God’sGod’s WorkWork

God’s Work Why do so many people fail to do the work of God?

God has work … We sing: 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.

It takes men to preach the Gospel It takes men to serve as elders It takes men to serve as deacons 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. Remember who killed Saul? An Amalekite! I Sam. 31:4 He fell on his own

sword. (2 Sam. 1:13 An Amalekite)

If you won’t serve as an Elder, someone else 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

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. 4:7,82 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?

Discouragement…

Today: Procrastination

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be 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.

FelixActs 24:24 And after some days, when Felix Acts 24:24 And after some days, when Felix

came with his wife Drusilla, who was came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."call for you."

Examples of Procrastination in the Bible!

1. Felix . Acts 24:24-27 “Go thy way, when I

have a convenientTime, I will call for you.”

He procrastinated!

Examples in the BibleExamples in the Bible

#2 King Agrippa. Acts 26:28 “Almost thou persuadest

me to be a Christian”.

Almost-- Almost-- procrastinated.procrastinated.

Examples in the BibleExamples 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—They deferred action—procrastinated!procrastinated!

Successful people in the Biblewere always people of immediacy!

1. They did not put it off…delay. 2. Look at Cornelius.Cornelius. Acts 10:33, -

immediately 3. Saul.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 half-finished plans and unexpected resolutions. “Tomorrow” is the excuse of the lazy and refuge of the incompetent.”

The Sluggard, the lazy person,

The procrastinater!

Heb. 3:12,13Heb. 3:12,13

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

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, James 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; and sell, and make a profit";

14 whereas 14 whereas you do not know what you do not know what will happen tomorrowwill happen tomorrow.. For what is For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.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….

What item in Wal-Mart is worth a lifetime of paying for your crime?

#2 Cell phone texting of#2 Cell phone texting ofobscene materialobscene material

1. Sending obscene pictures on cell phone Of 12,14,16…that is considered ‘child Pornography’. Abuse of children! 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 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 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!

Quit complaining & disputing!

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.run in vain or labored in vain.

WHEN? Now…..Don’t procrastinate!WHEN? Now…..Don’t procrastinate!

God speaks a lot about the sluggard ..a procrastinator!

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.

Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

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.

Proverbs 27:1 - Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

  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,

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.

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.

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.

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”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, 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. 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

Are you sure? It may be well for you To double check and see what God Has to say about it. 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…. ‘will he say that to you?” Are you lukewarm…

Some of you have had opportunity after opportunity to obey the gospel.

So many , many more than many others in the world.

And you haven’t? Why. ? Just putting it off.??? 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. 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 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