Strike Up A Passion

Strike Up a Passion

Part One: Faithful to his Call: The Submission

God is looking for a people full of passion.

Christ followers are passionate people.

Christ followers are people who burn with a passion to serve God and others.

Too often we take the life changing grace that has come to us very lightly.

Too often we allow ourselves to rest in the comfort of the grace of God that provides us salvation and we never allow it to touch others around us.

This message is the first in a series of message that are being written to clearly lay out the expectations and opportunities for the Christ-followers who are a part of this church.

Serving God is much more than an emotional experience.

Serving God is more than great worship and good music.

Serving God is more than reading our bibles and praying everyday.

Serving God is more than keeping ourselves unspotted from the culture around us.

Serving God is always about others.

God is calling this church to another level of walking with Him.

God is calling you to another level in your spiritual journey.

Maybe you are resting.

Maybe you have taken a break for a little while.

Maybe you have put your time in and just don’t feel it any more.

God has no reserves or weekend warriors.

God is looking for people who will serve Him by serving others.

There is a grave danger that church people have fallen into in recent years.

It is especially serious in churches like this one.

Because the kind of worship we do answers the emotional need of some people it becomes very easy to become addicted to the Sunday morning experience and walk out of here emotionally stirred but never changed.

God is calling us as a church to begin to minister to other people.

It is one thing to have a nice safe, seeker-oriented service that we can invite our friends to but we must be about more than a nice safe and wonderful Sunday morning experience.

Tommy Tenney in his book The God Chasers, says, “There is something in us that makes us afraid of the commitment that comes with real intimacy with God. For one thing, intimacy with God requires purity. The days of fun and games in the Church are over. What do I mean by “fun and games”? If your definition of fun is low commitment and lots of chills and thrills, then all you’ve wanted to do is date God.

God is tired of us wanting to get our thrills from Him without putting on the ring of commitment! Some are more enamored with the goose bumps than the glory! Their addicted to the anointing, liking the feeling of being blessed, receiving the “gifts” like a religious “gold-digger” happy with chocolates, flowers, and jewelry. The last time I checked He was still looking for a bride, not a girlfriend; one who will stick with him.”

Our goal in the next few weeks will be to help you discover renewed or perhaps new passion about serving God and others.

To do this we are going to look at the story of Elisha’s call and entrance into a passionate relationship with God.

Elisha was called by God in an unusual fashion and this morning we are going to examine this call and understand how it works in our lives as well.

1 Kings 19:10-21

“So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “ Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and served him.”

There are some steps that we must take to realize the potential that God has place within every one of us.

1. Acknowledge the call God has placed on our lives.

There is no question if you take the Bible seriously that you God places a call on the life of every Christ follower.

Every one of us have been given personalities and gifts that are unique.

Every one of us has something to offer in the area of serving others.

The question I have for you this morning is simply this, Have you acknowledged God’s claim to your life and talents?

What are you doing with what God has given you?