A DIET OF PASSION!
MATTHEW 5:6
INTRODUCTION: “WHY DO RELATIONSHIPS FALTER?”
A). BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SOMETIMES I’VE HAD THE UNENVIABLE TASK OF DEALING WITH PEOPLES PROBLEMS.
B). DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BEING THE WORST. PARENTS
HAVING TO EXCHANGE THEIR CHILDREN AT THE
POLICE DEPT.
C). “THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE” (SONG)
D). LORD “WHY DO THESE RELATIONSHIPS FALTER?”
E). EVEN BEYOND THE NATURAL, INTO THE SPIRITUAL.
F). WHY DO THOSE THAT HAVE WALKED WITH THE LORD, TURN
G). WE CAN GIVE OUR OPINION; NOT A LACK OF TIME,
COMMUNICATION, COMMITMENT, INTEREST, OR LOVE.
(ALL THESE THINGS, YET NONE OF THEM)
H). BOTTOM LINE: THE RELATIONSHIP HAS LOST IT’S PASSION.
1). PASSION DEFINED AS A POWERFUL EMOTION OR APPETITE.
A). THE PROBLEM WITH PASSION BEING STRICTLY EMOTIONAL, IS THAT OUR EMOTIONS CAN CHANGE DAY TO DAY.
B). IF THINGS ARE GOING GOOD/BAD WE HAVE STRONG/WEAK PASSION.
C). BUT IF OUR PASSION IS BASED ON A STRONG APPETITE, IT’S A DIFFERENT STORY.
D). EVEN AFTER EATING A FULL MEAL, WE IMMEDIATELY
BEGIN TO USE WHAT WE CONSUMED. BURNING UP
CALORIES, ENERGY, REPLENISHING OUR FAT CELLS.
E). WHETHER WE REALIZE IT OR NOT, WE HAVE BEGUN TO REGAIN OUR APPETITE. MAYBE NOT TO THE POINT OF
WANTING TO EAT AGAIN, BUT WE ARE GROWING HUNGRY.
F). WHEN YOU HAVE PASSION (APPETITE), YOU MAKE TIME, YOU TALK, YOU KEEP COMMITMENTS, YOU SHOW LOVE!
G). WE NEED A CHANGE IN OUR DIET!
H). WE’VE BEEN CONSUMING THE WORLDS JUNK FOOD LONG ENOUGH.
I). WE NEED A DIET OF PASSION!
J). FOR SEVERAL REASONS:
1). WE WERE CREATED TO HAVE A PASSION/APPETITE FOR GOD
A). MATTHEW 5:6 – “BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE”
B). BLESSED = HAPPY, FULFILLED.
C). HAPPY, FULFILLED ARE THOSE THAT HUNGER FOR JESUS AND HIS WAYS.
D). BLESSED, FULFILLED, ARE THOSE THAT ARE PASSIONATE FOR JESUS AND HIS WAYS.
E). PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND SEARCHING FOR FULFILLMENT.
F). THE ONLY THING THAT WILL EVER TRULY FILL US; IS JESUS!
G). LUKE “LABOR NOT FOR THE MEAT THAT PERISHES, BUT THE MEAT THAT ENDURETH FOEVER.
2). WE CANNOT EXPECT THE WORLD TO DO SOMETHING WE DO NOT DO!
A). WE ARE TELLING THE WORLD THEY NEED A PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP W/JESUS, YET WE FAIL TO.
B). WE TELL THE WORLD THEY NEED TO COMMIT TO JESUS, YET WE OFTEN FAIL IN OUR COMMITMENT.
C). WE TELL THE WORLD THEY NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS, YET WE SOMETIMES FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM.
D). AGAIN, IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO OUR LEVEL OF PASSION.
E). OUR HUNGER/APPETITE FOR THE THINGS OF GOD.
F). IF WE ARE NOT PASSIONATE ABOUT JESUS, WE CANNOT EXPECT THE WORLD TO BE.
CONCLUSION:
A). PASSION CANNOT BE EVIDENT IN JUST ONE AREA OF OUR LIFE.
B). THAT’S WHATS WRONG NOW.
C). WE LOVE GOD, AS LONG AS WE CAN DIRECT HIS PATH, INSTEAD OF HIM DIRECTING OUR PATH.
D). FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, WE WILL BE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT “PASSION”.
E). USING MARK 12:30 AS OUR FOUNDATIONAL TEXT “LOVE THE LORD THY GOD, WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH.
