Banner of Praise Ministries
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Rev. Dr. Levi Howard Wright
Pastor ~ Teacher ~ Evangelist ~ Founder
"Almost Being Saved Is Not Good Enough"
TEXT: ACTS 26:24-32
24 And as he spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said I am not mad, most noble Festus; but I speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION
The Apostle Paul was persuaded by a heavenly vision. It was a vision that converted his life. It was a vision that changed him from a persecutor of the Christians to a minister of the gospel. Before his conversion and born again experience he persecuted the church and everyone who he came into contact with who stood up for Christianity.
His cruelty toward the Christians was known throughout the land. People would tremble at the sound of the name Saul of Tarsus. Saul religiously persecuted and burned to the stake, professing Christians. He burned out the eyes of others in an effort to make them denounce Christ and all that he stood for.
But one day Paul met the Captain of Salvation while he was on his way to Darmarcus with the authority and commission from the chief priest to suppress Christianity by persecuting the Christians.
As he traveled down the Damarcus Road he met a Persuading Force¡¨ that he could not ignore or reject. It was a force that brought about a change in his whole life, for He saw a heavenly vision that could not be mistaken as a mirage.
He saw a great light, a light from heaven, such as could not have been produced by a delusion, for it was not night, but it was midday. It was not in a house where tricky might have been played with him, but it was on the Damarcus Road, in the open air. The light was such a bright light that it out shined the noon day sun.
This new heavenly vision was not produced by Paul¡¦s imagination, for it shined all around and about the others that traveled with him. The force and power of the light was so great that it caused them all to fall from their horses onto the ground. I can imagine that they wondered what great and strange phenomenon is this that shine before us brighter than the noon day sun.
In the Old Testament times God spoke and manifested himself in the thick darkness and made His pavilion there. He spoke to Abraham in the in the great darkness, for there was a dispensation of darkness. But now that life and immortality has been brought to the light by the Gospel, Christ appeared in a great light.
Christ is the light of the world. Those who traveled with Paul saw the light only, they did not see Christ in the light. Paul not only saw the light, but he heard a heavenly voice coming from the light, speaking to him in the Hebrew tongue, the native language of his religion. Yes, the voice called him by his name twice. Saying Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?, it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Paul asked who the voice belonged too and Jesus responded by saying, I am Jesus whom thou persecutes.
The Lord told Paul to stand upon his feet for he appear unto him in the Heavenly vision for the purpose, to make him a minister of the Gospel. The Lord told Paul to preach the Gospel and witness to both the Jews and the Gentiles that their eyes might be opened and that they might turn from the darkness unto the light.
He told Paul to preach to them that they may turn from the power of Satan unto the power of God, that they may receive forgiveness of sin. He spoke these very same Words of deliverance to King Agrippa.
He told the King that he had to obey the Heavenly vision. He preached the suffering, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He spoke of how Jesus suffered and how He was the first to rise from the dead and how He would shine as a great light among both the Jews and the Gentiles.
Paul magnified Jesus so much the the Governor Festus, said Hold up Paul, you are beside yourself, your much learning and education has made you insane and crazy. But Paul was not crazy nor insane, he only spoke the truth with soberness. The words that he spoke to the King moved and inspired Him, but he was only Almost Persuaded To Become A Christians.
1. WHAT IS THE VALUE OF BEING ALMOST PERSUADED TO BE SOMETHING?
I’m glad you asked the question, because I think you need to know, there is no value in almost doing anything! Almost will not give you any security what so ever.
Being almost a Christian is like being nothing at all. My God did not make anything half way. He did not make a half creation, a half man or half woman and He will not make a half Christian
You are either altogether a Christian or not a Christian at all. When God bless, He blesses altogether, not half way. When God love, He loves altogether, not just half way. When God call us out of darkness, He calls us all the way, not just half way.
God could call us all today and show us all a Heavenly vision as he did with Saul.
He could show us what we should believe and what we should do on His program.
God could speak to us by dreams and visions, as He did with Abraham and Issac.
God could speak to us by a voice, as He did with Samuel.
God could send a special messenger to us, as He did with David and Hezekiah.
God could direct an angel to convey a message, as He did with Daniel, Zacharias, and the Virgin Mary.
God could have call us to His service by an internal voice, as He did with Jeremiah and Ezekial.
Yes, God could have spoken to us in his glory, as He did with Isaiah, Saul, and John.
But there are reasons why God do not use these methods usually to speak to mankind. You see we cannot rely on dreams and vision, to guide us as they did in the days of old. However, God has given us a method to follow where we can know His perfect will.
And the method is obeying His Holy Word. You see if we follow His Word and let His Word be hind in our hearts as King David did, we can be persuaded altogether to be a Christian. For in His Word we will find the Truth, the Way, and the Life.
2. THERE IS NO VALUE IN BEING ALMOST PERSUADED.
Let’s look at some of the people in Biblical history who was almost persuaded, but lose out on the blessings of God, because they was not altogether persuaded.
Many men and women was moved by Noah’s faithful appeal to build an ark, but many half finished arks were washed away by the rising waters of the flood, because they almost believed that a great flood was coming.
Lot’s wife escaped the fire and brimstone as it destroyed the twin cities of Sodom and Gorromah, but because she was only almost persuaded to not look back upon its ruins and destruction, she looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Pharaoh, was almost persuaded by Moses to free the Children of Israel from bondage, but he and the Egyptian Army pursued them and was drowned in the Red Sea
King Herod almost let John the Baptist go free, but he had him beheaded.
Judas, who betrayed Christ, almost changed his minded, but instead he betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver.
Pilate confessed that Jesus was innocent and he almost set Him free, but instead he turn Him over to the angry mob to be crucified.
The five foolish virgins was almost persuaded to keep their lamps trimmed and burning bright, but they let them go out.
Yes, these are but a few of the army of the Almost Persuaded. My brothers and sisters I need to tell you that being Almost Persuaded is the same thing as being Lost.
3. WHY DO PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD PREACH AND ARE ONLY ALMOST PERSUADED.
Is it because the preachers has failed to do their job? Well, I¡¦m glad that you asked this question! No, the preachers is not at fault, because God’s WORD never goes out and come back in void.
Well, where then do the fault lie? I¡¦m glad that to asked this question also! Just look with me for a moment at King Agrippa. On his right hand side there was an excellent reason why he was not persuaded to become a Christian. For on his right side hand there sat Bernice a woman of the world.
The reason why sinner are not persuaded is, because in 99 case out of 100 , they are caught up in the LUST OF THE EYE, LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE PRIDES OF LIFE!
Excuse me Sisters, Bernice was beyond a doubt a shameless and sinful woman. King Agrippa¡¦s association with Bernice was proven beyond all doubt to be the reason he rejecting Paul’s message to become a Christian.
I need to tell you that Evil Company¡¨ is one of Satan¡¦s greatest snares and nets in which he holds sinners like birds in a cage until he’s really to destroy them.
4. WHAT ARE THE EVILS AND DANGERS THAT WILL FOLLOW BEING ALMOST PERSUADED.
A drowning man was almost persuaded to trust his life in a rescue life boat, but instead he stayed on board the leaky sinking ship and perished.
A sick man was almost persuaded to use the medicine, he had heard about that could cure his of his sickness, but instead he refused too, and therefore his disease grew worse and he died.
CONCLUSION
My Brothers and Sisters you cannot receive a blessing by Being Almost Persuaded to have it.
Your hunger cannot be appeased by Almost Eating. Nor, can your thirst be quenched by Almost Drinking.
You cannot be blessed by Almost Loving your enemies, you have to Love them Altogether.
You cannot be blessed by Almost Forgiving someone who did you wrong, you have to Forgive them Altogether.
You cannot be blessed for Almost Giving¡¨ your tithes, you have to Tithe Altogether.
You cannot make it to Heaven by Almost Begin Born Again, you have to be ¡§Altogether Born Again.
You cannot be Almost Sanctified, you must be Altogether Sanctified.
You cannot be Almost Holy, you have to be Altogether Holy.
You cannot be Almost Redeemed, you have to be Altogether Redeemed.
You cannot be Almost Saved, you have to be together saved.
When the Old Ship of Zion pull away from the muddy banks of Jordan, you cannot be Almost on Board the ship.
If you want to make Heaven your home, you have to be Altogether on Board the Old Ship of Zion.
You cannot be Almost Ready For Heaven you have to be Altogether Ready For Heaven if you want to get there.
Jesus said that He would come back after a clean Church, not a half clean Church, but a Church without spot, blemish, or winkles.
In the third chapter of the Book of Revelations Jesus said to the Church at Laodicea To be either hot or cold, because he hate luke-warmness and anything that is Almost Hot or Almost Cold He would spit out of His mouth..
Are you Altogether Persuaded to service God with all you heart and soul today! If you’re not saved come to Jesus Altogether Today. Seek Him while he can be found. Amen ~ Amen ~ Amen
