¹⁰I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. ¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:10-14 NIV
‘PRESSING ON’ – ‘FORGETTING’ – ‘STRAINING TOWARD’
⁹“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ¹⁰Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; ¹¹Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” – Romans 12:9-11 KJV
Dissimulate – To conceal (as one’s intentions) under a false appearance. To disguise one’s true feelings or intentions.
Let’s be authentic and who we really are…no HIDDEN AGENDAS. Don’t live behind a mask or false pretenses! Let’s come in here and love one another and be real!
¹¹“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” – Romans 12:11 KJV
¹¹“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” – Romans 12:11 NIV
¹¹“Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” – Romans 12:11 AMP
¹³“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” – Titus 2:13-14 KJV
¹⁴“…people who are eager and enthusiastic about living a life that is good and filled with beneficial deeds.” – Titus 2:14 AMP
God never intended for you to LOSE your MOMENTUM.
God never intended for you NOT to be full of ZEAL.
God himself is ‘DRIVEN BY’ ZEAL.
⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ⁷Of 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. – Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV
⁶For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this! – Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT
⁷“His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice from the throne of his father David. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world. This is going to happen because the Lord of heaven’s armies has dedicated himself to do it!” – Isaiah 9:7 TLB
You need a PASSIONATE COMMITMENT to do what you do!
HOW to STIR UP ZEAL:
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- Exposure…to others with a Passionate Commitment.
EXPOSURE is a PRESSING IN through OBSERVATION.
- Exposure…to others with a Passionate Commitment.
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- Involvement…as a servant.
³⁰“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” – Ephesians 4:30 NLT
“Quench not the Spirit.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJV
“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;” – 1 Thessalonians 5:19 GW
SOLUTIONS:
1. REALIZE WHERE YOUR STRENGTH COMES FROM.
¹³“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13 KJV
¹³“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me, I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.” – Philippians 4:13 AMP
Having ‘Self sufficiency’ is having everything you need to succeed.
2. DECIDE ON A COURSE OF ACTION.
³Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. ⁴Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. ⁵Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. – Psalms 37:3-5 KJV
Trust –– Delight –– Commit
3. GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR HEART!
²⁰But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? – James 2:20 KJV
²⁰“Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?” – James 2:20 AMP
HOW can you get involved with having ‘good works’ if there’s NO ZEAL, NO EAGERNESS, NO ENTHUSIASM in your life?
4. GET INVOLVED ‘WITH’ YOUR LIFE!
²For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. – 2 Corinthians 9:2 NIV
God never intended for you NOT to be full of ZEAL.
“Success is walking from failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill