Acts 26, I'm going to start reading
in verse 22. And read to the end of the chapter.
Acts 26, starting in verse 22. Paul is standing before Agrippa
and the king, And he's given a testimony, because he's been
brought before him on charges that Paul says are not legitimate.
So they're going back and forth. And this is in the middle of
Paul's speech or testimony. Having therefore obtained help
of God, I, Paul, continue unto this day, witnessing both through
small and great, saying none other things than those which
the prophets and Moses did say should come. Then Christ, excuse
me, that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first
that should raise from the dead and should show light unto the
people and to the Gentiles. And as he does spake for himself,
Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself,
much learning hath made thee mad. But he said, I am not mad,
most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and
soberness. For the king knows of these things
before whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none
of these things are hidden from him. For this thing was not done
in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou
the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then
Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian? And Paul said, I would to God
that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day were
both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. And when he had thus spoken,
the king rose up and the governor and Bernice that sat with them. And when they were gone aside,
they talked between themselves saying, this man does nothing
worthy of death or a bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus,
this man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed
unto Caesar. So that's, Paul's gonna go to
see Caesar because that's what the Lord had told him that was
gonna happen. But in this section, what does the Apostle Paul desire?
What does the Apostle Paul desire, and we're no different, than
the Apostle Paul if we have an understanding of the saving,
knowledge, and grace of God? Well, the answer is in verse
29, Paul said, I would to God that thou, not only thou only,
but also all that hear me this day were both, almost, and altogether
such as I am. What is he saying? that all who
hear him telling forth the gospel of truth, and there's only one,
would be persuaded by the Holy Spirit to be Christians. And that's found in verse 28.
Contextually, Agrippa said to Paul, almost thou persuadest
me to be a Christian. Yes, I would to God that that
would happen. That would happen. And I heartily
agree with Paul And I believe the desire of everyone who declares
Christ in him crucified from this pulpit. We desire that our
God would be glorified. And secondly, to seek the salvation
of everyone present by Holy Spirit conviction. And not necessarily
from only from this pulpit. When you go out to work, when
you rub shoulders, with your friends or your neighbors, why
are you here? You don't need to know what you
want to be when you grow up. If you're a believer in Christ,
your desire should be, and mine as well, should be that those
whom we converse with would be Christians, would be converted
by the Holy Spirit of life. Should we not continually plead
and beseech all peoples as Paul did to urge sinners like ourselves
to this happy and most essential and important quality of life.
I think we should. I think we get too sidetracked
with things of the flesh, things of self, making money, not making
money, doing this, doing that, improving skills that are gonna
mean nothing, but I believe we as Paul know if individuals have
a saving knowledge and a firm experience of God in Christ,
they, like us, will be happy, they'll be safe, they'll be honorable,
they'll be happy, and they'll be useful. These four things,
if they confess Christ, the Christ, like we heard this morning, not
just some, you know, some Jesus that they prefabricated in their
mind, but I believe as Paul, Paul for King Euripa, I desire
that you, King, would be a Christian, almost and altogether such as
I am, except for these chains, these bonds. That should be our
desire. First, we know that if they believe, mother, father, nephew, niece,
friend, neighbor, if they believe, they will be safe. For does not
Romans 8, 1 tell us that there is therefore now no condemnation? And that word condemnation means
the sentence of death is not on us. No condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who are Christians. Oh, to be a Christian
We, as the song says, and we sing it, safe in the shepherd's
fold. We're safe in the shepherd's
fold. Safe, we're protected, we're covered from the law, from
wrath to come, and judgment. I'd say we're safe. And that's
what we desire our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers, to
be safe in Christ. Secondly, to be a Christian means
to be honorable. We are, says the scripture, Psalm
16, verse 3, the excellent of the earth. We are kings and priests
unto our God, Revelations 1 verse 6. We are sons and daughters
of the Most High God, 2 Corinthians 6, 18. And in Hebrews, it says, Hebrews chapter one and verse
14, are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister
for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Who's he talking about?
But to which of the angels said he and he and I? The angels.
We are ministered, we are ministered heirs of salvation by the angels,
by the angels of God. We are in an honorable position. Thirdly, to be a Christian, King
Agrippa, is to be happy. It's actually possessing what
all creatures desire to own. We were created to honor and
glorify God. And if we are believers, things
could be tough. Things are rough. This world,
Christ has told, in this world you have tribulation. That's
the lot of the believers. That's our lot. But they desire
to be happy. That's why they spend so much
money on things. That's why there's so much nonsense on TV. That's
why there's commercials. All these things that people
desire to be happy. They don't want to look at the
ugly stuff. Well, if you're a believer, though all is against you, Christ
is not against you. You are happy. Oh, happy salvation. Happy in hope. Happy in fruition. Happy in comforts. Happy answered
prayer. Happily, we approach unto God
upon his throne, happy in tribulation, trials, and afflictions. And
we're happy knowing all things work together for good. Why? We're believers. We're saints. We trust in him. We're Christians. Well, lastly, what did Paul know
that Agrippa did not? and He desired him to be a Christian,
we will be useful. We will be useful to our fellow
sinners. We will be a blessing, a help,
an encouragement to others. And I'm not talking about worldly
things, that's there. But Paul, I'm determined not
to know anything among you save Christ and I'm crucified. Mary
has chosen this one thing, needful thing, to sit at the feet of
Christ, to be a believer. What a privilege we have. Are
we not in Matthew 5, verse 13 and verse 14, the believers are
the salt of the earth. Salt of the earth. That means
don't go with the flow. Just because your neighbor is
doing it, doesn't mean you need. No, if they're not a believer, you're the salt of the earth.
And it's only good if you're salty. And if that salt is lost
its savor, then it's not good for anything. We're also in the
very next verse in Matthew 5, is the light of the world. The
light of the world. That's useful. That's being useful. Yes, it's good to help your neighbors. It's good to help your friends.
It's good to help your acquaintances. I'm not saying that, but I'm
saying again, you can help and not be salt. You can help and
not be light. Nextly, in our text, we've already
seen Paul's desire for all who hear this gospel to be saved,
called, quickened, and redeemed. How do I know this? Then Agrippa said unto Paul,
almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said,
I would to God that not only thou, but also all that here. There it is. You're going to
have to hear the gospel. Not something similar to the
gospel, the gospel. I can't remember, I was reading
J.C. Ryle, and he made a comment, you know, about this is God's
means. This is His means. So, speak
to people. It's through the out-speaking
of His Word. Well, we've already once again
seen here, and if you look up in Acts 26, then Agrippa said
unto Paul, the very first verse, Thou art permitted to speak for
thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his
hand and answered for himself. He's speaking, he's preaching,
he's telling. It's not necessarily a formal
setting. It's not a formal setting. But
if somebody says, well, why do you believe the way you believe?
Or why do you think, why are you not smiling when I say I
believe this? Well, we have not so learned
Christ. Because we desire to people,
our neighbors, our friends, our relations, to be safe, to be
honorable, to be happy, to be useful. Bruce read it there in Romans
10. You've got to hear the truth
as it is in Jesus Christ. How then shall they call on Him
whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe on
Him, not on Him, in Him of whom they have not heard? And how
shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except
they be sent? Somebody asked if they want to
know more than that. I don't know. I'm just reading what this
is what I know. This is what I know. And not only is it important
to preach, but it's important to be faithful. Hearing and faithful
preaching. But how is this accomplished?
How is Paul wishing, is he just wishing? Almost thou persuades
me to be a Christian, says Agrippa to Paul. Paul said I would to
God that not only thou, but everybody that hears me this day, would
be like me altogether such as I am, except for these bonds.
Is he just wishing, snapping his fingers? Again, look in a
context. Look in verse 29. I would to
God. There it is again. Preaching
the gospel. God is the author and finisher
of our salvation. We don't add anything, cannot
add anything to it. Wood to God. What he's saying
is that God must be honored in his way of grace. God, he and
he alone is the justifier. He is the first cause of redemption. He is mercy. He is grace. He
is the benevolent one. If we or anyone here this morning
or anyone listening is ever to become a child of God, God must
begin the whole process first to last. Galatians chapter 1. Paul knew
this from experience. Galatians chapter one verse 15,
but when it pleased God said Paul Who separated me from my
mother's womb and called me by his grace to reveal his son in
me That I might preach him among the heathen immediately. I conferred
not with flesh and blood Neither when I up to Jerusalem to them
which were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia and returned
again to Damascus when it pleased God Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10. For we Christians are His workmanship
created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them. God is the creator. We're His creation. Ezekiel. Ezekiel 16. Ezekiel 16 and verse 6, And when I, God, passed by thee,
and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee,
When thou wast in thy blood, live. Yea, I said unto thee,
When thou wast in thy blood, live. And I have caused thee, God is
the initiator, always and only. Ezekiel 36. Ezekiel 36 starting in verse
25. Then will I God sprinkle clean
water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness
and from all your idols will I cleanse you a new heart will
I also give you a new spirit will I put within you and I will
take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give
you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within
you and cause you to walk in my statutes and you shall keep
my judgments and do them. And you shall dwell in the land
that I gave to your fathers and you shall be my people and I
will be your God. Verse 27, I will put my spirit
within you and cause you, and cause you. Yes, we do always
resist the Holy Spirit before He draws us, but that's our nature. It's always pushing, it's always
my way. I think I can find God on my
own. No, you cannot. Would to God, would to God He
would make us here, Christians. Well, I close, let us at every
opportunity urge sinners to repent and believe all that the prophets
have spoken, knowing and praying that our great God must give
increased. We can water, we can sow, we
can fertilize the good gospel seed, but God must give the increase. But they must hear, by God's
grace, they must hear. May our heavenly Father truly
make us Fishers of men. Fishers of men. I close and I ask, is there any
like unto King Agrippa here this morning? Is there any like this
King Agrippa? Had heard, understood. Paul says,
I know you understand the truth. He wasn't ignorant of the Jewish
customs. But he wasn't a Christian. He
wasn't a Christian. Is there anyone here like King
Agrippa, lost and undone in sin and iniquity? Well, we, like
Paul, desire you to be altogether like those who have found peace. Who have found peace. As far as we know, Agrippa, I'll
hear this matter later. We'll have a more convenient
time. And he may not have been the
one that said that, but we don't really know. Don't listen, don't
delay, don't think there's another time, another day. Ask for mercy. Say, would to God, would to God, you'd be a believer. Lord can
give you a new heart and a new spirit. and worship clean, but
don't seek it anywhere else. It's only found in Christ and
him alone. Bruce, would you close this,
please? Our Heavenly Father, you're the
only reason that we're here this morning. You made it so.
You caused us to love you, give us faith in you,