Passion Pt. 1

Changing our Passions

Passion is something that every one of us should possess, not matter what we are passionate about, just find something to be passionate about!—Sandra Hersey

I used this clip in comparing the difference between LOVING something and just being FAMILIAR with something. Many people are familiar with God, but He's just wanting us to love Him.—Eastman Curtis

What is Passion?

a     (1) : emotion 〈his ruling passion is greed〉

          (2) pl : the emotions as distinguished from reason

     b      : intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction

     c      : an outbreak of anger

5     a      : ardent affection : love

     b      : a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept

     c      : sexual desire

passion, fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, zeal mean intense emotion compelling action. passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable 〈was a slave to his passions〉. fervor implies a warm and steady emotion 〈read the poem aloud with great fervor〉. ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived 〈the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded〉. enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity 〈never showed much enthusiasm for sports〉. zeal implies energetic 5:[1]and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause 〈preaches with fanatical zeal〉. syn see in addition feeling

James 4:1-10

Eph 2:1-10 (ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

James 4:1 (ESV)
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this; that your passions are at war within you?

2 Timothy 2:22 (ESV)
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

1 Peter 4:1-2 (ESV)
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

James 4:3 (ESV)
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

In the above scriptures the emphasis is on the wrong kind of passions.  We usually don’t have a difficult time with understanding or walking in passion.  But it is usually the wrong passion, passion of self wants and self interest.

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[1]  The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.