Recently at The Grove we finished a series we have been in for 24 weeks. We have been going through the Gospel of Luke chapter by chapter in a series we have called "Know Jesus:Luke."
Our last night of the series was one of those messages that resonated with me and I believe everyone needs to hear it. It isn't because I did an amazing job delivering it or that there is some bit of new never heard before information. The reason I think everyone needs to hear it is because I believe that every single one of us who have signed up to follow Jesus will have days where we feel like giving up. And I think the three things we talked about on our last night are essentials for us to stay in this race until our dyeing day.
“32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
If we are going to be people who change the world around us and love Jesus every day of our lives we have got to be people who have burning hearts. By that I mean that we must be people who continually have a passion for Jesus and His story and His Kingdom burning in our hearts. To do that I think there are three essentials, not the only things, but three core ideas that we must grasp and implement in order to do this. I am going to talk about these three things in three separate posts. You can get part one HERE. You can get part two HERE.
3. Talk about and demonstrate the kingdom as often as possible.
“20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20
“12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:12-14
“34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
The Kingdom of Heaven is powerful. The Kingdom of Heaven coming to earth should cause things to change. The Kingdom is both taught and demonstrated.
Telling the stories of Jesus moving on the earth, miracles, signs, and wonders should cause our hearts to burn!
A few weekends ago we baptized people in all 3 of our services as a church and I was talking with a friend of mine a few days later and he made the statement: “When did someone celebrating going from death to life becoming something that wasn't exciting?”
It made me realize that often times in our lives we over look the powerful significance of things that happen all around us on a daily basis. If we are going to be people with burning hearts we have to learn to celebrate when we see the Kingdom of God demonstrated.
TELL THE STORIES!!
You will give up if you never feel like you are making progress or if you feel that your team is losing. Talking about what God is doing and praying for him to do more keeps our hearts burning.
Celebrate the victories of God because they are the wood that will keep your fire burning. When the devil tries to get you down, they are the weapons you throw in his face.
Know Jesus, who he is, what he teaches, his character, his miracles, his heart and allow what you know about him to redefine who you are and how you live.
Be people whose hearts burn.