A more convenient season

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM TUESDAY 8 APRIL 2025 - MR JOHN WEIR

ACTS 24 VERSES 24 TO 27

Procrastination could be written across many gravestones. The Oxford English Dictionary defines procrastination as the act of delaying something you should do. We all have been guilty of that. Promising to do something then we no longer do it. There are many people in hell who at one time were going to get saved, full of good intentions but something happened to them. They were launched out into eternity, not converted, ended up in the caverns of the damned. It's an awful place to be. Maybe there is someone tonight and you have put off salvation for years. Getting right with God. You know you need to make that final step and give your life to God. Can I say to you tonight - get off the fence and commit your life entirely to Christ. "Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." Felix was a man who thought he would have a convenient season but sadly didn't.

The meeting - verse 24. Picture the scene. 3 individuals gathered at Herod's palace. Felix, the Roman Governor, Drusilla and Paul who was under arrest. The people turned against Paul. There are 3 individuals here tonight. There are 1 or 2 like Felix. They are troubled in their soul, like Felix. Then there are those like Drusilla who have no interest in being here, they are only here to please someone. Someone has invited them to come. Drusilla had no interest. The vast majority of people here are like Paul. They love the Lord, are serving the Lord and are not ashamed of the Lord Jesus. At one time Felix was a slave but now promoted to governor. He was an immoral, debase man. He would do anything to achieve power and position. Drusilla was his third wife, they were living in sin. Power, property and prestige. In God's eyes they were lost and perishing. People who have everything in the world's eyes are never truly content. They have money, plenty of power but Felix must have seen something different in Paul. He sent for Paul. Maybe at one time he had heard Paul preaching. He had heard about his testimony. Felix's name means happy but this man was miserable. Felix was interested in spiritual matters. He wanted to see Paul. His wife Drusilla was Jewish. Josephus the historian tells us she was very beautiful. Her grandfather was Herod Agrippa the First and her father Herod Agrippa. She knew something of the Old Testament. Maybe she had heard of Isaiah's prophecies. She knew something of Christ but she never trembled. Felix did though. It is an amazing thing for gospel preachers to see people under conviction, troubled. Then you see others who have absolutely no interest. Preachers can see all sorts of things. You can tell when people are troubled about their soul, when people are anxious. Paul was God's messenger to this sinful couple. The love of Christ constrained Paul. His name means small and he was small in stature and inside was the Spirit of God. Nothing would hold him back. He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked but here he was sent to this couple to warn them which is what the gospel preacher has to do. Maybe someone is praying for you. Maybe it is a work colleague, a friend, a mother. They invited you to come. Bought you a bible one day. Time is running out. We want to make sure you are in the kingdom of God. The story is told of a young boy who heard God calling him using the words of Proverbs 23 verse 26 but Satan whispered to him "you have time enough". Later as a college student he was touched again by the same verse but again Satan whispered "time enough". 20 years later as a statesman he heard the text from an old preacher but Satan again said "wait until you have travelled, there is time enough". When as a traveler he visited many foreign countries and arrived in Paris. He was struck down by cholera. He left it too late. What a tragedy. If you journeyed through life and heard it all, have it all in your head and left it too late. Don't leave it too late. 

The message. In verse 24 we read that Paul preached about faith in Christ. Paul presented this couple with salvation in Christ alone. No denomination or church, preacher or teacher - salvation is in Christ alone. That is what the bible teaches. Paul had preached about Christ over and over again. 1 Corinthians 2 verse 2 "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified." He uplifted him for he is altogether lovely. A lot of people go to church but don't love Jesus. The people who love Jesus, it is seen in their lives. I look forward to meeting Paul in heaven one day. He was faithful and fearless, bold. He was preaching for the souls of Felix and Drusilla. They were living in sin. Salvation is repentance. John the Baptist preached that. Jesus preached that. People are living in sin today and they don't want to turn from that life. This message is real. Have you got salvation tonight? Is there a real change in your life? Felix trembled when Paul reasoned with him. That word "reasoned" means to discuss or debate. Felix was probably asking questions and Paul was answering them. Maybe there are questions you have tonight and you need answers. There are many ways to the cross. George Bates said before his conversion he had 5 questions. He asked different Christians and no-one could answer them. He met a man in the Gospel Hall who answered all 5 for him and not long after that he was converted. He was used as an evangelist for many years. Paul was having discussion and debate with Felix. He reasoned of righteousness or right living. He talked of temperance which is self control. He talked of judgment to come. You don't here much about that today. At funerals now everyone is in heaven. Jesus said "... you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come." Revelation 20 verse 15 is the story of the great white throne. Many are standing there but if your name is not found in the Book of Life you are cast into the lake of fire. Is your name in the Book of Life? I trust you know it is. If not make sure tonight. Hell is described as the place of the wicked, the fiery furnace, there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, darkness, utter condemnation. Do we really believe in this place? This is the place where people who die without a Saviour are going. If we got a glimpse of it our life would be so different. 

The misery. In verse 25 Felix trembled. Picture him trembling. Have you ever trembled at the gospel message? Under deep conviction. Maybe the Lord is speaking to you. You are hearing God's voice and it is making you feel uncomfortable. God is doing something in your life. The Spirit is working in your life. Felix had different seasons in his life, just like everyone has. Youth and health, education and university, marriage and family, middle age and work, retirement and relaxation, death and eternity. "A more convenient season". Martin Lloyd Jones the Welsh preacher said of these words - he talked, he trembled, he triumphed but he never trusted. Sadly we never read of Felix again. I trust you will not make the same mistake as Felix. Paul will die well. He met with Paul in chains. Paul knew he was going to be with the Lord. When you come to the end of your life you don't have to fear death. He will be with you right to the end. When your time comes will you die well? Will you leave behind a testimony to your friends and family? I pray that this will be your season. Jesus died on the cross for you. Picture him dying there. He was beaten, mocked, humiliated, marred more than any man. Everyone of your vile sins was placed on his body on the tree. Does it touch your heart? He took my guilt and shame so I can go free. You can have your sins forgiven, the past blotted out. "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."