Category Archives: Zealous

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Bible, Cheerfulness, Exhortation, Gifts, Giving, Leading, Mercy, Romans, Scripture, Zealous

THE GIFTS LIST – EXHORTATION, GIVING, LEADING, MERCY

ROMANS 12:8

“or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

As we continue today with Paul’s list of spiritual gifts in Romans 12:8, I am reminded of another analogy. I played high school football. I really loved the game. But the position I played on offense wasn’t the flashy one. I wasn’t the quarterback, running back or receiver. I was one of the grunts, a lineman. I played all three positions (tackle, guard, center) during my high school career. Although my position wasn’t the one noticed each play, it was important. Without those positions blocking and protecting, the players making the scores would be overwhelmed with the defense.

So, as we look at four more gifts from the Lord, remember that each one needs the other. In today’s verse, Paul gives us four very different kinds of gifts. They don’t seem to relate to each other at all. How does exhortation compare to giving or how does leading compare to showing mercy? Looked at separately they really don’t. But when you step back and look at the whole body of Christ, you can see how each play their part to make the body function.

APPLICATION

What is exhortation? The Greek word is paráklēsis which can be described as a “holy urging.” This is when you encourage others to carry out God’s commands and practices. This gift can be closely tied to someone who serves as a teacher or preacher. But this word can also be translated as “comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) which gives you a fuller picture of what exhortation can include.

Next Paul mentions “giving,” which is an absolute beautiful gift. People with this gift don’t give to gain recognition and have buildings named after themselves. They give to further the kingdom of God without any concern about how they will get thanked. I have known people with this gift who sold property to give the money to the church. This is a selfless gift focusing on the needs of others. This is found in the way one should give, with “generosity.”

I have this next gift of “leading” but have to admit that I don’t always do it in the way Paul says we should lead – with “diligence.” Sometimes leadership is cast upon us, and other times we make the conscious choice to lead. The Greek word for “leading” is proístēmi which carries the idea of one who has the character to direct others and model behaviors and actions. “Diligence” is spoudḗ (which, by the way, is a just a fun word to say). This means with speed and with zeal. It means “quickly obeying what the Lord reveals is His priority.” (HELPS Word-studies)

The last gift in Paul’s list today is showing mercy. The Topical Lexicon says about this Greek word, “Each occurrence unveils God’s heart toward the helpless and models the believer’s calling to reflect that heart toward others.” Compassion is a word often used in connection to this gift. And how are we to do this? With cheerfulness. The Greek word there is hilarótēs which comes from hilarós. It’s having an attitude that is ready to respond from a willing spirit. We get our word “hilarious” from this. Hilarótēs is only used here in Romans 12:8 and hilarós is only used in 2 Corinthians 9:7 in relation to being a “cheerful giver.”

This is not Paul’s only list of gifts. He mentions other gifts in other letters, but these give us something to ponder, don’t they? Have you found yours in this list? If not, keep asking the Lord to reveal how He wants to use you in the body of Christ.

O Lord, I am so thankful how You have gifted the body of Christ with the various gifts and knitted them all together as one.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Eagerness, Enthusiasm, Scripture, Zealous

ARE YOU A ZEALOT?

PHILIPPIANS 3:6

“as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”

Being zealous about something can be either good or bad. Being zealous means you are very enthusiastic and eager about something. Some people are football zealots. They live and breathe their favorite team. Others are zealous for the outdoors and spend every free moment doing something that will take them there – hiking, biking, rock climbing. As we look at today’s verse, think about what you are zealous about.

Paul continues his pedigree that he began in the previous verse. He claims how zealous he was before Christ in persecuting the earlier believers. Why? Because Jesus’ followers threatened the very fabric of his Jewish laws and traditions. He couldn’t allow that to happen. Then he claims his own righteousness is found in keeping the law. Seriously? No one could do that. But Paul said he was “blameless” in keeping the law.

APPLICATION

You have to remember, Paul knew all these things he has just mentioned in verses 5 and 6 did nothing to make him worthy of anything. He knew no one was capable of saving themselves through these. He is showing the futility of it all. But let’s look at the first thing he said in today’s verse – zeal. I love how HELPS Word studies describes this Greek word. “zḗlos (an omamopoeic term that mimics the sound of water bubbling over from heat and perhaps derived from zéō, “to boil”) – properly, burning emotion (inner feeling boiling over, ‘boiling from heat,’ J. Thayer); (figuratively) something very fervent (‘red-hot’) as with Spirit-fueled zeal to serve the Lord. This root (zē-) is used both negatively (‘jealousy’) and positively (‘zeal’) depending on the context.”

In Romans 10:2, Paul is speaking about the Israelites and their futility of following the law and he says, “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.” In James 3:14 and 16 James uses the word to describe bitter jealousy and ties it with lying and evil things.

But you can be zealous for God, which is a good thing. I have become zealous about discipling other men to make them into disciple makers. I lead groups or individuals through our Every Man A Warrior study to give them the zeal they need to memorize God’s Word and spend time daily with Him. That will give them the desire, the enthusiasm, the eagerness to go and make disciples. So, I ask you again, what are you zealous about and how does it line up with what God wants in your life?

Give me the zeal of the Holy Spirit to equip others for the work of the Gospel.

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Bible, Freedom, Passion, Scripture, Zealous

ZEALOUS FOR THE WRONG STUFF

GALATIANS 1:14

“and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.”

Okay, I have to admit it – I’m an avid Georgia Bulldog fan. I went to school at the University of Georgia, so it’s my school. I am especially a football fan. I have enjoyed the past few seasons with the success the team has had. But I know it is only a sport and that life does not hang in the balance with each win or loss. There are some fans, however, who are truly fanatics. They live and die with each ballgame. Zealous for the wrong reason!

Paul admits in verse 14 that he, too, was zealous for the wrong reasons. The Greek word for “zealous” comes from the root word zeo which mans to be hot enough to boil. Paul was, indeed, a zealot for the Jewish faith, even chasing down the early believers, throwing them in jail and even approving of their death. Remember, he was present when Stephen was stoned to death. He was zealous but for the wrong thing.

APPLICATION

In Luke 6:15, we find one of Jesus’ apostles was called a zealot. “…and Simon who was called the Zealot;” Simon was a zealot over fighting for freedom from the Romans. When Jesus called him to be one of his chosen twelve, his zeal was changed from seeking freedom militarily to seeking freedom spiritually. Paul was no exception. Instead of seeking to arrest early Christians, he was arrested by God on that Damascus road and finally set free. Now, he was extremely zealous for Christ. He was even willing to risk his own life spreading the good news of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 14:12 speaks to us all regarding the correct zeal we should pursue. “So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church.” Instead of trying to obtain spiritual supremacy, we should be zealous to build up the body of Christ, the church. God has given each of us gifts for the body. Those are the things we should seek, not for ourselves, but for others.

The older I get, the less attention or praise I seek. I had rather serve behind the scenes and quietly watch others get blessed than seek my own accolades. When I do receive recognition, I want to be quick to give it all back to Him. I want to be zealous for Jesus, nothing else. Only He really matters. I want to boil over for Him. How about you?

I praise You, Lord, for giving me the zeal I need each day. Boil me over in passion for You.

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Attitude, Bible, Bitterness, Envy, Jealousy, Passion, Scripture, Zealous

JEALOUSY

ZECHARIAH 8:2

“‘The LORD of armies says this: “I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.”’” 

Man, I can remember getting jealous about some things in my life. When I was a young teen, I remember getting jealous over girls. I remember being jealous over a friend’s new car. I remember being jealous about someone else’s job. Jealousy in these areas will eat at you and cause you to be bitter or resentful.

That is NOT the kind of jealousy we are looking at today in Zechariah 8:2. God says, “I am exceedingly jealous…” If that was meant in the same way I mentioned earlier, we would have a terrible God. But that is not what this word means here. Perhaps it is better translated as “zealous.” God is overwhelmed with love for Zion, for the people of Israel. He will defend the people with whatever it takes. They are His, and no one can take them away.

APPLICATION

What are you that zealous or jealous about? What drives your passion? What good thing in your life has God given you which you have that kind of passion for? Let me name a few and see if they fit you. How about your children (if you have some)? Would you consider yourself protective of them to the point of being zealous? You know what they say about a mama bear and her cubs. My wife would defend our kids to her death.

Are you jealous over your time with God? Do you set aside time every day to be with Him? I mean, nothing disrupts that time. I can relate to that. My time with the Lord is very important to me. I had never really thought about it being a jealousy, but it is – in a good way. Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek Him first and His righteousness. Are you doing that?

The next time you get jealous (in a bad way) over something, stop yourself and ask if this thing you are so jealous about has any eternal value. Those are the things we need to be jealous about. Those are the things that matter. Jealousy can be a good thing. Just look at our God.

I want to show just how jealous I am over You, my Lord. I seek You with all my heart.

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