The Passion!

(Me): Introduction

Pledge

Passage: - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Prayer

If you look up the definition of the word “ZEAL” it would read: enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.

We find the Greek word translated Zeal is (Zelos). Definition is “Intense positive interest in something”

It comes from the root word “ZEO” which means TO BE HOT.

To help us better understand this word lets look at some of the synonyms:

Committed-ness, Fervor, Enthusiasm, Drive (I like this one)....

But the one I think most people would resonate with, as I do, is the word PASSION!

This morning we are going to talk about the Passion in life!

So the Title of the Message this morning is “The PASSION!”

We are in this series of “Turning a Woe into a Wow.”

This morning we are going to look at this 2nd WOE and the Passion dynamic found in this WOE!

The interesting thing about Passion is its an internal dynamic.

Passion doesn’t come upon you it comes from you. (Have them repeat this statement)

This is why I like the word Passion better than I do Drive!

With drive it can have an internal as well as external dynamic:

The wind had driven us off course!

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Passion can have a positive as well as a negative dynamic!

Let me give you an example:

I recall the last night I ever stayed in the house with my biological father.

His last words spoken to me that night was, “You will never amount to anything!”

Tell the story of that night ......

Age/location/circumstances leading up to this exchange of words.

I took that statement “You will never amount to anything!” and made it a passion of mine to prove my father wrong!

This passion came from within me and it was the driving force for my life!

This of course was a negative Passion (Drive)

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Passion can have a positive as well as a negative dynamic.

I think many of us can relate to Passion (Drive). (Turn to your neighbor and ask “Do you have a passion?”)

We all experience passion (Mine was a negative one but let me point out a positive one) ......

(WE): Segway

Many of us have heard the story about Michael Jordan:

In 1978, Michael Jordan was just another kid in the gym, along with 50 or so of his classmates, trying out for the Emsley A. Laney High School varsity basketball team. There were 15 roster spots. Jordan—then a 15-year-old sophomore who was only 5'10" and could not yet dunk a basketball—did not get one. His close friend, 6'7'' sophomore Leroy Smith, did. The team was in need of his length. "It was embarrassing not making the team," Jordan later said. He went home, locked himself in his room and cried.

Then he picked himself up and turned the cut into motivation. "Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it," Jordan would explain. "That usually got me going again."

Jordan, using that sizable chip on his shoulder to his advantage, spent his sophomore year as the star of the junior varsity team. He put up multiple 40-point games and attracted crowds that were unprecedented for a JV affair.

The summer leading into his junior year, Jordan began to morph. In 1979 he grew 4 inches and worked out constantly. That year he made the varsity squad and instantly became Laney High's best player, averaging more than 20 points a game. Despite having secured his spot on the team, Jordan's work ethic didn't drop off. His senior year he averaged a triple-double and led Laney High to a 19-4 record. Jordan capped off his high school career in style, being named a McDonald's All-American. He wasn't yet His Airness, but he was well on his way.

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REMEMBER: Passion doesn’t come upon you it comes from you. (Have them repeat this statement)

The passion (proving my dad wrong) morphed into me never wanting to turn out to be like him:

I would be a better husband, father, worker, ect. than he was.

However he did something, I was going to do the opposite!

This was my passion (Drive)!

I was going to be able to say, “I was the better version of Him!”

There is nothing wrong with this, right?

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Unlike Michael Jordan who was out to improve on himself, I was out to prove my father wrong.

This was WRONG!

This was WRONG!

This was the negative dynamic of Passion!

This was WRONG!

Let me show you what I mean ....

I had Passion but I had negative passion.

There is a great example of this in God’s word ......

(God): Body

Remember the series we are in, “Turning a WOE to a WOW!”

This is the 2nd one found in Chapter 23 of Matthew

15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Looking at Matthew 23:15 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Let me break this down for us ......

“WOE” - What on Earth you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! (Godless men). (Same Opening as in Verse 13)

Prophetic indictment of something leading too disaster. .

Jesus acknowledges the idea that they are evangelizing.

Meaning they are going out to make non-jews into Jews.

This is a good thing right?

What we make of this statement from Jesus is “IT”S NOT” a good thing.

Jesus say’s the ones you make a proselyte (converting from pagan hedonistic religion to worship the one true God - Polytheism) you “make them twice as much a child of hell.”

This phrase is a metaphoric exaggeration. (TO MAKE A POINT)

Example: “I love you to the moon and back!”

What did Jesus mean by this?

In order to understand this we have to understand the Pharisees and what they were doing in this day and time.

Remember, these are the ones who “Sit on Moses’ Seat!”

The are to know the 113 laws of the “Written Torah.”

“Written Torah.”

Over time the Pharisees developed the “ORAL Torah.” (550+)

This was suppose to be so sacred that they were not allowed to write them down.

Only a few MEN were to know them and apply them (When it was convenient for them)!

This is what Jesus was referencing to and was so upset about.

Here is the point I am getting at .....

He states, “For (you) they travel across sea and land”

This is a statement that has a meaning in that culture.

It meant that they were zealous about something: they were on fire about something: they were passionate

And not only were they passionate, .......

What Jesus was concerned about was the fact that soon this new convert would even out-Pharisee the Pharisees in bigotry, for it is a fact that new converts frequently outdo themselves in becoming fanatically devoted to their new faith.

soon this new convert would even out-Pharisee the Pharisees in bigotry, for it is a fact that new converts frequently outdo themselves in becoming fanatically devoted to their new faith.

This may explains why they would be considered “twice as much a child of hell as the Pharisees (yourselves).”

This explains why they would be considered “twice as much a child of hell as the Pharisees (yourselves).”

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But this passion of the new converts is not the passion I want to point out to us this morning.

The passion I want to point at to us is the passion of the Pharisees.

This passage helps us see that the Jews of this day were very passionate about converting non-Jews to Jews.

It would be safe to say they are not converting to add to the Kingdom.

They are converting to minimize the other religions and increase theirs.

LOOK HOW BIG OUR’s IS AND LOOK HOW SMALL YOURS IS!

This should not be our motive today!

To have a bigger church so we can claim the biggest church.

Passion is directed by motive! (You can twee that!)

The Apostle Paul Points this out in scripture. Let me show you a (Negative and positive) dynamic.

Negative dynamic, listing out his description of himself: described in ..... circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

Positive dynamic, in reference to the body (of Christ) he states in ..... 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

This was the Apostle Pauls passion!

Wrapping this us ..... what we have learned ....

Passion is internal not external!

Passion doesn’t come upon you it comes from you.

Passion can also be viewed in a positive as well as a negative dynamic!

Passion is directed by motive!

(You): Climax

So understanding that Passion is internal, coming from me, used positively as well as negatively, and is directed by my motives ....

The question becomes, “What is my motive?”

My motive as a child growing up, throughout my teen years, and into my young adult life was to NOT BE MY DAD!

This was the motive that directed my passion to be the best ball player, best boyfriend, best husband, best dad, best person that i knew how to be!

This doesn’t sound too bad right?

Then why was my life spiraling out of control at the age of 23?

Why was the face I saw in the mirror, the one I swore I would never be like?

Why was Jesus so upset with the Pharisees who were passionate in converting non-Jews to Judaism?

Because of their MOTIVE! Bigger Church!

PAUSE

So what about us?

We all have passion, right?

When I asked that question I bet some of you said, “I am not passionate about anything! I don’t have a passion.”

I would disagree with you!

You may not have it now but at one time you did have passion.

In the places Shelly and I have lived we would run across houses, trailer’s, or apartments that were run down.

I would point them out and say to her, I am sure this was not the dream they had as a kid.

To grow up and live in a place like that!

WHAT HAPPEN?

They lost their passion because their motive had changed.

Their motive went from “living a successful life” to “trying to survive!”

What’s your passion?

(We): Conclusion

If its true that our passion is directed by our motives (WHICH IT IS) then what should our motive be?

This is not about being a Christian or a Non-Christian ....

Being this is FATHERS DAY!

As a father, what should our motive be that would direct our passion to be the best father we could be?

As a husband, what should our motive be that would direct our passion to be the best husband we could be?

As a (whatever your occupation you have), what should our motive be that would direct our passion to be the best employee?

As a follower of Christ, what should our motive be that would direct our passion to be the best man or woman of God we could be?

What we are being asked is “What is our motive?”

Your passion can be good but you motive could be wrong! (Example of me when I was younger)

HOW DO WE CHANGE A WOE TO A WOW?

The Bible tells us what our motive should be that will direct our passions, ( But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

What are all these thing?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Good father/good husband, Good coach, Good employee, Good teacher, Good neighbor/ Good friend/ Good person/ Good Child of God!

When our motive becomes Jesus then our Passion spews out Jesus!