Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, May 04, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
TODAY, NOT SOMEDAY
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Genesis 21:25-32
Text: Genesis 21:26
Genesis 21:26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
Introduction: Today is actually two words, “to day,” in our Bible. Our text is the first occurrence of the expression in scripture. I want to bring you a message this morning called, “Today, Not Someday.”
The main reason that many of our goals are not achieved is that they are not begun or worked on TODAY.
The procrastinator’s motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.
Here are some things that you had better NOT put off until someday, but do TODAY:
I. BE SAVED TODAY, NOT SOMEDAY
2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)
Trust Christ TODAY:
A. Because of the shortness of life
B. Because of the suddenness of death
C. Because of the sentence upon you NOW – John 3:18
D. Because of the sorrows of hell
Man in service who died jumping from ship to the dock. He had fought my witness the whole time I was on ship. Agrippa – “almost” – Acts 26:28 Felix – “when I have a convenient season” – Acts 24:25 NEGLECT is the shortest road to hell.
II. SERVE GOD TODAY
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
If you DON’T serve Him today
A. Today you are out of the will of God
B. Today you are out of the work of God
Baptism, church membership, teaching, working on a bus route, faithful attendance, tithing, participating
III. SEEK THE LORD TODAY
Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
A. Seek Him today privately
B. Seek Him today prayerfully
IV. STUDY THE SCRIPTURES TODAY
1 Kings 22:5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
A. You need strength today – Acts 20:32
B. You need sanctification today – John 17:17
V. STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHER TODAY
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
A. Before he gets hardened
B. Before he gets hurt
VI. BE A SOUL-WINNER TODAY
1 Chronicles 16:23 Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.
Matthew 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
A. Because of personal responsibility
B. Because of painful regrets later
VII. SUBMIT TO THE LORD TODAY
Psalms 95:7-8 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Every day’s delay
A. Is disobedience
B. Is destructive
- To yourself
- To others
- To the cause of Christ
Conclusion:
Exodus 32:29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
| SOMEDAY(Author Unknown – Taken from “Don’t Look Now, But Your Attitude Is Showing,” by Raymond Barber, Sword of the Lord, p. 127)
Someday — I’m going down the street Someday — a cake or pie I’ll bake, Someday — a letter I will send Someday — a quiet place I’ll seek Someday — I’ll surely take the time Someday — I said it long ago. |