ALMOST PERSUADED TO BE A CHRISTIAN
ACTS 26:28
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: EFFECTS OF SIN
1. A reporter interviewed a grizzled old man who was sitting out behind his farmhouse. “Sir, I’d like to know the secret of your long life.”
2. “Ok. I drink a pint of whiskey every day, smoke 35 cigarettes, stay up till 2 a.m. most nights and spend 5 days a week at the beach.”
3. The shocked reporter said, “Wow, I would never have thought that would lengthen life! Exactly how old are you?” “I’m twenty-seven.”
B. TEXT
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great…23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” 24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” 25 But he said, “I am not [out of my mind], most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things…since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:19-28 NKJV.
C. PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA
1. Paul is to be envied in that he had the opportunity to witness to kings & rulers, and once stood before the emperor of Rome himself.
2. Conversely, how unusual it is for kings and rulers to ever hear a fearless preacher tell them the straight truth.
3. If any persuasion could have converted Agrippa, Paul’s would have. But we’ll see why he was only “ALMOST PERSUADED.”
I. GREAT OBJECTIVE OF PAUL’S PERSUASIONS
A. NOT TO DEFEND HIMSELF
1. Paul knew the laws of Rome, that since he had “Appealed to Caesar,” no lower court could have jurisdiction over his case.
2. On other occasions he was forced to defend himself or his ministry, but here he only aimed to impart spiritual life to them, especially Agrippa. Paul 4x mentioned his name.
B. PERSUADE TO BE A CHRISTIAN
1. Paul would never be content if Agrippa:
a. Had only taken the name “Christian;”
b. Or been baptized as a Christian
2. What is an “almost Christian?”
a. A “close approximation” – but still a fake!
b. Examples: forged money, paintings, fake designer clothes, cubic zirconia, etc. Only the genuine article is going to enter Heaven. “Look-a-likes” won’t be accepted.
C. ILLUSTRATION
1. A man was in a bad accident and was taken to the ER. The examining doctor noticed the man had the name of Jesus beautifully tattooed across his chest.
2. The nurse standing by said, “I wonder if it’s more than skin-deep?” For Christianity to be genuine, it must be more than skin-deep! Are we only Christians on the outside or on the inside too?
II. DIFFERING EFFECT OF THE SAME MESSAGE
In the audience listening to Paul were various kinds of people. Let’s look at three of them:
A. FESTUS – THE RATIONALIST, ROMAN
1. He didn’t believe in angels, spirits, the resurrection – or anything supernatural. If he can’t see it, hear it, feel it – he doesn’t believe in it.
2. So he hears Paul all caught up in this stuff he doesn’t believe in and exclaims, “You’re out of your mind!” Kind of like Joy Behar of “The View” saying Mike Pence has mental issues because he hears from Jesus! This is the world’s popular
opinion of real Christians today; we’re a few French fries short of a Happy Meal.
3. The truth is, studies and research proves that Christians are more mentally & physically healthy than those who don’t have faith!
a. We have more VIOLENCE-FREE families (Family Research Report (1993) than non-believers
b. We have BETTER MENTAL HEALTH. Pew Study 1/31/ 2019
c. We have LESS HEALTH PROBLEMS. Purdue U. study [In Other Words, #400] half as likely to report health problems;
Forbes Mag. 3/29/2019 “Science Says: Religion Is Good For Your Health.”
d. LIVE LONGER, “Ministers go to Heaven 23% slower.”
e. STRONGER MARRIAGES [In Other Words # 922]
f. PRODUCE KIDS RESISTANT TO SEX & DRUGS; Rand Corp. Aug. 21,1988 study. But the world doesn’t know that serving God will do you good.
4. Many are blinded to:
a. the reality of God, that He can be known now;
b. that we have an immortal soul & life after death;
c. there IS good & evil, and heaven & hell are real.
5. ILLUSTRATION
a. I've never heard of an atheist telling how his atheism set him free from alcoholism or drug addiction. Have you?
b. But I have heard of many who testified they were hopeless and helpless, addicted to drugs or pornography, fighting depression – and they turned to God and asked Jesus to save them, and they received forgiveness and victory over sin and their lives were transformed!
B. AGRIPPA – Aware of God’s Reality
1. HIS CHARACTER– he was very different from Festus.
a. His family trembled before the prophets. They believed in the Bible and prayer.
b. He was like Herod, who “heard John gladly” Mk. 6:20.
c. He felt Paul had a good argument and might be right. YOU CAN BE A GOOD PERSON AND GO TO HELL!
2. HIS RESPONSE TO PAUL’S MESSAGE
a. Surely I’m better educated than this man!
b. This faith requires significant obedience. Shall a KING submit himself to this? No!
3. AGRIPPA SIMILAR TO MANY TODAY WHO:
a. Attend on-fire churches, hear serious preaching;
b. Are moved, may even shed a tear – but they would do the same watching a touching movie.
c. Think the sermon is good and generally agree with
Christianity. They might compliment the preacher – but they’d compliment a good baseball player too.
d. HE WAS CONVICTED, BUT NOT CONVERTED! They mistake being in a church environment and hearing about God as making them right with God!
4. A soap manufacturer and an evangelical preacher were walking along together. The soap maker said, “The Gospel you preach hasn’t done much good; there’s still a lot of evil in the world.”
After a few steps, the preacher walked over to a dirty little boy and said, “Your soap must not be very good, there’s still so much dirt in the world and look how many dirty people there are!” The soap maker said, “Well, soap is only useful when its applied!” “Exactly” said the preacher, “it’s the same with the Gospel!”
5. Being “almost a Christian” is not good enough; you have to apply the Gospel in your life.
C. 3RD TYPE OF HEARER – Responded “Yes”
1. Many civil servants and military officers were also standing around Paul listening to what he said. It’s very likely – like it happened at Athens, Greece and Rome, some of them became believers and turned to Jesus.
2. IN CONCLUSION…
III. WHY ARE PEOPLE ONLY “ALMOST CHRISTIANS?”
A. FAULT DIDN’T LIE WITH PAUL OR GOD
1. The Holy Spirit was there making the Word forceful and alive. Before Agrippa, the truth of the Gospel became clear.
2. The Holy Spirit illuminated Agrippa’s mind to the reality of eternal life. He recognized his lost condition, his sins.
3. This was his moment. The Spirit of God played upon his heart-strings like a harpist upon a harp. The Spirit wooed him to the Cross of Christ.
4. God had predestined that Paul speak to Agrippa; salvation was within his grasp. He saw the options clearly.
B. WHAT KEPT HIM BACK?
1. FEAR OF FESTUS’ SCORN. If he should convert, what would Festus the Roman, say? “Ah! Two madmen! Agrippa has also lost his mind!” PRIDE – are we afraid of what others think?
2. LOVE FOR HIS POSITION & HONOR. He had honor, wealth and power – status he didn’t want to lose! Many are afraid to turn their futures over to the Lord because He might ask them to do something they don’t want to. We must trust Him. If He ever asks you to do something difficult, He’ll give you the power to do it.
3. LOVED HIS IMMORAL LIFESTYLE. Bernice, his mistress, who was there listening, was also his step-sister. It was a violation of O.T. Law. Many today love pleasure above God.
4. HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED FOR YEARS? Paul told the Christians at Corinth, “Examine yourselves whether you been in the faith” 2 Cor. 13:5. It’s possible to have had a relationship with Jesus years ago, but to be an “almost Christian” today!
C. WHO ARE WE REJECTING?
1. We wonder “Does God notice me? Does He care about me?” Troubles come and we wonder if it’s so.
2. The Good News is that God showed us His love by sending His Son Jesus down. Have you ever wished for a friend to help you out? Jesus is the best friend you could ever have.
3. He didn’t cater to the wealthy or popular, but was compassionate toward the poor and needy. He healed people and showed God’s love to little children and elderly.
4. He taught us how to come to God and said He came to seek those who are lost and in sin. At last He took our sins and died upon the cross. It was your sins that put the nails in his hands and feet.
5. Before this, He suffering in the Garden, where His sweat was like great drops of blood. He was arrested and during His trial He was struck, spat on, mock, and then terribly beaten. At last nails were driven through His body. He suffered the agonies of death on the cross. He even was cut off from God because of our sins crying, “God…why have you forsaken Me?”
6. ALL THIS HE DID FOR YOU! FOR YOU! And you never think of what He did for you. You turn your backs on Him. You don’t stop to think what He did for you!
7. But He didn’t stop there. He rose again and is praying for you night and day before the Father that you won’t perish. His Spirit is among us and He’s speaking to your heart, but you’re not listening. Some day your cheeks will be shriveled, your hair
white, and you’ll totter – and you’ll have to face God & not be saved. NOW IS THE TIME TO CHOOSE LIFE!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: TAKING AN EDUCATOR’S ADVISE OVER GOD’S
1. In the 1800s a revival was sweeping Princeton University. Aaron Burr, a top promising student, went to the University President. “Mr. President, I’ve made up my mind to consider the claims of Christ upon my life and future. In my place what would you do?”
2. The President said, “I would wait until the excitement of the revival had subsided and then I would think about it carefully.” Burr bowed his head a moment, then responded, “Sir, that is what I’ll do.”
3. It’s stated as a fact that never again in his life did he express a desire to be a Christian and he died without accepting the Lord. He also became a famous traitor.
4. He refused to yield when the Holy Spirit was drawing him, and as a consequence, he never felt that drawing again! God doesn’t owe us anything. He graciously extends the opportunity of salvation. You can’t come to Jesus whenever you get ready; you have to humble yourself and come when HE’S calling you!
B. THE CALL
1. If you feel you need to get right with God, why don’t you come up and find a place to kneel in the altar.
2. You can be convicted but not saved! Are you a “close approximation” of a Christian? If you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’re going to Heaven, raise your hands.
3. If you couldn’t raise your hand just now you need to come and kneel before the Lord up here. Let’s pray.
THROWING AWAY SOMETHING VALUABLE
While her mother was out of town, Annat, decided to surprise her with a new mattress. She took it to her mother's home, lugged it up the stairs, and disposed of the old, lumpy mattress. What a sweet daughter! But when her mother got home and found out, she fainted. It turned out that the reason the old mattress was so lumpy was that her mother used it as a bank. She kept all her cash in it; specifically, about a million dollars' worth of cash, which was now somewhere in the city dump. Yes, the ladies, along with volunteers at the dump, searched diligently for that mattress, but never found it. And people do the same thing with Jesus, discarding the Savior of the world without realizing the incredible value of what they’re throwing away.
