RENEWING YOUR ZEAL FOR GOD'S WORK

Shane Meredith

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THE LAWN CHAIR PILOT: In 2009 one of my favorite pixar movies came out called Up. (SL*) Before His house is taken away He ties a lot of helium balloon to it and goes up and to a place that he always wanted to visit. Of course some people had to try it in real life. (SL*) But long before these there was this guy; (SL*) (The lawn chair pilot…one day while sitting in his back yard he is bored and has an idea…elab(SL*)…When asked why by the news stations he replied... “can’t just sit there” or in other words you have to do something instead of sitting there and doing nothing. (He did all that out of boredom and it accomplished little... what if we (who have much more important reasons) say very seriously “I can’t just sit here and do nothing?”

Illustration of balloon man… “can’t just sit there” or in other words you have to do something instead of sitting there and doing nothing. (Now on a much more serious note:)

As followers of Christ we cannot “just sit there” and do nothing. God has called us to work! He has called us to do things that the world call foolish and even a waste of time and even dangerous and unnecessary!

The work that He has called us do HIS work! (The very opposite of the silly story) we have The most important work! The most essential work. It is work that touches PEOPLES LIVES AND eternity. SO NOT DOING ANYTHING IS NOT AN OPTION!

WE HAVE WORK TO DO! And we should be excited and privileged that God has entrusted us with the work of the kingdom AND HE HAS GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT AND POWER TO HELP US ACCOMPLISH IT!

Because of the important of God’s work we cannot sit there and not say “we have got to do something.” WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT IN CHRIST BEING WORKERS FOR GOD IS WHO WE ARE (OR AT LEAST SHOULD BE) IN CHRIST. (SL*)

(GOD HA

TRANS: FOR US TO GIVE GOD’S WORK THE PRIORITY IT HAS TO HAVE YOU MAY NEED TO...

RENEW YOUR COMMITMENT TO DO GOD’S WORK!

FOR US TO RENEW OR MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME COMMIT FULLY TO GOD’S WORK WE MUST SEE OURSELVES AS “MADE FOR IT!” GOD CREATED US TO DO HIS WORK!

BORN FOR THIS: When I was in my first few years of full time ministry I had become pretty discouraged and was doubting whether it was for me. Another minister found out and encouraged me. He grabbed me by the shoulders and looked me in the eyes and said very confidently “we were born for this.” There is a world of difference in whether or not you commit to something if you believe it is your purpose. (SL*)

AS CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS “WE WERE BORN AGAIN FOR THIS” TO DO GOD’S WORK!

DOING GOD’S WORK IS WHAT HE CREATED US FOR AND A PART OF WHY HE SAVED US.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

IN CASE YOU DID NOT CATCH IT THIS VERSE SAYS God’s work is what we were made for! God saved us and created us to do His works, He even prepares it beforehand (goes before us) so that we walk in (or daily live) life of doing His work.

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE!

People often talk about how God has a purpose for your life (and He does) as something that has yet to be revealed or done (and He may). But before we focus so much on that let’s not forget that God’s purpose for our lives is not a mystery God has made it plain as day through Jesus!

Our purpose is to continue Christ purpose. Christ purpose is to do the works of God.

God has a purpose for your life to prosper you (maybe, but He might want you to prosper you spiritually while you stay poor physically)....

The part of God’s purpose for your life that you hear about less is being a part of what God intends for your future is for you to get to work and accomplish what He has laid out for us to do!

To show just how serious God is about us (not just being saved by God’s grace) but saved to do God’s work…let’s take a trip through the Book of Titus so we can see just how much God wants to make sure we are NOT JUST DOING GOOD WORKS OCCASIONALLY BUT DEVOTED TO, WALKING IN AND LIVING TO DO GOD’S WORK!

(The first thing we see is in which gives us a huge truth that Jesus not only died to save us but He gave Himself up so we would be doers of God’s good works!

CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US TO DO GOD’S WORK. (SL*)

Titus 2:14 ESV

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

DOING GOD’S WORK IS ONE REASON CHRIST DIED! We know very well that Christ died to save us from our own sin (by taking the punishment for it) to purify us from it but also notice make a people who do God’s work! He gave himself up for us to DO GOD’S WORK TO CARRY ON THE GOOD WORKS THAT HE DID!

SO if OUR view of the cross is only that Christ died to save us from our sins then your view of is too small! ‘Christ gave His life so that we could be saved but He also died so that we would give our lives to serve!” - sm

To say it another way: “Christ sacrificed His life to save you so you would sacrifice your life to His service” - SM

It is no wonder God is so serious about us doing His work! HE GAVE HIS SON SO THAT YOU WOULD BE SERVANT so if you are not doing His work one of the purposes of His Son’s sacrifice is not being fulfilled. Now Titus 3...

GOD INSISTS THAT WE BE CAREFUL TO DO HIS WORK!

Trans: Now to and notice just how serious God is about ALL of His children being involved in good works; (SL*)

Titus 3:7–8 ESV

so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Look at the persistence in these verses: God wanted Titus to insist on these things. (What things? What was just said that we were justified by His grace and we are heirs of heaven…so that…or in other words…so that God’s people would be motivated...

So that those who believed in God…(Q: How many of you believed in God? Raise your hand. Yes!) God want you to be careful to devote yourself to good works. HE INSISTS! But he shouldn’t have to because of what He has given us.

trans: One more time in the second to last sentence in the letter God says again(SL*)

Titus 3:14 ESV

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

Titus 3:

So without a doubt God wanted us to learn to devote ourselves to good to not be unfruitful!

We are often very driven to live productive lives but if we are not being fruitful for God and doing what we do for His glory then we are not being productive at all not matter what we get done.

As God’S people we DESPERATELY need to rise above the cultural mindset that Christ came to die for us to save us and as long as we do not do bad things and worship occasionally we are good. CHRIST died for so much more!

We are saved to carry out Christ’s works, some of which include “helping cases of urgent need,” as points out!

DOING GOD’S WORK AND BEING DEVOTED TO IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST AND WE SHOULD BE DOING WHAT HE DID! b/c...

JESUS CAME TO DO THE FATHER’S WORK AND HAS GIVEN THE WORK TO HIS DISCIPLES

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES IF WE REALIZED THAT “SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THAT WE ENCOUNTER AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE MEET ARE THERE AT THE TIMES THEY ARE BECAUSE GOD WANTS US TO WORK SO HE COULD BE GLORIFIED!”

Jesus’ ministry is a great example of this and what happened in . If you remember Jesus and His disciples came in contact with a man born blind from birth (9:1). The disciples assume that He is this way because of sin. Jesus responds: (SL*)

John 9:3 ESV

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

John

So this man is blind and Jesus comes in contact with Him at this time so that God’s works can be displayed in Him and God can be glorified!

If we could only see the situations in our lives where God gives us opportunities as being there so that God’s works can be displayed in them. (Whether God’s work of love, compassion, guidance or providing…)

The disciples saw in the man a theological question mark? Jesus saw a man who needed help and an opportunity to work for God and glorify Him! Notice verse 4...

jOHN

John 9:3–5 ESV

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 9:4 ESV

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

God has given us works to accomplish as well just as He did Christ!

John 14:12 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Notice, “whoever believes” will do the works I do.” Q: How many of you believe in Jesus? JESUS SAYS YOU WILL DO THE WORKS OF GOD AS WELL! You are a witness to yourself that you are to do God’s works.

You are a witness to yourself that you are to do God’s works.

John 9:4–5 ESV

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Notice: Q: “Who must works the works of God who sent Christ?” There are two hugely powerful small word here “WE” and “MUST.”

IF WE WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS (HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS?) WE WILL WE MUST BE DOING THE WORK OF GOD WHO HAS SENT US!

(OPTIONAL: Jesus says here He is the light of the world as long as He is in the world. Who else did Jesus call the light of the world? His followers. In this context how would people see His light? The works! Now, how will people see our light that points to His light? By doing God’s works!)

VERSE…GIVEN US HIS MOST IMPORTANT WORK...

Jesus says night is coming when no one can work…so if we are not working for God now, what are you waiting for…the clock is ticking…”we do not have all day.”

KNOW THAT God has given us works to accomplish as well just as He did Christ! (SL*)

John 14:12 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Notice, “WHOEVER BELIEVES” will do the works I do...” Q: How many of you believe in Jesus? JESUS SAYS YOU WILL DO THE WORKS OF GOD AS WELL! You are a witness to yourself that you are to do God’s works. (THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR DOESN’T IT? LIKE DEJA VU (ALL OVER AGAIN) (NOT ALL OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE…HA)

You are a witness to yourself that you are to do God’s works.

NOW THAT WE HAVE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED THAT GOD’S WORKS ARE OUR WORKS...

WHAT ARE THE WORKS GOD HAS GIVEN US TO DO?

There is not enough time to talk about all the works that God has given us to do because they are so varied.

The work God has for us to do includes both using (1) our specific gifts that God has equipped us with and (2) carrying out the general work that we can all do such as spreading the gospel, helping the needy, .)

But we can think of two categories (1) Works that God has that we should all do such as (sharing the good news of Christ, making disciples, helping people in need, giving to those in need, (2) Works that God has given you specifically to do (according to the talents) and role God has placed you in) such as using your role as a Mother, or Father, or Elder or deacon or talent as an artist, encourager, as a giver. Showing hospitality, etc...

Romans 12:6–8 ESV

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Trans: It is important to be reminded of these things but we likely all know that we are supposed to be doing God’s works. So if we are not devoted to them why not? B/c...

RENEW YOUR ZEAL FOR GOD’S WORK

GOD NOT ONLY WANT US TO BE CONSISTENTLY INVOLVED IN HIS WORK OUT OF EXTREME COMMITMENT BUT BE ZEALOUS ABOUT IT. (Let’s read again…)

(THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE…ILL…)

Titus 2:14 ESV

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2:14 ESV

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Notice that He does not say a people who just do good works but people who are zealous for good works.

God is calling us to do His work with zeal and fervency and for us to do it consistently and with the right heart we need to be zealous about it. (We will not do it consistently or with a lot of effort if we are not zealous about it.)

God is calling us to do His work with zeal and fervency and for us to do it consistently and with the right heart we need to be zealous about it.

In other words God has called us to be real in our relationship with Him and those we serve. Everything that we do needs to come from love for Him and love for others. If we do not have the right motivation of love then whatever we do as far as we go is all for nothing. () LIKE THE GREATEST COMMANDS...

Trans: As we magnify doing God’s works with zeal and how we can have that zeal we need to make sure we understand...

be careful be doing good works…(ill be careful…)

(Trans: before we delve any deeper into how we can be zealous we need to make sure we understand what zeal even means…)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ZEALOUS?

Because it can be easy to get it mixed up with things that are like it but not equal to it!

Basic definition is “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.”

There is a difference between excitement and zeal. Zeal can cause excitement but excitement is not equal to zeal. “Excitement often comes from something that we will benefit from but zeal comes from something we believe in.”

“Zeal is like a burning inside of us and causes us to be so fired up on the inside that it comes out in our efforts on the outside.”

Zeal produces excitement, drive, creativity, passion, fervency and consistency!

LIKE WHEN YOU

JESUS DID GOD’S WORK WILL ZEAL - HE LIVED FOR IT!

He showed that in His ministry like when He was doing God’s work through reaching out to a Samaritan woman at the well.

John 4:34 ESV

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

JESUS WAS so wrapped up in the work God had for Him to do that He was not concerned even with eating!

Notice He says, “to accomplish His (God’s) work.” In other words more than anything I want to accomplish God’s work. That is what really fills me!

Scripture conveys the idea of zeal as being something that consumes us as with Jesus in the previous example.

for example says: “My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.”

says “zeal for your house will consume me.” We know that this is actually a prophesy of Jesus clearing out the temple.

Jesus’ zeal caused Him to cleanse the temple.

John 2:17 ESV

His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

What has your zeal caused you to do for God? Jesus was consumed with Zeal for Gods house and when He saw what they were making God’s house into and He started turning over tables and kicking people out! His zeal overwhelmed Him and it caused Him to do God’s work! Jesus flipped over tables and drove out the money changers.

WE NEED THIS KIND OF ZEAL THAT COMES FROM THE TRUTH THAT CAUSES US TO STOP CARING WHAT OTHERS WILL THINK OR WHAT THE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING AND LIVING FOR AND START LIVING FOR GOD’S KINGDOM INSTEAD OF OUR OWN.

Jesus was consumed with zeal and He was wrapped in it like a cloak!

Isaiah 59:17 ESV

He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

prophesies of Jesus and describes Him as being wrapped in zeal!! He was clothed with zeal. Zeal was what people saw in Jesus when He taught and in what He did.

Jesus was consumed with Zeal for Gods house and when He saw what they were making God’s house into and He started turning over tables and kicking people out! His zeal overwhelmed Him and it caused Him to do God’s work!

(Quote…from what you believe…)

It is like when we see injustice or evil or something contrary to God’s word and we are consumed or overwhelmed in our hearts because of it.

ZEAL CAUSED US TO WORK TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS…THIS IS WHAT GOD DID.

Zeal produces excitement, drive, creativity passion, fervency and consistency!

ZEAL OFTEN LEADS TO INCREDIBLE WORKS

The best example of this is what tells us God’s zeal accomplished. Read...

“The zeal of the Lord will do this”

Isaiah 9:7 ESV

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The zeal of the Lord brought about Christ to establish His kingdom and our salvation. God was so passionate about us out of love that He accomplished every promise concerning salvation and the kingdom that He gave.

We are here today as Christ Kingdom, worshipping Him because of God’s zeal! IF GOD WAS SO ZEALOUS TO SAVE US WE SHOULD BE JUST AS ZEALOUS TO LIVE FOR HIM AND DO HIS WORK!

People are zealous for all kinds of less important things…that we are zealous about eternal things....

HOW CAN WE HAVE GENUINE ENERGY SUSTAINING DRIVING ZEAL FOR GOD’S WORKS?

WHAT PRODUCES ZEAL IN OUR HEARTS? Guilt trips? fear? knowledge? reward?

guilt trips? fear? knowledge? reward?

People are often more passionate about success, latest political views, their money, their alma mater, sports teams, hobbies, ect than they are about their relationship with God or doing His work.

What about love for God (who has given us the work and works with us), love for others (whom we serve to see their lives change), and seeing God work!

HOW CAN WE BE LIKE CHRIST AND CONSISTENTLY DESIRE TO DO GOD’S WORK!

Trans: Just because we understand we are supposed to be zealous doesn’t mean we know how to be zealous! (It’s like when you are feeling down and someone says “cheer up,”)

HOW CAN WE BE LIKE CHRIST AND CONSISTENTLY DESIRE TO DO GOD’S WORK AND WILL.

RENEW YOUR VISION OF GOD’S WORK!

SEE GOD’S WORK AS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK YOU CAN DO!

No matter what our culture thinks about it or how much our world devalues it we need to HOLD TO THE TRUTH THAT THERE IS NO GREATER WORK THAN THE WORK THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US TO DO! (But we will not see that if...

If we see God’s work only as work then of course you won’t be zealous about it. (Work is work and that may not excite us)(Just something else we have to work into our schedules) God’s work is work but it is so much more! We will never see that unless...

WE HAVE TO SEE GOD’S WORK THROUGH FAITH AND SPIRITUAL SIGHT TO SEE THAT IT MATTERS ETERNALLY!

It is not just work it is God’s activity that He does through us! THERE IS NO GREATER FEELING THAN KNOWING YOU HAVE BEEN USED BY GOD TO REACH SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE.

If we see God’s work only as work then of course you won’t be zealous about it. (Work is work and that may not excite us) God’s work is work but it is so much more!

We have to see it through the eyes of faith that see what is unseen. We have to see what is happening spiritually when we work for God. (Otherwise it will seem only like trivial work that accomplishes little.) FOR EXAMPLE:

THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO ZEAL AND DOING GOD’S WORK.

WHEN A SOUL IS BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST: we understand through faith that while the persons physical body is getting wet, there is an incredible spiritual event going on…through faith we know that a death is happening and we are watching someone being resurrected, cleansed of sin, new where the Holy Spirit is coming to dwell in the person…salvation is happening RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES! The Angels in heaven a rejoicing and cheering with more excitement and volume that a stadium of 100,000 people. It is a win that is greater than any sporting event or saving of life! It is victory! It is the saving of a life as if we were watching someone laying on the floor dead being given cpr and and seeing them come back to life! Or a someone being pulled from a FIRE!

guilt trips? fear? knowledge? reward?

What about love for God (who has given us the work and works with us), love for others (whom we serve to see their lives change), and seeing God work!

NOT STAYING FOR A BAPTISM: And yet sometimes we do not see it’s significant! Years ago I remember someone coming forward after a Sunday morning lesson to be baptized. We said the closing prayer which the baptism would follow. There were a number of people who just went ahead and left to go to lunch instead of staying a few minute to see and welcome their new sister in Christ. (That made me so…zealous…I can understand a little of how Jesus felt when He cleansed the temple.)

WHEN WE SERVE: Through faith when we serve even the least of these with the least noticeable deed we are serving Christ (as God is pleased),

WHEN WE SHARE THE GOSPEL: we realize that we ARE planting a seed that God can cause to grow into salvation. It is through His power and gospel that brings salvation.

WHEN WE DO GOD’S WORK AND NO ONE CARES: we realize that it does not matter because God sees it.

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Hebrews 6:10 ESV

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

PEOPLE ARE ZEALOUS FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE NO REAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ETERNAL VALUE. GOD’S WORK HAS ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE!

People are zealous for all kinds of less important things…that we are zealous about eternal things....

LET IT NEVER BE SAID THAT people are often more passionate about success, latest political views, their money, their alma mater, sports teams, hobbies, etc, than we are about our relationship with God or doing His work.

We have to see it through the eyes of faith that see what is unseen. We have to see what is happening spiritually when we work for God.

(ill: at baptism, serving someone, doing good, when no one noticed God noticed…(verses) ,

SEE DOING GOD’S WORK AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE GOD WORK

If you were walking with Jesus during His ministry do you think you would be amazed? This was part of the reason for Jesus’ works. So those who saw Jesus would realize that they were seeing the Father.

John 5:20 ESV

For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

God’s works should amaze us! Now that we have been handed the work of Christ we need to understand that God is working with us and through us.

Paul called Timothy God’s coworker and in God says we are His fellow workers.

1 Corinthians 3:9 ESV

For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

When we decide to show up and do God’s work then we will in the midst of working for Him see that He is working with us to accomplish His will. (DO NOT THINK…)

IF WE WOULD ZEALOUSLY WORK FOR GOD WE WOULD BE AMAZED AT WHAT GOD WOULD DO THROUGH US! (Not our might or power but by the His Spirit!)

1 Cor “God’s coworkers...”

Optional ILLUSTRATION: I know a guy who is now a faithful Christian and married to a wonderful woman and active in the kingdom. If you look at his past you would not have given him much of a chance…elab…the whole trajectory of his life was changed because someone decided to step in and teach him the gospel and allow God to...

John 5:20 ESV

For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

THERE IS NO GREATER FEELING THAN KNOWING YOU HAVE BEEN USED BY GOD TO TOUCH SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE AND ETERNITY!

If you were walking with Jesus during His ministry do you think you would be amazed?

If we would zealously work for God we would be amazed at what God would do through us.

If you want to see God…get to work bearing fruit for Him and you will see His hand working in your life and those that you are reaching out to.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE WILL SEE GOD’S GLORY AND GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED TO OTHERS

WHEN WE DO GOD’S WORK WE SEE GOD WORK

We might be a lot more zealous about doing God’s work if we believed that when we step out in faith and do God’s work God shows up and works alongside us. (Actually within us through His Spirit and alongside us through His power and sovereignty)

When we step up and do God’s work we see God’s work as He works with us and our zeal and amazement and hunger for God’s work grows!

Doing His work is one of the main places we feel His presence and through faith see His signature in what happens.

Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus’ sickness was for Jesus to be glorified!

John 11:4 ESV

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

When Jesus comes to Mary and Martha and tells Martha to roll the stone away sHe responds without belief. In she says;

John 11:39 ESV

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”

John 11:40 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IF YOU DO GOD’S WORK THAT YOU AND OTHERS WILL SEE GOD’S GLORY?

SEE DOING GOD’S WORK AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO SEE GOD’S GLORY

His love, His power, His kingdom

Jesus came and glorified God through the works that He did and others saw the glory of God. -

God takes our meager efforts and turns them into something powerful in the lives of others.

God works through us verses…(as with Paul…)...

(The work God has for us to do includes both using our specific gifts that God has equipped us with and carrying out the general work that we can all do such as spreading the gospel.)

(optional illustration: man who put weather balloons on his lawn chair because he was bored. If you do not want to be bored you have to DO SOMETHING)

If you are bored in your faith then you have to do something. Being Christ’s follower is the farthest thing from boring. If it is that to us then we have made it that way.

Romans 15:18 ESV

For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

We may need to renew our zeal but what I am hoping is that we will come to find a zeal for God’s purpose for our lives that is greater than we have ever experienced before!

There is a difference between excitement and zeal. Zeal can cause excitement but excitement is not equal to zeal. Excitement for example often comes from something that we will benefit from but zeal comes from something we believe in.

“Zeal is like that burning inside of us and causes us to be so fired up on the inside that we almost have to say or do something.”

Biblical descriptions of zeal are best. Scripture conveys the idea of zeal as being something that consumes.

for example says: “My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.”

It is like when we see injustice or evil or something contrary to God’s word and we are consumed or overwhelmed in our hearts because of it.

Zeal for God’s house consumed Jesus. The

What are you zealous about?

What we are zealous about and what GOD is zealous about!

We can be zealous for the wrong things. Our zeal might make us feel that we are right when if fact we are wrong.

(ill: How many of those of you who are married have ever had an argument (er…discussion) with your spouse in which you were so sure of your side that you passionately held it only to find out you were wrong? Now did you admit it or just keep arguing your point? Ha!)

Paul when he was Saul said that He was zealous for persecuting the church.

“The zeal of the Lord will do this”

Isaiah 9:7 ESV

Is (:7

Also - check it...

ill

are we as zealous about God’s work?

WHAT IS THE WORK THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO?

God has called us to be zealous for good works…Titus verses...

If you are not doing it then you are not zealous about it.

We make time for what is important to us and especially what we are excited/passionate about.

WHY WOULD WE NOT BE ZEALOUS?

Is it because it is boring work that is just hard and discouraging?

It might be in how we see it.

It is not just work it is God’s activity that He does through us! THERE IS NO GREATER FEELING THAN KNOWING YOU HAVE BEEN USED BY GOD TO REACH SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE.

How can we see it as Jesus saw it? (as most important and be passionate and zealous about it.)

Our purpose is to continue Christ purpose. Christ purpose is to do the works of God.

God has a purpose for your life to prosper you (maybe, but He might want you to prosper you spiritually while you stay poor physically)

The part of God’s purpose for your life that you rarely hear about as being a part of what God intends for your future is for you to get to work and accomplish what He has laid out for us to do!

God’s purpose for our lives is to do His work!

JESUS WAS ZEALOUS FOR GOD’S WORK.

Jesus’ purpose and drive and fulfillment came through doing God’s work

John 4:34 ESV

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

The interaction here and the reason He said this is interesting. It shows that Jesus was most concerned with doing God’s work. (Which in this case was reaching out to a Samaritan woman.) His disciples went to get bread to bring back.

John 2:17 ESV

His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

John

What has your zeal caused you to do for God? Jesus flipped over tables and drove out the money changers.

Isaiah 59:17 ESV

He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

Isaiah 59:

prophesies of Jesus and describes Him as being wrapped in zeal!! He was clothed with zeal. Zeal was what people saw in Jesus when He taught and in what He did.

In the works of God that He did.

John 9:4 ESV

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

We may not realize it but Christ did not just save us but He handed us the greatest work that mankind will ever do.

John 5:20 ESV

For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

John 5:

If you were walking with Jesus during His ministry do you think you would be amazed?

As followers of Christ we are to do the works of Christ

John 14:12 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

John 5:36 ESV

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

Has God given us works to do?

John 14:12 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Notice, “whoever” will do the works I do...”How many of you believe in Jesus? JESUS SAYS YOU WILL DO THE WORKS OF GOD AS WELL!

You are a witness to yourself that you are to do God’s works.

guilt trips? fear? knowledge? reward?

What about love for God (who has given us the work and works with us), love for others (whom we serve to see their lives change), and seeing God work!

Acts 10:38 ESV

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Titus 2:14 ESV

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Titus

Titus 3:1 ESV

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Titus 3:8 ESV

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Titus

Titus 3:14 ESV

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

Titus 3:

1 Timothy 5:9–10 ESV

Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

We cannot be zeal and be spiritual sloths. (Optional add ins about sloths)

Romans 12:11 ESV

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

GOD IS GLORIFIED WHEN WE DO HIS WORKS.

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

John 17:4 ESV

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

When we step up and do God’s work we see God’s work as He works with us and our zeal and amazement and hunger for God’s work grows!

Doing His work is one of the main places we feel His presence and through faith see His signature in what happens.

John 11:4 ESV

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

John 11:40 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

John 9:3 ESV

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

John 11:

Do you want to see the glory of God?

I HAVE NO CHALLENGE THIS WEEK EXCEPT THE COMMANDS THAT GOD HAVE GIVEN FOR YOU TO ZEALOUS FOR GOD’S WORK. SO LET’S GET TO WORK! GET TO WORK DOING GOOD FOR THE KINGDOM!

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S WORK

THE POWER BEHIND GOD’S WORK

THE LOVE FOR GOD’S WORK

Habakkuk 3:2 ESV

O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

Micah 6:8 ESV

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?