Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Be honest now, how many have a problem w/ procrastination?
Me too, and I’m gonna work on that starting tomorrow [hey, that’s the same day my new exercise regimen begins!]
None of this is true of Felix.
Felix, the Governor of Judea. he can be best characterized by the words “cruel” and “covetous.”
From a worldly perspective his life is a success story: born a slave, later freed, and eventually worked his way up to Governor of Judea.
The Roman historian Tacitus said, “He exercised the authority of a king, with the spirit of a slave.”
He was cruel and covetous.
Plague, an agitator, a ringleader.
Verse 19: Paul knew that the people that has brought the charges were not the same people that were there that day.
Law of the time required the ones that made the initial charges to be present.
Also if you brought false charges you would have been the one being punished.
Verse 20: he asked if they wanted to present new charges before Felix.
Paul raised the red flag this day.
We aren’t told everything that Paul said, but just the basic outline, and it’s powerful.
Like a good Baptist preacher Paul had 3 points:
v. 25 Righteousness, Self-Control, and Judgment
He reasoned with Felix of:
1.
A Righteousness he did not possess
God is righteous.
Man is not.
What appears as righteousness in human view is truly filthy rags compared to God.
[That’s not God talking about our bad but our good!]
Ill.—if the President walked in those doors we’d all stand, and some would pass out! We’d stand out of respect.
But if Jesus walked in we’d fall on our faces before Him!
Paul put the fear of God in Felix, and v. 25 says he trembled.
We need more preaching like that today.
If we’d lift up our God to His rightful place, people would be under conviction and put in their place!
Thank God that Paul didn’t try to pull God down to Felix’ level.
He preached of righteousness and the God who hates sin.
We know that God loves sinners…this is the essence of the gospel.
But let’s not forget that He hates sin.
We see sin differently than God does:
We call it a weakness, but God calls it wickedness…
Accident / abomination
Chance / choice
Trifle / tragedy
I think Paul brought Felix face to face w/ God, and perhaps for the first time he began to understand his sinful condition in God’s sight.
Remember how the Sanhedrin addressed Felix.
Paul was respectful of hi position but he did not sugar coated the need for Felix to repent.
Then I’m sure Paul shared the other side of hope, and God’s righteousness, and how He wants to give it to him!
Righteousness he did not possess…
2. A Self-Control he did not practice
Felix was already on his 3rd marriage.
his wife Drusilla.
She comes from a very wicked bloodline: daughter of Herod Agrippa I, the one who had the Apostle James put to death.
It was her great grandfather, another Herod, who attempted to kill the baby Jesus by having all the infants in Bethlehem slain in cold blood.
She was married first at the age of 14, and then one day the Governor Felix laid his eyes on her and had to have her…so he plotted, planned, and schemed to steal her away from her husband, whom she eventually divorced.
Not only here but He was also a politician who took bribes.
One reason he held Paul so long was hoping the believers would raise some money and offer it.
He was corrupt, and did not hesitate to lie, murder, and steal.
He lived a life of orgies, parties, and luxury.
And so, temperance/self control was not something he was familiar with.
Many people have never been confronted with the truth about how God feels about their lifestyle.
Now, this needs to be done wisely, as from God, and not just from the church or the opinions.
God still calls sin sin…and so should we.
You change change the label and call it just a mistake, but God calls it sin.
We life in times where self-control is a crazy idea.
Then I’m sure Paul shared the other side of hope, and said, “you may not be able to control your passions, but God can…He can temper you and empower you to overcome!
“Passion is energy.
Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Nothing is as important as passion.
No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.”
—Jon Bon Jovi
By now, Felix has a lump in his throat.
“What’s going on here?
I called this guy in here to judge him, and he’s judging me!”
3. A Judgment he could not prevent
v. 25 Very logically he says, here’s what God demands [righteousness], here’s what you are [wicked], and therefore, judgment is coming…it’s all cause and effect!
It’s very important for Felix to understand this…because here he sits on the throne… “high, wide, and handsome”.
Money, power, a beautiful wife, food…and he could easily feel like he’s untouchable.
So, Paul lets him know that judgment may not be right now, but it’s coming!
Sure, there are natural consequences for any of us:
Have sex / get disease
Take drugs / destroy brain and organs
Jump off building / hit pavement
God’s judgment of sin hasn’t even arrived yet…but it’s coming!
Why is Felix trembling?
Paul is in chains!
This is Holy Ghost conviction!
He could have gotten saved in this moment, but didn’t.
The Philippian jailer trembled w/ the same conviction, but responded differently, turning to Christ!
He gave the saddest reponse that one could possibly give.
I hear you, I agree with what you are saying, I probably should surrender to Jesus but I’m not ready today.
I’ll call you later if I change my mind.
What did Felix gain by rejecting Christ?
History tells us he died a miserable man.
A few years after this event in our text, he committed suicide, drowning himself in a lake.
We must urge our loved ones and those we witness to at work or otherwise not to wait, because every day is a day we could be living for Jesus, but we’re not!
· You’re not promised tomorrow.
None has the promise of tomorrow.
Listen to your watch tick…every second somebody dies on average, and one of those ticks is reserved for me and one for you!
None of us are getting out of this world alive.
In spite of medical marvels, the death rate is still 1 per person!
And our loved ones are closer to their appointment now than they’ve ever been!
Joke—3 guys talked about how they wanted to be remembered when they died.
1st said, I want them to say he was a good father.
2nd said, a good husband.
3rd said, I want them to say ‘he’s moving!’
Ain’t gonna happen!
The Bible says our life is like a vapor, like a blade of grass!
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