THE PASSION FOR CHRIST
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Passion in many of the churches in America has been eclipsed. The reason, I believe is, passion requires an honest look deep inside, a close inspection of whom we really are and what we stand for.
Passion insists that we be the witnesses. That we speak up when everyone else is ignorant of the true spiritual situation in America and the word. Into many of our Pentecostal Churches, the Pentecostal world-view, the foundation which had been set by the Christ and the Apostles and renewed by the Holy Ghost at the turn of the last century has been diluted.
That view which says the Holy Ghost wants to be powerfully at work in and through the life of every believer. The empowerment he brings creates passion and guidance to make every day new and exciting.
Too many ministers in our churches are spewing out, and the saints are swallowing, and dying on deadening fictions. This kind of preaching and teaching will only dilute the power of God and make his work of none effect. Without the passion of Christ governing in our lives . . . without his passion, healthy passion, we are vulnerable! We become truly weakened, by its absence. The results are that we can no longer trust anything completely, not God, not even ourselves.
You need but look about you to see the reality of a people and a nation which has lost its passion. We as, Christian Americans should mourn the passing of passion. We needed to mourn for the loss of passion for the poor and disenfranchised. As a nation we must own a passion for democracy, truth and godly values. Each of us who name the name of Jesus should mourn for the death of passion. Without Christ’s passion we are simply pulling the covers up over our eyes in our orphan's bed.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolishly the wisdom of the world? . . . For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:20
Without a passionate hunger for the wisdom of God, we will not lay hold of the revelation He offers to those who truly seek Him. The majority of America’s institutions of education, offer only human wisdom, worldly interpretations of life and relationships. But I ask you, how, can anyone make sense of the human mind, through, mans wisdom only? If we try to know ourselves, and understand life by using humanly rationally only as our guide, we will fail.
In fact we are already failing, we have come short of the glory of God. Simply ask yourself, what is rational about the virgin birth of Jesus Christ or His incarnation, that is to say, God in the flesh. Shall we continue to dilute the miracle of His resurrection, with Easter eggs and bunnies? The Bible truth of, Christ in you the hope of glory, is a message which should be guarded with great passion, by everyone who owns this revelation!
I know where there is passion for understanding, and this passion is directed to God. This persons’ life, will be energized by God the Holy Spirit, Then, neither you, nor the church need ever worry. For, what we love passionately, we give our support to. Jesus said, “where your treasure is there is where your hearts will be.” With Christ’s passion incarnate in us, we will discover something valuable enough, which we would even die for it. With Christ’s passion incarnate in our lives we have found that which is worth living for.
We will be like that folk Paul wrote about in Macedonia whose generosity overflowed in spite of their affliction and poverty. Let your love be genuine, remembering that we love because He first loved us. Love seeks to give in response to that gift. Giving becomes our very nature, a privilege. We are not just giving to an institution, to a church; we are giving back to God for Christ’s sake.
My prayer is that The Passion of The Christ will motivate you to obey and serve the One who died for you . . .
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
But perhaps these few thoughts will increase our appreciation of Christ's suffering . . .
• His passion is the forgiveness of sin. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7
• His passion is the revelation of love. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
• His passion is the empowering of the church. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8.
• His passion is the revelation of life. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14
Have you taken advantage of what The Passion Of The Christ means for you . . . ?
▸ Have you been crucified with Christ?
▸ Are you putting to death the deeds of the flesh?
▸ Are you growing in love?
▸ Are you concerned and doing something about the redemption of the world?
▸ Are you inspired in your service to brethren and the lost by the example of Jesus' sacrifice?