How is your passion
for God as we head into 2017? Is it BURNING or smoldering? If you were being
truthful, could you say YES?
Here’s a CONSTANT…
God Is PASSIONATELY
IN LOVE WITH YOU!
Illustration:
A young man was sent to Spain by his company to work
in a new electronics plant. It was a 2-year assignment that he had accepted
because it would enable him to earn enough to marry his long-time girlfriend.
They wrote to each other every week, but as the lonely weeks went by, she wrote
expressing doubts that he was being true to her, thinking that he was going to
give into a European beauty.
The young man wrote back, declaring with great
passion that he was not paying attention to the local girls. He wrote, “I
admit, that sometimes I’m tempted, but I fight it. I’m keeping myself for you.”
In the next mail, the young man received a package.
It contained a note from his girl and a harmonica. She wrote, “I’m sending this
to you, so you can learn to play it and have something to take your mind off
the girls.”
The man replied, “Thanks for the harmonica. I’m practicing
it every night while I only think of you.”
At the end of his 2 year, the man was transferred
back to company headquarters. He took the first plane to Tennessee to be
reunited with his girl. Her whole family was with her, but as he rushed forward
to embrace her, she said, “Just hold on there a minute, Billy, before any
serious kissing and hugging, let me hear you play the harmonica!”
Exodus 34:14 “You must worship only the Lord, for He…is passionate
about His relationship with you.”
What is passion?
Webster’s Dictionary says its,
“A great devotion and intense conviction which fuels or motivates toward
compelling action.”
(1 John 3:1a) See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that
we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
(1 John 4:10-12) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so
loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if
we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us
(Ephesians 3:17-19) And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may
have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high
and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Our “spark” can be fanned
into a FLAME when we understand that we are LOVED by the One who knows us BEST
and who loves us MOST!
The Apostle Paul reminds us
of the need to STIR UP or “fan” the Gift Of God that is in us!
2 Timothy 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God
which is in you...”
“Stir up” = fan into a flame
KEY: Notice that Timothy didn’t need a new gift, but
rather re-ignite the one he already had!
Paul was telling Timothy to get out of his muck and mire
and return to his might as a child of God!! A roaring fire will only continue
if you stir the wood and coals already on fire! Does your spiritual fire need to be stirred up?
Is
your life passionate about the Jesus and The Great Commission or poisoned by
the great “Omission”?
7 Passion Destroyers
Which of these 7 areas are destroying your passion
for Jesus?
1. An
Unclear Purpose.
Isaiah 49:4 “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my
strength in vain and for nothing.” NIV
I’m concerned that too many Christians live in their
past purpose instead of creating a present purpose for their lives!
I suggest to you, that God is not as concerned about
our past purpose as you and I might be! Are we still living off the old
victories and old successes? Listen, we burn out and eventually our passion for
Jesus fades out because we have no current purpose for our lives!
2. An
Unemployed Talent.
1 Corinthians 7:17 “Each one should live his life with the gifts that
the Lord has given him.” PH
3. An
Unbalanced Schedule.
Need I remind you that there is a power struggle
over your time!
1 Timothy 4:7 “Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself
spiritually fit.” PH
4.
An Unconfessed Sin.
Psalm 38:4 “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy
to bear” NIV
No one can feel enthusiasm and guilt at the same
time!
5. An
Unresolved Conflict.
Job 5:2 “Resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the
simple.”
Job 18:4 “You are only hurting yourself with your anger.” GN
Resentment, jealousy and anger if not dealt with
will become permanent poisons to passion
6. An
Unsupported Life.
Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 “Two are better than one, because…if one falls down,
his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help
him.” NIV
LifePoint: Christianity is a lifestyle that needs
support from every member of our church and family!
Parents: your passion is pasted on to your children!
Your passion gives your children a reason not to GO OFF THE DEEP END and Turn
Away from God!
We need relationship and fellowship on a regular
basis or we dry up! Jesus did not save you in this life to solitary
confinement!
7. An
Undernourished Spirit.
One of my most important responsibilities as your
Pastor is to keep you from ever experiencing this!
Colossians 2:6,7 “Just as you trusted Christ to
save you, trust Him, too, for each days problems; live in vital union with Him.
Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him.”
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