Leadership
The Life Of A Good Man,
Almost Is Not Good Enough
God’s Formula For Blessings
Prosperity=obedience+faith+love
Faith worketh by love and where no love is
There’s no faith, God’s way is love
Acts 26:27-29
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul; Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
As we glance at this verse of scripture, we look at this man, Paul who was considered to be a good man, did good works, but wasn’t willing to take on the whole armor of God and fight the battle that would really win him a crown until God knocked his will down and changed his direction forever
Good means – better – best - having qualities that are favorable and positive, not bad or poor, not spoiled or ruined, able to be used. In excellent condition, whole, sound, superior to the average, competent and skilled.
Paul was a man, a good man, in that he followed the law and carried out what his job was diligently. He was called Saul before his conversion and his missionary journey, being the most prominent Apostle in the early church due to his effectiveness in starting so many churches. He was from Tarsus of Cilicia, being born to a well to do family. Paul was a Rabbi, (one of them religious folks), learned a trade and became a tentmaker. His Roman Citizenship and his opportunity to study in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, demonstrated his family social status. His primary attribute here was not his education, but his zeal, before and even more important after his conversion. He was the first to martyr the Christian and to wreak havoc in the Jerusalem church. But God saved him and commissioned him and he became an Apostle to the Gentiles. Now instead of murdering them and taking their life, he set out to kill their strong wills not to obey God. You see our wills must die, as it’s how we obey God. Our walk with Christ will take us through some imprisonment, persecutions, and longsuffering. Paul suffered many things because of his proclamation of faith. Are you willing to say, Yes? No matter what road it takes you down, are you willing to suffer for the Gospel sake?
Now Paul being the zealous person he was, he was used mightily and don’t ever think that his leaders of old was pleased with losing him to God. They sought out many ways to kill him and get him back for what they called betrayal. (Acts 22:17-18)
God warned Paul to get out of Jerusalem, they sought to kill him there. You see what you do, you must give an account for it. Although Paul was saved now, he had done some things in his past that was behind him, and our past follows us into our future even when we have left it behind. Although he went to jail and did time, he was yet heavenly minded. He never lost sight of God. No matter what we go through with in life, we must never lose sight of God. Even in adversity, he used his gifts for God. He wrote Galatians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Corinthians, and Romans, the so call prison epistles, Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. After he got out of prison, he stayed with God. He went on to write the book of Acts, and I & II Timothy, and Titus. Then he was arrested again and finally murdered by Nero. He lost his life for the Gospel Sake. We remembered him as being not impressive, nor an orator, but his unquenchable zeal and love for God, his powerful ability to write, which has caused us today as well as yesterday to love him. What will you be remembered for? How will your works be listed in the book of life?
You see, Paul’s life was good in his own view of life, but God showed him a better life that brought him to be his best. He suffered persecution for the Gospel, but he also was a persecutor of the Saints. Some things you are suffering, as a Christian is because of things you have done as a sinner. Yes, God does wash away your sins and cleanse you, but there are consequences for some of the stuff you have done that you have to give an account for. God will use you because of certain abilities you possess and what he has already invested in you, but one day, judgment is coming. And the Bible says it will first start at the house of God.
Paul came to realize that he was without excuse, he heard directly from God. He realized that almost means nearly, not complete, to do, perform, or accomplish, that 991/2 won’t do, we need to make a 100. Throughout all of his writings and teachings he strived so hard to show this. Testifying this to Agrippa in Acts 26, reminding him that his father King Agrippa believed the Prophets, but yet Agrippa’s reply in Acts 26:28 was almost thou persaudest me to be a Christian, and Paul went on. Everybody is not going to receive your witness, and accept Christ in his or her lives, no matter what you do, the miracles they see performed or the mere testimony of one they know was a wretch. But people I serve you notice today, you can be good and think you will make it, just on being good, your good works, but God is calling for more, almost is not good enough.
We need to be instructed through an unction from the Holy One. Be reminded through the word of God and gain strength from the scriptures. II Corinthians 3:6 says, God will make you an able minister. He will make you able to do all you need to do. Paul was in and out of prison for the Gospel sake, but yet he used his time wisely to consider God. He yet held on to the Hope of Jesus Christ. He wrote yet ministering to the needs of the people, encouraging them to continue in the faith, because he knew that almost was not good enough. He reached back in the word of God and pulled out Jeremiah 1:12, God will hasten his word to perform it. Be doing and God will be with you. Your trials, tribulations, should take you down a road from good, to better, to best. Your success is in saying yes to the Lord, not in rebuking the Devil with your mouth, but your life should also rebuke the Devil. They come to perfect what’s in you, not to take you out. You be an interceder. Say yes, I can take it, and you can make it. Fulfill what God hath called you to do. Don’t faint along the way; hold on to God’s unchanging hand. When things get tough, just keep on going. Realizing that God wants to make you a testimony, not just give you one.
Remember that being good is not enough. Almost is not good enough, you’ve got to go all the way. You’ve got to make a 100%.
Get in the way and out of the way. You are unprofitable.
I Timothy 1:11 says God hath entrusted us to go all the way, almost is not good enough.
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