Never Routine

Acts 26:30-32 KJV

And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

Paul poured his heart out before Festus and Agrippa, giving them his testimony

• from youth
• through conversion
• to a lifetime of serving Jesus

He ended with an appeal for faith on the part of Agrippa and the rest. But when all was said and done they just walked away as if it were another day in the local courts. It appears that Paul's "sermon" had no more power than any other speech these men had heard in their careers. 

A preacher can often feel just like Paul might have felt after this effort. People file in to the church auditorium, they sing the songs, hear the sermon and then walk away visiting with one another about the football game they are about to enjoy. It appears that the sermon was just routine. 

But was it?

Though as far as we know neither Festus nor Agrippa were ever converted, the message Paul preached was recorded forever into the Holy Word of God. God listened that day. God impressed this defense so deeply into the mind of Luke that when penning this account he could give eternity the words of the sermon delivered to Agrippa but meant for every human soul. 

And I am convinced God listens to every heartfelt and honestly delivered sermon a man of God preaches. Whether it is to a handful of people or a stadium full; whether it has immediate results or is essentially ignored by the audience, God hears, God cares. God is our true audience.