Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Ablaze with Passion for Jesus Christ – Part 1


If the resurrection is true, then the Bible, the Word of God, is truth. If the Word of God is truth, my challenge is to align the purpose of my life according to the Word of truth.  People often think that they can stop trying because one is satisfied with one's past achievements and “rest in their laurels”. However, our life is not our own ... that which endures is that which counts, not for this moment in time and history, but for eternity. Only Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25) ...  without Him there is no life. God doesn't want your promise and your praise ... He wants your heart and your life, demonstrated by obedience to His Word. In the midst of the crisis, God expects His children to rise to the occasion. Mr. E.M. Bounds in "A Fiery Church" says that God expects us to be on fire, white hot with zeal about our God-given faith. According to John Wesley, If you set yourself ablaze for Jesus Christ, people will gather from miles around to watch you burn with passion.  In Revelation 3, the Laodiceans were neither hot nor cold. They were tepid, lukewarm and ineffective ... a double minded person is unstable in all his ways – James 1:8.  However, the effectual, fervent, white hot and passionate prayer of a righteous man availeth much – James 5:16.  A fiery soul is the soul who conquers in the day of the spiritual battle and besieges the strongholds of evil with unshaken zeal.

What is your mission statement?  What's your goal in other people's lives?  For what are you passionate?  Love is kindled in the flame and passion for our Lord.  Therefore quench not the Holy Spirit. For we have this treasure of the Holy Spirit in an earthen vessel that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. To fan the flame of the Spirit of God, in Christ, in us, we must link with like-minded brothers and sisters who walk in the light as He is the light – 1 John 1:7. You are most like those with whom you associate. Who are your three, and who are your twelve?  With whom are you your best. I'm here because you make me want to be a better man.  For our fellowship is with our Father, His son Christ Jesus, and one with another in the household of faith. We associate with our Band of Brothers and Sisters, so that we can run the race and choke in the dust of those in hot pursuit of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Passion is the soul of prayer. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh – Luke 6:45.  Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night – Psalm 1:2. Prayer is energized by the Holy Spirit as we set our affections on things above. Our culture says that mankind is basically good. However, according to Romans 3, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. In my flesh dwelleth no good thing – Romans 7:18. Righteousness can only be evaluated according to God's righteous standard of his Word – the Holy Bible. Jesus Christ is the Word of God revealed. Our righteousness is not in our flesh, but only in Him. Without Christ, we are men and women of unclean lips. Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf, that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.  In him we live and move and have our being – Acts 17:28.  


We'll conclude Michael's message on "passion for Christ" on tomorrow's post.
In Christ, Brian

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