The Passion For Christ And His Word!!
We know that it's God's will that all should come to repentance. It is God's will that we be saved. But what is also God's will as we study scripture is also that we affect others with the measure of faith we have received. If this were not so, after our salvation we would have gone to be with the Lord in an instant. And here the scripture tells us that we should be ready to defend our faith and we should be able to pass on what we have heard to faithful men who will also do same.
This is why Paul instructed Timothy to entrust the gospel to FAITHFUL men. God is a faithful God and as he is so are we. If we're going to be passionate about standing for and defending our faith to the world, the first question we need to ask ourselves is
"Am I faithful"?
In a time where everyday the world is pushing it's agenda and it's sad even some Christians are getting caught up in the systems of the world, believers need to stand up with the gospel of Christ. That is the only hope for this world because the foundations (systems) of this world are out of course.
Psalm 82:5
God is counting on you and I as faithful men to stand up for him in these perilous times.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
In times where it seems like darkness is prevailing, God is counting on strong men like Daniel and the Hebrew boys who would stand their ground. Because truth is he wants us or rather he is passionate about us becoming his express image here on earth. He says we are the salt of the earth, the light of the world! He gave us faith that through us the world can see him in our eyes. We can't be content with staying in our corner minding our business. We can't be content being pushed aside. We must multiply his kingdom.
God is looking for an avenue expression through us
Matt. 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
But it takes yielding to be built so we can stand our ground for him.
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It's sad many Christians are ashamed of the gospel. They are scared of standing proud with their faith. The apostle Paul makes a very bold claim in the opening chapter of the letter to the Romans.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
(Romans 1:16 NIV)
He believed this gospel. He could not hide it. He could not sit on it. He was confident in this gospel. He was assured!
*Question to Self: Do you truly believe what you claim to profess?
Because we can't even begin to talk about passion when there's no conviction - no belief. Truth is you cannot believe what you don't know. You cannot stand up for what you haven't experienced. Paul know what he was saying. Nobody taught him. No one coached him. It was from his personal experience that he declared the gospel as the power unto salvation.
So this passion we talk about is born from a place of 'knowing' (knowledge) - knowing God and being intimate with him
...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Daniel 11:32
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Cor 5:17
Your zeal is sustained and fanned by remaining true to the faith we have received in fellowship with God.
Acts 17:28
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3 things that passion does in you;
Passion Births Purpose
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17.If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[a] from Your Majesty’s hand.
18.But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel 3:16-18
While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11.And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
12.When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13.Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 21:10-13
These men were so passionate and were so single in their conviction that it gave their lives meaning. They had something to live/die for because of the passion they had in standing up for what they believed in
Passion Unlocks Our Creative Mind To Ideas And Opportunities.
When you're passionate about a thing, driven that you look for ways to push the agenda. Your mind becomes crafty to noting opportunities (ideas). When people see limitation, you just can't rest because there's something stirred up on the inside. You look for avenues, ways to get it done. Just imagine being passionate about the gospel.
Passion Gives You Identity
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 11:26
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The name we so often wear like a badge (Christians) came about because the disciples were radically displaying their faith up and down the place. We have identity now because these men were passionate enough about the cause many years ago. Passion makes you known for something. And if there's anything now to be known for, it's that we are God's generals; we passionately stand for and defend our faith (this gospel) to the world.
Passion cannot hide. It is contagious.
God wills for us to express our faith to the world.
We cannot have passion for the gospel until we believe, we know and are convicted about our faith and this only comes in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
Note that Passion is personal. Nobody can be passionate for you, but you yourself.
God bless you!!!
