Sermon Notes, January 29, 2012

Sermon Notes, January 29, 2012

C.M. Pruitt

            Pastor C.M.’s message was titled “Restoring Your Passion for Life,” and his text was Mark 12:30-31—“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (And) Love your neighbor as yourself.  There’s no greater commandment than these.” (NIV)   We are to love with all our heart.    We are to

SEEK God passionately! (Deuteronomy 4:29), 

LOVE God passionately!  (Deuteronomy 6:6)

SERVE God passionately! (Deuteronomy 10:12)

OBEY God passionately! (Deuteronomy 30:2)

TRUST God passionately! (Proverbs 3:5)

Do everything passionately! “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”  (Colossians 3:23, NIV)  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor.” (Romans 12:11, NIV)  It is not automatic.  God raised the dead; he can touch whatever is dead in your life.  There’s no excuse for being a crotchety old person: keep your passion for God.

However, there are several things that can kill our passion.

AN UNCLEAR PURPOSE  Do you sometimes feel as though there’s no ultimate purpose for what you do? “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.” (Isaiah 49:4, NIV)  Discover God’s purpose: love Him, and love others.

AN UNEMPLOYED TALENT  Our gifts and abilities need to be used by God to be a blessing.  “Each one should live His life with the gifts that the Lord has given him…” (1 Corinthians 7:17, Ph)  Find out what you’re good at, and use it for God’s glory.

AN UNBALANCED SCHEDULE  Do you find you have too much to do and no time to do it, or too much time and not enough to do?  “Take the time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.” (1 Timothy 4:7b, Ph)  Make time to worship—not just at church—to pray and read God’s word, and to fellowship with and do for others.

AN UNCONFESSED SIN  If something in your life is wrong, acknowledge it to God, then do what you need to do to fix it.  “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear…I am bowed down and brought low.” (Psalm 38:4 + 6, NIV)  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NIV)

AN UNRESOLVED CONFLICT saps your passion. “Resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple.” (Job 5:2, NLT)  Avoid resentment, jealousy, and prolonged anger. “You are only hurting yourself with your anger.” (Job 18:4, GN)  Forgive others and get your joy back.

AN UNSUPPORTED LIFESTYLE  Are you lonely?  Surround yourself with others: others who want your best.  One of the cruelest punishments is solitary confinement—we really do need each other.  “Two are better than one, because…if one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV)

AN UNDERNOURISHED SPIRIT  That’s the root of this discussion.  Draw from God’s resources to counter people who are rude, critical and uncaring, etc.  “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 go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous…” (Colossians 2:6-7, LB)  Guard against lukewarmness—God wants to be intimate with you.  “You must worship only the Lord, for He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.” (Exodus 34:14, NLT)

            Which Items do you need to work on?  “You have forsaken your first love.  Remember the height from which you’ve fallen!  Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5, NIV)  Remember where you were.  Spend time with God. Hang out with others who encourage you.  Do something for someone else.  God’s plan for you is to enjoy life. (John 10:10)  Let others see you enjoy life!