Flop or Faithful?

Text: Acts 24:1-27

Central Idea of the Text: Paul’s consistent witness presses faithless Felix toward faith.

Proposition: All who hear the gospel today should respond today, as they may not have tomorrow to respond.

Purpose: Every hearer should embrace the urgency of following Jesus today, while you have this moment.

Historic Example :

There’s clutch and there’s clunk. There’s swish and there’s airball. There’s on mission and there’s misfortune. Every person faces high pressure situations in which they need to perform a given task. Will they complete it, or will they fail? Nowhere is this more available for us to learn from or critique than on the athletic fields of sports.

One recent example took place in the Baseball playoffs. The Philadelphia Phillies were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers, the game was tied in the 11th inning, with the Dodgers batting in the bottom of the inning. If the Dodgers score, the Phillies season will be over. So what do they do? They put the ball in the hands of their hot young pitcher Orion Kerkering, hoping that he would come up clutch to keep their season going. But then this happened: the ball was hit back to the pitcher. Orion bobbled it for just a moment, hesitated, then chucked the ball past the catcher, and the winning run scored for the opposing team. I’m sure that the young pitcher had practiced that exact scenario thousands of times. Stay calm. Get the ball to a base. Get the force out. Keep the game going. But in the moment? He fumbled, he freaked out, and he lost the game for his team. We all feel terrible for him on some level, because we’ve been in that kind of place before, and blowing it in that moment? It’s something that you can wind up kicking yourself over for years, replaying it over and over in your mind … asking yourself: “why did I blow that?”

The one advantage of watching these moments is that they are teachable moments that we all learn from. How can I keep a cool head under pressure? How can I make a decision when it counts? We don’t want to be the guy that folds. We want to be the guy that stands firm, and faithfully performs in the moment. But what if that flopping didn’t just take place in a moment, but over the course of many years of your life. If that is you, then flop is your title. You bought the tshirt and you get to wear it.

This morning’s text will give us an example of a man who defines the fold, the flop and the clunk. Let’s continue our journey as we pick up in Acts 24:1-27, and as we read it see if you can identify the individual I’m speaking of. (read text)

Acts 24:1–27 ESV

1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. 10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’ ” 22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. 24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

This is the word of the Lord for us this morning.

Please Pray with me: Lord, we thank you for your word and the preserved accounts of all that Paul went through to preach the Gospel and to write the scriptures that we might benefit from them. As we examine today’s passage, may we learn from the missed opportunities of others, and may we seek to know the Jesus that transformed Paul and transforms all who follow him. Bring many to a point of decision, of repentance, faith, baptism and daily obedience. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Acts chapters 21 through 28 form one narrative: Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and his road to Rome. These accounts form the fourth missionary journey of Paul, and the final accounts that round out the book of Acts. This week’s text finds Paul bound up in the red tape of trials. He’s been on trial before the Jewish leaders (who hate his guts). He’s been in hearings before the Roman Tribune (who can find nothing wrong in what he’s done). He’s been placed under lock and key for his own protection, and he’s been shipped out of Jerusalem to Caesarea under the cover of night to avoid the assassins that are trying to kill him. This week’s text find Paul bound up in the red tape of the Roman legal system.

Again, we are in a similar situation as we were last week. On the face of the thing, we are glad to have this story of what happened, but we are not sure what is recorded here that we can benefit from or preach on. This is a problem we don’t simply face here, but in other difficult or more tedious Bible texts: a genealogy per se or a list of laws or facts. Early in this week’s sermon prep, I looked over the text initially, like I usually and said to God: OK God, show me what you’ve got here for your church this week. He did, but perhaps in an unlikely way.

One thing that we do at points when studying the Bible is to look under the hood and do some deeper study to understand what is going on, through something called a character study. When we do a character study, we zoom in on a specific character or individual. We take a look at what the text says about them, we ask questions about their motivations and actions, we look at what commentaries or other biblical helps may say about them, and we deepen our knowledge of the scriptures to help us toward obedience. Earlier, I asked, if you could identify someone in the text who we might say folded or flopped? Anybody have any guesses as to who that might be? If you said Felix, you win a prize and I will share a cookies with you after the service. Felix is someone who’s example and action call for us to learn from him and to NOT be like him. So let’s look closer at Felix, and see three life lessons from today’s text in how NOT to be a flop in the faith.

The Lessons of Felix: Do not procrastinate, but act today. (v 22)

Verses 1-21 focus in on the trial before Felix. The Jewish leaders (who had been conspiring with assassins to kill Paul) had come with their tail between their legs (as their plan was foiled) from Jerusalem to Caesarea. So Ananias the high priest heads the group, along with a very sweet talking slick lawyer to stand before Governor Felix, a man named Tertullus. This man launches into a sickening speech of “sucking up” to Felix, and of profane lies against Paul. He sucks up with: “we enjoy peace because you … you are a great reformer … with all gratitude we thank you … please give us your kindness.” One reason for this kissing up to Felix may be best illustrated by what happened a year or two later. Josephus (a Jewish historian) records that Felix was responsible for the assassination of Jonathan, the high priest who succeeded Ananias. Jonathan had challenged Felix to live in a manner more worth of his office, and Felix had seen to it that Jonathan would be attacked by assassins disguised as worshippers. They would hide knives in their cloaks, and stab the high priest to death in Jerusalem’s temple. Now before Felix, Tertullus also lies on Ananias’ behalf: “Paul is a plague … he stirs up riots … he is a ringleader (or commander) of the Nazarenes (a name used to brand Christians without mentioning Christ) … he was going to desecrate the Temple … but we stopped him!”

Anyone who has been following Paul for much time (like we have in Acts) has seen that these things are flat lies. So Paul’s rebuttal comes to Felix, without sucking up and without lies … very matter of fact. “I confess to you, according to The Way, I worship the God of our fathers.” The Way here is the name/title that the Christians go by. Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life, and no one comes to God but through Him (Jn 14:6). His people have adopted this title and they have become widely known by it. Paul calmly recounts the account of chapter 21-22 and the way that it actually went down. There was no incitement to riot. Paul had simply come in clean conscience, being purified in the temple. When he was placed before the Jews on trial, he announced that he was on trial because of the resurrection of the dead.

So, Felix, the Roman Governor is sitting to hear this case at the request of the Tribune. He now has all of the information in front of him. On one side, he has the religious hypocrites sucking up, on the other, the honest and matter of fact Paul. This should not be hard to see through, for a leader who has wisdom. Now zoom in on verse 22: “But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, ‘When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.’” Note that Luke records that Felix has an accurate knowledge of the Way. In other words, he has a decent grasp of the facts of Jesus, of who Christians are and what Christians are about. IF he knew even a portion of what we know in the book of Acts, he certainly knew enough to make an informed decision: Paul, you are not guilty. Go in peace. But that is not what he does. “Let’s wait until the guy who’s already heard the case gets here, who has less authority than me, then when he has chimed in, he can make a decision on the verdict.”

There is a word for this: Chicken. Felix doesn’t want to make a decision today. He has enough to make an informed decision, but he wants to put it off. And that is the other word for this: procrastinate. I don’t know if you often associate those two words: chicken and procrastinate. But they do sometimes go together. But I pray that you learn from Felix today and do not follow his example.

The book of Acts has been very clear that there are forks in the road, and when we see points of decision for truth, for Christ, and for salvation, we ought to take them. That’s why in Acts 2, as the people were convicted by Peter’s message, they asked: “Brothers, what should we do?” It was then that Peter responded that they should act decisively: Repent and be baptized! Don’t put off the good response that your salvation calls for! Over and over again in scripture, as God’s people come to a point where they see before them life and death, they are challenged to respond. Joshua puts it this way in Joshua 24:15 “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”” Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Don’t procrastinate and put off the right decision in today. Choose right, salvation, Christ.

But procrastination was not Felix’s only mistake...

The Lessons of Felix: Do not fear, but face your sin. (v 25)

In the wake of this trial delay, Felix does show Paul some kindness. Paul stays in custody, again for his protection. But he can have visitors and some freedoms that normal prisoners do not have. But to see Felix’s next mistake, Take note of verse Acts 24:24–25 “After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”” On its face, these events may not sound like much. But when you understand more about Felix, and Drusilla, and what they may have heard from Paul, we may have greater understanding of why Felix may have come to push Paul away and hear from him no longer.

Drusilla is noted as Jewish, and she was the daughter of Herod Agrippa, who was governor of Judea when the apostle James was executed. For Drusilla, there were likely many questions that surrounded Paul and his status as a Christian. So it was good for her, with Paul being in such close proximity, to call for him and converse with him. But for both she and Felix, they had sinful skeletons in their closet. Drusilla was the second wife that Felix had taken, and he had taken her for his wife from another king in the region, Azizus. That made this a sinful relationship. Paul knew it. Drusilla, being Jewish knew it. And now Felix, in the presence of both Drusilla and Paul, was being confronted. Paul was preaching about Jesus, and especially about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgement. In just those few words, we can imagine the content of Paul’s message, being preached to a volatile king. There is righteousness; a standard for what is sin, and everyone has sinned … including those who have taken a wife who is not theirs for their own. There is self-control; that God can give us, through faith in Jesus, forgiveness and new attitudes and desires. He can teach us to say no to sin and yes to righteous living, There is a coming judgement; if we do not respond to Jesus and his offer of salvation, Jesus will return, find us in our sin and judge us accordingly.

Do you start to see why Felix was uncomfortable? He did not want to face his sin. This discomfort was meant to lead him to repentance, but instead, it was just easier for him to say “Paul, you go back to jail. When I need you, I’ll call for you.” Felix was fearful to look his sin in the face and see it for what it was: unholy and detestable to God.

Do you realize one of the reasons we preach Jesus, and why we come to church is to be confronted with our sin, so that we may confess it and Jesus may forgive it? This is at the core of our faith as Christians: Sin is not inconsequential. And God does not look the other way. It was significant enough that it created a divide between God and man, a divide that only the sacrifice of Jesus could bridge. When we talk about the sins that separate us from God in places like the Ten Commandments: “Honor your father and mother. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder, bear false witness or covet.” (Exodus 20:1-20) … When we talk about sins that will not inherit the kingdom of God: “Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor 6:10) Each time we examine these, they are meant to say to us: “Do you meet this standard?” The answer is no. Then we need to beg on God’s mercy and turn from that sin. Do not put away the conviction of the Word like Felix did. Rather embrace repentance obedience. Remember how James guides us on this (James 1:22–25) “22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

Proverbs 13:1 “1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”

We could stop there, but Felix’s folly is not done:

The Lessons of Felix: Do not be flaccid, but stand firm in faith in Jesus. (v26)

I used the word flaccid here, because I think it is a good descriptor of Felix’s next actions. To be flaccid is to be: flabby, soft, floppy, lacking energy or vigor. That’s Felix here like a flag blowing in the breeze. Look at Acts 24:26–27 “26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.” This speaks to the corrupt character of Felix. Always looking for a bribe. He was hoping the church would just take up a big collection and bribe Paul out. But they did not and should not. It was not the honest thing to do. Felix needed to do what was right.

Felix hates Paul’s message, as we just noted. But he loves to talk to Paul, looking for that bribe. I am sure that with all that Paul had done and seen in his life and ministry, Paul was a fascinating individual to talk to, whether you worshipped his God or not. And so he calls for Paul. Again and again. FOR TWO YEARS. Until he is deposed as governor. Felix accomplishes nothing except wasting Paul’s time, and his own time, until his demise from being the governor. In this, Felix shows an inability to commit to anything, to make a decision. Can you imagine having the Apostle Paul, one of the wisest, most influential people who ever lived in your presence for two whole years? But then at the end of the day, all you wanted to do was shoot the breeze with him and try to squeeze him for money? You wasted two years of Paul’s time in jail, the most valuable thing in the world Paul had! How could one even begin to attach a dollar figure to this?

But that is the way of the flaccid. They waste time and opportunity. They do not have faith in anything, and thereby waste their lives. They stand on and for nothing. And sadly, many live in this state .. settling for shooting the breeze and talking about the daily mundane, engaging in pursuits that waste time, having eternal truths at our ears and our fingertips, and yet glossing over the point wholly?

The Prophet Elijah once confronted this attitude in Israel. The worship of Baal was popular, and the worship of the God of Israel was not. When he confronted the wicked Ahab, there was a call for a challenge. The God of Israel vs. the false idol Baal. One prophet Elijah vs the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah. And when the people gathered, these were Paul’s words: (1 Kings 18:21) “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people had no answer until the challenge was complete, and they acknowledged: “The Lord, He is God!”

The Bible is clear. Creation is clear. The testimony of the Saints is clear. There is a God. Jesus is his Son. He has died to save from sin, and lives to prepare a place. He will return! Do not be indecisive or unresponsive to his offer. Do not be lukewarm and try to live in the mushy middle. Follow Jesus!

Close/Sum

Friends, don’t be a Felix. Do not procrastinate, because today when you hear the good news of Jesus is the day to respond. Do not fear to look your sin in the face, but bring it to Jesus so that he might forgive your sins and you would have life in his name. Do not be flaccid, wavering back and forth between many opinions and thus waste your life. When we learn from the mistakes of others, we know that we don’t need to be defined by our indecision, or defined by our sin, or defined by our Come to Jesus today.

Why not tomorrow? Because you may not have tomorrow. Note what Proverbs 27:1 says: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” In recent months, we’ve experienced tragedies both nationally and locally that have shown us that life is temporary. Those losses are meant to serve as reminders of the truth of James 4:13–15 “13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.””

It is only by God’s grace you have life this day. And you have a choice placed before you: will you choose Christ, or choose the world? As for me and my house, Joshua said, we will serve the Lord. As the old spiritual says: “You may have all this world, but give me Jesus.” In him is forgiveness, hope, joy and eternal life. What time do you have? Don’t take it for granted. Follow Jesus & know life.

How do you do that? It starts here with a simple prayer. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner. And you can pray that prayer today if you’ve never followed Jesus, or if you’ve wandered in your faith. You can call upon his mercy & grace, and know that he hears you: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If you are turning to Christ today, or returning to Christ, we want to visit with you. We want to guide you toward a commitment to Christ in your confession and baptism. We want to plug you in with other belivers. And we want to help you walk daily with Christ. Fill out that Connect Card, and let us know how you are responding to Christ today.