It takes courage to preach the truth in hostile environments.  One notable example of courageous preaching is found in Acts 24 when Paul had the opportunity to preach to Felix, the Roman governor of Judea, and his wife, Drusilla.  After Paul was falsely accused by the Jew’s spokesman, Tertullus, a professional orator, Felix allowed Paul to give a defense (Acts 24:10-21).  Felix was so impressed by Paul that he arranged a more private meeting with Paul to hear more about faith in Christ (Acts 24:24).  This is when Paul showed not only great courage but a concern for preaching what people needed to hear, not just what they wanted to hear.

What Paul preached to Felix and Drusilla is what every person who has yet to obey the gospel needs to hear.  The sermon consisted of three points.  It was not a masterpiece of oratory skill.  It was not an intellectual discourse in which Paul used the vernacular of a scholar.  Instead, it was a sermon that contained the simple truth that was powerful enough to cause Felix to tremble.

He first spoke to this couple about righteousness.  The text indicates that this was not the righteousness that is imputed by faith when one obeys the gospel but was the kind of righteousness that needs to be practiced.  Every sinner needs to know that there can be no salvation without a willingness to stop sinning and to practice righteousness.

1 John 3:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God…

The grace of God cannot help a person who will not repent of sin.  One can intellectually accept that Jesus is the Son of God and still remain outside of God’s favor.  Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).  A part of God’s will is that man lives righteously (Titus 2:12).  This is what Felix and Drusilla needed to hear and so it is what Paul told them.

Next, Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla about self-control.  How was a couple like Felix and Drusilla going to change the immoral lifestyle for which they were known?  The answer was self-control.  This is the solution to the practice of all sin and Paul knew it.  Sin is nothing more than giving in to the desires of the flesh (James 1:14-15).  To live a morally upright life consistently, we must say no to self and yes to doing God’s will.  It is not always easy.  The devil makes a living out of tempting men and women to give in to the flesh and sin.  Temperance is the only way to resist him and send him on his way (James 4:7).

Finally, Paul spoke to Felix and Drusilla about the judgment to come.  What a perfect ending to any sermon where one has warned others about an inappropriate lifestyle.  If one lacks the self-control to live righteously, there is a price to pay.  We can all live any way we want to but none of us can escape the consequences of our choices.  Every man will give an account of how he has lived.

Romans 14:11-12 (ESV)
¹¹  For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” ¹²  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come make for a great foundation for a courageous sermon.  Paul knew that Felix had it within his power to set him free, but preaching truth and saving souls was more important to him than his freedom.  Let’s pray that we have the courage to preach what needs to be heard like Paul did.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.