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.
WELL SEVERAL DAYS HAS PASSED AND 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 THIS MAN A MESSAGE THAT BROUGHT DEEP CONVICTION IN HIS HEART.
IN V.25 AS PAUL PREACHED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, TEMPERANCE AND JUDGMENT, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT FELIX TREMBLED. 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 WAS A MAN –
· WHO WAS MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN’S WIFE
· HIS NAME even MEANS “PLEASURE”
· HIS PASSION WENT UNRESTRAINED!
· HE LIVED HIS LIFE WITH THE ATTITUDE – EAT, SLEEP, DRINK AND BE MERRY
HERE WAS A POOR DEPRAVED LOST SINNER WHO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AND LISTEN TO A GREAT MAN OF GOD – YET WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, FELIX ALLOWED HIS LOVE FOR SIN TO KEEP HIM FROM GETTING SAVED!
Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. ~pride—sin~
· a person don’t get saved just any time they decide to, a TIME OF YOUR CONVENIENCE, like stopping right quick at some place to eat and pick up a hamburger.
· A person don’t get saved WHEN they THINK their READY.
Jesus said in; John 6: 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
Listen dear heart, when you realize you’re lost & on your way to hell and the Holy Spirit is pointing it out to you, don’t put off being saved another minute.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:2
For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: {to aid or relieve or help,} behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation
ISAIAH 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near
SITTING BESIDE Felix WAS HIS WIFE DRUSILLA.
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!
WHEN PAUL PREACHED, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT FELIX TREMBLED, BUT IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT HIS JEWISH WIFE DRUSILLA!
THIS DEAR WOMAN HAD HARDENED HER HEART AGAINST THE TRUTH FOR SO LONG THAT PAUL’S PREACHING HAD LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON HER AT ALL!
WHAT A TRAGIC SITUATION SHE WAS IN!
Listen; IF YOU EVER COME TO THE POINT THAT YOUR HEART IS NO LONGER CONVICTED WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS BEING PREACHED – perhaps Your IN big TROUBLE with GOD.
THE MORE YOU KNOWINGLY LIVE IN SIN – THE LESS AND LESS THE TRUTH WILL BE ABLE TO CONVICT YOUR HEART.
EPHESIANS 4:19
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness,to work all uncleanness with greediness. {Various vices}: — filthy, wantonness.
##Now listen to the reasoning of king Agrippa##
In A.D.58 Felix’s soldiers put down a riot of the Jews in Caesarea with such violence that he was replaced by Festus, a more fair and honorable ruler, but one who was unable to control the situation in Palestine which had now become a hotbed of revolution and within twelve years would come under the wrath of the emperor himself. >Nero<
IN Acts 26: listen as I read the facts to do with Agrippa
13And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. 14And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 17Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat,
and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
22Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 23And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.
IN ACTS 26: YOU CAN SEE THAT AGRIPPA HAD A DECENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THE RELIGION OF THE JEWS. PAUL TELLS HIM THAT HE WILL GLADLY TELL THIS HIGH PLATFORM POLITICIAN HIS TESTIMONY.
PAUL PROCEEDS TO TELL AGRIPPA HOW HE PERSONALLY MET THE LORD ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS. HE THEN TELLS AGRIPPA THAT CHRIST WAS SUPPOSED TO SUFFER AND DIE AND THAT HE WOULD BE THE FIRST THAT SHOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD.
AGAIN, PAUL PRESENTS A RISEN LORD AND SAVIOR FOR ALL MANKIND, INCLUDING THE GENTILES.
PAUL THEN asks AGRIPPA This QUESTION," KING AGRIPPA, BELIEVEST THOU THE PROPHETS?
AGRIPPA GIVES A SAD RESPONSE THAT IS SHARED BY MANY PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS TODAY. HE SAYS, PAUL, ALMOST THOU PERSUADEST ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
WE ALL KNOW THAT ALMOST ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH except IN HORSESHOES. ALMOST SAVED IS ALL THE WAY LOST. ALMOST SAVED IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HELL.
AGRIPPA NO DOUBT WAS ALSO UNDER CONVICTION OF THE HOLY GHOST JUST AS FELIX WAS AND INSTEAD OF simple putting it off HE JUST FLATLY REJECTS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WITH AN ALMOST YOU PERSUADED ME.
Both OF THESE MEN ARE CRYING OUT IN HELL. THEY ARE SUFFERING ETERNALLY FOR PROCRASTINATING SALVATION, NOT BELIEVING SALVATION, AND FLATLY REJECTING SALVATION.
I say to the dear people listening, WHY DON’T YOU JUST GET SAVED. WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK? WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING TO THAT WOULD BE WORTH going to hell for?
I WANT TO GIVE YOU 5 THINGS I BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE HOLDING ON TOO THAT HAS KEPT THEM FROM ACCEPTING GOD’S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION.
1. PRIDE: I BELIEVE THAT PRIDE IS THE BIGGEST SIN THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT KEEPS THEM FROM BEING SAVED. THEY ARE SIMPLY TO PROUD TO BOW. TO PROUD TO SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY AND LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST.
A. PRIDE IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF SATAN. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SATAN FELL BECAUSE OF PRIDE (ISAIAH 14: 12-23).
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THOSE WHO ARE NOT BORN AGAIN ARE THE CHILDREN OF SATAN. CHILDREN OFTEN SHARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR FATHER SO THIS IS NO SURPRISE. A lost sinner AND THE DEVIL HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON, AND it’s PRIDE.
Many ARE WORRIED ABOUT their REPUTATION OR WHAT PEOPLE WILL THINK AND they’ll END UP IN HELL BECAUSE OF IT.
b. PRIDE WILL KEEP YOU FROM GETTING SAVED. THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALMS 10:4 "THE WICKED , THROUGH THE PRIDE OF HIS COUNTENANCE, WILL NOT SEEK AFTER GOD: GOD IS NOT IN ALL HIS THOUGHTS." EVEN THOUGH YOU may NOT be SEEKING GOD BECAUSE YOU ARE TO PROUD TO GET SAVED, let me say;THAT HE IS SEEKING AFTER YOU. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.
DON’T HOLD ON TO YOUR PRIDE, IT’S NOT WORTH IT.
2. PLEASURE: A LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD SO MUCH AND WHAT THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO LIVE FOR GOD AND GET SAVED. PEOPLE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP ALL THE FUN THEY ARE HAVING.
A. HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW EVEN YOUR BEST OF TIMES ENJOYING THE PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD HAVE TO BE REPEATED. THE PLEASURE YOU GOT FROM DOING SOMETHING WILL NOT LAST AND IS FORGOTTEN BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.
ECCLESIASTES 2:1 SAYS "I SAID IN MINE HEART, GO TO NOW, I WILL PROVE THEE WITH MIRTH, THEREFORE ENJOY : AND BEHOLD THIS ALSO IS VANITY."
THE WISEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED (SOLOMON) SAYS THAT PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD ARE VANITY.{nothingness}
HEBREWS 11: 24-26 "BY FAITH MOSES, WHEN HE WAS COME TO YEARS, REFUSED TO BE CALLED THE SON OF PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER; CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THAN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON. ESTEEMING THE REPROACH OF CHRIST GREATER RICHES THAN THE TREASURES IN EGYPT, FOR HE HAD RESPECT UNTO THE RECOMPENSE OF THE REWARD."
3. PEOPLE: THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALMS 118:8 THAT "IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD, THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN." Listening to uninformed people ARE A BIG REASON THAT OTHERS WILL NOT RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION.
A. FRIENDS- SOME OF YOU ARE AFRAID THAT YOU WILL LOSE YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR RIGHT. YOU WILL LOSE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHEN YOU GET BORN AGAIN, BUT YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY WERE NOT REALLY FRIENDS ANYWAY. JAMES 4:4 SAYS "YE ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES; KNOW YE NOT THAT THE FRIENDSHIP OF THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD? WHOSOEVER THEREFORE WILL BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD." I’D RATHER HAVE GOD ON MY SIDE THAN ALL THE FRIENDS THIS WORLD COULD OFFER.
