Sunday July 18, 2021
https://www.facebook.com/Encountertexoma/videos/177507177740854
Was there ever a time in your life you just felt closer to God? You knew God was working in your life. You could sense his presence. You were spiritually growing!
YOU WERE ON FIRE FOR JESUS!
Then something happened. I don’t know what Your “SOMETHING” might be.
A huge disappointment. Failure in life. Deeply hurt by someone. Blindsided. Betrayed.
Psalms 42:4- “My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!”
Lost the passion! Lost the faith! You don’t feel as close to God as you once did.
TODAY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT RESTORING PASSION!
TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE:
- Those who let circumstances influence their enthusiasm.
- Those who use their enthusiasm to influence their circumstances.
The word enthusiasm is derived from the Greek words, en and theos.
Theos is the Greek word for God. In theos, in God! Filled with God!
Enthusiasm is born out of intimacy with God!
1 Corinthians 15:57-58- “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
WORK….ENTHUSIASTICALLY…….FOR THE LORD!
It’s not WHAT you do, it’s WHO you do it for!
When you work FOR THE LORD, it transforms the MUNDANE into the MEANINGFUL!
YOU WORK WITH PASSION, ENTHUSIASTICALLY!
Working FOR THE LORD, ENTHUSIASTICALLY, PASSIONATELY, changes everything!
Passion is not a product of your environment! Passion is a posture of your heart!
DAVID, one of the most passionate, spiritually charged and enthusiastic people in the Bible.
1 Samuel 17:45-46- “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”
PURE GOD-CONFIDENCE! RAW SPIRITUAL PASSION! EN THEOS!
Where Did His Passion Come From?
- He trusted God Daily- He killed the lion/bear-
- He walked with God Daily- Lord is my Shepherd. Not just Sunday Church.
- He worshipped God Daily- Worshipped with all his might!
Trusting God-Walking with God-Worshipping God-FILLED WITH GOD!
But there were two seasons in David’s life. When he was a Kid and when he was a King!
With enthusiasm, David ran into battle, as a kid, to serve his God!
2 Samuel 11:1-2- “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.”
With apathy, David walked on the roof to serve his comfort!
HOW DID A MAN WHO HAD SUCH ENTHUSIASM AS A KID LOSE IT AS A KING?
David took his eyes off his CALLING and put it on his COMFORT!
WHICH BEST REPRESENTS YOU?
Are you charging into spiritual battle? Comfortable? Complacent?
Are you spiritually engaged or disengaged?
DAVID’S PRAYER OF REPENTANCE:
Psalm 51:10,12- “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”
What did God say about David? “This is a man after my own heart.”
CONCLUSION: Jesus said to the church at Ephesus:
Revelation 2:4-5- “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
(NLT)- “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”
You didn’t LOSE your passion, you LEFT your passion!
Enthusiasm is not a product of your environment. Enthusiasm is a posture of your heart!
Serve God on our job! Serve God in your home! I don’t have to be your pastor. I get to be your pastor! I don’t have to go to church, I get to go to church!
GET YOUR PASSION BACK!
1 Corinthians 15:57- “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Do what you did at first, cry out to Jesus!
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?