A greater Passion for Living
Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. NIV
2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. NIV
A fast fire generation - The Microwave Oven
Microwave ovens are now very popular. It was invented by Percy L. Spencer in 1945 when he discovered that he could cook with radio waves. The principle behind the phenomenon:
When microwaves enter food, they cause the liquid or moisture molecules to vibrate 2450 million times a second. The resulting friction causes the food to heat up. The first microwave oven weighed ca. 300kg and stood five feet, six inches.
- Never be lacking in zeal (passion) For life
Zeal
Eagerness and ardent (fiery) interest in and pursuit of something
- keep your spiritual fervor for spiritual things
Fervor
1 : intensity of feeling or expression
2 : intense heat
- serving the Lord
- So we don’t lose the ultimate focus for the fire.
- Phil 3:6 Paul said he was zealous at persecuting the Church.
synonymy passion, fervor, enthusiasm, zeal means intense emotion compelling action.
passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable
enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity
Is this something good?
Not in the eyes of everyone
John 2:14-17 (Jesus turns over the tables and chases out the vendors) His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” NIV
Is there anyone that wants to be more passionate about Life and the things of God?
· How do we get more fire in our lives?
· What is the firewood?
· What and where is the fire?
o What is the firewood?
§ You’re Life is the fire wood
· Bring the firewood closer to the fire.
· The danger being that only the eternal things will burn and not be consumed. All other things will be burned up.
o Maybe this is a reason some do not want more fire?
§ Whatever you want to burn. (want to have on fire)
· You’re marriage?
· You’re Family?
· You’re Job?
· You’re Christianity?
· You? (spirit, soul and body)
o What and where is the Fire? (who)
· The fire of His Presence (come closer to God)
o Exodus 13:21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. NIV
o Exodus 3:2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. NIV
o Exodus 19:18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, NIV
· The word of God is like fire (zeal alone is not enough)
Acts 18:24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. NIV
o Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. NKJV
o Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not my word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? NKJV
It is important that the church have a balanced ministry of the Word of God and prayer. The Word instructs the church; prayer inspires the church to obey the Word. The church that has an abundance of Bible teaching but little prayer will have “much light, but no heat.” (Flashlight no fire) It will be orthodox but frozen! The other extreme is the church that has much prayer and religious enthusiasm, but little teaching from the Word; this may produce a group of people with zeal but no knowledge.
· The Ministers of God (follow his ministers, be imitators)
o Psalm 104:4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. NKJV
o Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. NIV
o 1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. NIV
· All true spirit filled, fire baptized believers (be imitators of those on fire)
o Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. NKJV
o Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. NIV
· The gathering in faith
o Acts 2: 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. NKJV
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. NIV
Learning to make fire is one of the oldest practices of man, let’s learn to do it again today.