ALMOST GOOD ENOUGH TO SERVE   

                                                                                                  Acts 26:28

Almost  is a very strange word to me. It’s also a very dangerous word. This particular word is dangerous simply because its definitions are designed to provide no definition at all. The definitions found under the word almost offers a path or an escape route which actual leads to nowhere. Lets look at or examine the words found under the word almost: but/not quite/just about/maybe or could be.

After hearing these definitions, do you feel you have a good understanding of what the world almost means?

The word “almost” was designed for people who are always “hinged” in the middle., people who do not have or want a purpose for their lives and for people who really do not understand what it means to say either yes or no. Actually they really don’t know what the word yes or no really means. They can not bring themselves to draw a conclusion. People in the world call these types of folk procrastinators. It is a sickness. We in the church refer to them as possessed. It’s a spirit that works itself against the Wisdom and Spirit of Christ.
Almost good enough to serve!

Our focus this morning/evening is on Paul’s words; a great orator. One who had been and was a great scholar. One who had been chosen of God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Despite his past life, the providence of God had elected this man to do nothing except teach the preeminence, wisdom and word and love of God. Paul, after he accepted Christ, lived, walked the walk and talked the talk. He was disliked but, he knew in whom he believed.

My portrait, to the contrary, is not about Paul. We all know his dynamic life and how he preached Christ and Him crucified. This man preached in season and out of season. Instead, my portrait is drawn from a particular character named King Agrippa, II. This man lived over two thousand yeas ago, but his spirit still lives in the agnostic, atheist, and the non believer and the sinner who will not return to Christ.

This story will seem weird; but it is very real. The King we’re talking about tonight had been birth through the line of all the great Herods. It was his father who had been eaten by worms in public because he thought he was God. Agrippa’s, II great-grandfather was the Herod who was king when our Lord and Saviour - Jesus Christ was born. They were all of the Jewish faith. They knew the prophecies and the Law. But their religion was like many today. They had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof. They didn’t have a personal born again relationship with God.

I don’t want to talk about Agrippa’s heritage nor his ancestors. I want to talk about how Agrippa had one final opportunity to receive and acknowledge Christ and he threw the LAST CHANCE AWAY. Paul knew Agrippa had been around the saints of God. This King grew up understanding the purpose and reason for the coming of Christ. He’d heard about the coming of the Messiah. He read about it. His forefathers taught him about the Messiah at a very early age. Even after he became a grown man in his own kingdom, he sent for his advisors and scribes so they could counsel him and bring him up to date as to what was talked about in the kingdom. He wanted to know what was going on in the Christian Community. Trust me, he knew about Jesus Christ. Like today; many know him but they don’t want to give him authority over their lives. God mercy and grace always gives us all another chance. Now, what you do with it is up to you. He will not force anything down your throat. Let’s take a moment and look at the profile of this King I am talking about. 

Like all kings, he reeked with prosperity; houses, land, cattle, property, wives and people. You name it.... it was all his. However with all this unbelievable prosperity, he had a severe weakness...he loved his flesh. He thrived on pomp and vainglory. Many today love their flesh. This is why and how they drive themselves into depression and suicide.

Praise God, God’s providence has perfect timing. (Providence the final holy order of God.) In other words, God’s divine ordination of things. Only God can change these particular events or moments.

God came to King Agrippa one more time to rid him of his “self problem.” (it wasn’t about a drinking problem, nor about lying, not about being a womanizer, nor dope. It wasn’t even about a wife bashing problem. (men don’t beat their wives so much now. They have a better way to control them. The push em, shove em, scream in their face, dam them with their voices. They cut off their finances, dare them to go anywhere, refuse to give them an extra key to the car so they can’t go anywhere.  Believe it or not, we have some wives that do the same thing. There are some woman who threaten to leave their husbands because they want them to act like other husbands. They want their husband to be well dressed and popular in church too. These half saved women set their husband up as substitutes for the man they really desire. The woman can’t walk away because the husband hasn’t done anything so they just argue and fuss until they hate them.  I’m here to tell you that God is not pleased!

God came to Agrippa one more time to rid him of his “self problem” but he couldn’t receive his deliverance because the devil had his mind twisted and locked up... he was bound.

He was a praise seeker. He liked being lifted up. His people and their praise for him kept him alive. He would not be able to live without his fleshly glory. He wore his clothes brilliant and bright. His subjects loved his vivid clothing and fanfare. His pomp and glory dazzled them and they fed him with unnatural praise and glory. Satan tried this and it didn’t work!

In addition to this flesh seeking demon, he had another serious problem. He possessed a demon of incest. King Agrippa slept with his sister. The one called Bernice who was his oldest sister and she went everywhere with him. Being of the Jewish faith he knew this was an abomination before God, but he didn’t care. What does the devil care when he thinks he’s in control.  He doesn’t care if he has your mind all distorted.

Well, God was not pleased and He sent his messenger to give him one more opportunity to confess and straighten out his mess. 

When Paul’s moment arrived, he stepped forth in the glory of God which outshone every robe on the platform; including King Agrippa’s bedazzling finery. When Paul opened his mouth and the wisdom of God came out, everything in the judgment hall and courts was braced with silence. They knew the power of God was present. (Trust me, the devil knows when God has arrived). Christ, the very essence of God delivered the message through Paul and King Agrippa was spell bound.

The king had never been this close to the reality of God. I believe he wanted to be free but God wouldn’t set him free. I believe God made his heart hard like he did Pharaoh in Egypt. God is always capable of proving His point. Trust me, He can always make you stand at attention!No doubt Bernice his sister and sweetheart was whispering to him while Paul was speaking. The devil does that when you want to hear the word of God. He starts whispering, moving around, coughing, crying... he’ll do anything to take your mind and attention off God.

Two of Agrippa's friends were watching also. After all, this was Festus’ appreciate and promotion that Agrippa was attending. He only went to pay his respect and to show off his kingly robe and kingdom attire. This showmanship was proper to do at these coronations (which is called the installation of power) and supreme affairs.

Installation of power. When I think about the installation of power, I go back to the tomb - God’s dressing room. I think about when the body of Jesus Christ stepped out of His earthly clothes, which were his work clothes, and changed into his installation of power. He exchanged his work clothes for his priest’s robe.  When the power of God worked its power in the tomb, no wonder the angels sitting in the sepulcher were so brilliant. Nobody comes into the presence of the Lord and not be affected by his divine glory. Everything He touches comes out radiant and pure. Ask Moses, he’ll tell you. He had to wear a veil over his face. We need the brilliance of God’s illumination to sweep over us today. 

This possessed King thought to himself...why I...Agrippa couldn’t claim Christ in front of these people.  This is a coronation; they’ll think I’m crazy. These people would turn against me. They wouldn’t praise me anymore. My friends would denounce me. I would be thrown out the kingdom of kingdoms if I accepted Paul’s word and followed this Christ he’s always talking about.  I’m not a commoner. These people go to him because they need something.  I don’t need anything, I’ve got it all.

Look, I came to be nosy and to give my opinion if anybody needed it. I didn’t come to fall down and worship nobody. Kings don’t fall down to worship, they are worshiped.

Paul in closing his final appeal, looked at Agrippa and said, King Agrippa, believeth thou the prophets? I know that thou believeth!
and then Agrippa said to Paul, ALMOST THOU PERSUADETH ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN! .. He couldn’t say anything else except...  ALMOST THOU PERSUADETH ME TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN.  What Agrippa was saying was CHRIST ... He’s almost good enough to serve....almost!
King Agrippa is dead, but his spirit of denial and vain glory is riding high in the churches. 

Our church benches and pews are filled up with this almost persuaded spirit every Sunday. They keep coming back Sunday after Sunday and they remain in the same condition. The pulpit is getting full,. choirs are getting full.  The Almost folks are taking over the church and the real saints of God are settling for false worship.

Let me describe these folks a little bit more for you....The Almost people are vulnerable. They can’t go left and they can’t go right. This is an anti spirit and it has them so in control that they believe there is a neutral zone or an in between place to hide. It is a spirit of not giving themselves completely over to God.  It is a spirit of anti-christ.

Either you are in Christ or you are not in Christ. This anti-spirit has the minds of the people and they are so vulnerable until the only words that come out their mouths are; almost.

The word almost is born or created through the spirit of deception. Deception comes through the spirit of the enemy or deceiver which is Satan. The person who uses this word is blind to their purpose in life.

Let me show you some signs of deception. The person using this word puts themselves in what they believe is the safety zone. They truly believe they are in a neutral zone and they have not been forced to make a decision.
Let me show you, if you’re not in Christ,  how quick Satan can lock up your brain. 

Let’s say an unbeliever is being witnessed to. They are given the unadulterated word of God. They hear the word and it hits a nerve. The Word they hear is light and it shines directly on their sin. You know what flesh tells them to say?  Flesh tells them, “say you’re not ready.

And guess what else happens. The unbeliever hears the word but because the word is so pure....they can decode it to give back an argument. Their ears aren’t trained to hear such profound spiritual teaching. Hearing such explanations, they are confused. They are confused because instead of searching for mercy and asking it to plead their case they’re searching around in their minds trying to find an answer from the ALMOST spirit.

This spirit is easier to deal with than the pure Word of God. While they are being witnessed to, they are calling for it to appear.
As they are being witnessed to, this spirit appears. The spirit of anti Christ drowns out the call God is speaking to the listener’s heart.

Now they have tinkling cymbals and sounding brass in their ears. They really can’t hear to understand anything. Nothing is coming through to make them change their mind. And to top this all off, they are becoming frightened. Their heart is racing, they hate what they’re feeling, they can’t breath and they can’t think. What is also crazy about all this, they can’t speak...they’re babbling and what they’re saying is making no sense.

And now the question comes. The one they’ve been waiting for . The one they couldn’t avoid....and it is... would you accept Jesus tonight as your personal Saviour?  The peace of Jesus falls over the entire space where they’re standing. They wait a few seconds...you look at their face and you can see that demon rise up in them and they yell...No, I won’t receive Him!. I’m not ready!  In other words, ALMOST YOU PERSUADED ME TO SERVE HIM!!

They tell you they’re not ready, but what they are really saying is..“ right now I don’t need Christ in my life. Satan is ruling my life and I’m doing just fine.” If they don’t know the other side of the coin, I guess they would think they’re doing fine. If they truly knew what the consequences were they would accept the invitation to come to Christ.

You think you’re neutral and free to wander in a middle ground, the neutral zone. The not God - not Satan zone. 

Well, I got news for you. There is no middle ground. God says middle ground is dangerous.  God doesn’t even deal with “lukewarm” zone. He wants us hot or cold.

You won’t listen because pomposity has set in. You’ve made a decision and you’re sticking with it. Your (flesh) started getting the spirit of “self importance” more and more and now pride has set in. You are deep into yourself. You’re in so deep until you can’t say “pray for me”, pray that I will let God speak to my heart and have control of my mind. I want to know the truth and I want to be set free. I am bound and there is nothing I can do about it. I need you to pray for me. Pray that I’ll be set free.

The Agrippa spirit grips your mind and won’t turn you a loose. Only God’s Truth can rescue you. Ask someone to help you break the chains of this demonic force.  Pride will kill you. Learn how to humble yourself before the Lord.
Not only does the unbeliever have this foul spirit of pride, we have saved people walking round self willed, arrogant and rude. Now they are in this condition, but won’t ask for prayer to get rid of this sin. 

They are willing to stay wrapped in pride. They don’t care if it breaks their fellowship with God. They refuse to let anybody know how far they’ve drifted and what they’ve been doing. They believe in the “don’t ask..don’t tell policy. They belong to the “secret sin society”.

Yes we have born again believers who are too proud to ask for prayer.  Too proud to ask for forgiveness when they’ve wronged someone. The devil tells them to stand firm in their pompous and undone condition and lie about their salvation. 

They can’t find the words to ask God to forgive them and break the chains and yoke of Satan. The devil tells them to stand firm in their position.
BUT I HAVE A WORD FOR YOU. FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW GOD’S WORD AND TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE SAVED AND STILL WALKING IN SELF...

There is only two choices in this world when it comes to serving or not serving God. First choice, you live for God and spend eternity with Him or Second choice, you live for Satan and spend your life with him in eternal damnation.
Somebody may say...I don’t have to make a decision. I’ll just keep living the way I am living and not be committed to either; and that way I am not condemned about making a choice. If I don’t seek after it, I won’t be responsible. All was born in sin and shaped in iniquity. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. You either return to God who is the Way, the Truth and the Life... or you be destroyed with your father Satan. 

There is no middle ground for this earth and there’s no middle ground in serving God or the enemy. You have to choose sides.

Well, somebody might say, I know how to live both ways. And I’ll say, yes and that’s how we got hypocrites. The sinner believes because they have the power of choice, they can try to live good and they try to live bad. Monday, if they choose to live good, they’ll live good. Tuesday if they feel to live bad, they live bad.

Hold it! Not a good idea. If you should decide to play in and out of God this way....He will decide to turn you over to a reprobated mind!!  When your mind is gone, you’re not any good to anybody. God sure can’t use you and the devil don’t want you. So, you need to check it out and see if you’ve slipped away from God. Because, for anybody to go in and out the “window” and not feel conviction, maybe the Lord has moved His spirit. God gave you a choice, not for you to abuse it..but use it as a way to be reconciled back to Him. God is not a metaphor nor an ideal that you can accept or reject him. We are talking about God and the Creator of this universe. The God and father of all humanity. All flesh is his and all flesh can be cut down. Since he is not a metaphor or ideal, HIS WAY is Truth and Life. Any man who tries, in his human terms, to go to God is a theft and a robber and that spirit is to be condemned and destroyed.

If you’re not in Christ you are dead and your death certificate has been signed. The cause of death: NATURAL DEATH ..spiritual asphyxiation. God’s hand is strong. The philistines experienced it.  They played with Him too, but they soon found out who was the strongest.

Jesus Christ brought the true and living way. If you don’t accept his way, then eternal death is your portion. 

God brought a word to King Agrippa through Paul but he refused to hear and to change. Man is trying to change God Word and make it easier to be understood. They are trying to simplify it so man will be without excuse. This is all well and good. But there are those who are still going to reject God’s Word because they think they have another way to escape. Some reprobated minds try to destroy the Word of God. Some feel if they kill the ones bringing the truth it will destroy the truth. They believe the word will diminish and disappear. HOW FOOLISH!!  Understand and believe, when God’s word disappears then this whole universe will disappear!  God’s word will stand forever. Many of His Words are in action right now. Right now His word is bringing death and destruction across this land. His Word will not return unto Him void.

Jesus Christ, God in flesh is the Word. Why would he return unto himself and not accomplished what he destined to do?
THE LORD IS COMING TO SOMEONE ONE MORE TIME. DON’T LET IT BE SAID...IT WAS TOO LATE!
King Agrippa tried it. He thought Jesus the Christ was a metaphor. He thought Jesus was just an idea.  He settled to keep his sins. But you don’t have to settle. You have another opportunity. Take advantage of God’s call to your heart.  God hasn’t closed the door on you yet.
If you’re trapped or if you’re in a body that has you controlled and you don’t want to be in there, tell it to turn you loose and run for your life to the altar of God and get your deliverance and salvation.

Maybe you’re caught between two opinions. Let me make a suggestion to you. Come to the altar right now. Come asking Jesus Christ to plead your case. He can win the warfare for you. You just come and let Jesus do the rest. 

When you feel the consuming fire of God moving in your bosom...cry out to God like it’s the end of your life. say to him..HAVE MERCY ON ME O GOD! Come to God and say ..I'm lost.... I’m in the clutches of Satan. Save me from death . Cut me loose, I want to live and serve you Lord.
I denounce the enemy as power over my life. Cleanse my mind, Lord Make me new Lord, Forgive me Lord, I am so sorry. Teach me thy ways, O’ Lord.

Sin is sin and all righteousness God hates. It is easy to come to Christ. Just humble yourself and accept the conviction you are feeling right now. See your sin like God sees your sin. Ask God to forgive you and accept the glorified and precious new life that God is offering you.

Just remember, if Satan has tried to cut the heart of God, you are an easy prey for him. If you wait and not come, you may not have the opportunity again for this personal invitation. You may be expecting him to show up later and He may not come.

The Word of God says, the day you hear my voice, harden not your heart  (Hebrews 3;15). He also said, my spirit will not always strive with man (Gen 6:3)   .

This is the place and time to get rid of the proud spirit. This is the place and time to get rid of the vainglory. This is the place and time to become a new creature in Christ. Old things can pass away and you can become new. 

Let God remove that Almost spirit out of your life and put inside you the true divine word. That Almost spirit will keep you bound. Agrippa was bound. He knew his condition, he knew he was living in incest and he acted as though he didn’t need God. The Devil has taken your mind if you think sin doesn’t matter. God can put obedience, humility and worship down on the inside of your soul.

Maybe there is someone who feel they don’t have that almost spirit, but they have, a fighting spirit, a spirit of anger, an argumentative spirit, a jealous spirit, procrastinating spirit and a lusting spirit. God can even take and destroy a homosexual spirit. God can destroy anything that is not holy. Get rid of the lying and stealing spirit. You don’t have to steal...you can steal away to Jesus.
Don’t let self destroy you. It has you thinking that you’re something when you’re not. Destroy it, before it destroys you, destroys your family, destroys your sanity or destroys your church.

Either you are saved or you’re not saved. You can not drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of the devil. You cannot eat from the Lord’s table and Satan's table.

The Spirit of the Lord says “come. Come and do your first works over. If you’ve stepped out of the will of God and the Almost spirit has taken over, denounce it and come to Christ and let him make you over again and take care of the situation that has put you in this ungodly situation..  Let Him make you into a new creature worthy of worshiping and praising Him forever.
LET GO THAT ALMOST SPIRIT AND TAKE ON THE ALMIGHTY SPIRIT OF OUR POWERFUL GOD!!!