| Passion!
Scriptures: Numbers 25:10-13 Mark 12:29-31 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Phil 3:13-15 Matthew 5:14-16 Luke 19:41 John 4:34-36 Passion: what is passion? It is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as an intense overwhelming desire that compels a person to succeed. In other words, Passion is an overwhelming power of influence over our sensibilities. Passion should not only drive us to be all we can for God, but also motivate us to share the love of Christ with others. Passion must be driven by vision else we stumble and pursue things that do not profit God nor his church. We beat the air in vain. On April 14, 1912- Rev. John Harper and his 6 year old daughter Nana were aboard the R. M. S. Titanic, when it was struck by an iceberg. As soon as it became apparent that the boat was going to sink, John took Nana to a lifeboat and kissed his precious little girl goodbye, He could have saved his own life by legitimately claiming that Nana’s mother was dead but instead, he headed towards the crowd of desperate people on board the doomed ship. For awhile John helped women and children make their way to the lifeboats. But, when the Titanic began to break up and sink, he jumped into the frigid waters. Witnesses said that he swam around frantically, imploring people to give their lives to Christ before the frigid water killed them, At one point, he swam up to a young man who had climbed aboard some debris. Are you saved John asked. No the young man replied, yet he refused to pray when John asked him to, At that point John took off his life jacket and threw it to him saying, ‘If you won’t pray then you need this more than I do, Then he swam off to help others. Later John returned, and convinced the young man to give his heart to Jesus. Of the 1528 people who went into the frigid waters that fateful night only 6 survived. including the fellow that Rev. Harper gave his life jacket to. At a survivors meeting 4 years later the young man wept as he recounted how John had led him to Christ. After he finished praying with me, he recalled, John tried to help others but it was to late! the intense cold had made him to weak to swim, His last words before going under the waters were, Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” John’s lifestyle and passion illustrates the passion for lost souls we should all have, consider the possibility that poor John never really even knew of or experienced the Pentecostal new birth as we know it in Acts 2: 38. Yet look at his fervor and zeal. how much more should it be said of us Apostolics, that we are on fire for God! Let it be as the prophet Jeremiah said “ its like fire shut up in my bones! Perhaps we should see the lost through God’s eyes! We should see sinners as having a deadly disease called sin, and we are the only ones who have the antidote. it’s called the gospel message of Jesus Christ. And its ministered in grace not condemnation. Did anybody ever notice when and why Jesus wept over Jerusalem? When’s the last time we wept over some lost souls? When‘s the last time we took time to notice someone‘s pain? took time to care? time to pray for someone? John sacrificed his life to reach the lost around him, what am I sacrificing to save the lost around me? What drives me? sin or salvation? Where’s your passion? Where’s my vision? in the almighty dollar or the almighty God? Sin or the Son? Gossip or the gospel? Does anyone even realize that the reason may of us are unconcerned about the lost, the reason some folks are so backslidden, so caught up in the things of this world. Is because they lack a passion and zeal for God and for the things of God. Dare I say they lack a grateful heart for what God has done for them. Could it be that we soon forget the goodness of the Lord. Because it becomes so common in our lives, so everyday, how ironic can that be? If you live hard for God it will be easy, if you live easy it will be hard. Remember the scripture said to give your all! heart, mind and soul. To serve God with all your strength is to stay full of the Holy Ghost. Full of the fire of God. QUESTIONS TO REFLECT UPON: 1. What is the secret to being zealous and intense for God? is it really meant to be a secret? 2. How responsible do you feel to reach the lost, to tell them the gospel message of hope. |