Passion, what do you have a passion for? What excites you, what moves you, what gets you so enthused you have no other means but the one that your eyes and your heart has desired? What is it? Do you know what passion is? Passion is a feeling of intense enthusiasm towards or compelling desire for someone or something. Passion can range from eager interest in or admiration for an idea, proposal, or cause; to enthusiastic enjoyment of an interest or activity; to strong attraction, excitement, or emotion towards a person. It is particularly used in the context of romance or sexual desire, though it generally implies a deeper or more encompassing emotion than that implied by the term lust.
There are many people that have passions for things that do not benefit them at all. Lots of people have passions for the wrong things, whether its an attraction to the opposite sex, or a sport, for work, and I’m not saying at all that those things are evil in of itself, but what I am saying that anything that takes precedence over God, will become evil. Anything that takes the place of God upon your heart will be your God, I guess the question I’m wanting to ask you is, do you have a passion for the things of God like God had a passion for you?
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Opening scripture:
Colossians 3:23
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
1st Point “Pleasing God and not men”
One of the hardest things to do is please man
We try our hardest to please men with things
We do whatever they ask us, we will do whatever it takes to please others
b. Steal, lie, cheat, scheme just to prove our love for them
c. We are blind because of the wrong passion or rather a passion for the wrong things
2. The bible tells us that whatever we do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men,
a. Men are never satisfied with what they get out of others, they always want more
Proverbs 27:20
20 Hell[a] and [b]Destruction are never full;?So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Men with this advantage over others will ask you of the impossible, ask you to do what you would never do under regular circumstances
This is evil and very dangerous
This is when perverse things come into play
Proverbs 6:12
A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;
This is where you are going to have to see that pleasing others before God destroys you
Begin to please God
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
God doesn’t to use for the things of evil but wants to exalt you by good things He has a hope and a future for you while others will try to strip the promise of God from your life.
The bile gives us numerous accounts of the devils having a desire to destroy us but god has other plans for us.
Psalm 119:95
The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies.
God wants to build within us a testimony, one that people will consider and begin to also serve Jesus Christ rather than men
2nd Point “The passion Christ had for us”
Isaiah 53:4-6
4 Surely He has borne our [a]griefs?And carried our [b]sorrows;?Yet we [c]esteemed Him stricken,?[d]Smitten by God, and afflicted.?5 But He was wounded[e] for our transgressions,?He was [f]bruised for our iniquities;?The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,?And by His stripes[g] we are healed.?6 All we like sheep have gone astray;?We have turned, every one, to his own way;?And the Lord [h]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He went to the cross for us
This passion, this desire to see you and make heaven our home took Him to the cross ands even to the death of the flesh.
He had a passion for the right ones, that was us.
There was no satisfying others, no trying to please man, what Christ did, He did it unto His Father in heaven, who saw our condition had a passion for His Children and would send us this precious sacrifice to die a brutal death for us. That’s passion.
There are people who would die for the wrong causes, no benefit, no gain just to prove to others that they love them but it doesn’t help them one bit, just destroys them inside and out.
This passion that Jesus had for you, to die for you benefits you
He went to the cross and die so you wouldn’t have to He brings life and life more abundantly
So who are you following and where?
Mark 8:34
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
b. Are you following the right person or people? Have considered giving it all to Christ as He gave it all for you?
c. To deny yourself is a rejecting of the things that please you and beginning to satisfy the one who will fill your desires with His own desires for your life.
1. Things begin to change when this happens
2. You begin to think differently, talk, and desire differently, your passions begin to be redirected for the things of Good and not of evil. Your priorities change, you begin to have a passion for the things of God and not of man.
When you begin to see with spiritual eyes the passion of the Christ you begin to see life for what it really is
This passion he has for you is still alive it hasn’t died.
This passion that Christ has dwells in others that have a passion for His will, Those that had to pick up their cross and follow Him.
Christ still has a passion for this very moment
3rd Point “Giving it all to Christ”
Luke 14:25-33
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
See beloved when I look at what Christ has done He gave it all.
There wasn’t a speck of blood that was spared but all was poured out for me
What are you holding back that Christ has been trying to ply from your life?
Jesus wants to fulfill your life not empty it, He has great plans for you but your going to have to trust Him
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Psalm 4:5
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord.
Beloved give your whole heart to God in Jesus Christ and let His passions reign in your life and see how life with the Lord’s hands engulfing you and holding you will bless you abundantly.
Several things happen when you give your whole heart to God
You find peace
You feel strong
You begin to put value into the right places and people
You feel renewed
You experience true happiness
Your rescued from pain
You experience real love
These are the real experiences that you begin to have in your life when you begin to have a passion for the things of God.
