The Fruit of
Procrastination
2014-08-10
Act 24:22-27
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.
Satan asked demons for ideas to
victory for his kingdom.
One demon said “I’m going to
convince them there is no God.” Devil said, “That won’t work because God, by
creation has implanted in the heart of every man the conviction that there is a
god.”
Another said, “I will convince them
that there is no Heaven.” Devil is supposed to have said, “That’s impossible,
too, because men have the innate conviction that there is going to be a life
after death.”
Then one said, ““I’m going to simply
convince them that there is no hurry.”
Satan smiled...
· Felix was an excellent example of the
effectiveness of that strategy. Act
25:22-23
Felix had accurate knowledge
concerning Christianity. How could he not
have known.
· But knowing about something is not the
same as embracing it.
Knew it was not a criminal issue but
a theological one.
· So the only verdict possible under
Roman law was that he was innocent
o
Like
Pilate with Jesus Christ…Felix was trapped between justice & popularity (lose
job).
He did what all weak men do in a
crises; he procrastinated.
· To appease the Jews & protect a
Roman citizen he indefinitely postponed the verdict
o
He
could legally keep him in custody until Paul appealed to the emperor. Act 25
· He never ruled on Paul. He would
have been imprisoned indefinitely if Felix had not been removed from office.
It may seem like waste of time to
delay Paul’s arrival in Rome by 2 years.
· But delays are by divine design
& are manifestations of divine grace.
· Much good came from this 2 year
imprisonment:
o
Grace
to us: some scholars think Luke probably collected data for Luke and Acts
during this time.
o
It
was a time of Fellowship/rest, discipling, and preaching to soldiers/Felix/Drusilla.
Act 24:24-25, Jn 16:8-11
§
Amazing
grace to Felix and his wife: for 2 yrs. they had the gospel proclaimed to them.
People are often open to discuss the
Gospel as long as it doesn't touch their lives too personally.
· Paul spoke about uncomfortable
topics with the brutal, unjust Felix & his immoral wife.
o
Righteousness
=(God's absolute standard), self-control/sin (man's inability to meet standard)
& judgment that results if he doesn't. Mt
5:48
· Drusilla’s (who was a jew) heart hardened
further: father murdered James, great-uncle beheaded John The Baptizer, and her
great-grandfather killed the Bethlehem babes.
· But God’s divine tenderness brought
Felix to a place of conviction (alarmed).
Felix’s response to God’s grace: delay
ANOTHER hard decision: “We’ll talk later.”
· Felix’s tender conscience eventually
is turned to steel as procrastination hardened his heart.
· Wasn't long before he stopped
trembling when he heard the Gospel through Paul.
o
Delay
& accumulation of sin does not make people more open to gospel.
§
With
each time delay/resistance the heart becomes more callous/hard & more
difficult to be convicted & repent.
· After 2 yrs with Paul: No indication
either came to faith.
We have a greater opportunity/responsibility
than Felix: Because we have all of scripture.
· 1 Tim 4:2,
2 Cor 6:1-2, Heb 3:7-8, Ez 36:26, 1 Jn
1:9,1 Pet 1:14-16
· If you are Lost: Don’t say “Later.
Want to have fun.” Delay is the same as rejecting Jesus.
o
It
is better to be hostile against the Gospel than to procrastinate with the truth.
§
Clarkson,
"If vice has slain it's thousands and pride it's thousands, surely
procrastination has slain it's tens of thousands."
o
RIGHT
NOW some of you may be thinking…“I’ll repent day before die.”
§
Today
let Gospel transform your heart, life, & eternal destiny.
· Christians: be careful with complacency
& laziness in your spiritual walk. Lk 12:48b
o
The
Gospel must move from principles/doctrine into life-changing dynamic
§
Is
there a Sin/issue eroding sensitivity of your conscience & putting the Holy Spirit on hold?
Confess, repent, & receive a clear
conscience. 