accept the revealed Christ, who has power to save.

Christ as the Substitute Who Bears the Curse

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Listen, friend, I know I am a sinner, and I need a substitute for sin in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so do you, friend, so do you. If you have not trusted this blessed Savior, receive him now before it is too late. Soon he will come in judgment on this world, when his anger shall burn as an oven, and then you shall meet him as your judge.

The Cross Reveals God’s Redeeming Love

Hear in his love, not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Come to Christ, friend, come to Christ. The cross is the place where men sought to get rid of him, but by his death it becomes the place where his saving power flows out to all who come in repentance, confessing they are sinners and own him as Savior and Lord.

An Urgent Invitation to Receive Christ

Won't you settle it now, dear friend? Give it all to Jesus, who loved me and gave himself for me. Let us pray.