The Passionate Christian

What Makes A Passionate Christian?

An excellent sermon read by Stanley Lashley Jr and is mostly for his application to his life. You may do likewise. Only if you are willing to be on fire for God. The sermon isn't word for word, but a rewriting with additions.

Taken from Philippians 1:21-30

Apostle Paul says "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." These are words to literally live and die by. It is a personal expression, a very vulnerable expression of the heart of Paul as he spent his time in prison. While living his lowliest life, he was most passionate.

In effect, he was saying "My life only has meaning in that I am in Christ Jesus!"

The very essence of EXISTENCE itself is Jesus Christ. It is not a concept. It is not a doctrine. It is not a philosophical axiom. It is but a person.

This is what it truly means to live a passionate Christian life, completely defined by Christ to the point that even death becomes a means of greater intimacy with the One who loved us and gave himself up for us. The passionate Christian life is a life lived with a holy obsession with Jesus Christ.

The Wesleyan doctrine. This is the doctrine of my church--the holiness, conservative church. We base our beliefs on many writings and sermons of John Wesley and we live by them. From them come standards and rules that we live by in the name of conservatism. While there isn't anything wrong with being conservative, we must remember that it is not what makes one a Christian. This does not give an excuse, though, to live loosely, on the edge, playing with the fires of hell. What I'm saying here is that we should not live for a doctrine, but rather Jesus and Jesus only. No one person or one written doctrine can save us, only Jesus. We give ourselves up to Him and the Holy Spirit and let Him guide our lives. It is the only way we exist and we only exist to die so that we may gain--intimacy with Jesus and a home in Heaven! 

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

As much as I believe in and love the Wesleyan doctrine and other writings that expose the truth of the Word, I would not die for a doctrine. I would not die for a concept. But I would die for the person who gave up his life for me and loves me so much that I can be free from sin, past, present, and future.

The Western culture's Christians, by a large number, do not experience the Christian life as a passion, but rather a life not defined by passion. It is a myriad of competing appetites, desires, and drives.

People are floating in a miscellany of different desires and drives to amass wealth or material goods, to experience some titillating excitement, or indulge in some fleeting pleasure. They float in a stew of stresses, anxieties, and demands: work, family life, health issues, so that when it becomes unbearable, God becomes the last resort to be used for help with problems.  

Many people attend the local church, but do not join it because they have no passion for Jesus Christ.

People have a passion for "tomorrow." They worry or have a drive for what will happen in the future, when the kids are grown and gone, when they graduate, when they retire, where they will build dream homes. These are fantasies promulgated by Satan to distract us from the present moment which is all we are truly given. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but today.  

A reason many people do not join the local church is their passion for material possessions. Nothing wrong with these possessions, but when the passion or drive to accumulate them is greater than the passion to live for Christ, something is wrong. They know they have to commit to the church and they have to invest their money and time. They just don't want to give and instead want to have the benefits of being in the body of Christ, but don't have to invest in it--live the Christian life on someone else's quarter. My note: tithing is great, but I believe we need to do A LOT more. Give until it hurts. If it hurts to not drive a vehicle with chrome wheels, to not carry a Coach purse, to indulge in eating out, to have collection to show off, then so be it. Let it hurt and get rid of those things if you feel convicted to do so. If a base model vehicle can get you from here to there the same as a top of the line model, then go for the base model. If a plastic bag can carry your necessities as a Coach can, then get a plastic bag. Women, just kidding. You know what I mean, though. I own a Coach portfolio bag (the only one, rather than a collection of empty bags as some do) with a retail price of $498, but paid only $119 for it and have used it well for four years. But now it is just sitting empty. I should probably get rid of it in the garage sale and give that money to the church.

For what reason would we be Christians if we do not want to be passionate Christians? What's the point? I've mentioned several times before the lukewarmness of many Christians, including myself, today. The passionate Christian life is an adventure!! Daring and risky! We have the means to get around and cover a lot of ground with the Bible in our hands and speaking the Gospel to those who need it. The marginal Christian life is a pile of embers. Here are the words of Teddy Roosevelt:

The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the devotions, and spends himself or herself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his or her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. 

Presented in the passage above, the passionate Christian life is known by obvious characteristics.

Confidence. Remember Paul wrote while in prison. There was prospect of death by execution. Death was a reality, but he faced the moment of death with confidence because to die was to fulfill his greatest pleasure and passion:

"I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far..." Philippians 1:23

Purpose. TO LIVE IS CHRIST. Jesus is the only thing that gives real purpose. The Book of Ecclesiastes is a wonderful one because it reveals the futility of life without Christ at is center. The book reflects the life of King Solomon and reveals the logical end of so many of the things that people are heedlessly pursuing. In Solomon's words, the following will show you what it is like without Christ at the center:

I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good. " But that also proved to be meaningless. "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for me to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

 Service. Paul says:

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith. Philippians 1:22-25.

 A passionate Christian knows well that a life lived is a life lived for the benefit of others! The greatest desire of a passionate Christian is to be in the presence of the Lord, but he is willing to deny himself that because of a motivation to serve. (I have at times wished that I could just go home to Heaven and get out of this chaotic and sinful world, but I know I have a purpose to fulfill...and so I must, willingly.) Service to the world is not drudgery, it is sheer joy! Christians work together so that we can reach the community with the Gospel. The fact that service is joy leads to...

Joy. "If you have no joy in your religion, you have a leak in your Christianity somewhere." ~Billy Sunday

Note how many times Paul mentions joy in this passage and in a prison cell, no less! He was facing execution and he is still joyful!

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. Philippians 1:25-26.

E. Stanley Jones said: "The Stoic bears, the Epicurean seeks to enjoy, the Buddhist and Hindu stand apart disillusioned, the Muslim submits, but only the Christian exults."

Holiness. Paul says, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." The reason so many fall into sin is because at that moment, some other desire that taken precedence of our desire for God. Soren Kirkegaard said it best: "Purity of heart is to WILL ONE THING!"

Suffering."For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him" Philippians 1:29 The world will not admire you for your passionate Christian living and the conflict this creates will be the source of your suffering. We all suffer. It is much more bearable if it is for a great cause...more than that, though, God uses our brokenness to create beautiful lives!

In conclusion, there's a short story.

The most magnificent diamond was discovered in an African mine. Presented to the king of England, it was determined that it will shine in his crown. The king sent it to Amsterdam into the hands of an expert lapidary. The lapidary cut a notch in the gem and struck a violent blow with his instrument and--lo!--the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in two. This was not done out of recklessness and carelessness. He spent days and weeks examining the gem looking for quality, defects, lines of cleavage with minutest care. Was the blow a mistake? No! It was the ultimatum of the lapidary's skill and he brought the gem to its most perfect radiance, shapeliness, and jeweled splendor. The blow was perfect redemption when it seemed to ruin the gem, from which two perfect gems was cleft. The eyes of the lapidary saw these two perfect gems in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine. 

The Hope Diamond

So, sometimes God lets a stinging blow fall upon our lives. The blood spurts; the nerves wince. It hurts and the soul cries in agony. It seems to be an appalling mistake, but it is not. You are the most precious jewel in the world to God and He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe. Live your life like the most precious jewel that you are to God. Nobody wants a marred jewel. Be a PASSIONATE CHRISTIAN!!