Abbreviated Messages
Mark 16:20
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Many kinds of messages: encouragement, challenge, exhortation, consolation, prophetic, etc.
Most of them get preached to the last point. But there are some messages that end up abbreviated.
1. Noah
2 P. 2:5
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
I suppose his preaching to be:
--passionate
--repetitive theme
--open air
--a roaming congregation
I imagine in my mind that he may have been preaching up to the falling of the first raindrop. God probably told him, "we are going to cut this sermon short, it is time to come out of the rain". He stopped the message to get in the Ark before the door was shut.
2. Felix
Acts 24:22-27
22 ¶ And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
24 And 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.
25 And as he 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.
26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
Felix was born a slave; through a series of events, he gained his freedom. He managed to move up the social ladder until he became a political leader. He was cruel and ruthless.
At his side, we find the woman, Drusilla. She had another husband, but left him for Felix.
Peter preaches a 3 point message
I. Righteousness
II. Temperance (Self Control)
III. Coming Judgment
I am sure that he did not white-wash his message.
IL.: The Red Flag
There was a wreck on a sharp, dangerous curve and a passenger was killed. The case went to court. The lawyer stood and stated that there was not sufficient warning of the danger ahead. The defense opposed and stated that there was a red flag at the side of the road, warning of impeding danger. The judge sent an officer to look for evidence. When court reconvened, a flag was presented. It was not red, but a very faded pink. It no longer had the same effect to passersby. The same is true in many of our pulpits today. The flag of righteousness and holiness has become discolored and faded. Many do not even recognize the warning signs anymore.
A Slogan of a store chain: It is not what the client is looking for when he enters the store, but what he carries out when he leaves the store; that is what counts.
So, in mid-message, Felix started trembling, and shut down the preacher. The sermon was abbreviated. Felix assured him that there would another time later on to finish the message, but as far as we can tell, that time never came.
Procrastination is a trick of the devil. How easy it is to convince yourself that you will take care of that important matter soon enough.
3. Peter
Acts 10:44-46
44 ¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Peter receives a special invitation to preach at Cornelius' house. In 10:34, he begins his sermon. In verse 34, there is a divine interruption. The Holy Ghost fell upon the Gentiles, and the message was abbreviated. However, it was surely sufficient as we see the results.
The Holy Ghost can do more in 2 minutes than a pentecostal preacher can in an hour of preaching.
Immediately following, they went into a baptismal service and called for campmeeting time.
How do messages (sermons) get interrupted or abbreviated today?
--somebody got too hungry
--a cell phone call
--lost in dreamland
--not enough time for that much church
--bathroom breaks
--boy/girl goo-goo faces
The only One who you should allow to interrupt the message of God is the Spirit of God.
