The Apostolic Zeal
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· 278 viewsIn all our knowledge and spiritual maturity, we can't lose our zeal for the things of God...
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The Apostolic Zeal
The Apostolic Zeal
Pre-service
Allowing time for people to join live.
Make conversation:
“What was the last thing you ate? No shame!”
“What you miss most about gathering at the church?”
“Favorite book of the bible?”
Pastor’s exciting announcement!
Open with prayer
Text
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
I was captured by this passage of scripture last week.
I want to point out a few things to begin with:
Kingdom/Military Words
“the government will be upon His shoulder”
“Prince of Peace”
“Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end”
“Upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom”
These are all referring to the Kingship of Jesus; His kingdom.
It is describing the supreme rule that Jesus is going to have over all, and how it will begin and continue to expand, without end.
Now, with this context, that gives the last part of these scriptures even more importance...
Talking about the increase of His government and how it is going to happen: “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
That word hosts is often translated as “armies”.
In any case, hosts refers to either a great army, a great number or multitude.
So - let’s back up.
If Jesus is going to have this great increase of government to which there will be no end… If He’s going to enlarge this Kingdom of God in the day this prophecy is to be fulfilled… how is that going to be done?
“The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Are the angels those “hosts” or “armies” who are tasked with the enlargement of His Kingdom? Absolutely not! They are interested in looking in on this business, the Bible says.
Because we are the hosts! We are the armies God has chosen to expand His government and kingdom through all the Earth!
I believe that this prophecy with kingdom/military wording is looking forward to an enlargement of His kingdom that will be done through some spiritual warfare.
I’m talking about a combatting of the enemy and a taking of ground of the enemy!
Zeal
What I really find interesting is that word “zeal”.
If you are taking notes right now, I want you to write down that word and circle it.
This word is standing out to me very strongly of late.
Definition
zeal•ous \ˈze-ləs\ adjective
1526: filled with or characterized by zeal: marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal 〈zealous missionaries〉1
1 Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.
zeal•ot \ˈze-lət\ noun
[Late Latin zelotes, from Greek zēlōtēs, from zēlos] 1537
2: a zealous person especially: a fanatical partisan 〈a religious zealot〉1
1 Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.
It’s zeal!
The New Living Translation says it like this:
7 His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
The “passionate commitment”!
It’s the zeal of the Lord!
And if the Lord has a zeal about enlarging His Kingdom, so should His army!
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
9 For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
69:9 the zeal for The Hebrew word used here, qin'ath, is often used to describe envy. Typically, the Bible views human envy as a negative emotion (see Prov 14:30 and note, and Eccl 4:4 and note). However, it presents zeal (qin'ath) on behalf of God as a positive trait.
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 69:9). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Now, another word used in place of zeal is enthusiasm...
Check this out:
enthusiasm (Gk. ἐνθουσιασμός). The original meaning of the word, the ‘being possessed by a god’, was current in the 17th cent. Later it took on the sense of fancied inspiration.
1 Cross, F. L., & Livingstone, E. A. (Eds.). (2005). In The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed. rev., p. 552). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
The real, Apostolic zeal may be best defined as “being possessed by our God!”
My, my, my!
I have a question for you: Can you say that you are possessed by your God?!
Are you still swept away by Him? Do you still have zeal for Him?
Apostolic Zeal
There are some things that we ought to naturally have some zeal about as Apostolic Pentecostals:
The Oneness of God
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance
Baptism in Jesus Name
Holy Ghost
Holiness
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Gifts of the Spirit
Discipleship
“Go ye into all the world...”
Christ’s Soon Return
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
I hope you haven’t lost your zeal about these truths! I hope you’re feeling it right now!
My Plea to Two People
To the Guest Viewer
If you don’t feel like there is any zeal, joy, or enthusiasm about your life, God can fill you with His Spirit!
To the Saint
I don’t believe we’re lacking as Pentecostals in truth. We are confident of these things.
But sometimes what’s lacking in us is not having the truth, but that zeal for who we are in God and what we believe.
A Time of Decreased Zeal
We find ourselves in a day in which the zeal of some has diminished.
If you’re not careful, you can allow current events to attack your mind - and your zeal.
Depression is hitting many today.
Sometimes, hard times hit us in the stomach.
And we’re robbed of our zeal.
...
Now, I refuse to believe that Satan brought COVID-19 on the world and the church. I don’t believe that and I won’t give him credit for it.
But, I would imagine if we allow this odd moment to rob us of our zeal, Satan would be pleased nonetheless.
I’ve found two scriptures that describe the opposite of zeal: “losing heart.” And this is what they say...
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Perhaps over the last two months of lockdown, you have started to lose heart.
Maybe you have felt your relationship with God grow cold during this time...
I’ve come with a word of encouragement today: Don’t lose heart - find your zeal in the Holy Ghost!
Paul said talking to Timothy:
5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
He reminded Timothy to “stir up the gift of God in you.”
When you make macaroni and cheese, and you’re in the process of cooking those noodles, you have to keep stirring them. And if you don’t, what happens? They stick to the bottom! And to know if they’re done, you get a macaroni out of the boil and taste it to see if it’s ready.
We’re not ready to be took up yet - and until we are, WE HAVE TO KEEP STIRRING!
It’s time to rekindle or discover that joy in the Holy Ghost!
What Would You Do
Let’s try something real quick...
You want to talk about zeal?
I want you to imagine that we are in church on our first service back...
And we’re in the middle of worship...
And all of a sudden something strange happens...
At the back entryway, Bro. Wilson turns around to view the door.
The music quickly silences and a “holy hush” comes across the congregation.
And then HE steps into the room.
JESUS steps into the room.
...
What would you do?
How would you praise if He stepped in?
How would you worship if the savior of souls walked in?
How would you act when the healer of bodies enters in?
How would you shout if He stepped into the room???
I’ve got a feeling some of you are feeling a zeal come on you right now!
I have to believe that your zeal for Jesus would be on full display!
Everybody would see that I am possessed by this man!!!
Can I tell you something? He will be present then! And He is present in your room right now!
The Bible tells us that He fills the universe!
24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places,
So I shall not see him?” says the Lord;
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
He is there! With you, where you are RIGHT NOW!
I think maybe it’s time to recognize His presence, and respond to Him.
Would you talk to Him with me right now?
{Prayer for Sinners + Saints}
Closing
Thank you for tuning in with us for this service tonight.
Whether you have been part of our church for years, or have never attended once, we’re glad you’re worshipping with us.
We invite you to be with us next week for our first Sunday back!
We love each and every one of you, and we look forward to connecting with you again on Facebook Live this Sunday!