Most People Are Not Going To Be Saved

WHY SOME FOLK WON’T GET SAVED:

Acts 24:24- 25

There are a lot of people listening to this broadcast right now that are saved, but I also realize that there are a lot of people listening that are not, and many that never will be for various reasons, oh they may be thinking that their going to be saved someday, so they keep putting it off for the time being until finally their time has run out.

So today I want to try and point out a couple of excuses that we find here in ACTS as we read about the excuses of two individuals here in the book of Acts.

IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, SEVERAL TIMES PAUL STANDS IN JUDGMENT FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES AND FOR THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

I WANT TO POINT OUT 2 DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND SHOW us WHAT IT WAS THAT KEPT these individuals FROM EVER BEING SAVED as for as we know. – AND THEN MAKE IT APPLICABLE TO some people TODAY.

1st of all, A MAN BY THE NAME OF Felix:

Listen as I read these verses found in Acts 24:24-25

24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25And as he {Paul} reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

HERE IN CHAPTER 24, PAUL HAS ALREADY TESTIFIED BEFORE FELIX OF THE FALSE ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE given AGAINST HIM. HE WAS ACCUSED BY THE HIGH PRIEST AND THE ELDERS FOR STIRRING UP TROUBLE IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND AMONG THE PEOPLE.

After SEVERAL DAYS HAS PASSED, FELIX ALONG WITH HIS WIFE DRUSILLA HAD SENT FOR THE APOSTLE PAUL TO HEAR HIM CONCERNING THE FAITH.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CALLED PAUL AND PAUL PREACHED TO Felix & Drusilla A MESSAGE THAT BROUGHT DEEP CONVICTION IN Filexs HEART.

IN V.25 AS PAUL PREACHED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, TEMPERANCE AND JUDGMENT, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT FELIX TREMBLED.

Paul gave them three reasons why they should repent and believe on Jesus Christ.

~~First, they had to do something about yesterday’s sin

("righteousness").

God demands righteousness; Yet God provides His own righteousness to those who trust Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:21-26).

~~The second point in Paul’s sermon dealt with self-control: TEMPERANCE we must do something about today’s temptations. Man can control almost everything but himself.

Here were Felix and Drusilla, prime illustrations of lack of self-control. She divorced her husband to become Felix’s third wife, and although a Jewess, she lived as though God had never given the Ten Commandments at Sinai.

~~ Paul’s third point was the clincher: "judgment to come."

We must do something about tomorrow’s judgment. Jesus Christ is either our Saviour or our Judge. Something neither of them knew much about.

Jesus Christ is either your Savior or your Judge.

"Felix trembled" (v. 25), which literally means, "Felix became terrified."

He had a foolish attitude toward God’s Word, thinking that he could "take it or leave

it." But God "now commands all men everywhere to repent"

(17:30

AS FELIX HEARD PAUL PREACH THE WORD OF GOD –

· DEEP CONVICTION SET INTO HIS SOUL

· THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD WAS putting the spot light on his sins.

· FELIX KNEW THAT EVERYTHING THAT PAUL WAS SAYING WAS TRUE.

Felix had a foolish attitude toward his sins. He knew he was a sinner, yet he refused to break with his sins and obey the Lord. The Lord had been long-suffering toward Felix, yet the governor would not surrender. Felix was not sure of another day’s life,

yet he foolishly procrastinated.

Pro. 27: 1 1Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

It must have been the curiosity of his wife, Drusilla that caused Felix to give Paul another hearing. She wanted to hear Paul; for, after all, her family had been involved with

"The Way" on several occasions. Her great-grandfather tried to kill Jesus in Bethlehem (Matt. 2);

Her great-uncle killed John the Baptist and mocked JesusLuke 23:6-12); and Acts 12:1-2

tells of her father killing the Apostle James.

THE HOLY SPIRIT SEEN FIT THAT IT WAS MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS A JEWESS. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS BY HER FIRST MARRIAGE A MEMBER OF THE HERODIAN FAMILY – SHE WAS STILL A JEW, BUT HAD FORSAKEN HER JEWISH BELIEFS! SHE KNEW HER LIFESTYLE WAS WRONG, SHE KNEW ACCORDING TO THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW THAT SHE WAS LIVING IN SIN!

~~~~ What kind of man was Felix? Felix WAS A MAN ~~~~~

· HIS NAME even MEANS “PLEASURE”

· HIS PASSION WENT UNRESTRAINED!

· HE LIVED HIS LIFE WITH THE ATTITUDE – EAT, SLEEP, DRINK AND BE MERRY