Spiritual Zeal

Romans 12:11

Do not be slothful in zeal (business), BUT be ferverent in spirit, serving the Lord.

Why are We still here?

Thief on the Cross

What did Jesus say to him?Today you shall be with Me in Paradise

What does that show?

- Not essential we live on earth

WHY AM I STILL HERE?

We are constantly distracted

The world bombarding us with temptation

Satan poking and prodding

Do we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength perfectly?

We fall short

WHY AM I STILL HERE?

- Think about it:- If God took us into paradise we would be with others

who are righteous, there would be no distraction

- None of us worship perfectly on earth here and now

- So if God took us now wouldn’t that be more for his glory?

- Sinlessly worshipping God

- Why the delay?

WHY AM I STILL HERE?

If it were truly for God’s glory that you be there than you’d be there

We are here to serve the Lord

The service that we are called to do now glorifies the Lord MORE than if we were in heaven worshipping perfectly

We are not here in vain, there’s a reason and a purpose

Purpose

1 Timothy 3:15 The church of the living God is the pillar and foundation of truth

Christians are the source of truth

Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons, Nightly News don’t have it

The truth would be gone

It is clear serving NOW will give God the greatest glory. IF that were not the case God would not leave us here.

Romans 12:11

Do not be slothful in zeal, but be ferverent in spirit, serving the Lord.

Serving the Lord

- Romans 14:18 Romans 16:18 Collosians 3:24

- We serve not others but Christ

- Remember who we serve- The one who died for me- Who took on God’s wrath for me

Serving the Lord

Serve = verb of noun “Doulos”

Doulos means slave

It’s saying:Perform the duty of a slave

BE A SLAVE of the Lord Jesus.

What is it that’s true of a slave?Slave is one who caters to the will of another

WILL of the MASTER

Serving the Lord

We have bought into the idea “we can’t be perfect in this life”

We blow off what it means to be a slave to Christ and resigned to the will of another

We are expected to live lives where we don’t intentionally sin.

Live your life as a living sacrifice.

Serving the Lord

Not saying we son’t fall

BUT

Live a life not intentionally bending our own will against the master

2 Peter 3:14 Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish

Not saying what Christ has earned for us

YOU BE DILIGENT

Serving the Lord

When we willfully transgress the commandments these are spots and blemishes.

Do not excuse your rebellion and disobedience based on the fact we can’t be perfect

We can consistently apply ourselves and be diligent to not let any spot or anything to our blame thrown in there where it can be charged with you, you willfully transgressing against Christ.

DO NOT JUSTIFY YOUR SIN

Passion

Lord wants our passion.

DO NOT BE SLOTHFUL IN ZEAL BUT BE FERVERENT

Feverent means:BOIL

It’s saying:Boil in the spirit serving Christ

Throw your WHOLE soul into it

Passion

- Paul doesn’t want any loafers among the redeemed

- No laziness

- No wasting time

- If we are here for his glory how are we using the time he has given us?

- There is a reason why we are here

- TO SERVE HIM and carry out his will!

Passion

Our time is short

Do it with passion

Zeal matters, Passion matters, Whole heartedness matters

Put away idleness, slothfulness, half-heartedness

Encouragement

Only the burning spirit of God can spark you

But there are certain materials God uses as kindling to start those fires

What kindles the heart of a Christian?

TRUTH

Biblical writers encouraged people with TRUTH

Shrewd Manager

Luke 16 1-8

Sons of this world are more shrewd that the sons of Light

Shrewd Manager

Sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of Light

Worldly men are more clever in the affairs of this world than Christians are diligent for the things that pertain to everlasting life!

Shrewd Manager

Lost people give everything they have for the things of this world compared to Christians for eternal life.

Is this true?

We are less enthusiastic serving the Lord than the ungodly

And the mock us, and look at our lives

Will we let them outrun us?

Shrewd Manager

Be careful what you pour your time into and what you value.

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven

Revelation 13: Our deeds follow us.

Are we interested in investing in now or in eternal life?

Faithful in little Faithful in much

Luke 16:10

We find it hard to serve God fervently in the little things

We refuse to clean, stack chairs, help

God doesn’t take sluggards and put them in places of high responsibility till they prove themselves in the little things

Most things are done unobserved

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your MIGHT

We look for things to do when there are things in front of us.

Do something with your might not half heartedly

We are willing to start but we don’t finish

We look for action and the thrill

Christ Hates Half-Hearted Servants

Romans 12:1

Malachi 1:6-14

Revelation 3:15-16We know what hot is Look at what you do

Keep away from the idle

Not being lazy is a divine commandment

Non association to those who are idle

2 Thessalonians 3:6 keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness…

Greatest Privilege to Serve Jesus

NOT EVERYONE get’s to serve him

Only few find the narrow gate

Work to be missed

Acts 9:36-42

Dorcas

Work to rescue souls

Great commission

We know people are dying without Christ

Is It hard to serve the one who loves You?

Drank the cup of the wrath of God

Matthew 11:30 Yoke is easy, burden is light

Time is short

One day we will serve no more…

Prayer/Reflect