A Convenient Season

Temple Baptist Church - 10-17-2010

Acts 24:24-27

Introduction:

A. A convenient season! Felix heard the Word of God and trembled at its power. He was afforded a “season” of salvation as the Apostle Paul reasoned with him from the Word. There is no record of Felix ever getting right with the Lord after his encounter with Paul and God’s Word.

B. There are several instances in the New Testament where people came close to being saved, but failed to come God’s way.

1. The Rich Young Ruler - Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. (He came to be saved but placed his possessions above his Saviour. The things of this world have kept many from coming to Christ. You cannot serve God and mammon!)

2. The Scribe - Mark 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. (He was close to being saved but the questioning stopped short of salvation. Did he get saved? No one knows for sure but I will say that to be “not far” from being saved is to be eternally lost.)

3. King Agrippa - Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Almost! Almost? Almost saved is entirely lost. Agrippa understood the cost when he said “Christian.” Almost saved but eternally lost. I am sure he regrets his choice made that day.)

4. Felix - Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (This period of decision for Felix covered a period of app. 2 years! At the end of two years, Felix left Paul bound which shows his rejection of Paul’s Saviour.)

C. The most important thing that you and I will ever do is to come to Christ and be saved.
1. Salvation is far greater than the riches of the whole world. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?

2. Salvation is far greater than being the most popular person in the world. Many actors and athletes have achieved great recognition in this world but lived lives that were empty and vain. Everybody in the world can know and esteem you but if you die without Christ, you have lost everything.

3. Salvation is far greater than being healthy in body. You can live 100+ years in perfect health and it will be nothing compared to an eternity with a new body.

4. If you die without Christ, you have missed everything.

D. There are several misconceptions concerning salvation:

1. You can get saved any way you want. Salvation only has one way: repentance from sins and faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the only way that man can be right with a holy God.

2. You can get saved any time you want. We have no guarantee that God will every convict out soul again if we turn away for salvation today. Salvation is only made available when the Holy Spirit convicts and draws.

3. You have plenty of time to be saved. No one knows what tomorrow (or the rest of this day) will bring. We have only the promise of today. We may live long or we may die today. Jesus Christ may come today and then all opportunity for salvation will be gone.

E. You see, salvation is never convenient because it always has to be now. You always have to turn from the world to Christ. It always has to be God’s way. You see, convenient means: suitable, advantageous, commodious, or easy!

F. I want to look at this man, Felix, for a few minutes and see what was available to him and

1. Felix’s Interest In Salvation – vs. 24 – “and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.” (There was a time when Felix was curious about spiritual things. I have seen people who were antagonistic towards the things of God. We meet people every week who are disinterested in the things of God. When one is interested or at least open to the gospel, there is opportunity to be saved.)

2. Felix’s Conviction In Salvation – vs. 25 – “Felix trembled” (The Holy Ghost dealt with his heart. When salvation is rejected, conviction wanes. When God knocks, open the door. When God calls, answer the call.)

3. Felix’s Procrastination In Salvation - vs. 25 – “Go thy way for the time” (For whatever reason, Felix would not believe on Christ when convicted. He sent God’s man away. He rejected the pleading of the Saviour. What a dangerous thing. I have had a man to tell me that he wanted to hear no more about salvation. I left that day and he died without Christ some years later. Satan’s number one tactic is found in the words “tomorrow” and “later.” He knows that one day, you will die, Christ will come, or you will be eternally hardened.)

4. Felix’s Misconception In Salvation – vs. 25 – “when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” (Felix wanted God on his terms, not God’s terms. ‘I will call for thee?” “Don’t call me, I’ll call you?”)

5. Felix’s Motive In Salvation – vs. 26 – “He hoped also that money should have been given him” (Felix evidently wanted something other than the person of Christ and His wonderful salvation. Many come to church to get what they can get or to simply have their problems alleviated or their conscience soothed.)

6. Felix’s Season In Salvation – vs. 26-27 – “wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years” (Felix heard on more than one occasion and still found no “convenient season.” In these later occasions, I find no more “trembling.” He evidently casually heard, easily rejected, and became immune to the gospel. You can preach and preach with no change or acceptance.)

7. Felix’s Rejection In Salvation – vs. 27 – “willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.” (Constant refusal of salvation brought about hardness of heart and, ultimately, final rejection of the Lord’s salvation. Felix died lost! No hope, no help, no more chances, eternally damned to a devil’s hell. My question is this: “Was it worth it, Felix?”)