Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, April 14, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including a zipped file of all of my 1999, 2000, and 2001 sermon outlines, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website: DO YOU KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING? By Michael D. O'Neal                      Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                      Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 9:16-24

Text: 2 Kings 9:20

2 Kings 9:20 And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

Introduction: Jehu is one of my favorite characters of the Bible. He wasn't perfect, and he tolerated some things he should not have. It cost him and the kingdom. Yet, he also did some wonderful things. I've often thought that if there were a Baptist preacher in the Old Testament, and I say that knowing that the only Baptist in the Bible was John, the last of the Old Testament prophets, and knowing that the New Testament didn't begin until the crucifixion of Christ, it would be Jehu. You see, not only did he stand for the Lord, and demonstrated ZEAL for the Lord, but our text says of him, "he driveth furiously"!! Most Baptist preachers I know drive like that.

Nearly 20 years ago I was driving down Mock Road. I had just met with a pulpit committee at Bible Baptist Church. I was thinking about what was said, what was not said, and what should have been said, when I suddenly noticed a flashing blue light in my rear view mirror. After pulling me over, the lady police officer asked, "Do you know how fast you were going?" Honestly, I didn't have a clue. I had not been paying attention. I was lost in thought. I was traveling around 55 MPH in a 35 MPH zone in the rain.

Tonight I want to ask you, "Do you know how fast you are going?" Each of us is traveling through life. Many people don't understand WHERE they are going, but that is another sermon. I want to talk to you tonight about the speed of the journey as we conduct ourselves.

I. THERE IS A TIME TO START

Acts 24:25 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.

A. In salvation

B. In service

C. In soul-winning

II. THERE IS A TIME TO STOP

Many people don't want to stop. (Illustration: Difference between stopping and slowing down)

We need to stop some things.

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

A. We need to stop living for ourselves

B. We need to stop licking our wounds

C. We need to stop looking at other runners in the Christian life

III. WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN SOME THINGS

Proverbs 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

A. We need to slow down our words

B. We need to slow down our wrath

C. We need to slow down our wickedness

D. We need to slow down our work

E. We need to slow down our walk

IV. WE NEED TO SPEED UP SOME THINGS

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Some people are dangerous on public roads because they drive to slowly!

Some Christians are so slow that you can barely tell they're moving!

A. We need to speed up our listening

B. We need to speed up our learning

C. We need to speed up our leading people to the Savior


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