Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Misguided Zeal
Jan 13th, 2017
CommentaryArt Sadlier
Categories: Contemporary Issues

“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2).

Recently a Charismatic friend stated that, “We are going to use music, arts and sports to anchor people to Jesus.” Nothing could be more unbiblical than that concept.

If you reverse that statement you have the biblical principal for the blessing of God on your life. The world’s sports, arts and music are representative of the things of this world.

Jesus said in 1 John 2:15-16, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

The things of the world will drive you from the Father. Forsaking the things of the world is the Lord’s method for spiritual triumph in your life.

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 19: 38-39). A man that takes up his cross has set himself on the pathway of death, he is not coming back.

In John 12:24 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Dying to the world is the way of fruit bearing.

Paul expressed this principal as the key to his fruitful life in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” Paul is stating that every day he dies to his own desires, ambitions,  wishes, and the things of the world, in their place he seeks to do the will of God.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The opposite is of course true, walk in the flesh, do your own thing and you will fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Many would not be so honest to express the philosophy my friend has expressed but the whole user friendly church movement is based on this very philosophy. They have brought the world with its spirit of entertainment, worldly music and shallow preaching into the church. The result is a church that is in the world and the world is in the church.

Ezekiel expressed a principal that applies to man’s relationship with God in every age. “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane (common), neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them” (Ezekiel 22:26).

Paul expressed this truth in a positive way in, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).