In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon reaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand, every problem is really an opportunity in disguise. (Source: Unknown & John Adams)
There are gospel opportunities in the middle of problems. We must look for them as we live for Him. Paul came across another opportunity to preach the gospel as he chose to live for Jesus! Acts 24:24-25.
HIS MESSAGE
Paul’s sermon covered three areas: righteousness, temperance, and judgment.
Righteousness. This would be God’s right and holy dealing with sin and sinners on the grounds of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Temperance. This reminds us that righteousness represents God’s claims and temperance represents man’s response to God’s claims – self-control! In other words, one who follows Jesus as His Savior ought to be one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites!
Judgment. In short, condemnation will certainly come!
Further Context on Felix:
Consider this background info as you study the sermon Paul is preaching to Felix.
Antonius Felix was formerly a slave but was promoted by Claudius Caesar to the office of governor. The Roman historian Tacitus described Felix as “cruel, licentious, and base.” While in Judea, Felix was attracted to Drusilla, a daughter of Herod Agrippa I. The fact that Drusilla was already married made no difference to Felix. He enticed her away from her husband, Azizus, and they later married.
For further information on Governor Felix, click here: Who is Felix in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org
Paul would not be able to preach such things if he had reacted to the unjust treatment he had received with bitter hatred, anger, disgust, and revenge. Paul demonstrated this temperance, this self-control, and gospel opportunity was revealed!
HIS TESTIMONY
As a child, I sat in a doctor’s office (with my mother) as he explained his medical advice for my situation. Throughout our conversation, I remember he continued chain smoking the entire time. His life choices impacted his life message.
Paul’s testimony impacted the gospel message.
Something stood out about Paul. His message was different from the lying, conniving Jewish spiritual leaders who sought to murder him in the streets!
Something stood out about Paul. He was willing to endure his reputation being ruined in society and his body beaten…just to speak of Jesus to another city or another ruler!
Something stood out about Paul. He would not stop in the face of cruel opposition and intimidation.
Would those among your friends and family know you as one who has stood out above the riff raff…above emotion, above revenge, above lies, and above wrong done against you? Paul clearly chose to live the gospel he preached!
4 WAYS TO LIVE THE GOSPEL
1. GOD-FOCUSED. Paul lived to tell others of God. Jesus Himself frequently spoke of His desire to do “the will of the Father who sent” Him. This focus chooses a selfless and sacrificial pathway, and it reaps highly desired eternal outcomes. Prov. 3:6; Matt. 6:33; John 5:30; Phil. 1:21.
2. OTHERS-MINDED. Paul is thinking of the souls of men while he himself is under arrest! Haven’t we all heard that when we point at someone else to place the blame, we have three other fingers pointing back at ourselves? Jesus took this thought much further (Mk. 10:45; Phil. 2:3). He told us to love one another as He has loved each of us (John 13:34), to be known by our love for others (John 13:35), and to love those who use us or who fall under the list of “enemies” (Matt. 5:44)! This “others mindedness” is a high standard! It is only obtainable when filled with the Spirit of God (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:22-23).
3. LIVING YIELDED. Paul was unjustly arrested, and yet he is not overcome with resentment or bitterness. To talk of godly living and to experience godly living are two different things. To truly experience genuine love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, faith, goodness, and temperance one must yield control of their will to God and God’s Word (Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 6:13, 16).
I saw a comic hanging in the doctor’s office that said, “If you see me running for exercise, please stop the wild animal that is chasing me!”
What we run to is more important that what we run from. So, run to Christ and you will find yourself far from what you ought to have no part of! Live life on earth as one who is running towards heaven. Live life on earth in a way that chooses God’s way as the ultimate way! Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 3:1-2; Phil. 2:5-8.
4. LEARNING READY. Paul is humbly learning each step he takes. He learns to declare his Roman rights. He learns the value of speaking Greek to the Roman guard and Hebrew to the crowd on the castle steps. He learns how to keep going when physically beaten down and discouraged. A teachable and humble spirit helps us learn new things about our own blind spots, grow at a good pace, and achieve greater spiritual maturity (Ps. 119:66; John 8:31). The “know-it-all” quickly becomes stagnated and then they can only lead others to the place at which they stop growing. Growth requires change, however, not just any change will do. The “change” that we must (as children of God) aim for is Christlikeness. II Pet. 3:18; II Cor. 3:18.
As a senior in high school, a young man had the opportunity to be the team captain for his high school basketball team. As time was expiring in an important district game ending the first half, his team had the ball. They called a play to get a basket at the end of the half. As the point guard, it was this young man’s job to deliver the ball where it needed to be. He failed. A defender moved up and knocked the ball away and his team lost the opportunity. At half time the usually laid-back coach got in the face of that team captain and asked him, “Captain, Senior, Point Guard, are all of those true?”
I answered, “Yes sir.”
He replied, “Then act like it!” …(Source: Unknown)
Are the titles: Christian, Ambassador, HS Temple, Disciple true for you and I? Do we live like it? Do we live the gospel we have embraced as truth?