Come To Jesus, Right Now!

Central Text:

25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient (on Felix’s timetable, but what about God’s timetable), I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

The Jewish party from Jerusalem came to caesarea before governor Felix and made accusations against Paul

1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

Tertullus accused Paul of being a trouble maker…

5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world.

He accused Paul of being a pest (more accurately interpreted, pestilence) a plague, an infectious disease that needed to be stopped. He was suggesting that if Paul was set free that he would spread contagion. That he would spread turmoil, disorder, and rebellion throughout the Roman empire.

This is similar to the charges that the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem brought against Jesus at his trial before Pilate. They accused Jesus of making himself a king to rival Caesar and here before Felix they accuse Paul of causing disorder that Rome should not allow...

Paul testified that he was not a troublemaker…

10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.

Paul is saying, I did not make any trouble in Jerusalem… some Jews from Asia made the trouble, with their rejection of the gospel.

Tertullus then accused Paul of being a dangerous ringleader…

The Jews avoided using Jesus’s name, to them he was just the Nazarene. They said,

He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect

Paul was described not as a follower of the Nazarene, but a part of the Nazarene Sect. Sect has overtones of heresy (profane, blasphemy, fallacy). Then they call Paul a ringleader rather than a leader.

Paul testified that he was not a ringleader of a Nazarene Sect…

Paul said, I am a follow of the Way, not a ringleader of a Nazarene Sect

14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.

Paul is saying that Jesus is the Way:

John 14 1-6“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Finally, Tertullus also accused Paul of desecrating the temple…

Roman law, in support of the Jewish people, allowed the death penalty for desecration of the temple.

6 and even tried to desecrate (defiled, a misuse of) the temple; so we seized him. [7] [a] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

Paul testified that he did not desecrate the temple…

Paul said, I did not desecrate the Jewish Temple, but I did shout before the Sanhedrin concerning the resurrection of the dead.

18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

Acts 23:6-10 6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) … 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Paul likely had also heard about the conversation that John (one of Jesus’ 12 disciples) had, had with Jesus that is recorded in

John 2:19-22 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus is the temple—The place where God and humanity meet is in Jesus

Ephesians 2 19-22 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Felix’s Response to Paul’s testimony was postponement (delayed)

Felix new something about the Way and he also knew that Paul was innocent of the accusations brought before him by the Sanhedrin.

But Felix failed to “make a decision”. He postponed it for a more convenient time.

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient (on Felix’s timetable, but what about God’s timetable), I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

If Felix ever asked Paul for a bribe, Paul may have told Felix what Peter told the lame man in Jerusalem at the gate called beautiful in

Act 3:6-8 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Like Felix… some people today have decided to postpone the decision to become a Christian, to trust Jesus as savior and lord, even though they know about the gospel.

Some have heard the testimony of the Gospel from their believing parents… but they are waiting for a more convenient time.

Some have Christian friends, that they respect, but they are waiting for a more convenient time.

Some have acquaintances, that claim to be Christians whose failures are used as a reason for them to wait for a more convenient time.

Some have read Christian books, but they are still waiting for a more convenient time.

Some have heard Christian messages on the radio, but they are still waiting for a more convenient time.

Some have seen the Gospel on TV or Online, but they are still waiting for a more convenient time.

When Felix heard Paul, he trembled….

Inside he may have said…

I do wrong things, what will become of me?

What will happen to me if I have to stand before God and the Judgment seat?

Although Felix has heard the Gospel. He says…

I’ll have to think about it.

I will decide at a more convenient time.

I will put it off to later

But the question is how much later?

Some may say well just a little later, I am still too young now.

I want to live a bit, before I consider such serious commitment.

But what is happening in the meantime?

sin accumulates day by day, week by week, month by month

Romans 3:9-10… For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

We don’t become more open to the gospel by delaying the decision.

2 Cor 6 1-2 1As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

There is no better time to turn away from sin and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, than the present moment.

Conclusion:

Henry Allan "Harry" Ironside was a Canadian American Bible teacher, preacher, theologian, pastor and author who pastored Moody Church in Chicago from 1929 to 1948.

He tells a story about when he once went to hear Dwight Moody preach…

Dwight Lyman Moody was an American evangelist and publisher who founded the Moody Church and also founded what is now the Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishers.

Ironside says, that he went to see Moody preach in Chicago to a crowd of about 10k people.

During the sermon, Moody asked “I want everyone that know the Lord Jesus as your savior to stand”.

He said about 6K of the ~10K people stood up.

Then he said if you received Christ as your savior before the age of 15 please sit down.

He said about 3k people set down (about 50% of the Christians).

Then he said if you received Christ as your savior before the age of 20, please sit down.

He said about 1500 people set down (about 50% of the Christians that had remained standing). A total of 75% of the Christians there.

Then he preceded to age 30, 40, and then to before 50. The number of Christian that remained standing at age 50 + were about 20 people.

The point that that Ironside was making is that during that time ~75% of those who trusted Jesus as Savior did so before age 20 and 50% were before age 15.

Come to Jesus now… while you have time…

As for as we know Governor Felix never became a Christian, a follower of the Way.

Felix was a judge, but he has to stand before the creator God, the great Judge, and give account for his life as we all must.

Don’t be like Felix… if you haven’t come to Jesus yet, come to Jesus today!

Come to Jesus while you still have time and help others to do the same.

Come unto Jesus while you have time

Come unto Jesus, make up your mind He will make your life brand new, Oh He will take care of you Come to Jesus while you have time

Just knowing Jesus sure has paid off in your life Come to Jesus while you have time Though you may not have a friend He'll go with you 'til the end Come to Jesus while you have time

Prayer:

God, please use us as instruments to lead others to you,

through Jesus your son, the way to you and the one who has redeemed us.

Since we have come to you, we know that we are never alone…

Glory to your name… hallelujah!!!