Procrastinate, I'll Find Out What That Means Tomorrow! Acts 24:23-25

Procrastinate, I'll find out what that means tomorrow!

I have heard many excuses for not following Christ over the years but, the best one is. "I will when I get my life straighten out." Listen, a person cannot get their life straighten out until they have turned it over to Jesus Christ.

Putting things off, "I'll do it tomorrow, let's wait till next week, why the hurry?"

That's what procrastinate means: to delay, put off. Procrastination is one of Satan's sharpest and finest tools.

Putting off accepting the Lord Jesus is nothing new. It happens today and it happen in the Apostle Paul's day. We are go-ing to look at a very interesting scene here in the book of Acts. Paul was in prison in Caesarea. He was attacked by an an-gry Jewish mob for what they called rebellion and stirring up trouble. He was rescued and then held in prison by a Roman governor.

Now, let's pickup on the story in Acts 24:.23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

This governor by the name of Felix was a cruel and ruthless political leader. His wife Drusilla was no better although she was a young and beautiful woman. She was a daughter of Herod Agrippa I. Her father killed the apostle James. The great uncle of this woman had slain John the Baptist. Her great grandfather tried to kill the Lord Jesus Christ. (King Herod)

Here is such an awesome scene and I want you to picture this as though you were watching it on a large movie screen.

Governor Felix ask the guards to bring Apostle Paul before he and his wife Drusilla in a private meeting to ask him about his faith in the Lord Jesus. They both had heard of Jesus because, that would seem obvious to me since Felix was a politi-cal leader and there is Drusilla with her family back ground of persecuting Jesus and His followers.

But, Paul had stirred up the Jews with this gospel and they wanted to hear it first hand and I also believe that God had planned this meeting with these 2 just as God planned a meeting with you and me with Jesus, one on one.

Paul was brought in their royal presents. Just look at the scene, guards lead him in and let him stand before them. Paul was most likely freshly bruised, under nourished , probably walked with the pain of old wounds of persecution for the cause of Christ. What does Paul do? What he didn't do. He didn't beg for mercy. He preaches to them. What does he preach? And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.

First Paul reasoned of righteousness.... they had to do something about past sin.....next was temperance (self-control) they had to overcome today's temptations.....next was judgment to come...they had to be prepared for tomorrow’s judgment.

The message was so powerful that Felix trembled! But the governor had a foolish attitude, even though God had spoken to his heart he put off deciding. Felix said, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

In other words, not now, I will call you when I'm ready. As far as I know neither accepted Christ.

Felix thought that he would get money from Paul as a bribe because in verse 26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: Greed got the best of Felix.

I heard it said "God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastina-tion." II 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.

Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller

www.themillersbiblestudy.com

12/01/2011