How to grow in Zeal: Finally

We’ve spent time in May talking about Zeal. One of our Q and A sermons was about growing our Zeal for God. This will be the last bulletin about it as well.

Zeal can be defined as, “The Courage to exercise great wisdom, great energy, and great diligence in loving service to God.”  We’ve spent time thinking about what is that we need to REMEMBER, the importance of REMAINING with Christ, and what we may need to REMOVE from our lives as well.  

As Christians, it’s possible and expected for us to grow in our relationship with God. We certainly don’t and can’t seek to earn our salvation. Rather, knowing God’s great grace toward us is what propels us to draw closer to Him and to give Him glory. Consider what the Holy Spirit says in a few of the following passages.

2 Peter 3:18: “…But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

1 Thessalonians 4:1: “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4: “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”

The saints in Thessalonica are a great example of a congregation that was on fire for God! It wasn’t because their circumstances were perfect. The church began in suffering, 2 Thessalonians 1:5; Acts 17:5-6. Lifelong zeal for God isn’t contingent on being in the perfect environment. Otherwise, our zeal would be based upon circumstances. Like joy, our passion for God is rooted in who God is, what He’s done for us, and who we are in Him.

The Thessalonians zeal was shown in their turning from idols to serving the true and living God, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10. Their zeal was demonstrated in their sharing of their faith with others around them. Paul said, “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.” Our zeal for God is meant to be used. Their zeal for God was seen by others in their purity. They were walking in a manner that was pleasing to God, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3. Like the Thessalonians, let’s use our zeal praying and encouraging one another, and sharing the story of Jesus with others.

A few times in the first letter to them, Paul references the devil. It was Satan who had in some way hindered Paul and others to come to them, 1 Thessalonians 2:18. Paul feared that the tempter (the Devil) might had tempted them so that their labor would be in vain, 1 Thessalonians 3:5. The apostle knew that Satan seeks to destroy the saints and their faith and zeal in God. But thankfully, these young Christians had remained steadfast. Paul received good news how they had remained faithful to the cause of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 3:6. It could be that we have allowed Satan and his devices to cause us to become discouraged and to lose some of our zeal for God. He’s a real enemy we need to be aware of. The good news is that even though he may seek to tempt us, we don’t have to take the bait. We can stand firm in the faith. Standing firm in the faith and growing our zeal for God will require that we receive the word of God and view it as really being God’s word! “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

Let us be a people zealous for God and zealous for good works. We are headed to heaven!

“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18.