fanatic: "marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion" Merriam-Websters Dictionary
Does this word define how you follow Jesus? Last year we went through the "Not a Fan" Small Group experience. Kyle Idleman, the author of the series, defined the word "fan" as an enthusiastic admirer. We're more comfortable being fans than fanatics. When we shorten the word to fan we identify with the folks who are in the stands watching the game, they paint their face, wear the jersey, they chant, sing, and yell really loud when their team scores. Fans don't play the game. They don't suit up or practice and they certainly don't coach, although many fans think they can coach better especially after a loss. But a fanatic is something different. When we use the whole word it's usually to describe something negative about a person and their character and/or behavior. For example, we don't usually talk in a positive light about religious fanatics or political fanatics. We use words like extremists or radicals to define fanatics.
I wonder how many of us would be uncomfortable with the idea that Jesus expects his followers to be fanatically devoted to Him and His teaching. Jesus shares with His followers the first thing He expects of them is that they will "deny themselves" to follow Him. Those who, guided by God, wrote the New Testament, expounded on what this means. Paul said it this way, "So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world." Colossians 3:5
There are a lot of other verses in the Bible that explain how followers deny themselves to follow Jesus. We don't have time to read them all but here's a list for you to read if you want to know more about how to live a fanatically devoted life for Jesus by denying yourself.
The truth is clear that God expects followers of Jesus to live His way instead of their own way. We make decisions based on our fanatical devotion to live for Jesus every day. So I don't want to take up a lot of time discussing how we live but I do want to take some time to talk about why. Why do we devote our lives to Jesus Christ? We want to answer this question because I'm convinced there are a lot of folks who would claim to be Christians but don't know why they should follow Jesus. The reason I believe this is because I've heard too many people give the wrong reasons for why they live the way they do. For example, if I asked, "Why do we bless people in need of help?" The wrong response is, "Because they need help." Or, "Because God told us to."
The correct response is, "Because we love God." When we help someone we do so because we are motivated by our love for God. So then as we are blessing them we explain to them how God is working through us. And more importantly they see Jesus in us. This is the reason we do everything we do, "Because we love God." Our greatest privilege as followers of Jesus is to point people to Jesus. This is why we are fanatically devoted to Him. So everyone will see who Jesus is. The Savior of the world. The Boss of everything.
So are you fanatically devoted to Jesus because you love God? Here are two ways you can know the answer to this question.
1. You love the Word of God.
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12
If you love God you love His Word. There's just no way around this. Devoted followers of Jesus who love God are in tune with His Word. They're not perfect because no one is, but, they live for the Truth and they know the Truth because they love the Truth. In the first few years of our marriage Kristi wanted me to take more of a Spiritual lead in our family. She felt that it would be better if I were the one to call our kids for a family worship time, or if I would be the one to read the Bible to them and pray with them. I thought that she could do just as well as I with this stuff so even though I participated, I didn't take the lead. I was a busy guy. Kristi didn't complain or whine and she didn't press me about it, but, what I didn't know was that she was praying about it. She prayed every day that I would be the Spiritual leader in our home.
One day I came home from work early. I had read through Ephesians 6 that morning, and I spent a couple of hours contemplating verses 1-4. I can't tell you how many times I've read Ephesians 6 before that day, many, many, many times. But that morning the Word of God acted as a Sword that cut my heart. The Word exposed my weakness as a Spiritual leader in my home. This was no coincidence. Prayer accompanied by the living and active Word of God is a death wish for anything evil that lives in us. When we pray and we obey the Word evil has zero chance of survival in our hearts and minds.
I shared with Kristi that day that I was going to be better at leading my family Spiritually. And she was excited and grateful because God answered her prayer. This is the Scripture I read that convicted me, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." Ephesians 6:4
In his book "Limited Church: Unlimited Kingdom" Rob Reinow writes, "If you were Satan what do you think one of your strategies might be to keep people from faith in Christ, and for those who have faith, to keep them from growing? You would keep them far away from the Bible as you possibly could. His attack on the church is subtle...Most Christians I know, including myself, struggle to spend consistent time reading and studying the Bible. I believe it is because of this spiritual attack."
I agree with Rob. This is why the education and leadership teams of this church chose the D6 curriculum that we use on Sunday. The D6 material includes a lot of take home resources that are designed to help you learn God's Word. The reason we want you to have these resources is because the Word of God is powerful, alive and active. We are fanatical devoted followers who seek to live the truth because our greatest privilege as followers of Jesus is to point people to Jesus. There's no way to do this without living with the Word every day.
2. You love to bless the needs of people in Jesus Name
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" Matthew 25:37-40
If you love God you love to bless people in Jesus Name. Paul wrote in Romans 12 that one way to worship God is to help people and practice hospitality. Our attitude regarding the church should not be about attendance, or volunteering for some activity, our perspective should be that we are a part of a Kingdom movement to preach Jesus to the lost and to provide resources for the needy. Followers of Jesus are in tune with the needs of their community. They seek out opportunities to bless people for Jesus. This is why our fellow believers are involved in the food bank, visit with those who come to the Cafe on Saturday, invest time in Soup for the Soul, the Happy Day's Playgroup, and the men's RAK Attack! (Random Acts of Kindness). We're blessing people in Jesus name.
If you love God you're joining up and getting involved. God created church so we could bless people in Jesus Name together.
Dave Thomas the founder of Wendy's who died in 2002 left a legacy of being a practical, hard-working man who was respected for his down-to-earth values. Among the pieces of good advice that have outlived Thomas is his view of what Christians should be doing with their lives. Thomas, who as a child, was influenced by his grandmother, a follower of Jesus, said that believers should be "roll-up-your-shirt sleeves" Christians.
In his book "Well Done", Thomas said, "Roll-up-your-shirtsleeves Christians see Christianity as faith and action. They still make the time to talk with God through prayer, study Scripture with devotion, be super-active in their church and take their ministry to others to spread the Good Word...they are anonymous people who are doing good for Christ may be doing even more good than all the well-known Christians in the world."
That statement has more meat in it than a Wendy’s triple burger. Thomas knew about hard work in the restaurant business; and he knew it's hard work to be a follower of Jesus. As fanatical followers we roll-up-our-shirt sleeves because there is plenty to do.
If you love God you will be in tune with Jesus and His mission. We are fanatical devoted followers who seek to live for Jesus and the truth because our greatest privilege as followers of Jesus is to point people to Jesus.
