ZEAL FOR GOD


A. "I BEAR THEM RECORD THAT THEY HAVE A ZEAL OF GOD, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE" - Rom. 10:1-3
  1. Every time I read these words by Paul, I think of the great potentials of "zeal":
    1. It was zeal that fired Saul of Tarsus to persecute the Christians -- ". . . breathing out threatenings and slaughter . . ." - Acts 9:1
    2. It was zeal that made him say ". . . I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 21:13
  2. Zeal is dynamo either for good or for bad, depending on the basic motive:
B. SANCTIFIED ZEAL
  1. When our knowledge of God and His Word takes hold of us and motivates our life to a point where holy fervor impels us to give all to God's cause, that is zeal for God:
    1. It may, at times, be misguided zeal, as in the case of Saul - Acts 22:3, 4
    2. It was true and God-directed zeal when the life of Jeremiah became aflame with power - Jer. 20:9
    3. It was sanctified zeal that made John the Baptist a burning and shining light - John 5:35
  2. Living faith and love of the truth are two great generating forces to create holy zeal in our lives:
    1. ". . . I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able . . ." - 2 Tim. 1:12
    2. This explains why the martyrs of our Lord defied the flames of fire and sang hymns of praise to God unto death - Heb. 11:20-40
  3. Love for perishing souls is still another motive for godly zeal:
    1. ". . . I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" - Rom. 9:3
    2. "Now if thou wilt not forgive their sins . . . blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book . . ." - Ex. 32:32
  4. How do men get holy zeal for God?
    1. When the Holy Spirit rests upon them.
    2. Think of the day of Pentecost - Acts 2
    3. Sensing the lateness of the hour in which we live will also generate energy in our soul to be zealous for God.
    4. Holy zeal cost Stephen his life - Acts 7:60
    5. Knowledge of existing dangers will cause men to be full of zeal for God - Num. 14:6-9
C. FRUIT OF SANCTIFIED ZEAL FOR GOD
  1. Deborah saved her nation through her zeal for God:
    1. The story of her life is a great source of inspiration in the hour of crisis - Judg. 4
    2. Barak the son of Abinoam lacked this zeal, and God used a woman to inspire the people to rise up to their national defense - Judg. 5
  2. The men of the tribe of Levi stayed the plague by their zeal for God: Ex. 32:27, 28
    1. Israel had sinned grievously and God was ready to destroy them, but the Levites saved God's people.
    2. That was when God gave them the ministry in the sanctuary.
  3. It was holy zeal that caused our Lord to drive out of the temple all who had desecrated the house of God with their merchandise: John 2:13-18
  4. The history of the church of God is alive with the godly zeal of its many heroes:
    1. We think of John Huss who sang hymns of praise when he faced the flames that consumed his body.
    2. Martin Luther was fired with a zeal that emboldened him to face the dignitaries of the church of Rome, and gave him victory over his enemies.
    3. Dear reader, I plead with you, pray God that He will fill your souls with holy zeal to win many, many souls for this wonderful truth.


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