April 19, 2009
Text: Acts 24:24-26
Proposition: Consider righteousness, self-control, and the judgement to come
Introduction
Felix was terrified by Paul’s message. The governor in Judea wasn’t ready for the judgement to come. He was not righteous and he didn’t have self-control. Many people instead of repenting are like Felix. They don’t listen to the message. Repenting isn’t convenient for them. They want to wait for a better time. The time for righteousness, self-control, and the judgement to come is now.
I. What is righteousness – Character or quality of being right or just.
A. Without righteousness we will die
1. Ezekiel 18:1-9, 20-32
2. With righteousness we live.
3. We can turn and live. There is no good reason to continue in sin.
B. Righteousness is giving up sin
1. Ephesians 4:25-32, be rid of anger, bitterness and wrath.
2. In the home
a. I Peter 3:1-12
b. Be righteous in behavior. Be chaste – innocent of immoral sexual intercourse; modest restrained.
c. Respectful behavior – don’t treat your husband like a dumb idiot. Remember you picked him. Don’t nag him.
d. Righteous adornment
1) A righteous woman will look nice and takes care of herself, but she is not decorated with lots of jewelry and expensive dresses.
2) Why do women or sometimes men want to adorn themselves gold and pearls and expensive clothes? They want to impress people with their wealth or attract attention to themselves. They don’t have a meek and quiet spirit.
3) Why do people want to pierce themselves so they can wear jewelry? Some may say that is the style. That may be, but where do people usually poke holes in their body? In their nose, their ears, their lips, their eyebrows or tongue. Someplace where other people can see it. They want other people to see it. They are adorning the outside not the heart. Here is something to think about. If a mother puts holes in her ears, when her son or daughter wants to put a hole in their nose, tongue, eyebrow, lip, or some other part of the body what can that mother say? Nothing. I don’t want my children to look like a pincushion.
4) Why do people want to get tattoos? Some may say so I can remember my mom. They get a tattoo that says, “I love Mom” with a heart around it. That may be part of it, but also they want to people to notice them and their tattoo. There is only one verse that I know of that says anything about tattoos, Leviticus 19:28. This is an Old Testament verse, but it is still gives us an idea of what God thinks about tattoos.
5) I Timothy 2:9-10, She will dress modestly
6) Why do women dress immodestly? Some may be naïve. The rest know they can attract men like a pile of manure attracts flies.
e. Treat your wife righteously
1) Live with her in an understanding way
2) As with a weaker vessel. Be tender and sensitive with her.
3) Sometimes I have needed more understanding. On our first elk hunting trip Alissa slipped on a snow covered rock and hurt her hand. She sat down for a while and it hurt so badly she wanted to go back to the truck. We were probably 1 ½ to 2 miles from the truck and it was still morning. I talked her into hunting the rest of the day. I asked her if I carried her backpack for the rest of the day if she could keep hunting. She did hunt the rest of the day. On Monday she went to the doctor and she had fractured her hand. I felt bad when I realized how bad she had been hurt.
4) Don’t trade insult for insult or evil for evil.
5) Proverbs 15:1
6) Refrain your lips from speaking guile. Seek peace and pursue it.
7) Romans 12:17-21, Not paying back evil for evil is righteousness.
8) Let God take vengeance
9) Overcome evil with good.
C. Righteousness is staying away from witchcraft
1. No seances, divination, ouija boards, and other things like this.
2. Deuteronomy 18:9-14
3. I Chronicles 10:13-14
4. I Samuel 28:7-19
5. Saul died for consulting the dead.
6. The Rich man wanted someone from the dead to warn his brothers. Abraham said, they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them, Luke 16:29. The rich man said, No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead. They will repent. Abraham said, “If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises form the dead.
D. Our righteousness won’t save us.
1. Isaiah 64:6
2. God’s grace will.
3. Ephesians 2:8-9
II. Self-control (Why do we need self-control
A. It is a fruit of the spirit, Galatians 5:22 and 23
B. So we won’t lust
1. Matthew 5:27 and 28
2. I John 2:15-17, Television is full of this. It appeals to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life.
3. II Corinthians 10:5, We are to take our thoughts captive.
C. To not lose our temper
1. Outbursts of anger are a deed of the flesh
2. Galatians 5:20
3. We need to have control of our anger when we are angry and if you hit your thumb. The excuse of I lost my temper and it slipped is not practicing self-control
4. Control our anger when trying to get information or help from a manufacturer. A few years ago we had trouble with the copy machine jamming so Lauren called Staples because our copier came with an extended guarantee from Staples. So they said they would call back and tell us what we needed to do. They called back and I wasn’t home so they left a number to call. I called the number and it says if you have a receipt press one. So I press one. Then it says enter your telephone number. Then it says enter the store number. Then enter the cashier number. Then it says enter your transaction number. So I did all that. Finally I get to talk to a human being. They say you have called the wrong department. You need customer service. Call this number. So I call the number. When the line is answered on the other end it says, “You have reached the conference center, enter your pass code.” I don’t have a pass code so I hung up. I called the first number again enter the phone number, store number, cashier number, and the transaction number. I get to talk to a human. I Tell him what number I have, he says the number is a 1-888 not 1-866. So I call the number and enter all the information again. When I talk to the person they say you have the wrong part of customer service. I will transfer you over there. Then the message on the phone says enter your telephone number. My self-control was coming to an end. I wanted to throw the phone through wall. I called the number again. I entered all the information again. Talked to a human being and told him I had been transferred all over and I don’t know anymore than when I started. He said the problem is your guarantee doesn’t start with Staples until the manufacturers guarantee expires. You need to call Sharp directly. I don’t know why they couldn’t tell me that before. I called Sharp. I get a real live human voice that answers the phone. I tell him the problem and he tells me what to do to try to fix the problem.
5. We need self-control everyday. With people, cars, and stupid inanimate objects like computers.
6. Loosing your temper is never a good witness for Christ.
III. Judgement to Come (How can we be ready for the Judgement to come?)
A. Do good deeds
1. John 5:25-29 and II Corinthians 5:10-11
2. If you practice righteousness and self control you will have good deeds. If not, you have evil deeds.
B. Help those in need
1. Matthew 25:31-40
2. Help those that need help. Don’t close you eyes to them.
3. II Thessalonians 3:11, Panhandlers and bums shouldn’t be deprived of their God given right to starve to death if they don’t want to work. (Archie Word paraphrased)
4. Be compassionate to those in need.
C. Be cleansed by the blood of Jesus
1. I John 1:5-10 and Acts 22:16 the blood of Jesus cleanses us.
Conclusion
Proposition: Consider righteousness, Self-control, and the Judgement to come.
I. Righteousness
A. Without righteousness we will die
B. Righteousness is giving up sin
II. Self-control
A. Fruit of the Spirit
B. To deep us form lusting
C. To not lose our temper
III. Judgement to come
A. Do good deeds
B. Help those in need
C. Be cleansed by the blood of Jesus | 
