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"JOHN
– THE PASSIONATE!"
TEXTS:
Luke 9:46-56; John 19:25-27; I John 4:19-21
INTRO:
Neither the church nor the
Christian can survive without passion! It is passion that fuels everything in
society, why do you think products are sold promising moving experiences if only
you buy or use their products?
i.e.
"There ain't no power like mountain dew ... just dew
it!" – The commercial shows all kinds of dangerous and exciting
things for a thrill and then connects it to drinking mountain dew, the idea
being that drinking Mountain Dew is not just drinking a soft drink, it is a
passionate experience!
“Princess Cruise
Lines” – we all know it
as the "Love Boat" – thus a cruise guarantees romance and intrigue!
Cars are sold
connected to such things are bathing beauties, dangerous mountain climbing,
treks through the wilderness where only beasts go, etc.
Certain beers
used to promise you a pool in the middle of the desert with all kinds of
beautiful girls and partiers that would magically show up to share the moment
with you!
One of ATT
commercials a couple years ago promised their lines will be so clear and cheap
that family members at odds with one another would call each other and reconcile
– talk about passion!
All humans are
passionate, we don't first become passionate when we get saved, but we must
exchange our passions – the wrong ones for the right ones!
PROP. SENT:
The Bible teaches us that we must submit ourselves to God for developing the
right passions or our lives can experience anything from emptiness to damage.
Christians must guard against passions that hurt themselves and the body of
Christ ... or others.
I. JOHN THE
PASSIONATE CRITIC! Luke 9:46-56
A.
Arrogance Lk. 9:46-50
1. The
disciples in these early days of ministry find themselves
"REASONING" (KJV) as to which of them
would be greatest!
a. The word
"argument" is literally
"reasoning" ... thus meaning more than
just a sudden thing, they were backing up their claims with examples, bragging
on themselves as if to convince the others that they are God's gift to the
church and the Lord – passionately trying to prove their points!
b. You have to
say they all are quite passionate, but this is passion that hurts the body of
Christ and the believer that displays this attitude!
2. Imagine how
this could have impacted their friendships with one another had Jesus not
stepped in to correct this!?
a. How often
however does this attitude infiltrate the church today, and is left unchecked or
unchallenged?
b. What about
those Christian critics that have a hard time saying anything good about the
church, they only focus their perceptions on the weak areas, if only they were
in charge!
3. Jesus has to
step in to redirect their passion and pride, greatness has little to do with
grandstanding or brilliance, it has more to do with SERVICE from love for even
the smallest need!
ILLUS: Like
the famous story of Lord Nelson who boarded a British ship during the war and
found two brilliant British officers quarreling, grabbing them and whirling them
around toward the open sea where enemy ships were visible he said, "Gentlemen,
there are your enemies!"
– Source Unknown
4. Upon hearing
Jesus’ explanation of being the greatest in the kingdom ... serving others for
Jesus, John immediately tries to complain to Jesus about some stranger he had
seen who had been trying to cast out demons in Jesus' name though he hadn't
joined the disciples!
a. He seems to
give away that he had failed in casting out the demon himself; his pride was
hurt and his position as an "official" disciple made him mad at this
other person – who may have succeeded!
b. Perhaps his
own hurt pride was at the base of this. (SEE 9:39-40)
John and the others had just come from a failure to help deliver a boy from
demons and now some stranger may have succeeded where they had failed without
even being a part of their close knit group!!!
c. Their
wounded pride was showing and their passion wasn't as much for Jesus as it was
for their own self-elevation!
5. Jesus
attempts to stir their passion toward fighting real enemies and to consider ALL
those who help in the kingdom as friends and co-laborers!
a. We are
not called to promote ourselves; we are called to promote Jesus!!
b. When we
have to have our way our passions are misplaced, when we have to have Jesus'
way, our passions are right on!
6. Arrogance is
a symptom of a passionate critic who feels they are always right, others are
wrong!
B.
Anger! Lk. 9:51-56
1. These fresh
recruits however still have much to learn about proper passions, they are still
concerned about their own sense of importance and rightness!
a. The
Samaritans refused Jesus; they were passionately prejudiced against Jews going
to Jerusalem!
b. This aroused
a passionate reaction in at least 2 guys in the group; JAMES & JOHN the
“sons of Thunder!” (Their very name
shouts “Passion!”)
c. Their
response: "Lord, do you want us to call fire down
from heaven to destroy them?"
2. Was their
passion misplaced? YES & NO!
a. They were
certainly right about the Samaritan’s prejudice being wrong!!!
b.
but their passion to prove it
made their own passion just as evil ... "let's
show em Lord!"
c. We must be
careful with our passions and how we channel them against a truly ungodly world;
we might be right and still be wrong in how we respond!
d. Does our
response demonstrate God's passion for saving the lost, or does it seek to
elevate us to show the world how right we are and how wrong they are!!!
3.
It is possible to be right and still be wrong!!!
ILLUS: Years
ago Leonardo Da Vinci was working on his painting of Jesus and the "Last
Supper." He suddenly became very angry with a certain man and said some very
bitter things to this man, believing he was right. After expressing his anger
at this man he returned to his canvass to work on the face of Jesus, but he was
so upset he could not compose himself to do the delicate strokes necessary to
paint Jesus. Finally he put down his tools and sought out the man he had lashed
out at, he asked the man for forgiveness. The man accepted the apology and
Leonardo was able to go back and finish the face of Jesus. His anger not only
hurt the man, it made him incapable of revealing Jesus ... how true that still
is! Our passion should be to reveal Jesus to others, not to reveal ourselves!
– Source Unknown
4. Indeed, we
find Jesus rebuking the “sons of thunder” here; destroying a few ungodly
Samaritans would hardly have been an effective evangelism campaign!
a. Their
passions needed correction.
b. Jesus
expected more from them as believers, and as leaders – He still expects a lot
from us today!
II. JOHN THE
PASSIONATE CAREGIVER! John 19:25-27
A.
Anguish Jn. 19:25-27a
1. What a
change from John's earlier scenes, here at the end of Jesus' time with them we
find a man who has gone from “BIG MOUTH” to “BROKEN MAN!”
a. How had this
come about?
(1. John had
been the one to get close to Jesus!
(2. He was one
of 3 inner circle disciples, thus he had spent more time with Jesus than most!
(3. It was John
who had leaned against Jesus at the supper table, the place usually reserved for
a best friend!
b. Perhaps
leaning against Jesus chest had brought him close to Jesus' heart in both
senses!
(1. Jesus had
pulled John in very close, Jesus simply rubbed off on him.
(2. We tend to
assimilate the passions of those we hang around.
(a. This is why
people who hang with complainers become complainers!
(b. Hang around
people who love Jesus and others and you’ll be like them!
(c. You will
also experience their painful consequences.
ILLUS:
Like a talking parrot a
man had. He would take the parrot outside to let him get exercise each day.
One day the parrot was flying around and noticed a group of crows on a nearby
tree, so he flew up to join them. After hanging around them for a little bit a
sudden gun blast blew toward them, some crows were killed, others flew away.
The parrot unfortunately was also hit, but was only wounded, he had a broken
wing. A farmer had shot at them to get them away from his crops. After the man
noticed his parrot hadn't returned he went looking for it. Finally finding it
walking he picked it up carefully and asked, "What happened to you?" The parrot
responded, "Bad company I guess!"
–
Source Unknown
2. John now
stands alone at the foot of the cross, the only disciple apparently close by
Jesus.
a. John is in
anguish, broken.
b. This is not
a time for words or chastising the other guys for running away, it is a time to
think about Jesus, not self!
c. Gone was the
arrogance and pride, gone was the self-righteous attitude.
d. He didn't
have all the answers; his passion was a broken heart for Jesus!
3. No
criticisms are offered here though this certainly wasn't the way John would have
expected things to go.
4. He was a
different man, no railings here against the Romans, no railings here against the
Jewish leaders, different passions were at work now. He had been with Jesus too
long now to be a “son of thunder” by exploding.
B.
Accommodation Jn. 19:27b
1. Jesus now
speaks to John, how glad to see him standing by!!
a. Jesus needs
a man of passion to take care of His earthly mom, not just anybody for this
special mom – He wanted the man who had stayed close to His own heart!
b. It was John
that was constantly referred to as "the disciple
whom Jesus loved."
2. Jesus needed
someone who didn't think of himself, someone who had learned to put others
first, who had disciplined his passions to match those of Jesus Himself!
a. What man had
stayed closer to Jesus? None other than John, he was always the closest!
b. Peter may
have been first among the disciples but John was first to the heart of Jesus,
John was the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”
3. Jesus had
come to trust the passions in John's heart, He had watched him change.
a. John was no
mere spectator in Jesus' life and ministry, he had been an active participant,
this had shaped him up!
b. Critics tend
to observe and judge others, caring Christians tend to get in there and serve
and encourage others.
c. Spiritual
health comes to those participating in building the body and the kingdom, not to
those who watch to find the errors!
ILLUS: Who
is usually in better shape, a football fan or a football player? What happens
to a football player that becomes a spectator? – His blood pressure goes up,
weight goes up, cholesterol increases, and triglycerides go up, why? Spectators
just sit and so get little exercise, stamina and flexibility decrease on body
muscle groups ... only the luckiest survive long as spectators – but
participants are usually in great shape because they are active and so they are
stronger!
–
Source Unknown
III. JOHN THE
PASSIONATE CHRISTIAN I John 4:19-21
A.
Accountability I Jn. 4:19-20
1. In all of
John's writings we find a great emphasis on LOVE. He is one of the most
passionate writers in the New Testament, connecting ACTION to PASSION.
a. So much so
that he states here that if one claims to have a passion to love God but hates
his brother he is a LIAR!
b. It is not
enough for a Christian to be passionate; he must be passionate for the RIGHT
THINGS!
2.
John's point is very clear, passions must be held
accountable by theirs actions!
a. This is the
missing ingredient in the world today -- the world promotes passion but without
accountability or proper responses!
b. Passion
without accountability promotes pain!
c. It also
causes passion to grow into other misguided actions, leading into a deeper and
deeper pit of sin!
d. Passion held
captive by accountability however controls our appetites and guides them into
proper channels!
3. Today there
is too much focus just on PASSION without looking at where passion can take us
or what to do with them.
a. The Bible is
clear -- Love has a focus, and a right and wrong way to show it!
b. We must be
just as interested in the expression of passion as we are in the
experience of passion!
ILLUS: A
teenage boy had a love for science, especially astronomy, so his father bought
him a very expensive telescope. The boy knew something of optics and so was
fascinated on how a telescope worked. He studied the telescope, even taking it
apart, examining the lenses, calculating the focal distances, etc. He was so
passionate about the telescope and its optics that he never did use it for its
intended purpose -- to see the heavens! People love passion, they study it,
examine it, talk about it (look at the all the talk shows!) -- yet few ever use
those passions to discover the wonders of heaven, expressing passions in God's
intended way and thus they miss a great blessing!
– Source Unknown
B.
Absolute! I Jn. 4:21
1. John's final
word is clear, "Whoever loves God
must also love his brother."
(Emphasis mine)
2. How many
churches have a passion to experience God's presence and power?
a. Yet these
same churches may be filled with people hating each other, or not speaking to
one another, they want God to fill them with passion, but with no plan to use
the passion to love one another!
b. Churches
with passion but not love are not effective!!! It is not enough to just have
“experiences” … there must be “expressions” too!
3. John went
from a “Son of thunder” to a “man of
love” ... controlled passions that expressed the heart of Jesus.
CONCLUSION:
John went from a "Son of thunder" with
a passion for self, to a "son of love" with a passion for others! Being the
closest to Jesus he soon not only heard Jesus' heart beat but found Jesus' heart
beating in him! It is impossible to get close to the "God of love" and remain
arrogant, hard, angry, and uncaring. What you draw close to will determine your
passion!
|
"JOHN
– THE PASSIONATE!"
TEXTS:
Luke 9:46-56; John 19:25-27; I John 4:19-21
INTRO:
Neither the church nor the
Christian can survive without passion! It is passion that fuels everything in
society, why do you think products are sold promising moving experiences if only
you buy or use their products?
i.e.
"There ain't no power like mountain dew ... just dew
it!" – The commercial shows all kinds of dangerous and exciting
things for a thrill and then connects it to drinking mountain dew, the idea
being that drinking Mountain Dew is not just drinking a soft drink, it is a
passionate experience!
“Princess Cruise
Lines” – we all know it
as the "Love Boat" – thus a cruise guarantees romance and intrigue!
Cars are sold
connected to such things are bathing beauties, dangerous mountain climbing,
treks through the wilderness where only beasts go, etc.
Certain beers
used to promise you a pool in the middle of the desert with all kinds of
beautiful girls and partiers that would magically show up to share the moment
with you!
One of ATT
commercials a couple years ago promised their lines will be so clear and cheap
that family members at odds with one another would call each other and reconcile
– talk about passion!
All humans are
passionate, we don't first become passionate when we get saved, but we must
exchange our passions – the wrong ones for the right ones!
PROP. SENT:
The Bible teaches us that we must submit ourselves to God for developing the
right passions or our lives can experience anything from emptiness to damage.
Christians must guard against passions that hurt themselves and the body of
Christ ... or others.
I. JOHN THE
PASSIONATE CRITIC! Luke 9:46-56
A.
Arrogance Lk. 9:46-50
1. The
disciples in these early days of ministry find themselves
"REASONING" (KJV) as to which of them
would be greatest!
a. The word
"argument" is literally
"reasoning" ... thus meaning more than
just a sudden thing, they were backing up their claims with examples, bragging
on themselves as if to convince the others that they are God's gift to the
church and the Lord – passionately trying to prove their points!
b. You have to
say they all are quite passionate, but this is passion that hurts the body of
Christ and the believer that displays this attitude!
2. Imagine how
this could have impacted their friendships with one another had Jesus not
stepped in to correct this!?
a. How often
however does this attitude infiltrate the church today, and is left unchecked or
unchallenged?
b. What about
those Christian critics that have a hard time saying anything good about the
church, they only focus their perceptions on the weak areas, if only they were
in charge!
3. Jesus has to
step in to redirect their passion and pride, greatness has little to do with
grandstanding or brilliance, it has more to do with SERVICE from love for even
the smallest need!
ILLUS: Like
the famous story of Lord Nelson who boarded a British ship during the war and
found two brilliant British officers quarreling, grabbing them and whirling them
around toward the open sea where enemy ships were visible he said, "Gentlemen,
there are your enemies!"
– Source Unknown
4. Upon hearing
Jesus’ explanation of being the greatest in the kingdom ... serving others for
Jesus, John immediately tries to complain to Jesus about some stranger he had
seen who had been trying to cast out demons in Jesus' name though he hadn't
joined the disciples!
a. He seems to
give away that he had failed in casting out the demon himself; his pride was
hurt and his position as an "official" disciple made him mad at this
other person – who may have succeeded!
b. Perhaps his
own hurt pride was at the base of this. (SEE 9:39-40)
John and the others had just come from a failure to help deliver a boy from
demons and now some stranger may have succeeded where they had failed without
even being a part of their close knit group!!!
c. Their
wounded pride was showing and their passion wasn't as much for Jesus as it was
for their own self-elevation!
5. Jesus
attempts to stir their passion toward fighting real enemies and to consider ALL
those who help in the kingdom as friends and co-laborers!
a. We are
not called to promote ourselves; we are called to promote Jesus!!
b. When we
have to have our way our passions are misplaced, when we have to have Jesus'
way, our passions are right on!
6. Arrogance is
a symptom of a passionate critic who feels they are always right, others are
wrong!
B.
Anger! Lk. 9:51-56
1. These fresh
recruits however still have much to learn about proper passions, they are still
concerned about their own sense of importance and rightness!
a. The
Samaritans refused Jesus; they were passionately prejudiced against Jews going
to Jerusalem!
b. This aroused
a passionate reaction in at least 2 guys in the group; JAMES & JOHN the
“sons of Thunder!” (Their very name
shouts “Passion!”)
c. Their
response: "Lord, do you want us to call fire down
from heaven to destroy them?"
2. Was their
passion misplaced? YES & NO!
a. They were
certainly right about the Samaritan’s prejudice being wrong!!!
b.
but their passion to prove it
made their own passion just as evil ... "let's
show em Lord!"
c. We must be
careful with our passions and how we channel them against a truly ungodly world;
we might be right and still be wrong in how we respond!
d. Does our
response demonstrate God's passion for saving the lost, or does it seek to
elevate us to show the world how right we are and how wrong they are!!!
3.
It is possible to be right and still be wrong!!!
ILLUS: Years
ago Leonardo Da Vinci was working on his painting of Jesus and the "Last
Supper." He suddenly became very angry with a certain man and said some very
bitter things to this man, believing he was right. After expressing his anger
at this man he returned to his canvass to work on the face of Jesus, but he was
so upset he could not compose himself to do the delicate strokes necessary to
paint Jesus. Finally he put down his tools and sought out the man he had lashed
out at, he asked the man for forgiveness. The man accepted the apology and
Leonardo was able to go back and finish the face of Jesus. His anger not only
hurt the man, it made him incapable of revealing Jesus ... how true that still
is! Our passion should be to reveal Jesus to others, not to reveal ourselves!
– Source Unknown
4. Indeed, we
find Jesus rebuking the “sons of thunder” here; destroying a few ungodly
Samaritans would hardly have been an effective evangelism campaign!
a. Their
passions needed correction.
b. Jesus
expected more from them as believers, and as leaders – He still expects a lot
from us today!
II. JOHN THE
PASSIONATE CAREGIVER! John 19:25-27
A.
Anguish Jn. 19:25-27a
1. What a
change from John's earlier scenes, here at the end of Jesus' time with them we
find a man who has gone from “BIG MOUTH” to “BROKEN MAN!”
a. How had this
come about?
(1. John had
been the one to get close to Jesus!
(2. He was one
of 3 inner circle disciples, thus he had spent more time with Jesus than most!
(3. It was John
who had leaned against Jesus at the supper table, the place usually reserved for
a best friend!
b. Perhaps
leaning against Jesus chest had brought him close to Jesus' heart in both
senses!
(1. Jesus had
pulled John in very close, Jesus simply rubbed off on him.
(2. We tend to
assimilate the passions of those we hang around.
(a. This is why
people who hang with complainers become complainers!
(b. Hang around
people who love Jesus and others and you’ll be like them!
(c. You will
also experience their painful consequences.
ILLUS:
Like a talking parrot a
man had. He would take the parrot outside to let him get exercise each day.
One day the parrot was flying around and noticed a group of crows on a nearby
tree, so he flew up to join them. After hanging around them for a little bit a
sudden gun blast blew toward them, some crows were killed, others flew away.
The parrot unfortunately was also hit, but was only wounded, he had a broken
wing. A farmer had shot at them to get them away from his crops. After the man
noticed his parrot hadn't returned he went looking for it. Finally finding it
walking he picked it up carefully and asked, "What happened to you?" The parrot
responded, "Bad company I guess!"
–
Source Unknown
2. John now
stands alone at the foot of the cross, the only disciple apparently close by
Jesus.
a. John is in
anguish, broken.
b. This is not
a time for words or chastising the other guys for running away, it is a time to
think about Jesus, not self!
c. Gone was the
arrogance and pride, gone was the self-righteous attitude.
d. He didn't
have all the answers; his passion was a broken heart for Jesus!
3. No
criticisms are offered here though this certainly wasn't the way John would have
expected things to go.
4. He was a
different man, no railings here against the Romans, no railings here against the
Jewish leaders, different passions were at work now. He had been with Jesus too
long now to be a “son of thunder” by exploding.
B.
Accommodation Jn. 19:27b
1. Jesus now
speaks to John, how glad to see him standing by!!
a. Jesus needs
a man of passion to take care of His earthly mom, not just anybody for this
special mom – He wanted the man who had stayed close to His own heart!
b. It was John
that was constantly referred to as "the disciple
whom Jesus loved."
2. Jesus needed
someone who didn't think of himself, someone who had learned to put others
first, who had disciplined his passions to match those of Jesus Himself!
a. What man had
stayed closer to Jesus? None other than John, he was always the closest!
b. Peter may
have been first among the disciples but John was first to the heart of Jesus,
John was the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”
3. Jesus had
come to trust the passions in John's heart, He had watched him change.
a. John was no
mere spectator in Jesus' life and ministry, he had been an active participant,
this had shaped him up!
b. Critics tend
to observe and judge others, caring Christians tend to get in there and serve
and encourage others.
c. Spiritual
health comes to those participating in building the body and the kingdom, not to
those who watch to find the errors!
ILLUS: Who
is usually in better shape, a football fan or a football player? What happens
to a football player that becomes a spectator? – His blood pressure goes up,
weight goes up, cholesterol increases, and triglycerides go up, why? Spectators
just sit and so get little exercise, stamina and flexibility decrease on body
muscle groups ... only the luckiest survive long as spectators – but
participants are usually in great shape because they are active and so they are
stronger!
–
Source Unknown
III. JOHN THE
PASSIONATE CHRISTIAN I John 4:19-21
A.
Accountability I Jn. 4:19-20
1. In all of
John's writings we find a great emphasis on LOVE. He is one of the most
passionate writers in the New Testament, connecting ACTION to PASSION.
a. So much so
that he states here that if one claims to have a passion to love God but hates
his brother he is a LIAR!
b. It is not
enough for a Christian to be passionate; he must be passionate for the RIGHT
THINGS!
2.
John's point is very clear, passions must be held
accountable by theirs actions!
a. This is the
missing ingredient in the world today -- the world promotes passion but without
accountability or proper responses!
b. Passion
without accountability promotes pain!
c. It also
causes passion to grow into other misguided actions, leading into a deeper and
deeper pit of sin!
d. Passion held
captive by accountability however controls our appetites and guides them into
proper channels!
3. Today there
is too much focus just on PASSION without looking at where passion can take us
or what to do with them.
a. The Bible is
clear -- Love has a focus, and a right and wrong way to show it!
b. We must be
just as interested in the expression of passion as we are in the
experience of passion!
ILLUS: A
teenage boy had a love for science, especially astronomy, so his father bought
him a very expensive telescope. The boy knew something of optics and so was
fascinated on how a telescope worked. He studied the telescope, even taking it
apart, examining the lenses, calculating the focal distances, etc. He was so
passionate about the telescope and its optics that he never did use it for its
intended purpose -- to see the heavens! People love passion, they study it,
examine it, talk about it (look at the all the talk shows!) -- yet few ever use
those passions to discover the wonders of heaven, expressing passions in God's
intended way and thus they miss a great blessing!
– Source Unknown
B.
Absolute! I Jn. 4:21
1. John's final
word is clear, "Whoever loves God
must also love his brother."
(Emphasis mine)
2. How many
churches have a passion to experience God's presence and power?
a. Yet these
same churches may be filled with people hating each other, or not speaking to
one another, they want God to fill them with passion, but with no plan to use
the passion to love one another!
b. Churches
with passion but not love are not effective!!! It is not enough to just have
“experiences” … there must be “expressions” too!
3. John went
from a “Son of thunder” to a “man of
love” ... controlled passions that expressed the heart of Jesus.
CONCLUSION:
John went from a "Son of thunder" with
a passion for self, to a "son of love" with a passion for others! Being the
closest to Jesus he soon not only heard Jesus' heart beat but found Jesus' heart
beating in him! It is impossible to get close to the "God of love" and remain
arrogant, hard, angry, and uncaring. What you draw close to will determine your
passion!
|
