Zeal for the Lord

Zeal for the Lord

2 Kings 9:13-24

What are you zealous for? Some are zealous for sports teams, some are zealous for cars, others are zealous for things; but what ought we to be zealous for, what is it that should consume us, it should be our ZEAL FOR THE LORD.

Can I remind you what a true zealot is:

A zealot is partisan

- that means there is not doubt about what side he is on.

A zealot is a fanatic

- he is full throttle for his cause. We too should be zealots, but not for our cause but for the Lord.

A zealot gets satisfaction and contentment from what they are pursuing

- The zealot is happy about what he is doing, it is not just out of duty. They are excited about what they are a fanatic about.

WE AT MAINEVILLE BAPTIST CHURH need a zeal for the Lord. So we are going to be doing a word study through the Bible about zeal so that we can have zeal for the Lord.

LET’S PRAY!

One person with a belief is equal to a force of 99 who only have interest.

—John Stuart Mill

Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

I believe it was Vladimir Lenin that said, give me ten zealots over ten thousand placid followers.

I. Zeal can be seen

Zeal can be seen in our lives, it is not a statement, but it is a reaction to what we believe to be true and a desire to something about it.

A. It ought to be seen in a new Christian

David was a young man, he went out to see how the sons of Jesses were doing and he saw the Giant. Remember what he said in – “IS THERE NOT A CAUSE.”

Zeal is the combination of conviction and character. [1]

Someone once said that one man with conviction is equal to 99 men with interest.

B. It ought to remain in a mature Christian

2 Kings 9:20 AV

And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

2 Kings 10:16 AV

And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.

It is the direct opposition to apathy and indifference.

Jehu had a reckless abandonment when it came to obeying what God had told him to do.

C. It is a state of being

Isaiah 59:17 AV

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

· We have talked in the past about being:

o Clothed with humility

o Clothed with modesty

· But enthusiasm and zealousness ought to our attire as well.

II. Zeal is consuming

Psalm 119:139 AV

My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

We ought to get zealous about what God is zealous about.

David was zealous when it came to the things of God and it was consuming him it was eating him up.

A. The Church

Psalm 69:9 AV

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

B. The Children of Israel

Isaiah 37:32 AV

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

2 Kings 19:31 AV

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

A. The Kingdom

Isaiah 9:7 AV

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

John Wesley said: If I had 300 men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.

That is exactly what those 120 people meeting in an upper room did back in Jerusalem did, they set the world on fire for Christ.

Oh if Maineville Baptist Church would get some people that were zealous for the Lord.

Romans 12:11 AV

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

III. Zealousness can stay the hand of God

Could it be, that my service and zealousness for righteousness could stay the hand of God and keep my loved ones from judgment, to cause God to overlook my other inconsistencies. I believe it can make a difference.

Numbers 25:11 AV

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

That is one of the chief reasons you shouldn’t judge others. They might have some problems, I agree, but they might have a zealousness in another area so that God is patient with them.

IV. Zealous for the right things

A. You can be zealous for the wrong things

Romans 10:2 AV

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

David Karesh had a following, because he was zealous about what he believed, and zealousness is contagious, but you must make sure you are zealous in what is right.

Jim Jones was zealous, but not according to knowledge and some 800 people were killed in a mass suicide in the French Guiana.

Zeal without knowledge is a fire without control.

— Complete Book of Zingers

B. Zealous for the care of others - Col 4:12-13; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8

Colossians 4:12–13 AV

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

1 Peter 1:22 AV

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Peter 4:8 AV

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

C. Zealous for spiritual gifts - 1 Cor 14:1, 12

1 Corinthians 14:12 AV

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

1 Corinthians 14:1 AV

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

D. Zealous for good works - Titus 2:14

Titus 2:14 AV

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

E. Zealous in prayer - James 5:16-17

James 5:16–17 AV

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

We already read how Epaphras was zealous in his prayer life for others in Col 4:12.

V. Zeal is provoking - 2 Corinthians 9:2; Galatians 4:17

Galatians 4:17 AV

They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

2 Corinthians 9:2 AV

For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

There is probably nothing more annoying to a person who is backslidden that a young Christian that is full of zeal, it is a jab in the kidney, but it is a needed jab to wake them up.

Hebrews 10:24 AV

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Church should not be a place of judgment of one another or comparing one another. But church should be a place where we provoke one another with our zealousness for the Lord. It is where our enthusiasm should be evident.

The word "Enthusiasm" is derived from two Greek words: "en" meaning in and "theos" meaning God. Enthusiasm is literally 'God in us.' The enthusiastic man is one who speaks as if he were possessed by God. This quality is the most effective, the most important, factor getting things done.

The largest advertiser of any single product in the world—Wrigley Chewing Gum—the owner came to Chicago with less than fifty dollars in his pocket. Wrigley now sells thirty million dollars worth of his chewing gum every year, and on the wall of his private office hang the framed words of Emerson: "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

—Dale Carnegie

Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

Zeal is something that we need today. It is the fire of our enthusiasm that sparks enthusiasm in others and then continues to reignite us and engulf us in the love of His service.

Being zealous about God, his truth, and his service will make the difference still in our generation.

I will leave you with the words of C.H. Spurgeon:

When the Spartans marched into battle they advanced with cheerful songs, willing to fight; but when the Persians entered the conflict, you could hear, as the regiments came on, the crack of whip's by which the officers drove the cowards to the fray. You need not wonder that a few Spartans were more than a match for thousands of Persians, that in fact they were like lions in the midst of sheep. So let it be with the church: never should she need to be forced to reluctant action, but full of irrepressible life, she should long for conflict against everything which is contrary to God. Were we enthusiastic soldiers of the cross we should be like lions in the midst of herds of enemies, and through God's help nothing would be able to stand against us. Feathers for Arrows: Or, Illustrations for Preach

[1]Dennis Corle, Elements of Godly Character p.98

Zeal for the Lord

2 Kings 9:13-24