Review – Increasing in Wisdom

• Limits on Godly zeal–Must be exercised with moral integrity–Must be exercised in spiritual battles

• Zeal of OT figures• Expressing our zeal wisely:– Understand our battlefield/weapons

(Eph. 6)– Understand why we fight– Understand our citizenship

Embracing Loving Service

Motivation for Our Zeal (1 Cor. 1:1-3)• Good works indicative of great

zeal?• What can make them of no

value?

Embracing Loving Service

Zeal with Loving Service: Phinehas• Num. 25:1-18 – Zeal in

Atonement–How does God describe the actions

of Phinehas?–Was there any selfish ambition

evident?–Was love for God and his people

evident?

Embracing Loving Service

Zeal with Loving Service: Phinehas• Joshua 22 – Zeal in Peacemaking–What was the belief about the

altar? (vv. 16-20)–What was the truth about the altar?

(vv. 26-28)–What was Phinehas’ response upon

learning the truth? (v. 31)–Why did Phinehas act as he did?

Embracing Loving Service

Zeal with Loving Service: Phinehas• Why did Phinehas have zeal with

loving service?–How does God see sin? (Isa. 59:2;

Rom. 6:23)–How does God see righteousness?

(Jas. 2:23; Job 1:8; Gen. 6:8-9; 2 Pet. 2:5)

When we begin to see sin and righteousness as God sees

them, it will deepen our love for Him and for others, making

our zeal more fruitful.

Review – Embracing Loving Service

• 1 Cor. 13:1-3 – Service without love is meaningless

• The Example of Phinehas–Zeal in atonement (Num. 25:1-

18)–Zeal in peacemaking (Josh. 22)

Embracing Loving Service

The Role of Love• How is one perfected?– 2 Cor. 12:9– 1 Cor. 15:10

• Some of God’s greatest workers were imperfect:– 2 Cor. 8:1-5– 1 Kings 15:11-14– 1 Sam. 13:14

Embracing Loving Service

The Role of Love• Recognition of imperfection

should increase love; it increases our dependence on God’s mercy and grace.– Lk. 7:41-43–Mt. 18:23ff

Embracing Loving Service

The Role of Service• Saints & Children . . . but also

Servants (Rom. 12:9-18)• Service with Humility–Mk. 10:42-45; Phil. 2:7– Lk. 17:7-10

Embracing Loving Service

The Importance of Love AND Service• 1 Cor. 13:1-3• Jn. 14:15• Jn. 21:15-17• Mk. 10:42-45

Embracing Loving Service

The Importance of Love AND Service• “One another”– Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:24-25– Gal. 5:13-15– Rom. 12:9-18– Gal. 6:1-2– 1 Pet. 1:22– 1 Pet. 4:8-10– 1 Pet. 5:5

“Love for God is the supreme quality of the Christian heart. When it’s ignited with zealous service, [our] spiritual fire will shine beautifully against the darkness of sin. [We] must be determined to see as God sees

and do as God says.” (Lifelong Zeal, pp. 46-47)