06-29-08 Sermon Review

Zeal for His House
John 2:17

Being zealous, being passionate for Christ is not popular, not in the world and not even in the "Church." Actually, those in the Christian circles are most often the primary critiques of passionate followers of Jesus Christ. J.C. Ryle states that "Many would be ashamed to be thought zealous Christians. Many are ready to say of zealous people what Festus said of Paul: 'You are our of rou mind, Paul!' he shouted, 'your great learning is driving you insane' (Acts 26:24)." But this should not deter us from obeying the biblical call to be zealous for Christ's name.

There is a great problem within the Church that has been there since the first century. This problem is Lukewarmness. Now why would Lukewarmness matter at all in Christianity? What's the big deal about being lukewarm in the faith? These are the questions I would like to address today by looking into the Word and seeing what it has to say about "passion."

Passion is expected by Jesus Christ - The rebuke Christ gives to the Church of Laodicea should startle all of us. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth" (Revelations 3:15-16). Frances Chan, a pastor and well-known speaker at the Passion Conference, makes this startling conclusion from the verse just mentioned: "As I see it, a lukewarm Christin is an oxymoron; there's not such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are 'lukewarm' are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven." How can Christ expect such passion from His followers? There is such expectation because all of His followers are expected to love Him. Love in turn translates into passion.

Passion is directed towards Jesus Christ - I have a friend that my other buddies and I like to call Mr. Passion. When we would call him this, he would reply, "Passion without direction is pointless." There are many "passionate" people in our churches, but they are not the kind of passionate people Christ is looking for. The object of one's passion must be Jesus Christ. In our passage, it says, "Zeal for Your house has consumed me" (John 2:17). There was a specific object of Christ's passion, God's House. If someone were to assess our lives, what would they fill in for God's house? Maybe "Zeal for education has consumed me"; or "Zeal for money has consumed me"; or "Zeal for sex basketball has consumed me." How would others evauluate your life, what does your life say what the object of your passion is? We need to live lives that are so obviously passionate for Jesus that onlookers could only say, "Zeal for Jesus Christ has consumed him."

Passion is rewarded - We are not passionate for the sake of being passionate. The object of our passion is Jesus Christ, and therefore, when we are passionate, we obtain that which is the object of our passion. Christ freely gives the joy of knowing Him to thsoe who passionately seek Him. Those who are passionate zealously seek Jesus, not for money, riches, fame, but simply to hear, "Well-done My good and faithful servant."

As we look at this zealous man, Jesus Christ, let us remind ourselves that He was the perfect man, and we ought to emulate His zeal for the glory of God. We might be afraid of what the world might think us as we stir up our passion for Jesus Christ. The words of J.C. Ryle once again is comfort to us: "Don't let it bother you if you are sometimes called bigot, a zealot, a fanatic, a crazy person, and a fool. There is nothing disgraceful in these titles. They have often been given to the best and wisest of men." Of these is Jesus. He was called a blasphemer, a trouble to society. He was scorned and hated. He was in the end crucifed on a cross. This is where our passion will take us, to the cross of Jesus. But let us remember, we are in very good company. Stay strong and God bless!