From Gary V. Womack... URGENCY

URGENCY

We live in a society that wants immediate gratification. (microwave ovens -vs- stove;

TV -vs- reading; credit cards -vs- layaway; etc.)

Delayed gratification is good -BUT- sometimes urgency must prevail.

Acts 16:23-34 Because Paul cast an evil spirit 

                       out of a possessed slave girl and 

                       cost her masters their means of 

                       profit - brought them before the 

                       magistrates under a false charge - 

                       they were beaten and put Paul & 

                       Silas in prison.

vs. 33 "And he took them the same hour of the night  

            and washed their stripes. And immediately 

            he and all his family were baptized."

CONTRAST

Lk. 12:16-21 Rich fool was not so urgent.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WASTE IT

Jas. 4:13-15 "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. [15] Instead you 

                      ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we

                      shall live and do this or that.'"

DELAY CAN CAUSE INDIFFERENCE & STAGNATION

Heb. 3:12-15 Exhort one another TODAY so as 

                     not to harden your heart.

Eph. 5:15-16 "See then that you walk circumspectly, 

                      not as fools but as wise, [16]

                      redeeming the time, because the 

                      days are evil."

Heb. 5:12-6:2 By this time have we grown as we 

                      should have (Teachers?)

Rom. 13:11-ff "...Now is the time..." We have 

                        wasted enough time

Let's ACT (LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY NOW)

PAUL'S CONVERSION - WITHOUT DELAY

Acts 22:16 "And now why are you waiting? Arise 

                   and be baptized, and wash

                   away your sins, calling on the name of 

                   the Lord."

ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH'S CONVERSION - WITHOUT DELAY

Acts 8:36-39 "See, here is water, what HINDERS 

                      me from being baptized?"

He could have waited until he got home. He was in the DESERT (vs.26)

2 Cor. 6:1-2 Don't receive the grace of God in 

                    vain. (Tit 2:11)

TODAY is the day of salvation