How to Feed Your Flame for Christ - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Morning to all our viewers who are joining us this Sunday

morning, and we know that it's Mother's Day.

So happy Mother's Day to the mothers of our church and to the

new mothers that became mothers these past few months.

We just want to extend from the leadership to all of you, our

gratitude and our love and we pray for the families of our

church. We pray for the parents of our

church that God would continue to strengthen you and use you to

raise up Godly Offspring for his glory.

He and a personal happy. Mother's to my mother.

I love you. I wish I could see you and I

trust that we will be able to sooner than later.

I trust that you're awake this morning and that you have your

Bibles with you because we're going to just touch on a few

verses here, but it's going to be intensely practical.

We're not going to like a Bible study dig into various

scriptures to try to pull out some theological truths.

This is the illogical but it's going to be very very very

Practical and my prayers, that it's going to help.

It's going to be kind of a connecting message to last

week's. And if you're with us last week,

you know that we spoke about how to overcome a cold heart, how to

escape this lukewarmness, that many Christians have testified

of experiencing at one point in their lives.

And sometimes it's been a prolonged season of dryness and

complacency and indifference and we looked at the way to escape

that. That kind of a heart posture and

near the end of the message. If you were with us last week,

you remember that, we spoke about the necessity and the

discipline of feeding, the flame of the devotion that we have

towards the Lord, that despite emotion.

We must have necessary disciplines of an intake of the

word of God, of being honest and transparent with the Lord in the

place of prayer and sharpening ourselves by the fellowship of

other like-minded believers. Now, We all generally know that

though. We all know as Christians, that

the thing that we all have to do is pray read meet with other

believers and serve in your local church.

But I don't want us to just understand that General sense

because those tools can be handed to somebody and then they

can be adopted as principles. Only to be a mechanical routine.

Only to be an end in itself when they are means to an end.

And so what you have is people who understand this, who are

charged with this and then they end up trying to do it and they

feel as though they are absent minded throughout it and they

don't really know why they're doing it.

All they know is that this is what Christians do.

And so I'm going to do it and hopefully something will come

out of it. But that is not the way we ought

to think about these spiritual disciplines.

Imagine somebody being told that they need to go to the gym and

they are getting a membership. They get the right outfit and

everything else and day in and day out they go and they do what

they think they need to do and they move around with machines

and they spent a good hour every day in that facility.

And they come out after a year spending money spending time and

energy with little to no results.

How is that possible that happens to a lot of people?

And one of the reasons is because there is the wrong

approach. There isn't the comprehension of

how to do certain things and why they should do it.

And then they come out with greater disappointment and with

again little fruit in their efforts.

I would argue that when we understand the spiritual

disciplines, there has to be the right attitude, and there has to

be the right Outlook. Less, we find ourselves just

going through some motions and not seeing what God wants us to

see. And I think that what we need to

do is examine our own hearts and be as honest as possible to ask

ourselves. If this is what we find in our

thoughts, this is what we find in our souls concerning our

relationship with the Lord. Oh Lord, because what this

message is really going to do is touch on three types of mindsets

were three, attitudes, are three outlooks or our frame of mind

that is absolutely necessary to specifically and more

effectively feed the flame of our devotion to Lord it.

And really, they're all going to be drawn from one person and

even one book. And that is the book of

Philippians with a man named the Apostle Paul, and I love Paul.

Because if there is anyone, that was consistent in his Zeal for

the Lord, if there was anyone that God has given to us.

So as an example of how to live from beginning to end only going

from glory to glory, it is this man and this is going to be just

a brief touch on these points and I hope that again your heart

will be able to be honest enough to say yes.

This is true of my life and no it's not because if you're

honest enough and you're not able to say yes to these things

or you're not able to identify or connect with them, then

perhaps you found a reason why even though you're doing these

spiritual disciplines? Why they're not really effective

and not just effective why they're not enjoyable.

C by understanding this, we will know how we can have a

determination in these disciplines but not just in

determination. We want enjoyment and the light.

I think God has given us these things to really know a joy and

the reason why so many are either board or they are

distracted. Many of the times it's because

they don't realize what these things should lead to.

So join with me in your Bibles and turn to Philippians chapter

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

1. And let's look at the first

point that I think is absolutely necessary.

The ingredient that is needed to feed a greater flame for the

things of God. It's a flip Ian's one and let's

look at verse 21. It's a very familiar passage.

You probably heard of you probably memorized it.

But let's look at Philippians 1:21 and see what Paul says, he

Philippians 1:21

says for to me to live is Christ.

And to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh,

that means fruitful labor for me yet.

Which shall I choose? I cannot tell.

Now, Paul, this point is expressing, because he's writing

from prison. He is expressing the possibility

of him dying at some near point, and he is distressed about this

possibility of dying at a near point and the distress that he's

experiencing. Her expressing is not because he

has a fear of death. It's not because he is in dread

of pain, know, the turmoil that he is expressing is because he

is trying to convince himself. If living is better for him, or

dying, is better for him. Most of us want to live.

We don't want to die. And that's a great thing, life

is a gift. But Paul here, as though he did

have the choice is saying, listen.

I have the choice to either be with Jesus and he goes, that is

far better because there's nothing that can compare to

that. This is my longing.

This is why I live to know him and to experience him and to

have that as we heard even last Friday without hindrance.

Oh, that's my number one choice, but this might be shocking to us

as much as that is a desire to pawn.

It should be the desire of every believer.

There is one. Other thing that would keep Paul

Earthbound. There's another thing here that

would keep him in this scene shattered, broken depressing,

dark world, and it is found here in this verse where he says, yet

to remain. In the flesh, means fruitful

labor for me. This is his turmoil.

This is the one other thing that would keep him on this side of

Eternity. Do you realize how profound this

thought is. Do?

You realize what Paul is saying? He's saying the only reason why

I would not be in the presence of Jesus enjoying his glory

forever. The only reason why is because

there is a sense of mission that I have in this life and if I can

glorify him more with my breath, then I will choose to do that

because I'm going to end up going to heaven.

Anyway, I'm going to be in the presence of Jesus, no matter

what, that is where I am headed. So the longer I can stay here to

glorify him and to live for him. I'll do that in the ends up

concluding saying yep. On your account, for your sake.

I'm going to stay. Think about how this man lived,

his life was all about. One thing.

It was framed around one certain direction and that was to serve

the Lord with everything within him.

Do you think Paul is saying this because he's it's a lesser

option. It's not obviously as more

amazing being with Jesus, but you have to understand Paul had

a joy in serving the lord in Acts 20:24.

Acts 20:24

He says, but I did not account my life of any value nor as

precious to myself. If only, I may finish my course.

And the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify

the gospel of the grace of God. He was my life, literally has no

significance. There's nothing about living on

this Earth, that matters more to me than living to bear fruit for

the glory of the name of Jesus Christ.

So you're saying what's your point?

Here's my point. This is not to say that your

identity has to be in your ministry and it wasn't for Paul.

But you can't deny that he had a joy in it and that his life was

organized around it that all the events in the planning and the

motivation and the ambition was centered around this truth.

So the question in the point to make is this, that if you want

to know a consistency in a passion and a Zeal for the Lord,

you must have a grasp on your personal mission for God.

You personally. Yes, you watching, whoever you

are. You, you must have a grass, an

understanding of your personal mission for God.

Paul had that and that's what kept Paul going.

That's what made Paul want the state, he knew what he was

called to do and he would live for that with everything within

him. This is what kept Paul

energizes. What kept Paul animated.

This is what gave something called to pray over.

And Weep over into contemplating to dream up.

And to hope for, he knew that there was a calling from Heaven.

He knew he responded to that call, and he knew that there is

nothing greater than living for that call.

And this is what every believer is called to do at the same

time, because unfortunately, what you have as many Believers

that are either deceived by ill motive leaders, or they

themselves have tricked their own understanding of the faith

or the Devil Himself. Has brought them into a state.

Of deception and to thinking what?

That all my Christian Life. You can sum it up in the purpose

for it. Is this formality in attendance?

As long as I have a church, as long as I go there to hear a

message as long as I give from time to time, I may not be a

super Christian but on the standard Christian, that's a lot

of people think. I have a church named.

I attend their I give I here I've done my part and that's

exactly what my life is all about as a Christian.

That is deception. That is not God's Will and that

is a great reason why many people are lukewarm and that is

pervading our generation today because they've adopted that

mentality. When I was in high school and

even early on before high school, I played a lot of

basketball. Something I gave myself to with

great Zeal and passion, but there is a season of my journey

in basketball where I had to spend a lot of time on the

bench, especially my early years of high school.

I had to sit down a lot if not most of the games and come in

from time to time, but most of the times, every other night,

when we had a game, I would sit on the bench and I would watch

my friends play. And even though we were

encouraged and I wasn't even trying to stir myself up to be a

good Sportsman at the Clapping to applaud and to show my

support. Can I be honest with you?

It was boring. It was boring.

I did not want to spend all of my time sitting and watching

other people contribute to an effort to win while I'm just

here shouting and yelling. I wanted to get in there.

I wanted to do something. I wanted to contribute.

Give me some kind of a goal here.

Give me Some kind of a roll here, even if it's just for a

few moments. I'll give everything I have.

Whenever I have the chance I was able to do that.

Now, here's the thing. Sports might be organized to

have people who are playing and other people who are on the

bench as a backup, but that is not how the kingdom of God is

organized. That's not how its organized.

The kingdom of God, is organized in such a way that every single

person that has chosen to be a part of God's team has a role to

play. There is no such thing as a

bench. But what we have is many

believers who have created this spiritual bench and are sitting

on it and are looking upon others who are serving God,

mainly leaders, who are praying evangelizing, a dreaming

sweating, pouring everything out to serve God, and they're there,

and they're showing their support.

There are plotting their cheering, they show their

appreciation. But again, you have to

understand that is not how God designed his kingdom.

The kingdom of God is not a sports team.

The kingdom of God, is in our me.

This is way bigger. This is a way of life.

It's not something that we just do recreationally know.

But unfortunately, again, we have people is convincing

themselves that as long as they have the Jersey.

And as long as they tell other people and they convince

themselves, they're part of the team that they've done

everything they need to do. You will not find such an

attitude in the New Testament. And let me tell you this, that

kind of mentality might soothe your religious conscience, but

it will not contribute to an ongoing Zeal that you and I

desperately need. Paul knew his personal mission

from God. And the question you and I have

to ask this morning. Yes.

Right now is this is where it gets very practical.

What part do I me as I'm sitting and watching and hearing this

via livestream. What part do I fill in the

blank? My name play in contributing to

the advancement of God's kingdom while I attend church.

No. No, that doesn't mean anything.

That's part of it. What part do you play?

What do you give yourself to? What is the gift?

You were exercising. What it what is it that you are

saying? This is what I'm giving myself

to in order to best help Advance the message of the Gospel in my

local context. Now, you might be hearing and

saying yeah, I totally understand what you're saying.

And yes, now you are stirring my heart to even to even consider

what I should do. So, you know, what I'm going to

do. I'm going to be a blogger.

I'm going to be a worship. I'm going to be a guest speaker.

I'm going to be the next Ravi Zacharias.

That's what I'm going to be. Now, hold on.

Since when did being used by God mean that you have to be known

in order to be effective or to no fulfillment.

God can use anybody for one of those things on a public

platform. But many people get this idea

that the only way that I can serve God and to know a personal

mission is if I have a title if I'm known.

If I'm recognize if I'm demanded for Is that really true?

Is that how we ought to think about what it truly means to

know the calling that God has for us?

Or is it possible that God has callings and many callings that

are hidden? That are unknown that man may

not be able to identify or even vocalize appreciation for I like

to think that there are some who are in the background and their

hidden agents for God, those that are unknown around the

world that are glorifying God, and that is true.

But unfortunately, because I believe this idea of celebrity

culture has invaded the church. It is affected the way we view.

What it means to truly be used by God and then it's

disappointing thing. But here's what you and I have

to grasp. That you don't have to be known

or you don't have to pursue Fame in order to no faithfulness.

That is going to be one of the most frustrating things in your

life. If you begin to covet, somebody

else who has a public Ministry and you think that is the only

way that I can truly serve the Lord.

No, that is not the case at all. I think we have to understand

one core understanding here concerning being used by God.

The you and I are not limited to those things.

There is a array of ways of being energized by the Holy

Spirit to have anointed Ministries, that would touch

lives, whether people recognize it or not.

And I think what you and I have to settle at this point.

If we do not know what God wants us to do.

I think we have to be comfortable and convinced of

this that no matter what it is that God wants me to do.

I will not look to another. I will not try to get into

somebody else's Lane. I will seek what God has for me.

I will exercise the gifts that he's given me to the capacities,

giving it to me, and I will try to do it with as much patience.

Enjoy that he can offer. If not, you'll just add more

frustration to this spiritual Zeal that you're trying to tap

into, but there is also another group of people that are hearing

this and understand. Okay.

I got to know my personal mission for God.

I got to know what it is that God wants me to do.

And they think to themselves. Well, I just don't know.

My lifelong purpose. I know, I need it.

But I don't know. I prayed about it.

I fasted, I've sought counsel I researched but I don't know what

it is from now to the last point of giving my breath.

I don't know what it is. And that's another thing too is

because some people they want to know a definite.

Category or a definite Lane to be in so that they can give

everything they have into that kind of a thing, and that's

okay. And some people even know it,

they sense a certain calling in their life, but because of the

lack of opportunity, the lack of resources or even the lack of

maybe open doors, people begin to feel discouraged and maybe

even disqualified. I hope this is making sense.

I hope this is reaching different people who have

different kind of thoughts about this idea of knowing what God

wants me to do. Now, listen, if there's any

advice I can give to you, there's any piece of wisdom that

has blessed my life. And I hope will bless yours.

Let's simply be this that you. And I should not be concerned

about the long-term you. And I should not be consumed

about the lack of clarity of what I am supposed to do or even

being frustrated, a lack of opportunity.

Do you know what you're supposed to do?

We can't get caught up in that. The one thing that God wants you

and I to do is simply this to know the purpose he has for us

in This season alone. And to take a hold of it with

everything within you and to trust that at his own pace.

He will unveil what he needs to unveil.

That is extremely important. If there is any inspiration

regarding this in the Bible, you might be surprised to hear the

name, Philip. Philip in the New Testament is

one of the most inspiring people to me.

Concerning the subject of serving the lord.

Wholeheartedly, no matter what has been given to him.

Look at Philip in Acts chapter 6, with six others.

Acts 6 · chapter mention

He's been called to his literally serve tables and he

does it wholeheartedly, you go to Acts chapter 8, the same

Acts 8 · chapter mention

Philip, you know what he's doing.

He's not waiting on tables. He doesn't have an apron on,

he's not washing the dishes. After the Fellowship of the

church, know he is preaching at a Revival and Samaria.

And God is doing miracles to him and there is mass conversions

and awesome baptisms. And then at the same chapter,

you see, God taking Philip from that Revival and putting him

with one Ethiopian eunuch, who is reading the scriptures and

needs Clarity. And he evangelized him and

disciples him. Just one from a Revival 21.

And then you go to Acts chapter 21 and you read a Philip who had

Acts 21 · chapter mention

four unmarried daughters, who were able to prophesy.

I love this. What does it tell us?

Well, should tell us at least one thing that no matter where

Philip found himself in a matter.

What kind of a service he was given, he did it with everything

within him. He was serving tables.

Wholeheartedly if he was preaching a Revival without

compromise, if he was talking to one-on-one, he would do it with

patience and join. He let him with Christ and if

you found him in his home, he would raise up his family to

love and honor God. No matter where you found this,

man. He was bearing fruit.

No matter what he was given, no matter what role, no matter what

opportunity, lack thereof in terms of breath.

He loved to serve the Lord. And everything he touched turned

to Gold because I believed he had that right mind.

He loved Jesus, and he served him with whatever was granted to

him. This is how you and I have to

understand this Mission from God.

It is sometimes seasonal. It is.

Sometimes in part. It is now always this long thing

where your this is who I'm going to be for the rest of my life.

And this is what I'm going to do.

Can I be transparent with you? When I first got saved.

I thought it was going to be a full-time evangelist.

That was at least what I desired.

That is what I was dreaming about and throughout time.

God led me to something that I never thought I would do.

That was to be a full-time pastor, but I do it with so much

joy and Thanksgiving, but that A, how I understand it.

Now. There was a season of my life

where it was full-time evangelism.

And in fact, it was not the way you and I might think of

full-time evangelism. It wasn't doing Crusades and

preaching in front of thousands. Know when I got saved, I knew in

my heart that I was called to full-time Ministry.

I knew it within a few months and had great desires, and great

dreams and great prayers before God, but guess what?

I didn't have the opportunities that I thought I would have and

I didn't have the resources. Resources, but what did I have?

I had a college campus. And So, within a few short

months was there with a Christian group and we would

read together, pray together and hand out pamphlets and try to

talk to students. There was a youth group.

I was a part of, and I was a leader that youth group.

And I would sit down with a group of students that were

assigning me every week, and we would go over questions on a

sheet based on the message and just talk and pray together.

There's no Pulpit. There was no camera.

There is no conferences. It was simply whatever God gave

me and whatever I was I was out my disposal and to serve him to

that capacity and slowly. But surely God began to just

like when you're in a car at night and there is so much light

you receive from the headlights. You see it in part and as you're

driving more, has revealed more to reveal, God began to reveal

it at his own pace and I thank God.

He did it at his own pace. No, the mission even if it's

seasonal, what is it now? How are you serving God?

Now. And you don't have to be a

revivalist to be used by God. I look at Susanna Wesley, who

raised up to Godly men. She had many children and

perhaps apart from her Godly influence.

We would not have these revivals that we read of, in our book.

We will not have these hymns that we read of but there was a

Godly mother behind the scene, I think about the necessity of so

many parts in the kingdom of God.

That need to come together in order to make the bigger

picture, a greater reality. I think about those who invest

themselves in media and those in graphic design and those who

say, I'm going to take the gospel.

I'm going to display it in the Avenue in which we are living in

this generation. I want to I want to help get.

You might not be the guy on the other side of the camera

speaking, but you can be the guy that chops it up and edit sits

and does something with it to make it effective and gripping,

all these different things. I can go on with example, after

example, but what you need to be convinced of right?

Now, or you need to figure out between now.

And the next time, you are allowed to go out into this

world, is what does God called me for?

What is it? And don't again look for the

title and don't look for the grand picture.

Just look for it, seasonally in this time.

In this moment. It might be to give it might be

too to be an intercessor. It might be to just be a Sunday

school teacher or youth lie, whatever it is seasonally.

What is it? And take a hold of it again.

Paul had this mindset and I know and we have to understand it.

Contributed to his passion and his Zeal and I think the reason

why so many people don't have that seals because they don't

know what they're here for. They're sitting on that

spiritual bench and it looking at others play.

And again, they're happy. They have the Jersey on, I'm a

Christian. They have a number, they're part

of the team. But listen, that's boring.

That might work for sports. That might be good.

Sportsmanship, that not in the kingdom of God.

Everybody has to get on the field and that is what you and I

have to understand. But there's a second point is

not just understand my personal mission for God.

The second point is that you and I must believe that there's so

much more for God to reveal to us.

Go to Philippians chapter 3, verse 13 to 14 and see that with

Philippians 3:13–14

me. Look what Paul says in

Philippians 3:13. Brothers, I do not consider that

Philippians 3:13

I have made it my own. But one thing I do, Paul says

forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies

ahead? I press on toward the goal for

the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.

Jesus. Many people quote verse 13 of

this chapter to encourage people who have perhaps failed in their

past who have, perhaps disappointed God or a Fanta,

Grievous sin or of wasted money. Each time and they quote, this

refer get what lies behind and just strain forward to what lies

ahead and that is absolutely true.

And this is a wonderful wonderful scripture to use to

bless others who might feel disheartened because of

something that's happened in their past, but we can't limit

what Paul is saying here, to seeing past failure, as a

potential way of paralyzing us and moving forward in the

present, we can use it, but it's not limited to that and many

people limited to that. We have to broaden the

application here and I'm sure Paul understood it in this way

as well. There is another danger of your

past and mind that can be equal equally as the mobilizing.

As our past failures. Do you know what it is?

It's your past successes. It's your past achievements

spiritually. These things can be equally

paralyzing to somebody growing in their Zeal and faith and

service to God. How can that be?

Well, when you have somebody who has had wonderful experiences

with God, or has been used by God, whether individually or

corporally the dangers that is it can produce a

self-satisfaction where it makes somebody relax in their Pursuit.

Greater things. It's possible to have witness

got to do amazing things only to continue to contemplate on those

matters and not believe God for more ahead.

And so, the person's heart can almost think like this.

Well, I've seen God, do these miraculous things.

I've received Revelation from the word of God in such and such

a way. And so there seems to be this

kind of numbness or this neutrality and believing for

more or church can even experience it corporately.

They we have witnessed God do things.

We've experienced wonderful manifestations of his presence

and then we just continue to rehearse those.

Still a point where we don't look forward, always looking

back. You know what?

Paul would say to that. I forget what lies behind me,

his failures know, even his past achievements.

Now, doesn't mean that we don't talk about those things.

It doesn't mean we draw, and we don't draw encouragement from

those things. But to keep your eyes on those

things. Can I, can I ask you don't

experiment with this but visualize it try driving, even a

mile. In your car, by looking in the

rearview mirror the whole time and see how well that goes and

many people doing the same. They always have their eyes on

the rearview mirror and they're looking either at their past

mistakes or they're looking at their past successes and equally

are dangerous for you to not going where you need to go.

And what Paul is saying here is simply this no matter what

Christ has used me for no matter, the mountainous

achievements that he is enabled me to accomplish.

I'm straining forward to what lies ahead.

Do you think this was wishful thinking, you think Paul had

false? Hope?

What did Paul have an Insight in his relationship with God?

That it only goes Higher and Higher and it only gets greater

and greater and the possibilities of things that no

matter how much I've tapped into can take me from one level of

Glory to another Yes, Paul did not have wishful thinking Paul

really believe what many Believers unfortunately, don't

believe. And what makes it worse is when

you have believers who haven't had any kind of testimony of God

doing something in and through them.

And so they haven't tasted something for them to crave

more, and they are just left with the status quo

Christianity, and they've been left with this unfortunate

standard that we've talked about in the first point.

And they think this is just the way it's supposed to be.

No, it's not. It's not and the moment.

You even come to a place where you get a little sample of the

glory of God, where you see what the gospel can do through your

life. If you surrender to it.

If you just yield as a vessel and allow the Holy Spirit to

take control of your life. And you just get a little taste.

You'll never be the same again. Paul believed there was

something more, this Paul who is experienced so much.

So, the question we have to ask is this number one?

Do I have a grasp on my personal mission for God and not just

that number to do? I believe that, no matter what

I've known in the past, that there is something greater ahead

for me in the future. Now ask yourself that now.

If you don't know the answer, if you don't know the answer, if

you can honestly examine your heart.

And say, I believe that there is something more, or I don't know

if I believe all you have to do is this one thing ready, pay

attention. Examine your prayer life.

That's all you have to do. Just look back at the language

of your prayer life and you will be able to determine whether or

not you have what Paul is saying and talking about here.

Because to be honest, a lot of professing Christians, all their

prayers have been reduced to is this Lord Jesus, protect my

family from harm and feed the poor, and those who are

unfortunate in Jesus name. Amen.

There's nothing wrong with that. But can I tell you something

else God wants you to have more than your family being protected

from harm and other people being blessed by not your service of

helping the poor. But God somehow using somebody

else to bless the poor. God's not interested in just

those things in your prayer. Life.

Ask. Where's the desire?

Is there more for me? And you might be wondering what

he's talking about more when you're saying more?

I mean, I have all of God. Now I'm saved.

I have all that I need in. God and toes are said this the

great Paradox of Love Is that we have God or God has us yet.

We search for him and long for him still.

It's a great Paradox. We do have the fullness of God,

but there is experientially a Pursuit Of God that we do not

have in fullness. So what I mean by more I'm

talking about this. I'm talking about a greater

awareness of the presence of Jesus Christ in your life.

I mean more I mean greater insight and Holy Spirit, Led

revelation of the word of God that will burst life into your

soul. What?

I mean more. I mean, that God wants to use

you. You don't have to be a pastor.

You'd have to be an evangelist. You know, how to be a gifted

speaker. God wants to use you to touch at

least one person on this Earth, who is Bound for an eternal hell

to taste of the goodness of God through a vessel that's been

saved. What I mean by more, I mean, you

being able to witness something of the glory of God, even in

your church context where God can at any moment, crash into a

service and sweep through and sanctify.

His people in miraculous ways. That's what we're talking about,

more in the spiritual Realm. And again, I think the reason

why so many lack of zeal. So many who try to pray so many,

who try to come to prayer meeting so many, who try to

read, can't continue. Because the motive and the

ambition is missing. People don't really believe that

there's more. And so their devotional life,

the church spiritual disciplines are just things we have to do

because that's what Christians have to do.

We won't go far. It won't last.

God gives us a man by the name of Paul to show us and he even

allows them to experience things that you know, anybody watching

ever been to the third heaven. Anybody just comment if you have

if you've been to the third heaven, know anybody raise the

dead, anybody use their napkin and then have somebody take it

and lay it on a sick person. They recovered anybody.

Okay, so then there's more and even if you have had those

experiences like Paul, he said there's more there's more and

that's what kept Him going. That's what's going to keep you.

and I going, in fact, it wasn't just Paul.

It was Moses in Deuteronomy 3, verse 23.

Deuteronomy 3:23

He says and I pleaded with the Lord at that time saying O Lord

God. You have only begun to show your

servant your greatness in your Mighty hand.

Hold on, Moses coming near the end of his life and he's telling

God, you've only begun to show me after a hundred plus years of

experiencing. Interventions and miraculous

proportions. You're telling me.

Now, you've only begun to see what is he saying?

He's saying that there's more God, that there is no way of

exhausting the possibilities of your hand being stretched forth

in my life and seeing things that will keep me in all of you.

And that's why I look what he says here in verse 25, please.

Please. Let me go over and see the good

land beyond the Jordan. There's more.

Need to know Beyond the Horizon as long as I'm in this world

that there is something greater to experience here.

God. See his prayer language.

Do you sense the passion? Do you sense the Zeal?

Yes, because behind the prayer is the posture of Faith to say

God Almighty. I know, I know, I know.

I've only scratched the surface. I know that I've only

Entertained, the tip of the iceberg and God you have more.

As long as I have breath show me reveal to me, use me Empower me.

You know, what's amazing is what Paul says in Philippians 3, 15

and this demolishes any argument to think of this is only the way

pastors should think. This is only how full-time

Minister should think. Yeah as ministers.

You should think that there is more as pastors.

You should believe that there is more that's your ambition.

Just give me a sermon and I'll be happy.

I'll satisfy my spiritual Endeavors and will be inspired

by your Zeal for God, this verse will shatter that thought.

Look what Paul says in verse 15 of Philippians 3.

Let those of us who are mature, think this way, let those of us

who are mature, think this way and if anything, you think

otherwise God will reveal that also to do you see this, this is

so important. If you've missed any part of

this message, take a hold of this verse.

This is the context. Remember Philippians 3:13-14

Philippians 3:13–14

forgetting It lies behind me and straining for two lies ahead.

I press on right, he's saying this and then I'm verse 15.

He goes. Hold on.

Let me just pause for a moment if there's any one Among Us, who

doesn't think this way? Realize that you are outside of

the category of mature Christianity.

He says let those of us who are mature, think this way.

So a sign of a mature Christian is a person who's thinking the

way Paul is thinking in these verses prior the sign of a

Believer who is who is growing in their zeal.

The evidence of that is that when you open up their thought

life, when you open up their hearts, they're going.

I know that there's so much more.

I'm believing that there's so much more.

And look what he says if in anything you think otherwise God

will reveal that also to you and what he's saying, he's saying

it's possible for you as a Christian.

Not to think the way that I'm saying.

It's possible for you watching to the saying, you've just laid

out a whole, another standard of Christianity, that I've never

even thought was possible. Are you saying that I can be

invited to know more and I should believe for more?

And this is the secret to knowing greater Zeal.

Yes. And if you don't he says God

will reveal that also to you. I love that.

Do you know why? Because a preacher can only go

so far a message like, this can only go so far.

It can pray. Philippe point you in the right

direction, But ultimately the person that's going to be able

to change the way you think and I think who's going to do it,

God. God is going to reveal it and

then God is able to change it. So if God is revealing it to you

right now and God is convicting, you if God is showing you the

lack of the maturity that Paul describes here, then don't

dismiss it. God is doing something in you

and now partner with God until he rewires the way you think.

For the sake of your Zeal. In fact, Paul is starting to

stay here. Is that if you want your heart

to burn with Zeal, you have to fuel it with the right mindset.

If you want your heart to burn with Zeal, you have to have the

right mindset. There's a connection between

what I believe here. For those of you are mature,

think this way and how it's going to feel the Zeal in my

heart to keep pressing on and to keep believing God.

It's very simple, isn't it? But we miss it completely.

So we see it in Paul. We see it in Moses, men of God,

and we know that they both had one thing in common, at least,

open to different covenants and though they had two different

Ministries. They had one thing in common

God, there's more So, let me see it.

I'm going to forget what lies behind.

I'm not going to just dwell on the past.

I'm so I'm striving towards greater things in the spirit.

Point. Number one.

Do you have a grasp on the personal mission that God has

for you? Well, I don't know what God

wants me to have been praying and seeking.

I need a title. I need to know what it is.

Hold on. What is it in this season?

That's all you need to know and it will be season by season

where God will reveal it. Number two, do you believe that

God has much more to reveal to you in your life.

Just just ask yourself. Well, I don't know.

Just go to your prayer life and see how you're praying over your

workplace. Is it your mission field?

See how you're praying over your family.

Sear your praying over your own life.

Do you desire? Greater christlikeness, sear?

You're praying for your church. See.

But let me come to point number three, here.

Point number three, is this you and I must be totally convinced

that nothing in life is more satisfying.

The point number one and point. Number two, you and I must be

totally convinced that nothing will be able to satisfy as more

in this life. Then point number one and point

number to see you can hear what's being said this morning

and you knowing that you have a mission from heaven and you

Really apprehending that there is more for me in my personal

life, for God personally, to do something wonderful in and

through me, you can have that. But listen, it will not go

unchallenged throughout your life.

It will be challenged. And one of the challenges that

will come throughout our lives. One of the temptation of the

zealous believer, is to diminish in their Zeal, by Satan the

world or your own flesh, trying to present something that will

be greater in Joy or satisfaction, and it doesn't

have to be necessarily evil things.

And so there has to be a protection over that.

And there must be a continual convincing and that obviously

comes through consistency in our disciplines.

But my mind must be preached to my mind, must be saturated with

things that would continue to keep me hungry and believing so

you don't have to experiment with the world to find out.

If it is greater than what you have in God.

I've met too many young people at different.

Conferences who can't respond to a call to surrender.

Because they've been cooped up in their Christian home, as they

would say it, and they have not experimented with the world.

And so they're going to experiment and then come back

when they try to weigh and balance the difference between

the significance of both pathetic.

That's not the way it works. And that's just a recipe for

disaster. No you.

And I have to trust by faith. That there's nothing that can

satisfy other than knowing that I have been given a task from

headquarters on high. And I know that I can have a

greater unveiling of the person of Jesus Christ and his

character and fruit through me. Oh, nothing can even come close.

Nothing can even come close. And you might be saying, well,

where's the verse for that? In Paul's life, go to

Philippians 3. Verse 8.

Indeed. I count everything as loss

because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

Jesus, my Lord for his sake. I have suffered the loss of all

things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.

See what he's saying here. He was Christ.

He was the call that he's given me.

Here's the possibilities of his power being known to be in the

fellowship of his suffering. This is on one scale and here's

everything else. Whether good or evil on the

other side of the scale? And let me tell you how it is

Wade out. Everything is a loss, and

everything is counted as a rubbish.

That I may gain Christ. I've counted, I looked at it

said, that's it. I don't want any of it.

I don't want religion. I don't want performance.

I don't want sin. I don't want Mere entertainment.

I don't want the American dream. I want to gain Christ.

And that is the great shield for somebody's Zeal for the Lord.

If you're not convinced that what I am speaking about is

greater than anything else. Of course, you're not going to

know consistency and Zeal. There's going to be a fight for

your Zeal. There's going to be a greater

struggle to keep a zeal. You might be saying, I know what

you're saying. But experientially I can't say

it's true. Then it's time to do something

about it until you can look at a verse like this and highlight it

with 10 different colors and say, my heart can say, Amen to

this. My heart can say, Amen, to this.

And sometimes it doesn't come through Temptations of worldly,

pleasure or meaningless Thrills in life.

Sometimes, you can come over time when you set your heart to

believe you have a mission from God.

And to set your heart to believe that there's more only to be

faced with disappointment. Only be due to be faced with a

lack of answer. Only the experience.

Many dry seasons, weather doesn't seem to be any rain as

you call upon heaven to be poured out upon your life.

But then again, we are called to live by faith and to believe

that God wants us to have this more than we think.

And I'm scared that many people and I even know of some people

who've burn for Christ in their lives who had a Zeal but have

now settled in their lives to simply be entertained to simply

just Be addicted to a TV show and to have no sense of passion

or or purpose in the things of God.

People who used to serve god with such intensity and joy.

And let me tell you something, if you're watching and that's

you, you know, that they happiest you've ever been is

when you were completely surrender to the will of God,

you know, that the most Joy you've ever experienced is when

you Full Throttle gave yourself to saying, God, I don't live for

anything else. I need more of you and I need

you to use Me For Your Glory, you know, you know that nothing

can compare to that. But so many have settled, so

many have just turned it off. And I've just Gone through the

motions. They're still good people.

They still love God, but they don't have zero.

They don't have the fire that God wants us to have.

And so, don't just exercise your spiritual disciplines.

Don't just think I'm going to pray moment to read more.

I'm going to Fellowship more. I'm gonna go to church more and

then I'm going to know is, he'll know if you're not doing it with

these motors in mind. You're not going to last a week.

But if you know that you have a call from heaven and if you know

that as you pray and as you read and as you meet and as you seek

and as you serve, that God is able to just blow your mind with

his power. And if you'd know that there's

nothing else in this world can be satisfied.

So the only thing that you're going to do is give all your

energy in your effort to this Pursuit, then your zeal.

Well, not only be kept, it will grow, it will grow.

Will it be challenged? Yes, will you feel dry?

Spell. Sometimes sure, but you will

know that there's nothing else. I give that to you this morning

hopefully as ingredients to add to your flame.

Hopefully as a way of stepping back and looking beyond the

mechanical issues here and the actions and to see the heartbeat

behind it that is necessary. And if you just adopt this

mentality and if you don't have Have it.

You can ask God for a what do you say?

God will reveal that also to he'll reveal and he'll help you

with it pulse, at him, Philippians, 3, 15.

This is what we need. We need faith.

We need understanding, need to sense of life, like Paul did and

we will know something of long-term passion for Jesus

Christ. So as you're sitting there this

morning, I want to pray with you through this camera that these

things would would be true in your heart and mind.

And that we would Into a new height of Devotion to Jesus

Christ. Let me pray.

Lord, we thank you for this message.

Simple yet so needed. The things that we need. as a

motive, has an attitude as a posture as As a frame of mind in

order to even no consistency in our spiritual disciplines and

more importantly, the passion for you, Lord.

And for your kingdom. Lord, May every person watching

this morning. Not in a bondage type of way,

but in an exciting way, seek you to know what it is in this

season of Life. They need to do to fulfill their

personal mission for the kingdom.

And Lord. We pray for those who have maybe

thought church and Christianity was all about hearing a message

and maybe taking some notes, only to leave a notebook filled

with something that probably won't be Revisited again.

Help us understand that this is experiential that there is

things that God you want to do in us and through us and you

require our hunger and our faith in our participation to

experience it. I even pray for those who have

believed those two things, but are very disappointed.

Maybe even now discouraged deflated.

They feel like I give up. I've sought God, and I just

maybe, I'm not the one chosen. Maybe I didn't make the lottery

for his purposes. Lord help them understand.

That there's nothing else to go to otherwise and that in your

time you make things happen. And lastly, we pray that you

would Shield us from any lie of the Flesh of the world of

compromising Christians. That we try to tell us that

there's Greater Joy outside of Point.

Number one, and point. Number two.

Keep us believing. Keep us believing these two

things and understanding them. Well, we give you praise and

glory. In Jesus.

Mighty name we pray. Amen.

Amen. May God lead, you and guide you.

In these points that were mentioned met.

You and I know a joy fruitfulness and a zeal.

That before this quarantine, maybe we didn't think would be a

possibility. God will meet us if we seek Him

in Jesus name. God bless you and we'll see you

next week.