Text: Acts 24:22-27, Title: Missed Opportunity, Date/Place: NRBC, 5/31/09, AM
A. Opening illustration: Use Judas as another biblical example of one who had immeasurable opportunity (do a slideshow of the 12 disciples that the parents can recite with their children)
B. Background to passage: Remind about Paul’s capture, riots, transport, and defense of the gospel, etc. Our text today contains the ruling (or really the lack of a ruling) from Felix about Paul’s case. And then we will see the richness of the opportunity that Felix had to hear the gospel, and response in saving faith. All of us in this room have had or will have the opportunity to respond to the gospel, my prayer is that it turns out better.
C. Main thought: Felix had the opportunity of a lifetime to hear the gospel, interact with one of the greatest teachers ever, and embrace Christ, but he missed it.
A. Peer pressure and politics (v. 22, 27)
1. One of the hurdles in Felix’s way to the gospel was that of peer pressure and politics. It was time for a decision in Paul’s case, and his intent was to delay. He gave the reason that he would wait for Lysias to come down and give an unbiased opinion. A couple of clues tip his real motivation for us. There is no record that he sent for Lysias over the course of the next two years. Also, if you recall, Lysias had already sent an explanatory letter that stated that Paul had done nothing worthy of death, and that all these things were only questions of Jewish law, not Roman violations. But Felix knew that Paul was innocent, but if he released him, it would anger the Jewish leaders, and possibly get him removed as governor. Keeping Paul imprisoned but not convicted kept things from getting worse. He said one thing, and did another because of his fear of man.
2. Pro 29:25, 1 Sam 15:24, Matt 10:28, Gen 12:1-13, John 12:42, Gal 2:11-13, Ps 118:8,
3. Illustration: illustrate manipulation and impure or ulterior motives with the daughters in the room, ask them how they prepare to ask for things that they want, memorize Pro 29:25 together with congregation, I heard a story about a 98 year old man who had been a Christian for years and years. He was 98 years old and someone asked him, "Is it easier to live the Christian life NOW, than when you were younger?" And this old Christian gentleman thought for a moment and then replied, "Well, there is a whole lot less peer pressure." I recently heard a story about a high school football player who was a Christian. He was a big fellow and a great athlete. He led his team to the best season they had ever had and won many awards. He was being interviewed and the reporter asked him this question, “You know you have the reputation of being a devout Christian. Isn’t it hard o be a devout Christian with all the peer pressure you face?” And he said “Ma’am, I am the peer pressure.”
4. How often do we compromise because of our fear of man. Fear of man is at the root of peer pressure and politics too. We alter our behavior, speech, attitudes, and decisions based upon the reaction of those around us. Let’s take the clothing we wear. Do we evaluate it on how it glorifies Christ, what others might think about it? Now, there are times when we must consider others reactions so as not to be a stumbling block, but I am talking about trying to keep up with the latest styles, being embarrassed because that skirt is so last year! How many of our teens can tell you exactly what the latest styles are, but can’t tell you what the general idea of Lamentations is? One of their arguments might have been a threat that “everyone” in Jerusalem will be angry if you do _______________. Do you live your life in the fear of man? It may not be clothing style or alcohol that you are pressured about; maybe it is interoffice politics, or worse, interchurch politics, or it may be your witness (or lack thereof) to your friends, neighbors, and family members.
B. The Full Gospel (v. 24-25a)
1. While Felix delayed, Paul got the opportunity to share the gospel with him. Felix has lured away a Jewish bride from her first husband, and the knowledge of “The Way” that he had, he probably had from her. And so over the next two years, Paul spoke often with this Roman ruler. The word used is “reasoned” which means that he had intelligent dialogue and discussion. The text says that he spoke to him concerning faith in Christ, righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come. And there is indication here that the Spirit was convicting. Felix became afraid. What is so frightening about the gospel? What is the gospel? Explain faith, explain righteousness, self-control, and judgment as they relate to the gospel and as they relate to every person in the room.
2. John 16:8-11, 3:7, 1 Cor 15:3-4, Rom 1:16-18, Luke 13:3,
3. Illustration: walk around with the mic, asking people what is the gospel, think of something that has multiple parts to work, of which cannot work if missing a part (maybe Mackenzie’s lantern without batteries), tell about the conversation that I had one time with a person discussing their conversion, and their insistence on their belief in spite of their life—maybe in fairy tale Christian land, Being laid low by an alarming illness, and seeming as if he were going to die, a young Moravian named Peter Bohler, who was undergoing a course of preparation by him to go out as a missionary, asked him, "Do you hope to be saved?" Charles answered, "Yes." "For what reason do you hope it?" "Because I have used my best endeavors to serve God," was his reply. The Moravian shook his head and said no more. Tell about the porn producers conversion that did not lead to stopping production, “As they teach their children, parents must resist the temptation to downplay or soften the demands of the gospel and must proclaim the message in its fullness. The need to surrender to the lordship of Christ, for example, is not too difficult for children to understand. Any child who is old enough to understand the basic gospel is also able by God’s grace to trust Him completely and respond with the purest, most sincere kind of repentance.”
4. If we fail to communicate the full gospel, we will fail to produce full converts. This applies in our witnessing encounters, our pulpit or SS ministries, and our children’s ministries. It is OK, and necessary to speak of God’s righteousness and standards, as well as His prerogative to judge sin. It is OK and necessary to explain to those that are involved in sin, that they must repent and turn from that sin. MacArthur says that we must not shrink back from the battle, but take the bible right to the sin that is exposed. The homosexual must repent, the adulterer must repent, the gossip must repent… We must explain that believing on Christ is not having once prayed a prayer, but a lifestyle of following Jesus. We must be a testimony of scripture’s clarity as it relates to genuine saving faith.
C. The Response to It (v. 25b-26)
1. Much like his legal response to Paul’s case, his response to Jesus was to delay. He sent Paul away, being afraid, and told him that he would call him again when it was more convenient. And over the next two years they conversed as often as possible. Luke tells us that Felix was hoping for a bride (probably knew about the offering Paul brought, and figured that he had access to more money). And even though he had a good working knowledge of the Way, and had access to the best teacher, best arguments, best times, we don’t find anywhere else that Felix became afraid, nor converted.
2. John 6:44, Gen 6:3, Neh 9:30, Isa 63:10, Luke 8:12-16,
3. Illustration: the soils ill, one author stated that in the bible belt many have rejected religion, but not Christ, b/c they really have not heard,
4. Some people don’t want to hear more of the gospel, because they realize the implications. The Lordship and accountability of Jesus is a serious thing, and some lost people realize the implications, and don’t want a Lord. And some do not want to give up living their life on their terms. Some do not want to take up the cross. Some do not see the beauty of Christ. Some are convicted, but that conviction does not last forever. It’s not that you may want to get saved later and can’t, it’s that you will not want to later. You may never feel the fear of conviction. Explain conviction in a little better detail. You can be interested without being submissive. You can be educated and theologically straight, but not following Jesus. You can let greed, power, control, sex, autonomy get in your way, and not believe. We must all make a decision today. To delay is to reject Christ and his offer of salvation. Salvation is simple, but not easy. But if Christ is dealing with your heart today, do not harden your heart, but repent and believe.
A. Closing illustration: Heb 10:26-27, 3:7-8a
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
