.And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.  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.             Acts 24:24-25

Paul, was called before the Roman Governor, named Felix.   He had stirred up the people with His preaching of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The people would have killed Paul, had it not been for a Roman Guard.  The guard had noticed Paul, and commanded him to be called up before the Governor.  While Paul was there---he started preaching again.   Paul had a great message of what God had done for him, and he wanted to share it with others, just as we should be today.  When we become a born-again Christian, we should share our good news with others.  We should tell them we are blood-washed and on our way to Heaven.  People should know our testimony. Christians, let me say this to you; the world should see Jesus in your life.    

So, Paul started preaching Jesus to Felix; and Felix listened intently to what Paul had to say.  He called Paul back, again and again.  Verse 25 tells us that Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and of judgment.  Felix began to tremble so he told Paul, ”Go thy way this time; when I have a more convenient time I will call you.”  Felix  was meaning he didn't have time for God right now.

Today, I want to speak of those three things:  Righteousness, Temperance, and Judgment.

• As Paul, was presenting his case he reasoned of righteousness. I believe Paul did more than tell; I believe he preached.  He had to share what God had done for him.  Christians; we should be so devoted to God we want to share our story with everyone.

He forgave our sins set us on the right path, and even now as we sit here he is preparing a mansion for us in Heaven.  The world should not have any trouble knowing Christian people.  We should walk the walk, talk the talk, and behave in a manner that the world has no trouble picking us out of the crowd. Sad to say, too many Christian people blend in with the worldly crowd. 

• Paul preached temperance, which got him in trouble.  To be a Christian, the things you once did--you don't do anymore.  The things I once counted for gain--I now count them for loss.   In order for me to obtain Christ---I must let them go. I've got my eyes on far better sights.

I've got my sight on Jesus and heaven.  I've got my sight on a mansion.  I've got my sight on walking down golden streets.  I've got my sight on  a crystal river.  I've got my sight on my beautiful daughter who is in Heaven waiting for me. I've got my sight set on Glory---the things of the past don't matter to me anymore.

• Then there is judgment.  Folks, we had better wake up and realize judgment is coming.  People are living as if they don't care.  They think they have all the time in the world to do ungodly things; but as sure as I'm standing here--judgment is coming.  We're going to be judged for our deeds, be they good or bad.  There are things I won't do because I don't want to be caught.  Oh, no preacher!  Oh, yes! There's a reason I won't rob a bank, because I don't want to get caught.  I don't want to cheat on my wife, because I don't want to get caught.  “You think it would be bad to get caught  robbing a bank!”  Well!  there are some things I can handle, Glory to God! But a woman's scorn!  No way!!!” 

I don't want to live for the world because I don't want to get caught in the world.  The Bible says, “Jesus is coming back as a thief in the night, the hour that no man knoweth.”  If  that's the case, and I know it is, I want to be caught living for Jesus.   We preachers have preached messages so generic that people are not afraid anymore...To die without Christ, that is!  We don't preach righteousness; we don't preach accountability; we don't preach responsibility before God.  We have preached messages that are so soft that people are living like they will always be around.  That is not the case.  We may not be here next Sunday.  Some of the same people here today may not be here tomorrow.  That's the way life is.

Felix essentially said,  “Paul,  I hear what you are saying,  but right now it is not convenient to have God in my life.”

How many times have you heard people say, ” I would go to church, but....I would get right with God, but....I would pray more, but.....I would read my Bible more, but....”But" is such a small word; yet, that one little word has kept more people out of heaven than any word in the entire Bible.  None of us know the future; we don't know when our life will end.   That is why you need a daily relationship with God.  Talk to Him often.

Felix was playing with fire and didn't realize it.  "Oh, I don't want to hear that God stuff today; I'm not ready to talk about getting saved.  I  just don't have time now."  If this is how you feel,  what will it take for you to find the time?  James says,  “Our life is but a vapor, we're here  for a while, then we are gone."  Your time on earth will come down to one little slash -- the date of your birth and the date of your death written on your tombstone. 

Heaven is waiting for us. God shall wipe away all our tears.  There will be no more pain, no more death, no cancer.  Many of you have lain down on the surgery table saying, “if  I don't wake up here,  I'll wake up over there.”  Just as eternal as heaven is hell.  It won't matter what your walk in life may have been, how big your bank account was, how many rooms were in your home,  or what kind of car you drove; if you were not a child of God, you cannot enter heaven.

Bro. Jr Fields........June 11, 2006.

Sermon edited by Mary King