“Now as he reasoned about
righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and
answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you”
(Acts 24:25)
Today we conclude our series on the “fruit of the Spirit” as seen in Galatians 5:22-23, and
we’re looking at “self-control,” which is also
called “temperance.” It is God who plants the “fruit of the Spirit” into our hearts and lives. Others
will be drawn to God in us, and because of that, He also gives us the capacity
for self-control – otherwise, we might think they are drawn to US, and
then misuse the good gifts that God has given.
At the time of our Scripture for today, Paul the Apostle
was a federal prisoner of the Roman Empire. He was innocent of any charges and
never would be convicted in a court of law, but he would remain a prisoner in
Caesarea for the next two years. After that, he would be transferred to a
prisoner’s life in Rome and finally he would be executed for crimes he did not
commit. Felix was the governor of Judea at the time and he was about to meet
the Apostle Paul. There were two things he wanted from the man: 1) he needed to
know WHY Paul had been brought before him. A lot of people had been yelling and
making accusations, but so far none of it made any sense. And 2) he was curious.
Paul had the reputation that today would be assigned to a rock star or famous
movie actor. Felix had heard stories about Paul that sounded amazing – sick
people were healed. Thousands had received this “Christ” that Paul spoke
about, even though everyone knew that Jesus had been killed, crucified not far
from where Felix was at the moment.
When the Jewish leaders came from Jerusalem (where Paul
had originally been arrested) to Caesarea, they intended to convince Governor
Felix that Paul was a terrible criminal who should be executed. With that in
mind, they brought the orator Tertullus, who had a reputation as a
convincing speaker. In the first few verses of Acts 24, we can read his opening
statement. The man flattered Governor Felix, telling him he was a wonderful
leader, and then accused Paul of bringing “dissension among all the Jews throughout the world.” This
was a big concern to Felix because it was his job to make sure that the
Jews in the Empire stayed calm and did not rise up and rebel against Rome. Felix might be fired or worse if things were not peaceful. The governor then nodded to Paul
- it was his turn to speak.
God chose Paul well. He was a more effective speaker than Tertullus,
and he also
was equipped with words that came from the Holy Spirit of God. Tertullus
didn’t have a chance. The response of Governor Felix was to
adjourn the proceedings and keep Paul in custody, but also “have liberty.” He commanded the Centurion in charge to
allow the man to have as many visitors as he wanted. Paul was in custody, but he also
had unusual freedom.
A few days later, Felix returned to Caesarea, “with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish (and)
he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in
Christ” (Acts 24:25). Felix had been a slave, but was a real success
story. He was a favorite of the Roman Emperor Claudius and married Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great. This was her
second marriage and his third. It is said of Felix in the writings of the time
that he was “treacherous, cruel and desperately ambitious.”
In other words, he did not have anything like the “self-control”
we are discussing today.
When Paul spoke
to Felix and Drusilla, he “reasoned (with them)
about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to
come” (Acts 24:25). Paul’s choices were right on target for Felix was
rumored to have been responsible for the murder of the High Priest, Jonathan,
and he had sent many priests to Rome for trial. “Righteousness”
was an appropriate topic, for Felix was not a righteous man. “Self-control,”
our “fruit of the Spirit” for today, is from a
Greek word that means STRENGTH. Paul saw into the governor’s heart and knew he
was a weak man who was embarrassed by his past, envious of others and fearful
for his future. Others feared him, but he was weak in the sight of God. So Paul
spoke of “the judgment to come,” a greater
concern than any other.
“Felix was afraid” after he
heard Paul’s words, and said, “Go away for now; when I
have a convenient time, I will call for you.” And “he also hoped that
money would be given him by Paul" as a bribe for his release. "Therefore he sent for
him more often and conversed with him. But after two years,” he returned to
Rome. “And Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left
Paul bound” in his chains (Acts 24:25-27).
People all over the world are fearful, concerned about
what people will think and afraid for the future. Felix, like so many, looked
for
human solutions to his fears; but God had something better. Felix was not a
righteous man, so God, through Paul, offered him the righteousness that is from God. And since Felix was a weak man, he
was offered God’s strength to live the Christian life, which is “self-control.”
The “fruit of the Spirit”
in Galatians 5:22-23, is from God, given to those “who are
Christ’s” and though them you “have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). God has declared a
special holiday for you, in which you are given presents, wrapped in beautiful
paper, tied with lovely ribbon, and each one has your name on it. “Self-control” gives you the strength to open them and
make them yours.
Psychologist Walter Mischel experimented in the 1960s at
Stanford University. "Children (in the study) were told they
could have a marshmallow right now. However, if they waited while Mischel ran an
errand, they could have two marshmallows. Some preschoolers grabbed the
marshmallow, but others were able to wait for what must have seemed an endless
20-minutes. The ones who waited covered their eyes so they wouldn’t see the
temptation, rested their heads on their arms, talked to themselves, sang, even
tried to sleep. These kids got the two-marshmallows. The interesting part
was in the follow-up. The children who as 4-year-olds had been able to wait for
the two marshmallows were, as adolescents, still able to delay gratification in
pursuing their goals. They were more socially competent and self-assertive, and
better able to cope with life’s frustrations. In contrast, the kids who grabbed
the one marshmallow were, as adolescents, more likely to be stubborn,
indecisive, and stressed.” Don’t grab the marshmallow – God has much more for you.
Father, fill me with the good things, the “fruit” that comes from God, especially right now, give me the
strength called “self-control.” Thank You. In Jesus
Name. Amen.
