Guarding Your Passion For Christ

Guarding your passion for Jesus

Introduction

Ever since the Camp Meeting God has been dealing with me about my walk with him.

This was confirm through the ministry of Bro. John Arcovio, The Tenneys’ .

The Lord was showing me that He wasn’t looking for just a group of Christians but rather a group of Christian that WILL PASSIONATELY SEEKING HIM.

He is not just looking just for prayers but He is looking for passionate prayer.

Mark 12:29-30 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: ’Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

What is passion?

According to Sis. Tenney, “Passion is an intense desire”

Why is passion so important?

Rev. 2:1-7 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: [2] I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; [3] and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. [4] Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. [5] 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. [6] But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. [7] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ’

Background: In the first three chapters of Revelation, the apostle John has an amazing vision: He sees Jesus walking in the midst of the seven New Testament churches of Asia.

Jesus appears among the seven churches, he begins to judge them according to both the good and bad he beholds.

Now, these seven churches were actual congregations, in real localities--the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Laodicea, and so on. Yet John hears God’s voice speaking not only to these particular churches, but to the church universal--indeed, to every believer who looks for Jesus’ soon return.

Jesus begins his judgments by listing the many good things about the churches that bless him. And he compliments each church on these things. But he also sees several things that grieve him deeply--and he issues a warning to each church.

His first message is to the Christians at Ephesus--a church founded on the godly teaching of the apostle Paul. Jesus’ judgment of the Ephesians is,

Rev 2:4

[4] Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

When Jesus uses the words "first love" here, he isn’t speaking of the immature love we experience when we’re first saved. Rather, he’s talking about exclusive love. He’s saying, "I once occupied first place in your heart. But now you’ve lost the exclusivity of your love for me. You’ve allowed other things to take my place!"

So what was the Church in Ephesus like?

As I read through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we find that the apostle Paul compliments them at length. He addresses them as

"...the faithful in Christ Jesus... blessed...with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ...chosen...before the foundation of the world...predestinated... unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" in Ephesians 1:1-5.

Paul adds that they are a forgiven people, having the revelation of the mystery of Christ and being

"...sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (verse 13).

He further prays they would have

"...the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know...the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe..." (verses 17, 19).

These Christians had been made alive,

" . .. quickened ...with Christ. . . (who) hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (2:5-6).

Paul calls them Christ’s

"...workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works...(and) are made nigh (near) by the blood of Christ" (verse 13). He says that by God’s grace, they are "...grow(ing) unto an holy temple in the Lord...through the Spirit" (verses 21-22).

Conclusion: What we have here is a description of a blessed, holy people!

In the book of Revelation