Today’s post is written by the Revd. Wilfred Robinson. Wilfred, originally from India, serves as a minister in the Great Harwood Circuit in Lancashire, England.
Track One Reading: Acts 26.1-32; Track Two Reading: Acts 26.19-32
Intro: These words are some of the most disappointing and sobering words ever recorded in Scripture. Before we look at the reasons that Agrippa refused to be saved, let’s first look at some interesting facts that helps put things in perspective.
A. The Messenger – the Apostle Paul
Agrippa couldn’t blame his lost condition on the preacher! God sent him the best there was, and yet he still refused.
1. The Messenger was Powerful vs. 22 (he had God helping him!)
2. The Messenger was Passionate vs. 24
3. The Messenger was Persuasive vs. 29
B. The Message – the gospel of Jesus Christ
1. The Message was a Testimony vs. 4-18 not hearsay, but personally experienced and proven in his life
2. The Message was Truth vs. 25
3. The Message was Told vs. 26
Some reasons why Agrippa probably wouldn’t get saved.
I. Pride
· Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
· Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
· Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
II. Position
· Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
· Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
III. Possessions
Turn to Mark 10:17-25
A. The Man was Searching vs. 17
B. The Man was Serious – he came running
C. The Man was Self-righteous vs. 20
D. The Man was Sorrowful
· 1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
III. Peer Pressure (Festus and all the others were sitting there watching him)
· Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
IV. Procrastination
· Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
· James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeared for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
· 1 Samuel 20:3 but truly as the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.
V. Conclusion: So what will be our response today to the gospel of Christ?
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