Igniting Fresh Passion (1)                                 22 January 2006

1.  Introduction

Duet 6:5.  You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength.

• God is seeking a passionate love relationship with you!
• Passion: strong intense feeling, fierce, violent desire.
• OT passionless = a void of any feelings or emotion.

Examples

      Ps 42:1.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

      Songs 5:4.  My heart yearned for Him.

      Ps 27:4.  One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek.

· Passionate people hunger for and pursue the presence and person of God.

Rev 3:14-15.  “I know your works – you are neither hot nor cold – lukewarm.”

- Picture of end time church struggle – to become full of passion!

- Hot = 2200 = Zealous, boiling, fervent, passionate

- God sees what we do – our works not just our good intentions.  (Titus 1:16)

- End time – people lovers of pleasure rather then lovers of God.  (2Tim3:2)

2.  We Are Created for Gods Pleasure.

Exodus 19:4-6.  “I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

                           “You shall be a special treasure to me above all people.”

                           “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests a holy nation.”

• People often get stale – trying to get things from God, to have needs met.
• God desires an intimate relationship – that we love him passionately
• God wants us to become people that love Him that He can love extravagantly.
• Kingdom of Priests: - People, who came into His presences – intimate.

                                             - People, who release His resources, power into earth.

Exodus 33:13-16.  “If your presence does not go with us, don’t bring us from here”

• Moses hungered for the presences of God – the Giver”.
• People hungered for the provision of God – the gifts.
• They wanted to use God to advance the position in Life.
• The presence (tangible) of God identifies that we are different to the world.
• God wants us to place love for Him above personnel gain
• Can experience miracles and not be changed – shall have secret sin.
• You cannot experience the glorious presence of God without being changed.

Exodus 19:18-21.  The people stood far off but Moses drew near.

• The people feared the holiness of God – but did not want to change, let go of sin.
• Moses hungered for God – drew near to be changed.
• What will you do – draw near? Or stand afar off to be spectator.
• Those who stand afar off from God can never fulfil their destiny.
• Next Move of God – People of God arising in power to impact community.

3.  4 Ingredients of Passionate Love.

• OT picture is seen in the ingredients for the incense offered by priest to God.
• 1Peter 2:9.  “You are a chosen generation – a royal priesthood.”
• Exodus 30:34-36.  Take sweet spices.

(i) Stacte = aromatic gum - to distil gradually, fall in drops.

         - Made by putting cut in the side of the tree so gum oozes out.

         = Sacrifice – it costs you something to focus on another not self.

2 Sam 24:24.  I will not offer offerings to the Lord which costs me nothing.

1 Chronicles 21:26.  He answered him from heaven by fire upon the alter.

• Our heart is directed to wards what we treasure, place value upon.
• Christianity is not a religion of convenience but sacrifice.  (2 Cor 5:15)

(ii)  Onycha = from a powdered shell = to roar like a lion

                     = passion – can’t be hidden, always has a stronger passion.

2 Sam 6:14.  David danced before the Lord with all his might.

• Passion = zeal, to be hot, to boil, to embrace and pursue fervently.
• Passion is rooted in gratitude and appreciation.
• Passion releases the worship – expression of love and gratitude.
• Passion can be quenched – Passion can be cultivated.
• Love that has no passion is lifeless.

(iii) Galbanum – resin or gum (yellow) imported from India

rt = to be fed, to be rich, the richest or the best part

= Reverence/Respect for God

• True passion means you value, respect, honour the person
• You appreciate them for who they are, not what they can do for you.

Lev 10:3.  By those who come near to me I must be regarded as holy.

• Familiarity breeds disrespect for person, take for granted.

Ps 25:14.  “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him – show covenant

Is 58:13.  “...honour him, not doing own ways...”

(iv) Frankincense – the most important gum, very precious.

rt = to be white, to be pure.

   = Truth; without anything covered over or concealed, authentic.

John 4:24.  “Those who worship must worship in spirit and in truth”

• Don’t cover or hide sin, walk in disobedience
• The value of the gift is diminished when the person is disobedient.

NT Picture is seen in the passionate love of the woman with alabaster box

Luke 7:36-50.”...stood at his feet weeping...”

• Oil = very expensive, equivalent of one years wages.
• She had an Extravagant, expressive, costly, and unashamed love for Jesus.

Simon:    No kiss – no expression of friendship – no passion, “hold out”

               No water – no sign of respect, reverence.

               No Oil – no cost of sacrifice.

               No Truth – no understanding of the true condition.