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Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

Why Are You Waiting?

 

Intro.

1.  Procrastination is a stumbling block to accomplishment. It undermines our view of who we are and what we can achieve (Prov. 23:7).

  a.  "the act or habit of...putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention" (dictionary.com).

  b.  "Procrastination: Ten Things to Know", (Psychology Today).

2.  Jesus set our example of not waiting to do what is good, Jno. 9:4.

3.  In fact, when it comes to doing the good things of God, to wait is sin, Jas. 4:17.

 

I.  WHY DO PEOPLE WAIT TO OBEY THE GOSPEL?

  A.  Convenience, Acts 24:24-25.

  B.  Wrong Priorities and Lack of Sufficient Commitment, Lk. 9:59-62.

  C.  Think they will Always have Time Later, Matt. 25:1-13; Jas. 4:13-17.

  D.  Selfishness, Lk. 15:13.

 

II.  WHY ARE YOU WAITING TO BE SAVED?

  A.  To Believe, to Confess Faith, to Repent and be Baptized? Acts 22:16

  B.  The Correct Response to the Gospel: Act Immediately, Acts 16:31-34.

 

III.  WHY ARE YOU WAITING TO GROW IN YOUR PERSONAL FAITH? Heb. 5:12-6:3 (teach others, discernment to do good and shun evil)

  A.  Time Gives Us Opportunities to Grow; We Must Seize the Day.

     -To pray more earnestly, learn more diligently and live more faithfully.

  B.  God Wants You to be Spiritually Mature, Eph. 4:14-15; 2 Pet. 3:18.

 

IV.  WHY ARE YOU WAITING TO BE A BETTER SPOUSE? 1 Pet. 3:1-7

  A.  Wife: Be Respectfully Submissive to Your Husband as Your Head by Trusting God's Leadership, 3:1-6.

    1.  "Well, he just won't listen to the Bible!" Then, show him the Bible.

    2.  "He takes me for granted!" If so, you never take for granted your godly conduct (1-2) and spiritual adornment (3), and continue being gentle and quiet in spirit (4).

  B.  Husband: Be Respectful and Honor Your Wife by Leading her with Love, 3:7; Eph. 5:25, 28-29.

    1.  "It doesn't do any good; she is never satisfied!" God is satisfied (7).

    2.  "She doesn't show me any respect, why should I respect her!" Respect is earned, not dictated. (cf. Christ loving us when we don't show Him respect, Eph. 5:25) Matt. 7:12

 

V.  WHY ARE YOU WAITING TO RENOUNCE SIN AND COME TO GOD FOR MERCY?

  A.  Must You "Bounce on the Bottom" before Coming to Yourself? Lk. 15:14-21

    1.  Must you experience the emptiness, deceit, pain and loneliness of sin before you will turn to God? (Heb. 11:25)

    2.  Procrastination allows your heart to harden against God and His word and will not bring you closer to God - just the opposite.

    3.  God wants to spare you the pain, heartache, trauma and spiritual death of sin, 2 Pet. 3:9.

 

Conclusion

1.  While we have time (today) we will exhort one another to act now and avoid the delaying tactics of sin, Heb. 3:13, 7-8.

2.  Now is the accepted time and day of salvation, 2 Cor. 6:1-2.

 

 

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: December 17, 2015