Choose God’s will of Relentless Joy – Identifying the fuel of Passion – Part IV – Pastor Odim Awa Odim: In the pursuit of Relentless Joy, which is the evidence of our positive emotion, Passion is the combustion fuel which propelled the mechanic force that steadies our urge to remain unwavering.
Choose God’s will of Relentless Joy – Identifying the fuel of Passion (Part IV)
Passion is a true desire sustained or prolonged which can be often marked by strong feelings or emotions. Passion can drive motivation and enthusiasm, pushing God’s people to pursue God’s interests or goals, which means that Passion can give children of God energy and excitement, making them more engaged and dedicated to their heavenly assignments.
Psalms 84:2; [2] My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Passion can refer to strong emotions like love, excitement, or enthusiasm. Child of God, As you can see from the descriptions of passion as mentioned above, you will notice that passion speaks of the emotion. Passion can be said to be the seat of emotion.
What is Emotion?
Emotion is our internal sense of being.
There are two kinds of Emotions
Positive emotions.
Positive emotions are feelings that are pleasant , enjoyable and beneficial for our well-being.
Galatians 5:22-23; [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
2. Negative Emotions
This emotion is the opposite of positive emotions, they are characterized by the feelings that are unpleasant, unenjoyable and which does not promote our wellness. Like, Sorrow, Anger, fear, disgust, shame, Jealousy and anxiety etc.
Proverbs 17:22; [22] A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
This now brings to our understanding that in driving our goals to a sustainable realization, we must seek to develop an unwavering positive or eternal passion.
Colossians 3:2; [2] Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
This scripture also specifies that our approach to passion can be two dimensional, explained as follows, setting minds on earthly, talks about the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and the lust of fleshly desires, eg sex, drugs, alcohol, greed, covetousness, etc.
1 John 2:16; [16] For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
But the children of God are admonished to drive this force of passion, which is very powerful to the things that have eternal values, like Christ showed us, when he pursued his kingdom assignment, during his ministry in this earth realm. Saints of God, the greatest enemy of God is the flesh, this is so because it tends to shield the knowledge of God from its free operational course.
Developing passion involves several key steps namely:
Discovering Your Purpose :
We are admonished as believers to reflect on what truly excites and motivates us.
Ephesians 2:10; [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Following your heart:
We should show a high degree of commitment and motivation to our call.
Ecclesiastes 9:10; [10] Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
Using your Gifts
We are called to serve the body of Christ with our God given potential, for in doing so, we will be relevant and impactful to the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 4:10; [10] As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
4. Take calculated Risk:
Get involved with new frontiers, take risks, and step out of your comfort zone to discover what fuels and ignites your passion.
2 Timothy 1:7; [7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Set goals and challenges:
Having clear objectives, guidance and insight can help fuel your enthusiasm and drive.
1 Corinthians 9:24; [24] Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
Embrace failure and learning:
Always view setbacks and temporary challenges as opportunities for growth, and don’t be afraid to learn from mistakes.
Proverbs 24:16; [16] For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Here are some examples of men in the Bible who demonstrated passion:
Prophet
Elijah: Known for his fiery and strong passion for God’s word, Who stood up against King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, displaying his unwavering commitment to his faith.
1 Kings 17:1; [1] And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
James 5:17-18; [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. [18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Leadership:
David: King David’s passion for God was evident in his heartfelt devotion to God showcased in his prayers and worship.The Bible recorded that, he was a man after God’s own heart, and his resilient passion led him to establish Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and bring the ark of the covenant there.
1 Samuel 13:14; [14] But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
Acts 13:22; [22] And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’
Disciples:
Paul: The Apostle Paul’s passion for advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ took him on missionary journeys, where he faced a lot of challenges, imprisonments, and hardships. His passion drove him to write in-depth about God’s love and salvation.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28; [23] Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. [24] From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; [26] in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; [27] in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting’s often, in cold and nakedness— [28] besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
These men demonstrated passion in various ways, including
Passion for God’s word:
They had a deep love and commitment to God’s word, which drove them to share it with others.
Jeremiah 20:9; [9] Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.
Courage in the face of opposition:
They stood up for their faith, even when faced with challenges, persecution, or danger.
Matthew 10:28; [28] And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Endurance:
They worked tirelessly to achieve their goals, despite obstacles and setbacks.
Hebrews 12:1; [1] Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Galatians 6:9; [9] And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Conclusion
In the pursuit of Relentless Joy, which is the evidence of our positive emotion, Passion is the combustion fuel which propelled the mechanic force that steadies our urge to remain unwavering to our commitment and convictions of our purpose. Hallelujah!
