Convicted, But Not Converted

CONVICTED, BUT NOT CONVERTED

Acts 24:22-27

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Louie and his wife were listening to the radio when they heard the weather report: "A snow emergency has been declared. You must park your car's on the odd-numbered side of the street." So Louie got up and moved his car.

2. Two days later -- same thing. "A snow emergency has been declared," blared the radio. "Park your cars on the even-numbered side of the street." Louie got up and did what he was told.

3. Three days later: "There will be a foot of snow today. Park your cars on the..." and then the power went out. "What should I do?" a confused Louie asked his wife.

4. "This time," she said, "why don't you just leave the car in the garage?"

B. TEXT

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. 24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid [KJV – “trembled”] and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. 27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

C. THESIS

1. The setting is Herod’s palace in Caesarea. The walls of this palace have witnessed many bloody scenes. It was here that Herod passed the sentence of death upon his own 2 sons. And many other Jews were brutalized in this place and the screams of believers have echoed often, only to be suddenly silenced.

2. The gates of its great Throne Hall swung open, and in walked a man named Felix, the Governor of Judaea. He’s wearing a royal robes, and he can best be characterized by the words “cruel” and “covetous.”

3. Felix’s life is a worldly success story: He was born a slave, but later freed by Claudius Caesar, and eventually worked his way up to Governor of Judaea. The Roman historian Tacitus said, “He exercised the authority of a king, with the spirit of a slave.” He murdered the high priest and committed many other crimes.

4. Walking in behind him was his wife Drusilla. She came from a very wicked bloodline: daughter of Herod Agrippa I, the one who had the Apostle James put to death. It was her great grandfather, another Herod, who attempted to kill the baby Jesus by having all the infants in Bethlehem slain in cold blood. She was said to be the most beautiful woman on earth in the 1 Century.

5. This morning we’re going to look at a man who was so close to salvation that he trembled under the power of the Holy Spirit, yet his experience didn’t translate into having his name written in heaven.

6. Let’s look at why that was, lest any of us get that close, but miss it!

I. THE BOLDNESS OF PAUL

A. BOLD BECAUSE HE WAS AT FELIX’S MERCY

1. Picture This: On one side you have the governor of Judea, a Roman Procurator and his wife, and on the other side, you have a Prisoner, powerless to save himself, whose life might be forfeit.

2. This Ruler had wide powers & was extremely willing to put the prisoner to death in order to please the Jews.

3. Does Paul try to defend himself or win him over? Did he preach a TV evangelist message on “Being a better You?” No! He preached his best sermon on “How Your Sins Will Send You To Hell!” (Paul was gutty; he had grit and wouldn't back up a bit!)

4. ILLUS. there was a preacher on the Kentucky frontier. He was told to moderate his preaching because Gen. Jackson was present in the service. During the sermon he said, "If Gen. Jackson doesn't repent, Gen. Jackson will go to hell!" Jackson's response was, "I wish I had 1000 men like you!" (God does too!)

B. APPROPRIATE SERMON

1. This was the right message for Felix and Drusilla. He was bold!

2. Paul took them to Mt. Sinai and taught them the Ten Commandments! I’ve had a lot of people tell me, "I like hard preaching. I like you to step on my toes." But when I preach on their pet sin, they say, "Preacher, you're getting personal!"