Losing The Chance of A Lifetime
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Let’s get up to speed with what’s going on right here:
Following his arrest in Jerusalem, Paul had the opportunity to defend himself several times…He went before:
The Jewish mob in Acts 22.
The Sanhedrin in Acts 23.
The Roman governor Felix and Drusilla in Acts 24.
And
The Roman governor Festus in Acts 25...
After being incarcerated in Caesarea for two years...
Jewish leaders wanted him brought back to Jerusalem, but there was a plot to ambush Paul along the way, instead of being returned to Jerusalem, Paul appeals to Caesar...
You can read all of this in depth in chapter 25.
Festus was willing to grant the appeal of Paul. Since he didn’t know what to charge Paul with (they just wanted to get rid of him),
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
It’s amazing! They don’t have anything to charge him with, but they want him dead.
So Festus seeks the council of King Agrippa, and once again, we find Paul defending himself.
Paul stood before the man whose great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded; his father had martyred the first apostle, James.
Agrippa’s family history made him unlikely to receive Paul warmly, but that didn’t stop Paul.
Let’s go into the courtroom that day at the moment when Agrippa said:
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
This morning, I want to preach on the thought “Losing the Chance of a Lifetime”...
TRUTH RECOGNIZED
TRUTH RECOGNIZED
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
Paul was grateful to be able to answer for himself before the king because the king was known for his expertise regarding Jewish matters.
Later on in Paul’s testimony we find an interesting statement:
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Paul reminds Agrippa here of the Word of God…He tells the king that he knows these things and believes these things…What are the things?
22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
Paul is using the Bible as a tool to bring Agrippa to Christ…The same word that Agrippa studied and knew.
This right here is exactly what the Bible is designed to do - The Bible reveals the glory of God and the sinfulness of man…It shows man what he is and shows him his need for salvation.
Agrippa heard Paul preach the same message Jesus had preached and taught to His disciples.
Agrippa knew the truth - He had been around it and studied it…That’s what verse 3 means;
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
I want you to understand though that not only did Agrippa have the testimony of Scripture, he also had the testimony of Paul.
The entire chapter is devoted to Paul telling Agrippa how he was saved.
Paul told every bit of it.
That’s why he humbly requested the King’s patience in verse 3. Let’s look at Pauls testimony:
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. 12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
There’s something powerful about the testimony of someone who has been changed by Christ!
Your testimony shouldn’t be taken lightly child of God…Your testimony is powerful and you should be sharing it with people!
We see truth recognized, but then we see:
TRUTH RESISTED
TRUTH RESISTED
It’s so sad that Agrippa responded to Paul’s testimony with:
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
It’s amazing that a man who was an expert in Jewish ways, a man who believed in the hope of Israel, and one who had heard the testimony of Paul, could just walk away from the wonderful message, nonetheless, he did.
I figure Agrippa resisted the truth for many of the same reasons people today still do:
The power of sin is strong…The chains are heavy.
Here’s the truth: There is no such thing as a cheap salvation! One of the keys to salvation is repentance. You must come to the place where you hate your sins and become willing to let them go. Yes, you can come to Jesus just as you are. But, you cannot come to Jesus until you are willing to repent of your sins. He loves you so much that He will accept you just like your are; but He loves you too much to allow you to stay as you are!
This is what makes a lot of people stop at “Almost”.
Let me tell you this morning that there’s nobody, no thing, and no pleasure worth going to Hell over...
I saw a poster up in a house this past week that said “I’d rath die on my feet, than live on my knees” - I thought it was so sad because one of these days, that person will bow on their knees to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Here’s the thing, do it today and receive mercy and grace; wait until you’re forced to and you’ll have nothing but wrath and judgement to receive.
We see truth recognized, truth resisted, and then we see:
TRUTH RENOUNCED
TRUTH RENOUNCED
Agrippa refuses Paul’s invitation to receive Jesus. In fact, verse 30 tells us that he just got up and walked out on Paul. What does it mean to be “Almost”?
If Agrippa had come to faith in Christ, it would have changed his life. Jesus Christ changes everything he touches. There is Paul, locked down in chains, yet his heart is filled with joy and peace. His salvation would have altered the course of the nation of Israel. If Agrippa had been saved.
But he renounced the truth...
We need to understand this truth: Almost no one goes to Heaven alone and no one goes to Hell alone! If you refuse to come to Jesus, you need to stop and think about who will follow you there. Friends lead their friends to Hell. Parents lead their children to Hell. Husbands and wives lead their mates to Hell. No one wants that to happen!
A preacher friend of mine put a post up the other day that said this:
For an adult to walk away from the Lord is sad enough but to then deny your kids the joys of growing up in church, where their innocent faith is encouraged, deadening their sensitivity to the things of God, hardening their tender hearts and leading them to place of skepticism is appalling. Saved folk watching their own children being thrown into the lake of fire on judgment day is an unbearable thought to me. Can you hear them screaming, “Daddy why didn’t you tell me?! Momma why didn’t you tell me?!”
Agrippa almost was persuaded...
Agrippa will stand before Jesus one day, almost saved, but eternally lost. He won’t be alone either; there will be a multitude of people with him that almost got saved…Think about it this morning...
• Judas Iscariot—Three years with Jesus. He kissed the Door of Heaven and went to Hell.
• The Jewish Religious Leaders—They knew the truth, but they crucified the Lord anyway.
• The Rich Young Ruler—He was “almost” there, but he would not believe.
• Malchus—Jesus healed the ear that Peter cut off.
• The Lost Thief—He saw Jesus dying and He watched Jesus save his companion, but he still dies lost.
• Felix—He heard the Gospel and wanted to wait until a more convenient time came around.
• Festus—He heard the Gospel and called Paul a mad man.
And Agrippa said, “Almost thou persuadest me...”
The question today us this: when Agrippa stands before Jesus and hears his sentence, will you be with him and the rest who lost the chance of a lifetime? Or, will you be standing with the redeemed saints of God?
What will “almost” cost you?
The hymn writer Phillip Bliss wrote this:
“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past;
“Almost persuaded” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail,
“Almost,” but lost!
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
What Agrippa and Festus did not understand was that Paul had been the judge and they had been the prisoners on trial. They had been shown the light and the way to freedom, but they had deliberately closed their eyes and returned to their sins.
What a wonderful thing is the opportunity to trust Jesus Christ and be saved!
What a terrible thing is losing the chance of a lifetime and perhaps never having another.