“…not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” (Rom.12:11
“… I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are DEAD. Wake up! And strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed (perfected) in the sight of my God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it and repent. Therefore if you don’t wake up, I will come to you like a thief.” (Rev.3:3-4)
“….So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit (projectile vomit) you out of my mouth...Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore, be ZEALOUS and REPENT! I stand at the door and knock…” (Rev.3:17,19)
“….For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces repentance without regret leading to salvation… For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow has produced in you; what longing; what ZEAL; what avenging of wrong!” (II Cor.7:10-11)
BE (Super) ZEALOUS for JESUS, Like JESUS!
(And do some repenting if you need to, if you haven’t been lately!)
“Could my zeal, no respite know…”(From Hymn: Rock of Ages) Fire, fire burning in our bones, the word of God must intently abide in our hearts as His modern day Jeremiahs. (Jer.20:9) That was my verse of choice as a senior in Bible college. That was my perspective about my self, my own self-image – a prophetic preacher of God’s Word. You see, I had to preach, to warn and exhort people to repentance and faith in Christ… or be consumed by my zeal. A young man in a hurry to change the world … all by myself if necessary… to go like David Livingstone, to free the Africans from Satan’s dark empire and introduce them to true N.T Christianity. That was then, but what about now, as I near the half century mark?
More Holy fire – but not the fire of judgment though!! - but great enthusiasm, even more zealousness, must still burn in my heart. I WILL NOT go gently into the night. I WILL NOT let middle age become my parking zone of easy- going, golf playing, mid-life crisis self-seeking “me-ism”. Constant zeal, knowing no respite or slacking off, is my watchword today and was my personal prayer goal in 2008. I turned 48, mid-life crisis time. Yes, time to face the music, where have I been, where am I going: What is left in my personal growth in Christlikeness? What has remained undone? Time to put it into trans-warp speed and really get serious about adopting Christ’s character, His very Spirit, as my own in every respect. Crunch time is here! I must gear down and climb higher, and go faster than ever before. A world of lost, hurting souls is waiting for the church to be the church, and fulfill her mandate to seek and save the lost, making disciples for Jesus, like Jesus. Daylight is burning! And souls will be burning – in hell for eternity – if we don’t do what only we can do, share the salvation message with as many as quickly as possible. We are to still go to the highways and byways, and compel the lame, the blind and the poor to come in. No stone left unturned. No excuses! We be able! The giants are not stopping us, as we fearlessly face them with faith in God!
What is needed? More zeal! That’s what consumed the Lord. (Ps.69; Jn.2) Using the point of a spear, that’s what moved Phinehas to take decisive action and stop the immorality killing his people. That’s what also motivated the furious charioteer, Jehu as he cleaned house, of the immoral, Baal-worship propagating, murdering Jezebel and Ahab’s evil influence. Always zealous, Saul – to – Paul translated his zeal for the law into greater zeal for the Way of Christ.
Jesus was a fanatic! Anyone consumed by zeal for God’s house could be so described. So how about us, His faithful followers? Anything less won’t do. Every assembly should be a PEP rally. Motivation, not just information, is needed. Singing is primarily about moving the troops to fight harder and march more. Preaching should EXHORT and encourage men to greater heights of service and glory seeking from the right source and in the right way, from Jesus Christ, the Source of all victory and glory. Enthusiastic praise, prayers and preaching should rock the house of God. (I know, I know, we Christians are truly His household and the church isn’t a building, but the place where we all particularly assemble regularly is also His place, dedicated to a certain task.)
How to do this? Volunteers, eager and ready, should lead the assembly. They should prepare properly, like an avid bodybuilder or runner conscientiously prepares for a great meet or contest. (The weekly assemblies of the saints are the greatest event going on here on planet earth.) They will be fighting to encourage and edify and also eliminate all apathy and discouragement in physically and sometimes emotionally tired and worn down, struggling saints in an increasingly sinful world who have been in the trenches all week fighting the forces of darkness. People who are trying to put food on the table and keep above the gravitational pull of the Giant Python – the conforming forces of an increasingly anti-Christian world.(Rom.12:1) Those leading their fellow saints must “be up” for it, and this means mental, spiritual and physical prep time. No last minute stuff, put together on the way to the assembly. No late night movies that distract and tire. No overdoing it in sports or whatever, which drain the last ounce of energy. The leaders of our assemblies should be ready to enthusiastically, single-mindedly and skillfully lead the people to be encouraged, exhorted, and moved to action. Sincere, energetic and thoughtful devotions, special songs of praise, heartfelt prayers (perhaps written out?), and stimulating sermons are a must.
Of course, each and every saint at every meeting should also prep for his role as a priest of Jesus our High Priest, to edify each other. Smile! Smile more! Say AMEN, at least once in your life. Sincerely and heartily share with the preacher and others who served and shared how you were informed, moved and helped. An encouraging smile and nod of appreciation from my wife is like jet fuel for my motivation levels. How about some hearty handshakes and even holy kisses? (Or at least holy hugs?) Are we unable to touch each other without sinning?!?!? Come on saint, get pure, get holy, get into it! Too tired? Too discouraged? Has God disappointed you lately? Christianity just isn’t worth it after all? Get real! This is the abundant life, and we are pretty fortunate to be inside, and not on the outside looking in.
I know from weight lifting and aerobic exercise, that intensity is the watchword. Any 12 week course can transform almost any slouch puppy into a fair facsimile of a medium-sized Swarzenegger (or the female equivalent) if he’ll only consistently apply the proper insensity, and endure enough pain, for each exercise and each set, each rep. Half-hearted attempts don’t get it done! (I recently bench-pressed 300 lbs. and cleaned and jerked 230 lbs, at 48, and it isn’t easier as I get older.) There really is a mind to muscle connection. But I am not really concerned about purely physical activities in sports or whatever. It is what we do for Christ in teaching, preaching, sharing, loving, sending, going, and serving in many different ways that counts.
Spiritual transformation is even more dependent on our own personal desire and intensity. Having no desire or real passion for change, equals no transformation. God can’t work with the apathetic boob or bum. Sorry, but we must bring our own enthusiasm to the game. Coach Jesus can’t coach couch potatoes! He called working men to be His disciples. Either anti-up with your own personal enthusiasm, or get off the field! Jesus deserves our best, not our leftovers or a “whatever” attitude.
It is not more information that we usually need, but more motivation: Doing what we know is right, what we have before us to do, with sleeves rolled up, jaws set, and eyes focused on the goal before us; bodies in action, spiritual muscles moving in sync with minds aflame with holy devotion to Christ. Cerebral Christians must become muscular, good-deed doing, work & goal oriented men of spiritual action - in this lifetime - plugging into that powerful Holy Spirit that lies so often only nearly dormant within. Like starving, lean grizzlies coming out of winter’s hibernation, the Sleeping Giant, the church must awake and stretch her powerful spiritual body’s coiled, sinewy legs and biceps into attack mode, and go out hungrily, taking captives captive for Christ. Freeing Satan’s slaves from their sin shackles by doing good works and sharing the Word in every creative way possible – taking to the highways and byways in a search pattern mode for each lost soul - is our great task.
When did the Restoration Movement become a moldy historical monument? Monuments are for dead people. We need to flow, to grow, to go, out of our comfort zones into the war zones of life where we mix with sinners in the mud, mire and blood, snatching some from the fire. It’s not that knowing God’s word doesn’t count, but this is a learning-by-doing course, practical in every respect. You only learn Jesus, and really only know Him, by doing His life in your body, each day, one hour at a time, under difficulties and challenges that harder than Samson’s impossible tasks. Character is only formed in the crucible of suffering and sacrifice for the sake of others salvation. There is no other training course, no other plan to prepare God’s people for eternity and manifest the very glory of our great God in the church.
All movements need much mega momentum to succeed and keep on being movements and not turning into mere monuments to past achievements. And momentum requires energy, power, thrust, forward motion. I can guarantee you that nothing will move with enthusiasm and zeal being demonstrated wisely and consistently by someone over a fairly long period of time. Heroic and symbolic gestures done with right motives and wise council will spark others enthusiasm. Modeling Christ for others by imitating Him closely provides the role models needed for a great movement.
It must cost us something. But true believers will gladly pay their dues to get ‘er done.
A replay of the Restoration Movement of the 1800’s will not suffice. We need a revolution of such magnitude in devoted, consecrated effort that builds on the past achievements and far outweighs them. We can’t drive this thing with eyes fixed on the rearview mirror! Nostalgia and appreciation for the Campbells, Stones and Scotts of yesteryear cannot replace living mentors who exude confidence on our present potential to be just like Christ! While Walter Scott prophetically and presciently wrote on the need to restore the Ancient Perfection of the Saints, we must now do it by faith. We must live the life that has been given to us, the life of Jesus living within. We must get up from our mats and by that Spirit of God walk as Jesus walked, day by day. Great zeal is now needed to do this without sinking into the waves of unbelief. Unrelenting fervor, strong determination, fanatical devotion to the cause of Christ, His Word and His church must be unleashed by total trust in God. A Spiritual Restoration Revolution is the only answer to avoid disaster.
Getting older means getting better and bolder! Not retirement plans for God’s true leaders. Moses set the right tone, and his disciples Caleb and Joshua followed suit. There best, “golden years” came after 80. Jacob likewise, and also Abraham. Our bodies will follow our minds. Reagan became president at 70. McCain gave it his best shot at 74, when most men take up shuttleboard and horseshoes. Check out “Ripped” author Clarence Bass’s website, at 70. There are plenty of other great examples.
Leaders who can only impart information and not motivation are no real leaders for Christ’s victorious army. “… he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness…” (Rom.12:8) While they might not be as limber or as quick on their feet, their spirit should be renewed daily, and they must still love the Lord and His church and the lost with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. Anything less disqualifies them. If they need an Elijah cave experience, then they should get it and go on. The “I alone am left” syndrome should be defeated with Scriptural promises and Holy Spirit power within. Pray through, get encouragement, fast, read more Bible, sing, visit strong saints, and get over it! We must lead, or at least follow, or get out of the way. No skeptical, jaded and “burn out” man should keep in the driver’s seat until he is healed, renewed and ready to fight the good fight with great zeal.
Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. Churchianity has failed, but not vital, real, true-to-the-Bible faith in Christ. The problem is when a person is just going through the motions, perhaps hanging on due to job security reasons, or just because they have gone into and are stuck in a spiritual hibernation or stagnation mode. It takes energy to get out of a rut. It takes explosive spiritual strength to jump start a life that is clogged with sinful doubts and self-introspection. And that is why God gave us His own Spirit of Power to dwell within us.
I want to encourage you – enthusiastically – dear brother, to take this life of Jesus and get into it, today, right now. Turn off every doubtful or skeptical thought in your head, and without any hesitation become a cheer leader for Jesus. Stop this nonsense about crawling across the finish line to heaven… unless you are talking about physical disabilities, which honestly might plague us. Yet in all things we are more than conquerors, and mentally and morally, in spirit and truth, we can blaze brighter, run faster, leaping upon any troop, praising our way out of any valley, praying through any quandary, and powerfully finishing this race for Jesus with chests outstretched and eyes gleaming with reflected joy and glory of Jesus, our Author and PERFECTER = Flourishing Finisher, leading the way. Believe! Achieve! Be super zealous for God by being filled with King Jesus. And watch the sun shine brighter in the sky, as you illuminate it with your own special lamination as the Light of the World. Your eyes will open to incredible spiritual realities, opportunities will expand, and you will know Jesus as the present reality and Source of Living Water, so that you never, never thirst or grow weary and stumble. You will fly, like the soaring eagle in the sky, and see Him when He comes, just as He is and be just like Him. God bless you. Let’s roll!