How to get Zeal

Our Lord demonstrated zeal. And He also calls US to zeal. John 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

The Lord challenges the Lukewarm Church - to be zealous: Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

God loves the Laodiceans enough to rebuke and chasten them. Our Lord challenges us: Shake off your complacency, your lethargy! Leave the comfort zone!

Zeal in the Bible refers to spiritual truth. Christianity has been described as ‘The Truth on fire’.

The Bible talks about God’s people being sheep, but the unsaved are pictured as goats. Goats will swallow anything. In some churches the pastors are starving the sheep, but feeding the goats.

Some have a zeal that is misguided. Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Knowledge speaks of spiritual truth and insight.

Sadly, there is a lot of deception around. There’s a falling away from the truth. The Lord says, ‘My people perish for lack of knowledge.’

People don’t want truth. When we are saved, the spiritual truth that we have leads us to service – to labours more abundant – Good Works.

Activate your faith – put your spiritual overalls on. Romans 12:1 Not slothful in business. fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

Galatians 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing... Zeal is good - if it’s for a good purpose.

God calls us to be … a peculiar people zealous of good works Titus 2:13. People with a zest for good works - eager to do right.

Paul says, Colossians 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men… ye serve the Lord Christ.

Are we active and busy – or inactive? Or do we settle for a second-rate, second best? Let us press through for Heaven’s best.

Zeal in the Bible refers also to Spiritual Gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way. Covet them. In other words, set your heart on them.

We need to be Spirit-empowered. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to he edifying of the church. We need a holy zeal, that is empowered by the Holy Spirit – His truth, His service, His gifts.

What are the characteristics of a zealot? Focus, Fight, and Fire.

Focus. We want our Lord Jesus to be the focal point of all that we do.
Is Christ and pleasing Him a focus in our lives or just a casual interest?

When someone has a focus… They…
• Talk about it – they don’t tire of it.
• Study it – to learn and know – think of a fan’s knowledge – they know their stuff, back to front and inside out.
• Live it – they eat it, drink it, breathe it, sleep it; they are addicted.
• Love it
• Spend – devote time on it, money to it – they won’t care about the costs; they Give - devote effort – take pains and make great effort.
• Work at it – There are three kinds of people – those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and those who wonder what happened. Let’s be among those who make things happen.
• Hunger for it – they have a desire. An eagerness, craving… a willingness/earnestness – a willing mind and heart.

Satan will try and distract, deter, discourage… we must maintain our focus.
Our motivation, our burden, our work. Make Christ your focus.

Fight. When you think of someone with zeal they are like a fan who strongly barracks for their team. They defend and support their team.
Where has the fight gone? A believer can be aggressive, uncompromising, unbending. Jude 1:3 …ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Stand up. Fight against all the odds.

Fire. John 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

Let the Lord set us afire with the zeal of God. Let us take Baxter’s dying words as our motto: “Lord, what Thou wilt, where Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt.”

John Knox cried out in his earnestness: “Give me Scotland or I die!”

Sam Jones was a preacher who held revival services, which he called "quittin' meetings." His preaching was directed primarily to Christians, and he urged them to give up the sinful practices in their lives. Sam's messages were very effective, and many people promised to quit swearing, drinking, smoking, lying, gossiping, or anything else that was displeasing to the Lord.

On one occasion Jones asked a woman, "Just what is it that you're quittin'?" She replied, "I'm guilty of not doing something -- and I'm going to quit doing that too!" Even though she had no bad habits to give up, she wasn't actively living to please God.

Let us give up inactivity and seek God for a holy zeal to live actively for Christ.