Transcript 1. What does the Bible say about procrastination? (7

God’s
 Work
God’s Work
 Why do so many people fail
 to do the work of God?
 God has work … We sing:
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Work for the night is coming
 I will work, till Jesus comes
 Eph. 2:10 We are God’s
workmanship.
 God’s work is the most important work
on earth.
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It takes men to preach the Gospel
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It takes men to serve as elders
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It takes men to serve as deacons
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It takes women to be behind these
good men to do the work of God.
 Jesus knew the importance of doing
God’s work. John 9:4.
 Paul knew the importance of it.
Listen to him. I Cor. 15:58
 John knew how important it is. Rev.
2:10; Rev. 14:13
God’s Work WILL be done!
 You may choose not to do it, but it
 will get done. God will get someone
 else to do it if you won’t..
 Remember King Saul? I Sam. 15:1ff
He was to kill the Amalekites… everyone of
them.
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Remember who killed Saul? An
 Amalekite! I Sam. 31:4 He fell on his own
sword. (2 Sam. 1:13 An Amalekite)
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 If you won’t serve as an Elder, someone else
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will.
If you won’t do the work of a deacon,
someone else will.
If you won’t preach the truth, someone else will.
If you won’t be busy in the work of the Lord,
someone will. (7,000 knees that have not
bowed to Baal!)Elijah I Kings 19:18)
 You can either choose to serve the Lord
 Or reject and not use your talents in His
 service. (Joshua 24:15) He wants you…but if
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you don’t want Him, he’ll get someone else.
Here am I Lord, Send me! (Isa. 6:8)
You can be busy about your own things,
and forget him…you won’t really have anything
to show for your life when it’s over.
2 Tim. 4:7,8
 Last Sunday, we studied about one of
the
 Answers to this question: Why? Why
do people fail in doing God’s work?
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Discouragement…
Today: Procrastination
 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be
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wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her
food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou
arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the
hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and
thy want as an armed man.
12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a
froward mouth.
 Proverbs 6:6-12 Go to the ant, you
sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander, no overseer or
ruler, yet it stores its provisions in
summer and gathers its food at harvest.
How long will you lie there, you
sluggard? When will you get up from
your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.
Looking In the Bible…
We find various
examples
Of people who ‘put off,
procrastinated” obeying
God.
Felix
Acts 24:24 And after some days, when
Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who
was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard
him concerning the faith in Christ. 25
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."
Examples of
Procrastination in the Bible!
1. Felix . Acts 24:24-27
 “Go thy way, when I
have a convenient
Time, I will call for you.”
He procrastinated!
Examples in the Bible
#2 King Agrippa.
Acts 26:28 “Almost thou persuadest
me to be a Christian”.
Almost-procrastinated.
Examples in the Bible
#3 Parable of God’s invitation to man to
partake of His Blessings.”
Luke 14:15-24 Excuses
1. “bought a piece of ground ..Lk.15:18
2. “’I have bought 5 yoke of oxen, and I go
to prove them (v.19).
3. “”I have married a wife,and therefore I
cannot come”. (vs.20)
They deferred action—
procrastinated!
Successful people in the Bible
were always people of
immediacy!
 1. They did not put it off…delay.
 2. Look at Cornelius. Acts 10:33, -
immediately
 3. Saul. Acts 22:16 Arise and be
baptized…
 Acts 9:18 “immediately.. arose and
was baptized”
Someone has said:
Earth’s history is strewn
with the wrecks of halffinished plans and
unexpected resolutions.
“Tomorrow” is the excuse
of the lazy and refuge of
the incompetent.”
The Sluggard, the lazy
person,
The procrastinater!
Heb. 3:12,13
 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any
of you an evil heart of unbelief, in
departing from the living God.
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V. 13 But exhort one
another daily, while it is called To
day; lest any of you be hardened through
the deceitfulness of sin.”
James 4:13 Come now, you who say,
"Today or tomorrow we will go to such
and such a city, spend a year there, buy
and sell, and make a profit";
14 whereas you do not know what
will happen tomorrow. For what is
your life? It is even a vapor that appears
for a little time and then vanishes away.
Some people say they plan to quit
their sinful ways—tomorrow..
They
procrastinate.
Dangers for Young People
1. Shoplifting…stealing..
a)Eph. 4:27, 29 I’ll
quit..someday….
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What item in Wal-Mart is
worth a lifetime of paying for
your crime?
#2 Cell phone texting of
obscene material
 1. Sending obscene pictures on cell phone
 Of 12,14,16…that is considered ‘child
 Pornography’. Abuse of children!
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When convicted: Registered as a
Sex offender
Can’t live anywhere you want
Stay on your record through life…
miss out on good jobs, and family
afraid for you to date their daughter
Don’t put it off…
Don’t procrastinate!
Stop it…Seek God’s
forgiveness .
#3 Fornication
 1.Flee Fornication…I Cor. 6:18
 2.Sex out of marriage, unlawful sex
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Heb. 13:4
Gal. 5:19-21
I Cor. 6:9-11
 a)Children born out of wedlock
 b)HIV ..life stained as being ‘positive’
 c)Death
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Quit NOW…before it is too late!!
#4 Language
Matt. 12:36,37 We will be
judged by
what we do and what we say.
 2 Cor. 5:10
 Watch your tongue!
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Quit complaining & disputing!
 Philippians 2:14 Do all things without
complaining and disputing, 15 that you may
become blameless and harmless, children
of God without fault in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation, among
whom you shine as lights in the world, 16
holding fast the word of life, so that I may
rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not
run in vain or labored in vain.
 WHEN?
Now…..Don’t procrastinate!
God speaks a lot about the
sluggard ..a procrastinator!
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Proverbs 15:19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge
of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
Proverbs 19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the
dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
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Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard does not plow in the
autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
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Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for
his hands refuse to labor.
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 Proverbs 13:4 - The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath]
nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Proverbs 20:4 - The sluggard will not plow by reason of the
cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
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Proverbs 27:1 - Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou
knowest not what a day may bring forth.
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Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me.
Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
his righteousness; and all these things shall be added
unto you.
Proverbs 12:25 - Heaviness in the heart of man
maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Luke 12:35 - Let your loins be girded about, and [your]
lights burning;
 Luke 12:40 - Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of
man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Matthew 25:2-13 - And five of them were wise, and
five [were] foolish.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 - For yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Matthew 25:26 - His lord answered and said unto him,
[Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I
reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not
strawed:
 Ecclesiastes 9:10 - Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is]
no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor
wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Psalms 23:1-6 - The LORD [is] my shepherd; I
shall not want.
2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be instant
in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Hebrews 3:7-19 - Wherefore (as the Holy
Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
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Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word, that
ye may grow thereby:
 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - For when they shall say, Peace and
safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail
upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Ezekiel 12:28 - Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord
GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more,
but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord
GOD.
Hebrews 1:1-14 - God, who at sundry times and in divers
manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Ephesians 4:26 - Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go
down upon your wrath:
Matthew 24:48-51 - But and if that evil servant shall say in his
heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
 Matthew 5:23-24 - Therefore if thou bring thy
gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy
brother hath ought against thee;
Hebrews 4:1-7 - Let us therefore fear, lest, a
promise being left [us] of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it.
1 Corinthians 15:1-58 - Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I
preached unto you, which also ye have
received, and wherein ye stand;
Romans 14:1-23 - Him that is weak in the
faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful
disputations.
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Proverbs 22:15 - Foolishness [is] bound in
the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction
shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 13:24 - He that spareth his rod hateth
his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him
betimes.
Psalms 119:105 -. Thy word [is] a lamp unto
my feet, and a light unto my path.
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1 Corinthians 11:1-34 - Be ye followers of
me, even as I also [am] of Christ.
Acts 2:1-47 - And when the day of
Pentecost was fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place.
John 19:30 - When Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and
he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Mark 16:16 - He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be damned.
 Matthew 19:16-22 - And, behold, one came
and said unto him, Good Master, what good
thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Ezekiel 11:2 - Then said he unto me, Son of
man, these [are] the men that devise mischief,
and give wicked counsel in this city:
Proverbs 13:1-25 - A wise son [heareth] his
father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not
rebuke
 Psalms 78:1-72 - Give ear, O my people, [to]
my law: incline your ears to the words of my
mouth.
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Romans 1:20 - For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made,
[even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that
they are without excuse:
Things we “put off”
 1. Put off sending a card or letter of
encouragement. Young preachers are doing a
fine job of this.
 2. Put off speaking to loved ones about their
souls.
 3. Put off going to worship—until you go down
with a fatal disease…
 4. Put off giving to others. Helping those in
need.
 5. Put off visiting the sick. When you get sick,
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you want someone to see about your needs.
Why don’t you do it? You procrastinate
6. Put off praying for others. How much time
do you take during the day to pray?
7. You put off teaching the lost. Why?
8. You put off saying a kind word or
saying thank you to those who have been nice
and kind to you…you procrastinate!
 9. Put off taking care of your souls.
 Are you prepared to meet the Lord?
 10. Put off giving a cup of cold water in the
name of a disciple. (Mtt. 10:42)
 Why do we procrastinate?
 Why do we put off important things and
 be concerned about mundane things?
 You could choose to be present on
 Sunday night and on Wed . Night.
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Some old people just can’t get out…
But some people just choose not to come.
Why do you suppose so many of
this church are just not coming regularly?
They procrastinate…They have other things
more important to them than to be present to
worship the Lord! (John 4:23,24)
 God doesn’t ask for the impossible.
 For you who argue , I don’t have to
 Be present every service.
I don’t have to be concerned about
 Others.
 I don’t have to work…Jesus has died
for me and my ticket has been punched,
I’m
 On my way to Heaven.Jas. 2:24
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 Are you sure? It may be well for you
 To double check and see what God
 Has to say about it.
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It is easy to say what you think, but
 What does God say in His word?
 Luke 9:62
Rev. 3:15-17
 I want you to be hot, not luke warm…
I will spue you out of my mouth….
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‘will he say that to you?”
 Are you lukewarm…
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 Some of you have had opportunity after
opportunity to obey the gospel.
 So many , many more than many
others in the world.
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And you haven’t? Why. ?
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Just putting it off.???
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Procrastination ……
 Some of you have missed service after
service..and not a word of “I’m sorry”
 Never confessed your unfaithfulness.
 Why? Procrastination.
 Some come all the time but complain
 about the work. They don’t like this,
 Or they like the other.
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the elders are not doing their work.
 the deacons can’t be counted on
 the preachers are just preaching for
money
 the teachers are not interesting.
What are they doing?
Nothing…just
Complainers…
Brethren, Sisters in the Lord…
 Friends, loved ones, sinners and
saints…
 God has work for you to do…He is
counting on you…Will you do it…
 Or will you just put it off…
 "Most people are bothered by those
passages of Scripture they do not
understand, but the passages that
bother me are those I do understand." -Mark Twain
Stop Procrastinating: Today!
 Hear the Word. Rom. 10:17
 Believe it. Mark 16:15,16
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Repent. Acts 17:30,31
Confess. Matt. 10:32,33
Be baptized. I Pet. 3:21
 Be Restored
 1. I John 1:9
 2. James 5:16