[Fire And Grace - David Johndrow] 5 1/2 Passion - It's Not Just a Fruit, Or M...

[David-FireAndGrace]

Matt over at The Church of No People asked us what were passionate about on his blog. Matt he's passionate about drinking - drinking water for those that don't have it. Me, I am passionate about different things at different times. Just look at my topic list on lower right - I write about a lot of stuff.

As usual, Matt got me to thinking, where does passion come from, why do I have it for some things and not for others? And then, I thought, what world I be sp passionate about that I'd be willing to lose my life, or put my family and friends behind me for? Those are tough questions. If you are like me, you want to be blessed by gaining something, not losing something that is important - especially our lives.

Our world offers a lot of conveniences. We can easily take them for granted. If you don't think so, listen to the neighbors next time the power goes out for a few hours - hey, I am sure as a Christian you'll be just fine. ;) I was thinking what life would be like without a cell phone, which; is basically a handheld computer?

The expectation of something can be faith, or entitlement. As Christians we can expect to have both. We must have faith in that which is unseen. And we are entitle to the benefits of the Kingdom of God for all eternity.

So, what's all this have to do with passion? Everything! The very things that we enjoy, the very causes we care about, the very essence of our being is designed by God. Sure there are fleshly desires, and then there are the God given desires of our heart.

Passion is the embodiment of pursuing a personal destiny in Jesus by the Spirit. It is well beyond just doing the rules or trying to be good; that is the flesh. The Spirit if God however; calls the deepest part of our soul to be in communion with His. Understanding that relationship is true passion.

Here are the building blocks of passion:

-1 Freedom: The Bible says that the truth will set us free. What truth are they talking about? Confessing our sins, being literalists about describing events, what? A lot of Christians talk about the freedom of grace, but Jesus said freedom is in keeping His teachings. And what were they to be free of? The religion of the Pharisees. We must get free of religion that keeps us from obeying Jesus! Then we can enjoy grace.

John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Even Paul was once zealous for the law of his fathers. Freedom is the ability to connect with God regardless of what others are doing.

Freedom is the doorway to passion.

-2 Love: There is a lot of talk about how Jesus would love mankind - he'd take from the rich and give to the poor - oh right that's Robin Hood.

The very shallow love that is often shown in even church is sometimes a joke. Real love changes the hearts of our neighbors and enemies.

Love is the power of passion. Without love we can only zealous.

Romans 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

-3 Faith: Faith is not belief. There are lots of folks that believe all kinds of things about the Kingdom of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Heaven and Hell etc. Faith is not belief. Faith beleives that God speaks to us, we can hear Him, and tht He hears us.

Faith in the unseen is the fuel of our passion. Without faith we will be without passion.

-4 Holiness: Sin sperates us from God. Even Christians sin. Every sin, regardless of whether you are saved or not, has consequences. The more we allow ourselves the freedom to sin, to live in a state of unholiness, and are cut off confessing our sins, the harder it becomes to be sensitive to the Spirit.

Sin reduces our ability to be passionate.

-5 Uniqueness: God has counted the very hairs on our heads, He has knit us in our mother's womb and knew us from the foundations of the earth. We are created in His image - He delights in who we are.

Our personality, the burdens we feel for others, and the sum total of our redeemed brokenness allows us to be who God has destined us.

Uniqueness is the vehicle of our passion; the very expression and essence of Jesus.

-5 1/2 Destiny...

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Posted By David-FireAndGrace to Fire And Grace - David Johndrow at 10/08/2010 05:30:00 AM