Passion in Paul’s Ministry

Passion in Paul’s Ministry            Text: 1 Cor. 4:16

Passion in this context is intense or objects of enthusiasm. It means ardor, obsession, infatuation, excitement, enthusiasm, zeal, craze, delight, fervidness, emotion or fervency. Passion is the fire of life’s commitment and success. You can never succeed in anything you have no passion for.

Development: In our text Paul asked the Corinthian Church to imitate him; his ways, enthusiasm, passion, commitment, dedication, zeal, fervency, etc. Adam Clarke says “He lived for God and eternity, seeking not his own glory, emolument, or ease: those sowers of sedition among them were actuated by different motives.  Here then the apostle compares himself with them: follow and imitate me, as I follow and imitate Christ: do not imitate them who, from their worldly pursuits, show themselves to be actuated with a worldly spirit.”
Paul has passion for he does both in Judaism and Christianity (cf. Gal 1:13ff). Passion is the key to life success. Passion breeds motivation and motivation steers willpower which propels you into action that will bring success. Here in our society, we have lost passion. We do things not because we love to do them but because we have to do them. For this reason, people come to church at odd time – 8:30 upwards. That is the reason why people hate Monday morning and that is the reason why you can’t see people at Bible Study or mid week prayers.
In Paul’s life, there was passion for evangelism and the reason is in Col 1:28/29 …”that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” What is your purpose in life? What is your purpose in Christianity? Are just in the church because you have to be in the church? If you don’t have purpose, you will be a failure. The purpose is your Dream/Set goals. Where there are no Dream/Set goals or Life’s purpose, there will be no passion. Today’s Christianity is void of passion that is why people we don’t have people like Paul. That is why we don’t have committed Christians any longer. There are signs of lack of passion in Christian life – when prayer and study of the word of God is cumbersome; when you are easily tired in the things of God. When you come late to church programmes, etc. 

 Application: If we must please God and hope to make heaven, we must love what he loves. We must conform to his image and standard (Rom 8:29). We must rekindle our passion for his word and work. We must show commitment.

Conclusion: Jesus said my food is to do the work of him who sent me and to finish it. That is passion. Don’t just think God has not apportioned anything to you in this church. You have a task you must fulfill. Now is the time. Rekindle that fire now and put yourself more to your work and walk with God so you will not be a cast away at the end.