spiritual zeal
Post on 19-Jun-2015
216 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Spiritual Zeal
Romans 12:11
Do not be slothful in zeal (business), BUT be ferverent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Why are We still here?
Thief on the Cross
What did Jesus say to him?Today you shall be with Me in Paradise
What does that show?
- Not essential we live on earth
WHY AM I STILL HERE?
We are constantly distracted
The world bombarding us with temptation
Satan poking and prodding
Do we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength perfectly?
We fall short
WHY AM I STILL HERE?
- Think about it:- If God took us into paradise we would be with others
who are righteous, there would be no distraction
- None of us worship perfectly on earth here and now
- So if God took us now wouldn’t that be more for his glory?
- Sinlessly worshipping God
- Why the delay?
WHY AM I STILL HERE?
If it were truly for God’s glory that you be there than you’d be there
We are here to serve the Lord
The service that we are called to do now glorifies the Lord MORE than if we were in heaven worshipping perfectly
We are not here in vain, there’s a reason and a purpose
Purpose
1 Timothy 3:15 The church of the living God is the pillar and foundation of truth
Christians are the source of truth
Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons, Nightly News don’t have it
The truth would be gone
It is clear serving NOW will give God the greatest glory. IF that were not the case God would not leave us here.
Romans 12:11
Do not be slothful in zeal, but be ferverent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Serving the Lord
- Romans 14:18 Romans 16:18 Collosians 3:24
- We serve not others but Christ
- Remember who we serve- The one who died for me- Who took on God’s wrath for me
Serving the Lord
Serve = verb of noun “Doulos”
Doulos means slave
It’s saying:Perform the duty of a slave
BE A SLAVE of the Lord Jesus.
What is it that’s true of a slave?Slave is one who caters to the will of another
WILL of the MASTER
Serving the Lord
We have bought into the idea “we can’t be perfect in this life”
We blow off what it means to be a slave to Christ and resigned to the will of another
We are expected to live lives where we don’t intentionally sin.
Live your life as a living sacrifice.
Serving the Lord
Not saying we son’t fall
BUT
Live a life not intentionally bending our own will against the master
2 Peter 3:14 Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish
Not saying what Christ has earned for us
YOU BE DILIGENT
Serving the Lord
When we willfully transgress the commandments these are spots and blemishes.
Do not excuse your rebellion and disobedience based on the fact we can’t be perfect
We can consistently apply ourselves and be diligent to not let any spot or anything to our blame thrown in there where it can be charged with you, you willfully transgressing against Christ.
DO NOT JUSTIFY YOUR SIN
Passion
Lord wants our passion.
DO NOT BE SLOTHFUL IN ZEAL BUT BE FERVERENT
Feverent means:BOIL
It’s saying:Boil in the spirit serving Christ
Throw your WHOLE soul into it
Passion
- Paul doesn’t want any loafers among the redeemed
- No laziness
- No wasting time
- If we are here for his glory how are we using the time he has given us?
- There is a reason why we are here
- TO SERVE HIM and carry out his will!
Passion
Our time is short
Do it with passion
Zeal matters, Passion matters, Whole heartedness matters
Put away idleness, slothfulness, half-heartedness
Encouragement
Only the burning spirit of God can spark you
But there are certain materials God uses as kindling to start those fires
What kindles the heart of a Christian?
TRUTH
Biblical writers encouraged people with TRUTH
Shrewd Manager
Luke 16 1-8
Sons of this world are more shrewd that the sons of Light
Shrewd Manager
Sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of Light
Worldly men are more clever in the affairs of this world than Christians are diligent for the things that pertain to everlasting life!
Shrewd Manager
Lost people give everything they have for the things of this world compared to Christians for eternal life.
Is this true?
We are less enthusiastic serving the Lord than the ungodly
And the mock us, and look at our lives
Will we let them outrun us?
Shrewd Manager
Be careful what you pour your time into and what you value.
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven
Revelation 13: Our deeds follow us.
Are we interested in investing in now or in eternal life?
Faithful in little Faithful in much
Luke 16:10
We find it hard to serve God fervently in the little things
We refuse to clean, stack chairs, help
God doesn’t take sluggards and put them in places of high responsibility till they prove themselves in the little things
Most things are done unobserved
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your MIGHT
We look for things to do when there are things in front of us.
Do something with your might not half heartedly
We are willing to start but we don’t finish
We look for action and the thrill
Christ Hates Half-Hearted Servants
Romans 12:1
Malachi 1:6-14
Revelation 3:15-16We know what hot is Look at what you do
Keep away from the idle
Not being lazy is a divine commandment
Non association to those who are idle
2 Thessalonians 3:6 keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness…
Greatest Privilege to Serve Jesus
NOT EVERYONE get’s to serve him
Only few find the narrow gate
Work to be missed
Acts 9:36-42
Dorcas
Work to rescue souls
Great commission
We know people are dying without Christ
Is It hard to serve the one who loves You?
Drank the cup of the wrath of God
Matthew 11:30 Yoke is easy, burden is light
Time is short
One day we will serve no more…
Prayer/Reflect
top related