“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?” Acts 22:16 - 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' TNIV

When God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian Bondage Who am I to do this? Who will I say sent me? “But Lord they won’t believe me.” But Lord I’m not an eloquent man… slow of speech and slow of tongue

Hebrews 5:12 – For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food

What about those who aren’t Christians? "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)

"I WILL LATER...BUT NOT NOW." PROCRASTINATION

….and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned. NASU Acts 24:24-27 - ….“But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.” ….and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned. NASU

Acts 26:24-29 - 24 While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." 25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. 26 "For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. 27 "King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do." 28 Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian." 29 And Paul said, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains." NASU

Romans 1:16- For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Matthew 10:28 -"And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 16:26-- "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

"I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH" Mt 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I COMMANDED YOU; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Acts 8:34-39 - The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. NASU

John 8:24 - "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." NASU Acts 2:38 - Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. NASU

Acts 8:36-37 - As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." NASU

Acts 22:16 - What are you waiting for. Get up and be baptized Acts 22:16 - What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away calling on the name of the Lord.' New Living Translation Revelation 2:10- Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. NASU

"I want to wait until I am sure I can live the Christian life" ________________ "I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH YET, I WANT TO IMPROVE MY LIFE"

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 - And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?

2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:8-10 - But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him —

THE TRUTH IS WE CANNOT LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST!

Romans 8:6-13- 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Galatians 4:6 – Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Galatians 3:26-27 – For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Philippians 4:13- For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. New Living Translation

THERE ARE HYPOCRITES IN THE CHURCH

I WANT TO WAIT FOR MY SPOUSE OR PARENTS 1 Peter 3:1-2 - In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

WHEN WE STAND BEFORE THE LORD, IT WILL BE AS AN INDIVIDUAL... Romans 14:12 - So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

"And now why are you waiting "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Ac 22:16)