Passion

passion

a very powerful feeling, for example of sexual attraction, love, hate, anger, or other emotion:

• Football arouses a good deal of passion among its fans.
• At school, his early interest in music developed into an abiding passion.
• Politics and philosophy were his lifelong passions.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

love

• love - I have a great love and respect for her.
• Adoration - She described her complete adoration of her brother.
• Romance - Their relationship was nothing but romance and bliss.
• Passion - The passion had gone out of their relationship.
• Infatuation - No one expected their infatuation with each other to last.
• Crush - He had a crush on his French tutor.

zeal

great enthusiasm or eagerness:

• reforming/missionary/religious zeal
• a zeal for money-making

Passion/Zeal fuel:

• Lust vs Love
• Misdirected vs True

Passion/zeal for the person includes all to which they’re connected

John 2:13-17 (NLT) 13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” 17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

With love-directed passion – saving takes precedent over self.

Romans 9:1-3 (NLT) 1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 or my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.

Misdirected Passion

Romans 10:1-4 (NLT) 1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Personal misdirected passion leads to peril

2 Samuel 13:15 (NKJV) 15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”

Zeal finds its gratification in sacrifice for a cause

John 15:12-13 (NLT) 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Passion for Christ will shown by sacrificing to provide for His

John 21:15-19 (NLT) 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. 18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

Jesus was speaking from experience

Luke 22:42 (NKJV) 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

To have His love is to have His passion

1 John 4:19-21 (NLT) 19 We love each other because he loved us first. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.