SHOW IT ON THE OUTSIDE!

You always know when someone is really serious about something –their actions and passion show it. I remember a friend of mine who was preparing for the Olympics. Often, he would come to church at 10 AM and had already ran 20 miles that morning. Crazy! There was no question about what he was pursuing!

The Scripture has so many great examples of people who had a real relationship with God and what that relationship looked like.

Rev 5:13-14  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. 

I love how King David talks about his relationship with God here in Psalm 63.

Psalm 63:3-5 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

When someone is in love, they're willing to look like a fool for the one they are in love with! The scripture above in the book of Revelation declares that the elders fall down in worship to God, and then in Psalms 63, David said, "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. - I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands." Sound passionate? IT IS! This is the way a person acts when they are passionately in love with God!

What makes a person so passionate like that? Passion comes from a revelation that produces inspiration! When someone accepts God’s crazy love and the gift of grace for them as their reality, they cannot help but feel tremendous passion and love back towards God! Apostle Paul was willing to go to extreme links because of his understanding of God’s love for him and all humanity. Look at these stirring words from Apostle Paul:

Acts 21: 10-14 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”

When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Many people thought that apostle Paul was out of his mind! Many could not understand why he was willing to be so drastic for God and his purposes.

2 Corinthians 5:13-15 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised apostle Paul was willing ed again.

Nobody in their right mind would be willing to die for something they didn’t believe in! Not only did apostle Paul convinced of the precious love of God, he was radically persuaded that it was the answer to the whole world! Don't ever be afraid to show God how you feel because even in heaven, they are living the incredible life of passion! Real hunger and passion for God is not a good idea – it is the life of those who have been changed by the precious love of God! Don’t let half-hearted Christianity fool you! You can be sure of this, those who have been touched on the inside will...

SHOW IT ON THE OUTSIDE!

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