Mark 12:30, 31
Passion
Passion turns the impossible into possible.
Mark 12:30, 31 (NIV) "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor asyourself. There's no greater commandment than these."
"Love the Lord your God with all your passion, all your prayer, all your intelligence, and all your energy."
Colossians 3:23 (NIV) "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart as unto the Lord and not as unto me."
Romans 12:11 (NIV) "Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."
We were wired to be passionate about those things thatmove us.
"Well, here’s Monday...it’s the same ole’same ole. We might as well get it going."
#1. An unclear purpose.
The fact is that life seems futile if you don't know your purpose.
Isaiah 49:4 (NIV) "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all."
You live a fuller life because you enjoy living.
#2. An unemployed talent.
That creates a lack of passion and boredom.
1 Corinthians 7:17 (Ph) "Each one of you should live his life with the gifts that the Lord has given him..."
#3. An unbalanced schedule.
(1) You're overworked.
(2) You're under worked.
We need to balance our lives.
1 Timothy 4:7 (Ph) "Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit."
The purpose of worship – thinking about God and who He is
The purpose of fellowship – loving other people and making a difference in their lives.
The purpose of outreach – telling other people the good news of who God is.
The purpose of Bible study – letting the message of the Bible make a difference in our lives.
The purpose of ministry – to other people.
#4. An unconfessed sin.
Psalm 38:4, 6 (NIV) "My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear... I am bowed down and brought low..."
1 John 1:9 (NIV) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
#5. An unresolved conflict.
When unresolved conflict eats away at us, the passion drains right out.
Job 5:2 (NLT) "Resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple."
Job 18:4 (GN) "You are only hurting yourself with your anger."
Resentment, jealousy, and anger.
When you hold on to resentment, jealousy, and anger, you allow others to control your emotions.
#6. An unsupported lifestyle.
Human beings are made for relationships.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) "Two are better than one, because...if one falls, one can help the other up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"
#7. An undernourished spirit.
You can't restore your passion with money or something physical.
Many people die before they die.
Colossians 2:6-7 (LB) "Just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust Him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with Him. Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him.
See that you grow in the Lord and become strong and vigorous."
Exodus 34:14 (NLT) "You must worship only the Lord, for He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you."
It’s lukewarmness!
Revelation 3:15(b) (NIV) "I would rather have you hot or cold than lukewarm."
C.S. Lewis said, "The only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important."
The better you know God, the more you'll fall in love with Him.
Revelation 2:4(b) (NIV) "You have forsaken your first love..."
Start doing what you should do to align yourself with God's will and enjoy His passion.