Text: Numbers 25 (NASB)

Introduction:

· A story which on the surface doesn’t seem too heroic or positive for us in the 21^st c.

· We need to place ourselves in the context of the ancient Israelites to understand what was going on, and how a man such as Phinehas is a hero.

Thesis: We, too, need to be zealous for God!

I. What was the big deal?

A summary of the events, background and situation.

II. Why is Phinehas a hero?

A. Total devotion to God (passion for God)

B. Acted courageously

C. Took responsibility (did what God expected of Him)

D. In short, zealous for God—in both commitment of the heart & in action

III. How does this relate to us? (application)

A. Of/ for what are we to be zealous?

1. God

a. God is zealous for His name (Ezek. 39:7, 25)

b. David was zealous for God’s honor; that’s why he fought Goliath (I Sam. 17:34)

c. ***Asa was zealous for God (2 Chron. 14) [look at this passage]

2. Our relationship w/ God

à David was zealous for his relationship w/ God (Read Ps. 63:1-4)

3. God’s work (how are you investing your time & energy?)

à Anna the Prophetess was zealous for God (Luke 2:36-38)

4. God’s people

à Epaphras was zealous for (had a deep concern for) God’s people (Col. 4:13)

B. Misguided zeal for God is a problem.

1. Examples

a. Peter rebuking Jesus about foretelling His death

b. Saul of Tarsus

c. The Crusaders in the Middle Ages

d. Susan’s co-worker (who over-aggressively tried to evangelize dinner hosts)

2. Corrective: be in tune with God. Know His will and His ways. How? By walking with Him through regular prayer & Bible reading.

C. Caveat: being zealous for God may create misunderstanding. You may be branded an “intolerant fanatic.” Even people close to you may not understand why you do what you do for God.

D. Examples (great cloud of witnesses)

1. Martyr missionaries (and martyr believers): thousands of Christians who were so eager to see the Gospel advance that they gave up all they had (money, promising careers, health, comfortable life, often their very lives).

2. Gladys Aylward, missionary to China

Conclusion:

· Heroism different for us than it was for Phinehas – in actions, but not in being zealous for God.

· Rom. 12:11 (NIV) “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

· The dangers of not being zealous: Rev. 3:14, 19 (being spewed out) “Be zealous & repent.” He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church in Pusan. Amen”

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