PROPELLED BY PASSION

July 16, 2005

Mark 12: 28-34

INTRODUCTION:

1-    A young Ministerial candidate being interviewed was asked some questions!

2-    He admitted to being shy and quite and stated he’d most likely never set a place on fire or turn the place upside down for God!

3-    The man interviewing the young candidate said, “Sir, I’m not interested as to whether you turn the place upside down or not!

4-    But if I picked you up by the nap of the neck and dropped you in the community.

5-    Would the place sizzle?

 

THE QUESTION TO ALL OF US IS THIS:

1-     If someone threw a bucket of water on you, would you sizzle with passion for God?

 

WHAT IS PASSION?

1-    Passion comes out of our emotions; Passion is Neutral; but the things we pursue are not.

2-    Passion can be good or bad the choice is our’s.

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

“Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish”!

ON THE NEGATIVE PASSION SIDE:

1-    Samson and David were led by a passion of lust and sexual immorality.

2-    Balaam was led by a passion for money.

3-    The Pharisee’s were led by a passion for Religion.

4-    And Peter was led by a passion for vengeance.

 

BUT ON THE POSITIVE SIDE OF PASSION:

1-    Moses was led by a passion for the people of Israel.

2-    And Nehemiah by a passion to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

3-    And Paul was led by a passion to plant new churches.

4-    And Hopefully we’re led with a passion for right.

 

ARE YOU PASSION DRIVEN?

1-    Webster defines “PASSION” as;

2-    Being driven intensely, or an overmastering feeling or conviction.

3-    Passion can be an intense Emotion or compelling action.

4-    Passion can mean a strong desire or devotion to some object, activity or concept.

BUT TRUE PASSION IS CHRISTIAN PASSION:

1-    Being centered in HIM and driven by HIM in such a way that we are moved to “ACTION”!

FRIENDS HAVE WE EVER NEEDED PASSION, AS WE NEED IT TODAY?

THE BODY OF CHRIST HAS NEED OF A FRESH PASSION:

1-    And I hear some asking, “Why do we need a passion at all”?

2-    A Christian without passion is like a river without water.

3-    Passion energizes the Christians life; it recharges your Spiritual battery.

4-    It’s better than “EVEREADY”!

5-    Passion gives and keeps us in “FOCUS”!

6-    Look at them; you can spot them! “A Christian without passion is dull & drained.

7-    Through passion, God empowers us!

 

TRUE PASSION BEGINS WITH GOD:

1-    God help us! “We need a fresh filling of God’s Love”! Amen?

2-    Beloved; a passion for our Lord gives us the ability to Love Him completely!

3-    How many of you know that in loving Him we can better love others?

4-    Do you know that everybody is not loveable!

5-    It’s not easy to love everybody; some people are very difficult to love!

6-    And within ourselves; we can’t; but God gives us the ability to love those hard to love.

7-    Passion will take us beyond ourselves! Amen?

 

GOD HELP US ALL, SOCIETY HAS RUINED US:

1-    We’re living in a society that is self-centered.

2-    We’re taught to look out for Number One!

3-    This world has a complete “I don’t care attitude”!

4-    But with a passion for Christ we can follow on to know Him to serve Him! Amen?

5-    Folks; the need is before us for a passion for others; for their physical, emotional; and their Spiritual needs.

6-    And the church on Fire for God!

7-    The church with a passion will engulf them; will wrap them around with His Love!

 

LEAVE HERE TODAY WITH A PASSION:

1-    Passion will create a change in us.

2-    Having a passion will project; no reserve, no retreat and no regrets in our labors.

3-    Passion enables us to reach our God given potential.

4-    God Help us to hear this message!

5-    Passion propels us to greatness in life.

6-    Your passion beloved; will create a change in others lives.

7-    Passion has changed you and me and the world ought to see it.

8-    Having a passion for Christ changes our attitude; our behavior and our relationship with others.

9-    Beloved; “PASSION” is contagious!

10-                       Passion is caught by other people; it cannot be taught!

NOW ALLOW ME TO GIVE US SOME POSITIVE RESULTS ON PASSION:

1-    On this road to Glory, fueled with passion

2-    The journey becomes much easier!

3-    The fires of the soul; stoked with passion; will remove the impossibilities before us!

4-    True Passion leads our walk with Christ.

5-    It allows us to keep our focus in life.

6-    True passion for our Lord, helps us to help others to know him.

 

BELOVED; NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY!

1-    A passion for Christ makes our love for God number One priority.

2-    Our passion will spill over on those around us.

3-    Passion driven by the High Sheriff of Glory will give boldness and courage to share this message.

4-    Passion writes on the tables of our hearts the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 

NOW! CAN WE LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PASSION IS LOST?

1-     Did you know that it’s possible to serve God without a passion?

2-     It is; “BUT” it will be out of duty; legalism, which is to say because its right to do it.

3-     When service to God is out of duty; it becomes draining, and taxing.

4-     And very quickly, you’ll grow weary, even in well doing.

5-     Have you ever been there?

 

PASSION BEGINS AND ENDS WITH LOVE:

1-    Out of His Great Love, He picketh me up!

2-    And where there is no love; there will be no passion.

3-    Beloved; can I go a little further?

4-    When passion is absent; God will not move!

 

HOW ABOUT THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS?

1-    They were busy serving God, doing all the right things.

2-    But the passion was gone! They’d lost their first Love!

3-    Busy being servants instead of being Christians. Amen?

4-    And the passion was gone!

 

BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT GOD HELD THE LOSS OF LOVE & PASSION AGAINST THEM?

1-    Repent! Or lose your status as a Lampstand.

2-    Beloved; What a sad state! To lose your first Love. Amen?

3-    The Lord knew of all their good works.

4-    He knew how they’d hated evil;

5-    They’d had patience and not fainted in the work of the lord.

6-    But He said; “I have somewhat against thee”

7-    “Thou hast left thy First Love”

8-    Do we hear what is being said?

9-    He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches!

10-Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and do thy first works.

 

1-    God is so merciful; He never sells us short of our possibilities in Him.

2-    He shows mercy always!

3-    His arms are always open to whosoever will, let him come!

4-    Come and drink of the water of life freely.

 

DOES OUR CHURCH HAVE THE PASSION LEVEL GOD DESIRES?

1-    God help us everyone to be passionate about our community! Amen?

2-    How high is your passion level about the work being done here in church?

3-    Are you passionate about what God desires to do in your own life?

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SENSE GOD MOVE IN YOUR BEHALF?

1-    Do you need a new filling of the Love of God?