I Want Some of That!

Michael E. Grooms

Introduction:

     A. Can you think of someone who just “bubbles over” with an enthusiasm for God?

      B. When you see that person, do you ever think “I want some of that”?

      C. When people see your life do they say “I want some of that”?

  I. God Desires Zealous People

      A. In Jer. 29:12,13 the exiles in Babylon were told to seek God

           “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye

           shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

           1. God wants to be found! He is not far from us

           2. We can be separated from God  (Is. 59:1,2)

      B. Mark 12:30 Jesus gave the “greatest commandment”

           “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy                

           mind, and with all thy strength”

           1. Heart- The seat of emotion (feeling)

           2. Soul- The very essence of our person (being)

           3. Mind- The logical aspect of a person (thinking)

           4. Strength- Denotes the intensity of this love (effort)

      C. The apathetic Christian is a pathetic Christian

 II. Evidences of Christian Zeal

      A. A Christian’s zeal cannot be hidden! Matt. 5:13 (Ye are the light of the world...)

      B. Christian zeal is a result of a transformed life

           1. Romans 6:3,4  We rise from baptism to walk a new life

           2. Romans 12:1,2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

      C. This “renewed mind” allows us to have a spirit of love, diligence, and zeal Romans 12:10,11

      D. A true Christian life shows evidence of a “renewed mind”

           1. It is a devoted life Ecc. 9:10  “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might”

           2. It is a fruitful life John 4:35 “Look on the fields, for they are white already unto harvest”

           3. It is a joyful life Acts 20:17-24

           4. It is an encouraging life Heb. 10:24-25

           5. It is a testimonial life Acts 4:20 “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard”

III. The Danger of Apathy

      A. Satan does not need bad people to accomplish his purposes, jsut those who do not care

      B. Rev. 3:15,19 The church at Laodicea was satisfied and apathetic

           1. This sounds like many churches today

           2. Verse 19 says to be zealous and repent

           3. Some of us need to repent of the sin of apathy and be zealous toward our Lord

      C. The church is crippled and burdened when its members are apathetic (Read Illustration)

Conclusion:

      A. Rev. 3:20,21

           1. The love of God can overcome the hardest or the most apathetic heart

           2. He is knocking at the door of your heart, do you even care? Will you let Him in?

      B. Please do not crucify Jesus again by driving the cold nails of indifference into His pleading hands!

           1. If you are not a child of God, accept Him in humble obedience to His commands

           2. If you are a “luke-warm” Christian, He is calling for you to fall in love with Him again!