Why do I need Passion • It makes you good at something. • Nothing great is ever accomplished and sustained in life without passion. • It is what energizes your life. • Passion makes the impossible possible. • Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished Passion is what the church is missing today! Satan has stolen our passion And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mark 4:19 • Our passion is misdirected.. • We become passionate about the things of the world... God wants us to be passionate.... Ps 69:9 My zeal for God and his work burns hot within me. TLB • Passion is a God given emotion • Passion is a burning desire towards the things of God • Passion is what makes us good at something Passion is what • separates Men from the girls. the boys and thethe: women from
• Prayers from the players.
• Intercessors from the interferers. • Contenders from the pretenders. • Complimenters from the complainers. • Supporters from the reporters, having to constantly broadcast what’s wrong with the church. What does God wants us to be passionate about! He wants us to have a Passion for Him and his work Ps 69:9 My zeal for God and his work burns hot within me. Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' A Passion For Prayer 1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing. A Passion For God’s Word Acts 17:11-12 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. A Passion For Souls They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. Acts 14:19-20 A Passion For Holiness 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." A Passion For Worship Acts 16:22-25 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, PASSION IS WHAT SEPARATED:
A. Mary and Martha
B. Demas and Timothy C. Cain and Abel D. Saul and David E. Rich young ruler and disciples F. Judas and Peter PASSION IS WHAT SEPARATED:
The success stories are separated from the
failures, not by: • Perfection • Or pedigree • Or talent • Or wealth or status WHY DO CHRISTIANS LACK ZEAL?
1. Because we have allowed something
precious to become familiar, to become ordinary, everyday, common. 2. The need for approval. 3. Apathy: We lost our Love. 4. People affecting you. Matthew 24:12
And because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PASSION IS LOST? :: Revelation 2:1-7 :: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; 1
These things saith he that holdeth the seven
stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PASSION IS LOST? :: Revelation 2:1-7 :: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PASSION IS LOST? :: Revelation 2:1-7 :: 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. HOW DO I RESTORE PASSION TO MY LIFE? 1. Make sure you have a fire place. 2. Realize that fire changes its surrounding environment. 3. Associate with passionate people. 4. Pray for passion. Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. • J.i.c. church