God

Character of ChristPurity

Building & Maintaining = Process

• What has to be done to build and keep a fire going?

• Building & Maintaining our spiritual fire is a process.

• 7-Step Process to build & maintain our spiritual fire.

• Text: Jn. 6:68-69

The 7-Step Process• Step 1: Prepare Your Zeal–Where is our zeal for God built?–How was Peter’s heart prepared?• Gal. 3:24• Lk. 1:17

–How can our hearts be prepared?• New Law• Dwelling on pure things (Phil. 4:8)• Eliminate evil/Replace with purity (1 Th.

5:22; 1 Pet. 2:11-12; Phil. 1:9-11)

The 7-Step Process• Step 2: Ignite Your Zeal– Peter’s 1st encounter with Christ

(Jn. 1:35-2:11):• Invited to come to Christ (1:40-41)• Received a new name (potential) (1:42)• Witnessed the power of Christ (2:7-9)• Zeal IGNITED (2:11)

–What happened later? (Mt. 4:17-22)

The 7-Step Process• Step 2: Ignite Your Zeal–How can we draw closer to God to

ignite zeal?• Prepare our hearts (Step 1)• Spend time with Christ• Spend time with Christ’s disciples• Consider the power of God through

Christ• Focus on the attributes of God when we

pray

The 7-Step Process• Step 3: Fuel Your Zeal–Was Peter’s initial zeal mature? (Mt.

26:35; 26:51; Mk. 8:31-33)–How did Christ help Peter to fuel his

zeal?• Courage (Mt. 14:26)• Wisdom (Mt. 16:23; 26:51-52)• Diligence (Jn. 21:19)• Energy (Mt. 26:41)• Loving Service (Jn. 13:8ff)

Review - The 7-Step Process

• Step 1: Prepare Your Zeal• Step 2: Ignite Your Zeal

The 7-Step Process• Step 3: Fuel Your Zeal–Was Peter’s initial zeal mature? (Mt.

26:35; 26:51; Mk. 8:31-33)–How did Christ help Peter to fuel his

zeal?• Courage (Mt. 14:26)• Wisdom (Mt. 16:23; 26:51-52)• Diligence (Jn. 21:19)• Energy (Mt. 26:41)• Loving Service (Jn. 13:8ff)

The 7-Step Process• Step 4: Protect Your Zeal–What did Jesus do to prepare Peter

for his challenges? (Lk. 22:31-34)–How can our zeal be protected from

trials and temptations?• Warnings (1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Pet. 2:11)• Prayers of brethren

The 7-Step Process• Step 5: Use Your Zeal–What Peter do when he overcame

his challenges? (Acts 2)–Mt. 5:15

The 7-Step Process• Step 6: Spread Your Zeal–Did Peter limit his zeal to

Pentecost?– God uses zealous people to

accomplish incredible things for His glory.

– What if there are no zealous people?

The 7-Step Process• Step 7: Tend Your Zeal– Consider the maturation of Peter’s

zeal in the NT.–Why did his zeal mature in this

way?– Building our zeal is a continuous

process that needs constant attention.

– Consider Heb. 12:1