God's Providence Man's Procrastination

Notes: God's Providence Man's Procrastination 
Acts 24
Pastor Mike Jonker
Tuesday, April 28, 2015

James 4:13-17 NKJV
[13] Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; [14] whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. [15] Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." [16] But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. [17] Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Acts 24:1-21 NKJV
[1] Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. [2] And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: "Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, [3] we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. [4] Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. [5] For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. [6] He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. [7] But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, [8] commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." [9] And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. [10] Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: "Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, [11] because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. [12] And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. [13] Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. [14] But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. [15] I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. [16] This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. [17] "Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, [18] in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. [19] They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. [20] Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, [21] unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.'"


Acts 24 has a lot going on and very tumultuous for Paul. 

Paul's is being accused of being a plagued among the Jews.

They accused him of being of the Nazarenes just to even make him sound worse. There were even 40 guys plotting to assassinate Paul.

Even bigger than mans plans were God's plans. God was getting a big audience set up for Paul, now and into the future.

Acts 9:15-16 NKJV
[15] But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. [16] For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

Acts 23:11 NKJV
[11] But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."

Paul knew he was going to Rome, because Jesus said he was going there.

Paul knew his calling and his ministry, but he knew it wasn't going to be easy either.

What is providence? Gods plan and provision for the future. God's directing hands towards the future.

Our forefathers in America understood the concept of providence.

George Washington gave credit to God's providence.

Paul lived out God's providence for his life, are you?

God is still working and has work to do in your life.

Philippians 1:6 NKJV
[6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

God does have a plan for you. It maybe any kind of job. 

There is no retirement in the work of the Lord.

You don't have to be a pastor to be busy in the work of the Lord.

If you are 18 or 88 there is an opportunity to serve the Lord.

Don't let activities interfere in your mission to serve the Lord.

Paul was brought to Caesarea to be put on trial. Felix was a governor similar to Pilot.

This is now Paul's fourth time in Caesarea.

Paul stood up as a Roman citizen and didn't let people walk all over him. We should stand strong like Paul.

Acts 24:22-27 NKJV
[22] But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case." [23] So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. [24] And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. [25] Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." [26] Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. [27] But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

Felix was like a cat...no commitment. 

Paul shared the Gospel with Felix.

Romans 1:16-17 NKJV
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Romans 3:10-12 NKJV
[10] As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; [11] There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. [12] They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."

Romans 3:21-22 NKJV
[21] But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, [22] even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

Righteousness is only obtained through faith in Jesus Christ.

Self control comes to us through the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 7:9 NKJV
[9] but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

We should have self control.

1 Corinthians 7:5 NKJV
[5] Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Don't neglect intimacy with our wives. We subject ourselves to temptation if we neglect intimacy with our spouse.

Titus 1:8 NKJV
[8] but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

We all need self control, often we make excuses for ourselves. God doesn't give passes because he gives us what we need to master these things.

Spirit or the flesh? God or mammon? 

Sometimes, to obey God, we need to disobey ourselves.

James 2:17-20 NKJV
[17] Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. [18] But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! [20] But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Faith is obeying God, over and over again.

We need to lead our families by example.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NKJV
[5] You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. [6] "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Do not put off walking where God wants us to walk.