Review• Text: Titus 2:11-14• Goals:– Building a spiritual fire– Scriptural ways to enhance zeal–Mature understanding of zeal– Satisfaction of imitating the zeal of

Christ

Review• Zeal Defined:– 5 Qualities:• Courage• Knowledge/Wisdom• Energy• Diligence• Loving Service

Christian zeal is the courage to exercise great wisdom, great energy, and great diligence in loving

service to God.

Review• Why be zealous?– Jesus’ Mission (Tit. 2:14)– Jesus’ Commandment (Rev. 3:14-19)–We are to imitate Christ (1 Jn. 2:6)

• God demands a zealous people!• God has equipped us to be what

He demands!

Christian Zeal = Intense Heat

• Zeal– Greek zelos– Strong’s: properly, heat– From primary verb zeo: to be hot

(boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids)• Fire/Heat a prominent figure in

Scripture

Elements – Fire Triangle• Three elements for a proper fire:–Heat– Fuel – Air

• Three elements for a proper spiritual fire:– Proper source of HEAT– Proper source of FUEL– Proper ENVIRONMENT

Elements – Fire Triangle• Our Heat Source: GOD–How deeply does God care for mankind?

• Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:20• Rom. 5:6-11

–How deeply is God concerned with justice?• Heb. 12:28-29• 1 Thess. 2:8• Rom. 1:16-18

–How can we draw closer to God to provide heat for our spiritual fire?

Elements – Fire Triangle• Our Fuel Source: Character of

CHRIST–We are to walk as Christ walked (1

Jn. 2:6)–Where to start?• Courage• Energy• Diligence• Wisdom/Knowledge• Loving Service

–What if one or more of these is missing?

Elements – Fire Triangle• Our Optimum Environment: Purity–We cannot build the proper fire when

influenced by sin and the world.– Be prepared to face an impure world

(Mt. 10:16; Eph. 6:11ff)– Attune our minds to purity (Phil. 4:8)– Replace the “old spirits” with good

things (Mt. 12:43-45)– Seek purity where we have influence,

esp. in our hearts (Mal. 3:3; 1 Jn. 2:15)

God

Character of ChristPurity