Jack London, the author of adventure books, such as The Call of the Wild
and White Fang was passionate about the kind of life that he wanted to
live. He described it this way; “I
would rather be ashes than dust! I
would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should
be stifled by dry rot. I would rather
be a superb meteor every atom of me in a magnificent glow, than a sleepy and
permanent planet. The proper function
of a man is to live, not to exist.”
Jack London lived his life with passion.
It’s better to burn out than to fade away, my, my hey, hey. – Neil Young
What kind of person are you? Are you willing to step out and take a
risk? Are you the type that would
rather be ashes than dust, or do you want to play it safe? Never venturing out and risking for what God
wants to do in your life and through your life?
It’s interesting what happens to us as we age. When we’re young we’re filled with excitement. We aren’t afraid to take a risk. We aren't afraid to do things that would
frighten people.
Former president George W. Bush when he was asked about his college
lifestyle, responded with these words: “When
I was young and irresponsible I was young and irresponsible.” How many of us could say the same thing
about certain times in our own lives, but we grow out of it. We mature with age, and one of the things
that happens to us as we age and acquire things is that we become settled and
unwilling to risk the things we care about.
We begin to look at passion as irresponsible behavior.
Charles Mallory was once asked why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest. “Because it’s there,” he answered. In his day that caused quite a clamor
because he was married and had children.
People thought that it was an irresponsible act for a man with
children. He was obsessed with the idea
of standing on the highest mountaintop in the world. He was passionate about what he did. He was passionate about who he was.
He wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to stand on that mountain and
that passion cost him his life. I want
you to know, though, there’s room for passion in our lives. Much of what makes life interesting and
exciting is the passion for life that’s in us.
When I took my first job after college at Davis Waste Removal Company in
Davis, Ca there was a young man there who would prepare himself every day
before leaving on his route. He would
stand next to his truck in the morning, or in the break room, or anywhere there
was people and say: “I’m fired up…I’m
gonna do it. I’m fired up!” If you asked him how he was doing when you
saw him in the morning, he would say, “I’m FIRED up!” It was infectious, after a while every one was saying it, “I’m
fired up!” This guy loved his job. He was passionate about going to work. It was a workout for him and it made the job
exciting.
His passion not only helped him to be successful, but it worked on all
of us who worked alongside of him. We
all loved our jobs. There’s room for
passion in the things of God. In fact,
it’s a requirement of Christ, that we be passionate about his calling on our
lives.
Someone once said, “Apostasy makes Jesus unhappy but it is passivity or the lack of passion that makes him angry.
Today I want to post on maintaining passion in our day and hour, from
this portion of scripture:
Revelation 3:14-22 (NKJV)
3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' "
The Laodicean Age
This scripture is an indictment of the church as it is today. Our Time is a time in history when
churches are goal oriented, and purpose driven. They have a mission. The
question is, “Is it the same vision as the builder of the church.” It really bugs me when people from other churches
try to win away people from our church to theirs.
This always happens when people first get saved. Someone witnesses to you and you come and
get saved and suddenly…everyone you know is a Christian. They all start inviting you to their
church. They never mentioned they were
Christians before. You never knew that
they even went to church, but now they want you to go to THEIR church.
In our church we’re trying to reach the lost. We’re trying to touch people who don’t have Jesus. Why do people want to try to reach their
friends in other churches? I think what
we’re seeing is the idea that people want to respond to the command to preach
the Gospel but that there is a fear that holds them from reaching out to people
they don’t know. It’s always easier to
talk to someone who’s like-minded, especially when it’s something that might be
a bit controversial. What did our
parents teach us? Never talk religion
or politics, right? Why not? For one thing, those things are things that
we’re likely to be passionate about and passion makes people uncomfortable, so
they just try to avoid the controversy.
I've heard a lot of strange things.
I've heard people “witnessing” about the Starbucks that shares their
parking lot. Our church in Riverside
had a booth at the city’s market night.
People would come to our booth and invite us to their church. It was like they were standing outside our
door and outreaching for their church.
In fact, one time we did a music outreach INSIDE the church building and
some people came inside and passed out flyers for their church.
The modern church is in danger of being like the church in Laodicea, a
church that has lost its passion and willingness to risk for the Gospel to move
forward. How did the Laodicean church
lose its passion?
Revelation 3:17 (NKJV)
3:17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--
Laodicea was the wealthiest city in Asia Minor. They produced garments made out of black
wool. The wool wasn't dyed black the
garments were made from wool that occurred naturally in the sheep of that
area. It was a wealthy enough city that
in 61 AD when there was a destructive earthquake the people rebuilt on their
own, refusing to accept money from Caesar.
They were a wealthy and self-sufficient people.
This is a reflection of the church world today. Prosperity has become the measure of success
for a church. The church has stepped
into the Laodicean age. This is what
churches are becoming in our times.
They’re wealthy with the world’s goods:
Huge buildings, beautiful grounds and all the latest technology. They believe that they’re spiritually
enriched: That because of the crowds
and the resources that they’re blessed of God because of their
spirituality. They have need of not
even one thing. They are self sufficient;
“God has blessed us.”
That’s the same way the Laodiceans must have felt. Have you ever witnessed to rich man? You tell him all that God wants to do for him
and he has no need of God…and then tells you why.
“God has given me everything I have.”
That sounds eerily familiar, doesn't it: “I’m rich, I have increased in goods, I have no need.”
What is God’s response in this: “You
do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked…”
The Laodiceans had become comfortable because of their prosperity. They became passive; they didn’t want to
risk what they had. God hates
passivity.
Revelation 3:15-16 (NKJV)
3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
You know Oolong tea should be served at exactly 85 C (185 F). If you allow the tea to get cooler that that
it changes the taste of the tea. I can
tell you from experience that lukewarm Oolong tea is not good. If it’s hot it’s good; if it’s cold, it’s
good. Lukewarm is not good, though.
Another way to say passion is fervent desire. The word fervent implies glowing, burning, boiling passion. This is the calling of the church:
Romans 12:11 (NKJV)
12:11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
God is refreshed by our passion, our fervency for his commands and His
calling on our lives. He doesn't want a
tepid, lukewarm response. He’s looking
for passion. There are three things
that have happened to Laodicean church:
- They lost their passion and fervency for the faith. There’s no longer an excitement for the
things of God.
- They have become arrogant; conceited. We’re rich, increased in goods. We must be the church that God has called us to be because
we’re so blessed. Jesus reminded
that they’re wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
- Finally,
they’re Christ-less, Jesus isn't a part of the church. He’s outside knocking looking to be
allowed in.
This isn't the church that Jesus had in mind when He began the church,
but this is the church it has become and even more so in our time.
Where a Passionate Church Begins
Eric Liddell, an Olympic Gold Medal runner and missionary to China
unlocked the secret to the passionate life.
His was a model of passion as described by Paul in:
Colossians 3:23-25 (NKJV)
3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
During Liddell’s university years that phrase, “Whatever you do,”
centered on running, on being the fastest possible. Afterward his life focused on his missionary work in China. He did them both “heartily” – flat out, wide
open passionately – “as to the Lord.”
Passion causes us to approach all the activities of our lives the same
way Liddell did.
What’s the secret to a passionate church? The secret to a passionate church is passionate people. Where does passion in a person come
from? It comes from a decision to be
passionate: Just like Eric Liddell made
everything he did as if he was doing it for the Lord: Just like my trash collector friend made a decision to get “Fired
up!” What decision have you made? Is your faith passionate? Are you going flat out, wide open? Or are you holding back?
There is a place near where I grew up called, Carnegie Cycle Park. It was place where off-road motorcycle
riders would go because there were a lot of trails and hills to climb. There was one particular hill that my
friends called, “The Drag Hill.” The hill
was nearly a 45% grade, and covered with loose rock. The strategy was to make a run at the hill with the throttle wide
open in the highest gear and power your way all the way to the top. You had to
stay on the throttle all the way. If
you let off it was over, you’d never make it and would probably
crash. I saw this happen often
enough.
Too often in the things we do for God, we start out full throttle, full
of power and speed determined to make the run.
Some guys, though, see something and they let off on the throttle and
never make it. I’m talking about people
who've said they want to do something for God, but somewhere along the line
they've let off the throttle: Lost the speed and momentum and the opportunity
to make a mark for Jesus. They are even
in danger of losing the kingdom.
Often the problem is the same as for the Laodiceans. People begin to think, “I’m
comfortable. I don’t want to risk the
prosperity I've already received or the prosperity I’m working toward, because
I put God first in my life.” When that
happens passion is turned into passivity and finally complacency and you are in
danger of falling out of salvation, altogether. Here’s a little truth for you.
If your not trying to move forward in your salvation, you WILL fall
back.
Passion begins in individuals. Revival
is started in each of our hearts. When
there is a revival in each of us the church will begin to experience
revival. Passion is the same way. If we’re all personally passionate then the
church is passionate. If we the church is passionate then we can do something.
One of my friends was pioneering a number of years ago. He had a young man come in and get saved at
one of his outreaches. He came into the
church and locked in, then he brought his girlfriend. Then her mother came.
This young man began to get excited about the things the church was
doing. A passion the preach the Gospel
got all over him, and so he began to street preach and witness to other young
people and the church exploded as young people came in and got saved and began
to follow in this one kid’s footsteps.
It started with one kid’s passion about preaching and spread to all of
his friends. These guys would get saved
and see the passion in the others and they’d think that’s what being a part of
the church was all about. When your friends
come an see what you’re doing what’s their impression of church? What do they think your church is all
about? Do they think it’s a LAID BACK church? I certainly hope not. I've been called a lot of things in my life,
but laid back has never been one of them.
The Loadicean church was a laid-back church and it made God want to
puke. We need some wide-open, full
throttle disciples. Passion is what
come from within each of us. Are you
passionate?
How do we Become Passionate Individuals?
Elisha is a great picture of passion for the things of God. On the day Elijah was taken up he couldn’t
shake Elisha.
2 Kings 2:1-2 (NKJV)
2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.
2 Kings 2:6 (NKJV)
2:6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on.
He saw Elijah taken up in a whirlwind and received the mantle. Elisha was passionate about receiving the
promise of God. He held on to Elijah to
see what God had for him. He wanted a
double portion of that. In the end he
did twice as many miracles as Elijah.
How dow e become like Elisha?
There are three ways to maintain our passion:
- Stretch
Yourself.
President John F. Kennedy once said:
Only those who dare to fail miserable will achieve greatly.
Only those who would rather go out in a blaze than be stifled in dry rot
will be able to do what needs to be dome to achieve. If you want all that God has for you, you need to be willing to
risk to get it all.
- Spend time
with passionate people.
Remember the illustration about Davis Waste Removal or about the
nTeenagers who had such passion? What
got everyone going in both those instances was the passion of someone
else. Passion is contagious; it spreads
to everyone around it. My children
always tell my wife, “We’re bored.”
Brenda has the right answer, though, “You’re not bored, you’re boring.” She’s not really trying to insult them, she’s
just saying that their bored and don’t have the energy to do anything, because
they have no passion for anything.
- Look for
something to get excited about.
Some of us need to get our heart rates up about something;
anything. Are you not excited about
what God has done in your life? Do you
know all that God has planned for you?
No, some of it’s going to be a surprise. Do you think that God has something good for you? Do you want to see it all come to pass? Maybe you need to be passionate about seeing
it through.
Want to have something to get excited about? Look at this:
Revelation 3:21-22 (NKJV)
3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' "
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit on my throne. The throne of the King of the Universe; we
can sit there if we overcome. Overcome
what? Overcome what the Laodicean church
needed to overcome, their lack of passion for the things of God. That’s what we need to overcome in the
modern church as well.
I want to be able to come to church and hear people say, “I’m fired up! God’s going to so something today and he’s
going to let me be a part of it… WHOA, I AM FIRED UP!”
Passion!