PREACHING AND PROCRASTINATION
ACTS 24:22-27

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, Go away for the present. When I get a more convenient opportunity I will summon you….When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus.
The preaching the Gospel demands immediate action, yet we wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow continues to hold the future. “Today” never comes. You will not regret starting today. Today is the day salvation must begin.

I. Gospel Preaching–Acts 24:24-25
A. The Faith in Christ
1. Reasons to believe:
a. John 20:30-31
b. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
c. Acts 2:22-24
2. Saved by faith for service in faith
a. Habakkuk 2:4
b. Ephesians 2:8-10
3. Secure in the system God delivered to us
a. Jude 3
b. Hebrews 1:1-2
c. Matthew 28:19-20
B. Righteousness
1. Psalm 9:8, He will judge the world in righteousness
2. Matthew 5:20, our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.
3. Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 3:11, righteous live by faith–Romans 5:1-2.
4. Matthew 12:34-37 we will be judged by the overflow of our heart.
5. Romans 10
6. 1 Peter 4:18, “if the righteous is scarcely saved…?”
C. Self-Control
1. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27–exercise self-control for the incorruptible crown.
2. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20–be the temple of God fit for God’s service
3. 2 Timothy 3:3–lack of self-control in the grievous last days.
4. Titus 2:11-14–appearance of grace trains us to live self-controlled lives.
5. Self-control is exemplified in Christ–Luke 23:34
D. Judgment to Come
1. John 5:25-29
2. Mark 13:24-37
3. Revelation 20:12-15

II. Sinful Procrastination–Acts 24:25b-27
A. Notice the way Felix puts things off:
1. He “deferred them”
2. “But after certain days”
3. “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call”
B. When should we act on the truth of the Gospel?
1. A man must harden his heart to delay and the more he delays the more
hardened his heart becomes, until it gets to where he cannot obey at all.
2. Luke 9:59-62
3. II Corinthians 6:2, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation.”
4. Hebrews 4:7; Psalm 95:7-11
C. The Scriptures only tell of us two men who asked for more time to respond:
1. Felix (Acts 24:25), the convenient time never came.
2. Agrippa (Acts 26:28), he stayed almost persuaded.
3. What will history tell of us? Will we meet God looking for a more
the convenient season? Will we be almost persuaded when we see Him
in the clouds?
D. Those who obeyed, obeyed immediately:
1. 3000 on Pentecost were added “that day”–Acts 2:1-47.
2. 5000 on the day they heard–Acts 4:1-3
3. Samaritans believed and obeyed–Acts 8:5-12
4. Ethiopian Eunuch believed and sought to obey–Acts 8:26-40
5. Paul obeyed when he was told what to do–Acts 9:6, 9-19.
6. Cornelius and his household obeyed when they believed–Acts 10
7. Lydia obeyed when she believed–Acts 16:13-15
8. Jailor believed and obeyed the same hour of the night–Acts 16:24-34
9. John’s disciples obeyed when they heard and believed–Acts 19:5.

The World says, “take your time and think it over.” The Word says, “Today, if you
hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Only eternity will reveal those who took the time to delay rather than to obey.