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Acquainted with The Way

Acquainted with The Way
Words of Faith 8-5-16
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2016
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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Acts 24
[22] Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." [23] He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
[24] Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. [25] As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." [26] At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
[27] When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

History shows Felix to have been a ruthless, power-hungry and greedy man. Yet, the scripture says he was “well acquainted with the Way”. He could easily see that the charges against Paul were false. Felix apparently stalled the proceeding in order to keep the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome.
Paul spent two years in what was essentially protective custody. He lived in the palace of Herod on the Mediterranean city of Caesarea and was able to write and meet with disciples.
Drusilla was a young Jewess who had been engaged to marry a Jewish man but was seduced by Felix and his power. The two of them had reason search their souls. They came to speak with Paul and listened as he talked about faith in Jesus, righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.
Surely Paul was careful in his discussions but clearly the topics were pointed directly at these two and convicting them of their sin and drawing them to repentance. The discussions with Paul clearly made Felix uncomfortable. The response of Felix says a great deal, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." The truth was inconvenient.
Felix and Drusilla provide for us a powerful image of a dangerous place! It is a dangerous thing to be “acquainted with the Way” but unwilling to hear what God is saying! It is a dangerous thing to be acquainted with Jesus but unwilling to trust Him as Savior and Lord! When we face judgment we will not be asked if Jesus was our acquaintance, we will be asked if He is our Savior!
Felix and Drusilla were at least vaguely aware of their need but also absorbed by their power and lifestyle. When the conviction of the Holy Spirit got close they held the Lord at arm’s length. They made a decision to stick with the pleasures of this world rather than the offer of grace.
People do the same today. There are many that are “acquainted with the Way”. There are many that attend church occasionally, meet periodically with spiritual counsel or pray in a tough time but then tell the Lord, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." This is a dangerous place.
Has God been trying to get your attention? Have you been holding Him at arm’s length? Dismissing Him from Your presence and calling Him when convenient? It is time for that to end. It is time to get much better than acquainted with Jesus.
Do you know someone who is “acquainted with the Way”, but will only get so close to the Lord before backing away? This is a great season in which to pray for such a person and then invite them closer.

Lord, You are my Savior, not my acquaintance. I need You. I lean wholly upon Your grace for my place in eternity. Draw me close to You. In Jesus’ name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2001, 2016
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.