Happy 16 th birthday

What is God building here?

A community of people united in a common purpose by the love of Jesus. To love God To love others To serve the world Empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 12: Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality.

v11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Three principles for us today Passion Power Purpose There is a deep desire in us to feel fully alive.

Passion Sets the direction we’re going. Gives us the motivation to press on.

A life passionate about Jesus... A rejection of the status quo. A refusal to stand still. Not settling for what we see. Giving everything to go for more. Paul’s point: In the things of God let’s not hang about!

Charles Wesley 1707 – 1788 Do all the good you can By all the means you can In all the ways you can In all the places you can At all the times you can To all the people you can As long as you ever can

What has your passion? Where are you headed? Professional success Financial security Making life comfortable Relationships Jesus said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life… John 14:6

Life can knock the passion out of us. Trials & disappointments. Never be lacking in zeal. Jesus brings healing and restores focus.

The bungee jump analogy…

v11: Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Pneumati (In the spirit) Zeontes (boiling; on fire) Be ablaze with the power of the Holy Spirit There is a deep desire in us for our lives to be effective.

We can’t serve God with passion alone. It dies. Passion ignited by the power of the Holy Spirit makes amazing things happen.

Two ways to do life with God In our own strength: tiring, unfruitful. In his strength: fruitful, joyful, sustainable. Without the Holy Spirit we grow weary, resentful, reluctant.

God is a consuming fire Hebrews 12:29 Moses: burning bush Elijah: God sent fire Jesus: will baptise with spirit and fire Pentecost: tongues of fire The Church was birthed in fire and grows by fire. The antidote to being burned out is being burnt up.

Christians in a holy huddle may be warm and cosy but not on fire! We don’t kindle this kind of fire. It’s our proximity to God that sets us alight.

Come to the burning bush. Come to Jesus. Personal devotion Worship Ministry time Vulnerability

Watch out for fire extinguishers Disappointment: with church; with God. We get weary of going good. Distractions: we take our eyes off Jesus, his cause and our call. Focus is elsewhere or on the worries and cares of the world. Demonic attack: the enemy wants to pour water on our fire.

v11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. What is our life for? Politicians seen as self serving. Church can become self serving too.

Power sources convert power to useful energy Fire isn’t self serving. It warms, cooks, brings light. God’s fire is for a purpose. To transform the world…

We have a royal commission. To serve the King. The greatest honour of all. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. v11