Enthusiasm

We can look at people and see their enthusiasm in being disciples of Christ.

This enthusiasm for God is hopefully not something that we lose as we become more mature as disciples of Christ. We want to continually be excited about Christ and not just become jaded about being Christians so that it all becomes just a routine and not something we feel in our hearts.

We're going to look at some scriptures in which we see the enthusiasm of Paul. Of course, Paul was a disciple of Christ. And indeed, in Christ himself we see a driving force to see the truth spread and to see the new law brought in to change things forever.

Paul ironically seemed to be most enthusiastic when the going got tough and he was being persecuted.

Acts 13

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Paul is thought to be mad by king Agrippa

When Paul was on trial...being persecuted by the Jews...

Acts 26

1 ¶ Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

[Surprising that even here in the midst of being tried and persecuted, Paul is still enthusiastic. He's obviously a man just filled with the holy spirit. I ask myself if I would have been so happy at this time as he was.]

3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

[If ever there was a man given a second chance by God, it was Paul.]

12 ¶ Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

24 ¶ And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

[Perhaps Paul spoke with such enthusiasm that the king thought he was mad. Also, the things that he was talking about...resurrection from the dead and so on must have sounded strange to the king.]

25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

[So Paul had almost persuaded the king to follow Christ...he was very persuasive and sincere in his belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus]

29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

Paul was very intent on speaking to Caesar to plead his case. In fact, he might have been released at this point if he hadn't demanded to appeal to Caesar.

Not zeal with lack of knowledge, but focused on Christ and following him. Paul previously had this same lack of belief in Christ that he's talking about.

Romans 10

1 ¶ Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Without a firm grounding in the truth, religious enthusiasm can be more destructive than helpful...as we observe in the Jews that Paul spoke of here. As we read earlier in Paul's account to king Agrippa, he had himself been zealous in following that righteousness of man demanded by the Pharisees...but in his writings in the new testament, we see a wonderful change in which is properly focuses his zeal into spreading the word about jesus Christ.

Again, Paul's enthusiasm is all for the Glory of God and the preaching of Jesus Christ

1 Cor 2

1 ¶ And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Paul apparently did not rely on being a good speaker. He relied on the simple truth of Jesus Christ that he taught. He asked for no glory himself but sought to have Christ glorified.

Paul was also made joyful by the righteousness of the congregation mentioned in

2 Cor 7

1 ¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

[Even in the midst of so much persecution by the Jews and so on, Paul was made glad by other believing saints...brothers and sisters in Christ]

5 ¶ For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

Paul was encouraged by seeing Titus and by the hospitality this congregation had shown to Titus. He had good feelings in general about what was being done in the church.

This is one thing that makes me and perhaps you enthusiastic about God's word. When I receive updates about the brothers in Mexico and the Phillipines and South America who seem to be finding those who are willing to listen to God's word at what seemed like a time nowadays when people are only excited about doing evil...interested in experimenting with evil. Many TV shows now appeal exclsively to doing evil. It seems pretty commonplace for boyfriends and girlfriends to live together. All kinds of sexual immorality.

So as society changes and our dedication to Christ becomes even more the exception than the norm, we can be happy that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who share our enthusiasm in doing what is right. This enthusiasm combined with knowledge of the word can be a driving force in us to do what's right...and we see this as the kingdom even grows in some parts of the world where these evangelists are working...that especially makes me happy to see that.

Rejoice because we belong to Christ. Rejoice as we follow him in good times and in bad. Rejoice because we aren't doing this all for nothing but for an eternal reward.

Phil 2

14 ¶ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

This enthusiasm is real. There's no reason to fake it. Enthusiasm for following God comes from the heart. We seek to glorify him in the way we act around others. We seek to praise him around our families and others around us.

If you would like to have this joy that comes from following Christ and joining the kingdom through baptism into the kingdom...