SERMON SUNDAY 10th AUGUST 2020

COME WITH ME AND SEE MY ZEAL

 

Verse 2 kings 10:16 “Jehu said,” Come and see my zeal for the lord”

 

The words of our verse were spoken by a man who at Gods command became King of Israel; His name was Jehu Son of Nimshi. The ruling King at that time was Ahab, His infamous wife was Jezebel, An evil pair. But God going to bring their evil reign of terror to an end as prophesied by Elijah the prophet. Elisha, Elijah’s successor, was commanded by God to anoint Jehu as king even though Ahab was still the reigning king. The word to Jehu was “ I anoint you king over the lords people Israel, you are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the lords servants shed by Jezebel. On his way to carry out Gods commission Jehu call to a supporter “come with me and see my zeal for the lord”. The word zeal means enthusiasm, passion, zest, fire eagerness, so the challenge to all Christians is “are we continuing in our zeal as followers of Jesus Christ?” John the Baptist speaking of the coming Messiah said he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire” Mathew 3:11(in part).

These have been very testing times, with even our places of worship closed, Even during World War 2 this was not so, so we’ve had to resort to virtual reality services and now with some church doors open, restrictions such as no singing.

The apostle Paul writing to the church in Rome writes “never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the lord Romans 12:11. Proverbs 23:17 says “do not let your heart envy sinners, but yes be zealous for the fear of the lord” We see how easy it can be to let that zeal be eroded by the stresses of the world and to suffer from a spiritual tiredness we read of a physical tiredness with the disciples as Jesus prayed just before being arrested, He requested that they would pray also, but when he returned to them he found them asleep and Jesus rebuked them for not being able to stay awake for one hour they failed in this three times.

But praise God those same followers of Jesus after Pentecost spread the gospel through out much of the known world by acts of the Holy Spirit and the passion in them for the lord Jesus. Oswald Chambers writes, “The passion that they had stands for endurance and a high enthusiasm, a radiant intensity of life, life at the highest pitch, Christianity doesn’t overcome the world by being passionless but being passionate”.

Jesus knew it would be difficult sometimes but he warned his followers then and us today not to become complacent about his return to earth, his command was “be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning” Luke 12:35.

Not that long ago a well known TV personality stood in a cathedral and speaking of Jesus, he said “he didn’t come back did he” but in his lack of understanding he didn’t know God is all about timing and time in fact God is the master of time. The book of Ecclesiastes in chapter 2 says “there is a time for everything” and in Peter 3:8 we are reminded that “a day in the sight of the lord is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”.

The people of Israel were punished by the Romans for rebellion against Rome just as Jesus foretold, they were scattered through out the world, a no nation people. But in 1948 the nation of Israel was re-established. And as the prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament times prophesied, behold I the Lord will bring them from the North Country and gather them from the farthest part of the earth “Russia of course is to the north of Israel and Jewish peoples are continuing to return to Israel from all over the world. At least two million have come from Russia. Jeremiah 31:8 Gods timing in action!

With Ahab and Jezebel of course God called time on their wickedness and they didn’t see it coming, but when Christ returns and it will be a time of rejoicing for his followers but for those who continue to reject him it will be a time of judgement.

In Mark 13:34, we are told to watch “whether he will come in the evening or at midnight or in the morning”.

There was a time for Jesus to be on this earth as the Son of God and the Son of Man (mans servant, like one of us). But when he returns it will be to rule as King of kings and Lord of Lords, all empires will be swept away and the rock that is Jesus will bring in a new kingdom which will endure forever Daniel 2:44.

If we know Jesus as Lord and Saviour then we have received his holy spirit, this not just a name to use in the trinity in a ritualistic service, But a life changing fire.

So as Gods holy fire people lets not let this virus or anything under heaven and earth make us fearful and complacent saints, But as it says in Like 21:28 “so when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up! For your salvation is near” and let our cry echo Jehu’s “come with me and see my zeal for the lord”

God’s people, keep your eyes on Jesus!

 

Pastor Terry

 

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