Come Enjoy the Presentation of – The Gift

Week of Dec 4th

Serving God With Passion

Pursuing God With Passion – WK1

Only God can touch our hearts and give us the desire to seek and to know Him, and to want His will, plans, and ways above our own.
Jeremiah 24:7
“I will give them a heart to know me.”

 

1 Chronicles 29:18-19 – David’s Prayer
“O LORD, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make Your people always want to obey You. See to it that their love for you never changes. Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees…
Philippians 2:12-13
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

3 Things that will keep us from pursuing God

There are things in our life, that can become CAGES to our pursuit of God, keeping us locked up (like animals at the zoo – who can’t go any further than the 4 walls) – so we remain in the same position week after week, never really going anywhere with God.

1. Responsibilities

Responsibility is VERY good to have & is a sign of maturity, but when we get trapped into “doing” & “focusing” on EVERYTHING else but our relationship with God – it becomes a trap to us – and something that is supposed to be a good thing – actually brings a space between us & God.

* If we are younger it could be:
schoolwork, some sport, some sort of practice, events, activities, etc.

* If we are older it could be:
 job, housework, planning for the next big thing in our life

2. Routine
• When you get into a rut, it’s hard to get out!
• Insanity is… continuing to do the same thing, but expecting different results!
• The saying goes…. a rut is simply a grave with the ends knocked out!
We don’t want to get stuck in the mud, but free to pursue God with passion!
3. Failure – past failures or fear of future failure

Romans 3:21-24
But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
When we come to God – repent & turn from our sins – He washes all those things away! He already knows us – including our shortcomings – and He loved us still!
Ask Yourself This Question – “Do I KNOW GOD?”

I mean REALLY know Him!
Maybe you started out knowing God & used to feel closer, but things feel a little cold between you?

** Passionate people are driven by the pursuit of something greater than themselves!
How can we know God more – and rekindle our passion for him?
** Spend Time With Him **

- More time in prayer
- More time in the word
- Thinking about how Great God is more often
- Spending time with other believers who are going to encourage you in the Lord
- Sharing testimony & encouragement with others

I love this quote:

“We are dying when we have nothing worth living for.
And we don’t really start living until we find something worth dying for.
And… ironically, discovering something worth dying for, is what makes life worth living.”

 

 

Churches in Rome, NY