MOMENTS OF DECISION
This morning I want us to consider how important it is for us to walk in the ways of the Lord. Sometimes, this is not easy to do. Especially when we consider our commitment to Christ when we have to say, or do, the right thing. We all have heard it said that,
“One thing leads to another…”
This saying can become very true.
As an example, let me tell you about two very important and powerful men who are leading our country.
The Attorney General John Ashcroft is someone we can use an example. You may not know this, but John Ashcroft comes from an Assembly of God family in Missouri. His father and grandfather were both very well respected preachers. John Ashcroft has had to defend his faith and commitment to Christ on numerous occasions. He decided to run for the U.S. Senate and was certain to be elected, until his opponent suddenly died just before that election. It looked as if John Ashcroft’s political career was over when he lost that race to the widow of his opponent.
God was not through with John Ashcroft. God just had a greater plan than what Mr. Ashcroft had thought.
Another story is one most of us will never forget. And that is the election of our president, George W. Bush.
Pres. Bush barely won the election and his critics considered him to be a bumbling idiot. And once again, the Lord had a much greater plan.
The nation discovered a strong and courageous president after 9/11.
Within days after that disaster, the president went to “Ground Zero” to meet with the firemen and policeman of New York City.
President Bush had a very important MOMENT OF DECISION for himself and the rest of the world.
The President and the Fire Chief climbed a pile of rubble (there at “Ground Zero”) and shouted those fateful words through a megaphone,
“I hear you…the whole world hears you!”
That Critical MOMENT OF DECISION let the entire world know that America was committed to it’s God given freedom and pursuit of happiness.
There are moments in all of our lives when we must reckon ourselves to exactly what the Lord is doing.
These MOMENTS OF DECISIONS are important to the Lord and us.
One thing may lead to another.
In one brief moment, the Lord may very well call on you to make a stand. A stand with your faith can literally change the course of someone’s life.
As a believer, we must be ready for such an important moment in our life.
The Apostle Paul was a great man of God and there were many times in his life when he had to make difficult decisions. Paul always had to consider his commitment to Christ before he would make his decisions.
One such time was when Paul was brought before a Roman Governor by the name of Felix. Paul had been falsely accused of many things by the Sadducees and Pharisees, and they wanted him executed.
Paul’s life was hanging in the balance. Anything Paul said could easily make the difference as to whether he would live or die.
It was a very important MOMENT OF DECISION for Paul.
Paul’s back was against the wall.
This Roman Jew that once persecuted Christians for their faith was now facing the gallows as well.
Let me read to you a quote from Paul as he testified to Felix that day.
Text: Acts 24:10 thru 21
It may be a little difficult for us to understand the whole story here.
But to simplify the story, let me (briefly) tell you how “One thing leads to another” for Paul.
Here is some of what happened to the Apostle Paul in chapters 23 & 24:
1. Paul testified in Jerusalem of his salvation experience. And for this he was beaten and put in chains.
2. He then told how he had repented to the Lord for persecuting and killing the believers.
3. He was arrested and put in chains by the Romans Centurions.
4. He then had to testify before the Sanhedrin Court of what happened. And for this he was beaten again.
5. Some said he was guilty and should be executed, while others could find no fault in him. (So far this is a lot like the arrest and trial of Jesus in the same court.)
6. As you might expect, the Lord had something to say about all of this in Acts 23:11
the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
7. Forty men promised to not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
8. The Romans called out the 470 soldiers from their National Guard to protect Paul, and get him safely out of town.
9. Paul was taken to Ceaserea, and was kept under guard at Herod’s palace.
And this is where Paul had his MOMENT OF DECISION. Things could not be much worse for Paul.
A series of terrible events has caught up with the Apostle Paul.
We all know that sometimes things don’t seem to want to go our way. But when this continues to happen over a longer period of time, things can get completely out of control.
But, here in our story, Paul has done something we all must do when we are faced with difficult days.
Church - No matter how impossible our situation may look, we must not abandon our faith in Christ.
As is the story with Paul - The Lord may see that you are in trouble in Jerusalem only to say that He now will send you on to Rome and testify there also. This is no doubt a very important MOMENT OF DECISION that we all must be ready for.
A moment like this may define what you are made of.
You may be like Paul in many ways:
1. You have worked very hard and have very little to show for it.
2. You may have said all of the right things and did all of the right things, but you have had chains put on you.
This would be a good time to turn to the Book of Psalms. Listen to Psalm 73:
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches.
The World says, “The Good die young.” The ungodly people (sometimes) seem to always have it made. When is it my turn for a break?
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
Haven’t I done everything I was supposed to do? I go to church…I try to do what is right…???
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.
It just never seems to let up. I don’t know how much longer I can hold out. All of this is just too much!
16 When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me--
Nothing seems to make sense. I don’t want to think about this anymore.
I am beyond frustration.
Times like Acts 22 thru 24 are tough!
We are faced with a MOMENT OF DECISION. We have to make the decision whether or not to give up .
What are we supposed to do?
Here is the answer in verse 17:
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.
Do you know what the “end” means for those who are not obedient to God? For those who may make your life miserable just because you love the Lord and they don’t?
Those who treated Paul badly were without the love of Jesus in their life.
They were truly miserable people because they do not have salvation from their sins.
Folks those that persecuted, threatened and beat Paul needed to have what Paul had.
Jesus Christ the Savior of the World.
