Passionate Spirituality

Urban dictionary: Passion is when you put more energy into something than is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind body and soul into something as is possible.

What are you passionate about? Write on flip chart.

Why are you passionate about it? What do you like so much about this?

What is the evidence you’re passionate about it? What do you do?

The Pharisees were passionate about the Law of Moses. They tried to trick Jesus so they sent one of their group to test Jesus.

Matthew 22:34–36 NIV

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

“The scribes said there were 613 laws, with 248 being affirmative and 365 being negative. Some even argued that the commandment to wear fringes on the garments was the greatest of the 613! This helps us to recognize the test to which they presumed they were subjecting Him.” Augsburger, M. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Matthew (Vol. 24, p. 18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.

They were asking Jesus, what’s most in life? Here was Jesus’s answer.

Matthew 22:37–40 NIV

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We can summarize Jesus’s answer very simply.

Love the Lord your God. Matthew 22:34-40

He added the second commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. We’re going to focus on the greatest commandment. Once we’ve figured that out we’ll move on to the second.

This statement, Love the Lord your God is good. Love is really important. But my summary falls far short of Jesus’s statement doesn’t it? Jesus didn’t just love the Lord your God, He said,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

That sounds to me like passion. Jesus said passionately love God.

1. Passionate spirituality is enthusiastically loving God. Romans 12:11

This raises an important question. Can you command someone to feel a certain way? Can you order someone to be passionate or enthusiastic? It would seem not. When you think of “love” that’s a feeling you feel when you feel like you going feel a feeling! Some of us love coffee? My darling Margaret doesn’t. She’s tried it a few times but just can’t stomach it. You say, that’s taste buds. You can’t change them.

Okay, Margaret likes to read women’s books, go figure. Not me. Can you tell me, order me to like to read women’s books? It doesn’t seem like it.

So then, how is it that God commands us to be passionate in our spirituality? In case you’re wondering, this isn’t the only place where we are commanded to be enthusiastic about our faith.

Romans 12:11 NIV

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

If you we’re hoping for loophole, you aren’t going to find one!

Okay, it looks like we’d better figure this out. How does one become passionate? Let’s go back to what we talked about at the beginning of our message, our personal areas of passion.

There was a point in each of our lives when we weren’t passionate about what we are now. What happened? What changed?

We were introduced to the experience and liked it. Probably not as much as we do now, but enough to stick with it and our passion grew. Would you agree with that statement? Your passion grew? Yes.

The same is true about passionate spirituality.

2. Passionate spirituality increases over time.

Galatians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15

Progression of Paul’s growth in passion.

Early in Paul’s ministry, approximately 53 AD

Galatians 1:1 NIV

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

3 years later, approximately 56 AD

1 Corinthians 15:9 NIV

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

8 years later, approximately 61 AD

Ephesians 3:8 NIV

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,

10 years later, approximately 63 AD

1 Timothy 1:15 NIV

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

3. Passionate spirituality has many forms of expression.

It is not one form or style of spirituality.

It may include exuberant praise. Psalm 150

Psalm 150 NIV

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

It may include quiet praise. 1 Kings 19:11-13 , Job 40:4-5

1 Kings 19:11–13 NIV

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Job 40:4–5 NIV

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”

It always includes God’s presence. Isaiah 29:13

Isaiah 29:13 NIV

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

4. Passionate spirituality is a personal choice.

Talk to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

pray continually,

Meditate on God’s Word. Psalm 1:1-2

Psalm 1:1–2 NIV

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

What is He saying to you as you read His word? How does His word apply to your day?

What He has done for you. How he helps you each day.

Depend upon Him. Proverbs 3:5-6

Lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Thank Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Rehearse all God has done for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

For peace, and love and joy.

Worship Him. Revelation 4:11

He is worthy

Revelation 4:11 NIV

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Commit to growing in your passionate spirituality.

Bottom Line: Passionate spirituality has many forms but one one function, loving God.

Discussion questions:

Describe what it is like for you, with your personality style, to be passionate, not just about God but in general.