Zealous for God - 2

1 – No Zeal, No Knowledge = Carnal Christian

Mark 12:24 NLT

24 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.

2 – Zeal without Knowledge = Immature Christian

Romans 10:1–3 NLT

1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.

Zealous Peter wanted to house Jesus

Matthew 17:4 NLT

4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Zealous lawyer wanted follow Jesus

Matthew 8:19 NLT

19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

3 – No Zeal, with Knowledge = Backslidden Christian

1 Corinthians 8:1 NLT

1 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.

4 – Zeal with Knowledge = Mature saint!

John 5:39 NLT

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

Ephesians 3:19 NLT

19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Jesus Defends His House with Zeal

Mark 11:11 NLT

11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.

Matthew 21:12–14 NLT

12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” 14 The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.

Life lesson: Repeated backsliding brings repeated zealous Judgment

Revelation 3:14–22 NLT

14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation: 15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

Personal Challenge – Be Zealous and Informed