Almost Persuaded To Be A Christian

ALMOST PERSUADED TO BE A CHRISTIAN

ACTS 26:28

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: EFFECTS OF SIN

1. A reporter interviewed a grizzled old man who was sitting out behind his farmhouse. “Sir, I’d like to know the secret of your long life.”

2. “Ok. I drink a pint of whiskey every day, smoke 35 cigarettes, stay up till 2 a.m. most nights and spend 5 days a week at the beach.”

3. The shocked reporter said, “Wow, I would never have thought that would lengthen life! Exactly how old are you?” “I’m twenty-seven.”

B. TEXT

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great…23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” 24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” 25 But he said, “I am not [out of my mind], most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things…since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:19-28 NKJV.

C. PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA

1. Paul is to be envied in that he had the opportunity to witness to kings & rulers, and once stood before the emperor of Rome himself.

2. Conversely, how unusual it is for kings and rulers to ever hear a fearless preacher tell them the straight truth.

3. If any persuasion could have converted Agrippa, Paul’s would have. But we’ll see why he was only “ALMOST PERSUADED.”

I. GREAT OBJECTIVE OF PAUL’S PERSUASIONS

A. NOT TO DEFEND HIMSELF

1. Paul knew the laws of Rome, that since he had “Appealed to Caesar,” no lower court could have jurisdiction over his case.

2. On other occasions he was forced to defend himself or his ministry, but here he only aimed to impart spiritual life to them, especially Agrippa. Paul 4x mentioned his name.

B. PERSUADE TO BE A CHRISTIAN

1. Paul would never be content if Agrippa:

a. Had only taken the name “Christian;”

b. Or been baptized as a Christian

2. What is an “almost Christian?”

a. A “close approximation” – but still a fake!

b. Examples: forged money, paintings, fake designer clothes, cubic zirconia, etc. Only the genuine article is going to enter Heaven. “Look-a-likes” won’t be accepted.

C. ILLUSTRATION

1. A man was in a bad accident and was taken to the ER. The examining doctor noticed the man had the name of Jesus beautifully tattooed across his chest.

2. The nurse standing by said, “I wonder if it’s more than skin-deep?” For Christianity to be genuine, it must be more than skin-deep! Are we only Christians on the outside or on the inside too?

II. DIFFERING EFFECT OF THE SAME MESSAGE

In the audience listening to Paul were various kinds of people. Let’s look at three of them:

A. FESTUS – THE RATIONALIST, ROMAN

1. He didn’t believe in angels, spirits, the resurrection – or anything supernatural. If he can’t see it, hear it, feel it – he doesn’t believe in it.

2. So he hears Paul all caught up in this stuff he doesn’t believe in and exclaims, “You’re out of your mind!” Kind of like Joy Behar of “The View” saying Mike Pence has mental issues because he hears from Jesus! This is the world’s popular

opinion of real Christians today; we’re a few French fries short of a Happy Meal.

3. The truth is, studies and research proves that Christians are more mentally & physically healthy than those who don’t have faith!

a. We have more VIOLENCE-FREE families (Family Research Report (1993) than non-believers

b. We have BETTER MENTAL HEALTH. Pew Study 1/31/ 2019

c. We have LESS HEALTH PROBLEMS. Purdue U. study [In Other Words, #400] half as likely to report health problems;

Forbes Mag. 3/29/2019 “Science Says: Religion Is Good For Your Health.”

d. LIVE LONGER, “Ministers go to Heaven 23% slower.”

e. STRONGER MARRIAGES [In Other Words # 922]

f. PRODUCE KIDS RESISTANT TO SEX & DRUGS; Rand Corp. Aug. 21,1988 study. But the world doesn’t know that serving God will do you good.

4. Many are blinded to:

a. the reality of God, that He can be known now;