There are those in the sports world whose passion it is to track the major college and professional athletes and predict who the top prospects will be to win conference, national and world championships.  Every so often though a team comes along and pulls an upset.  In other words, they win a game or title that most were not expecting.
The Bible is full of examples of how God uses the underdog to perform both ordinary and unusual tasks.  Gideon protested that his family was "the least in Manasseh and I am the youngest in my father's house" when told to deliver Israel from the Midianite horde (Judges 6:14-15).  The apostle Paul noted that God delights in using those considered by the world as foolish " to shame the wise…the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong and the base things of the world and the despised…that He might nullify the things that are" (I Corinthians 1:26-28).  Figuratively speaking then, God upsets the thinking of the day by typically using ordinary people to accomplish His work.
But there is also a literal sense in which God uses people to "pull an upset."  The classic example is found in Acts 17:6 when some jealous Jews created an uproar in Thessalonica after a multitude of people became Christians.  They dragged a man by the name of Jason and some other believers before the city authorities saying, "These men who have upset the world have come here also."  It is quite interesting to note the reason why these people felt the whole world was upset.  The accused were not terrorists or zealots wanted by Rome.  They were not child molesters, swindlers or serial killers.  All they did was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and in doing so, unwittingly "pulled an upset."  Paul, who was the object of the mob's wrath, later wrote, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness" (I Corinthians 1:23).  Paul's colleague in the faith, Peter, also penned some interesting insights:  "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing…if you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you" (I Peter 4:12-14).  In other words, be encouraged when people slander and are hostile to you for Christ's sake because God is approving you.  God's opinion and commendation should mean far more to us than man's.
Scripture repeatedly makes clear that people will be upset when the truth is proclaimed and lived out before others, sometimes even including family (Matthew 10:34-37) and church members (II Corinthians 10:1-2, 10-12).  Obviously, it is the message of the cross that should be offensive, not the manner in which it is presented and lived out.  John the Baptist offended Herod and his wife by his message, confronting their incestuous relationship by saying, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife" (Mark 6:17-19).  Herod knew John spoke the truth (Mark 6:20).  Red flags should be raised all over the place when both the church and the world speak well of one claiming to promote the message of Jesus Christ, no matter how "fruitful" that ministry appears to be (Luke 6:26; II Timothy 3:12).  Don't fall for that "smiling tolerance" which many today promote as a sign of spiritual maturity and political correctness.  Jesus never exhibited acceptance toward lukewarm fence-sitters who compromise their Christian heritage for the sake of keeping the peace or getting along (Revelation 3:16).
During wicked King Ahab's reign over Israel, Elijah called for a drought which lasted over three years.  When the prophet finally met up with the king, Ahab sarcastically asked him, "Is this you, you troubler of Israel?" (I Kings 18:17)  Elijah was perceived as the troubler of a false peace, the status quo and business as usual.  The truth of God's Word will provoke either this kind of reaction or an attitude of repentance when presented and understood properly.  There really isn't much room for indifference when the standard is raised where God intends it to be.  Later, Ahab was confronted by Elijah again in the vineyard of Naboth, whom he had murdered in order to secure his land for himself.  When Ahab and Elijah met, the king angrily asked, "Have you found me, o my enemy?" (I Kings 21:20).  What caused Ahab to be upset?  Very simply, his sin found him out and what Elijah represented, Ahab resented.  Interestingly and not so uncommonly, the king tried to pin a label upon Elijah that was in reality true of himself.

There's a need today to stir God's people up by way of reminder that Jesus did not come to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34).  Jesus was the great divider (John 7:43; 9:16; 10:19-20).  What our Lord taught upset many, even among His own disciples (John 6:65-66).  This is not to suggest that one is to look for controversy or be deliberately contentious.  What is being said is that a person who is serious about following the Lord and standing for the truth of God's Word will find people becoming angry and upset on many occasions.  It is good to be mindful of the fact that a prophet would never have won a popularity contest in his own day, in his own town, among his own people.  It is often a lonely life as the prophets attest!  Yet our Lord tells those who are thus aligned that they are in good company (Matthew 5:11-12).  Pulling an "upset" isn't so unusual after all!