Zeal In Ministry

We need zeal in ministry. Without it, ministry can become just another job. That's what had happened in John chapter 2 when Jesus entered Jerusalem and found the moneychangers at the temple. The temple represented ministry and these men had lost sight of that. For them it was just a paycheck - just another day of selling sacrifices. Jesus refused to let that go on!

John 2:15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Zeal will never let ministry become just a vocational prospect! One reason is because zeal will always drive a spear through immorality. Zeal will never let wickedness go waltzing into the temple, dishonoring that which is holy. Just ask Phinehas! His story is found in Numbers 25:1-10. God's judgment was being poured out on Israel because of the sexual relations men were having with Moabite women. Even as that judgment was falling and the leaders of Israel stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting (the temple of that day) weeping before God, one of the Israelites walked right into the Tent of Meeting with his Moabite mistress! Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the Priest grabbed a spear and, following them into the Tent of Meeting, thrust the spear through both of them, bringing an end to the judgment being poured out on Israel. God said of Phinehas that day, "...he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them." Zeal will not look the other way while sin walks in and out of church every Sunday. Zeal will take God's Word like a spear and deal with immorality through powerful conviction and compassion!

In Isaiah chapter 9, God spoke through the prophet about a coming Messiah. He promised us a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father, a Prince of Peace on whose shoulder the government would rest and would be ever increasing - establishing both judgement and justice forever more. Then He said this, "The zeal of the Lord will perform this." Another reason Zeal won't allow our ministry to become just money changing is because it always gives us a New Testament! When we lose the zeal of the Lord in ministry, we have to look back - a year, five years, twenty years for a testimony of what God has done in and through our lives. Zeal gives us a fresh new testament every day! 

Isaiah 42:13, The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.

Zeal secures victory over our enemies. Notice that the Lord stirs up His zeal in order to triumph! If God has to stir up zeal, what makes us think it will be any different with us? Today we need to stir up the zeal of God in our lives and ministries! There is no such thing as an apathetic victory! 

The word zeal in our English New Testament comes from the Greek word zeo. It literally means 'heat' or 'fervor.' Romans 12:11 says we should never be lacking it as we serve the Lord. The idea of zeal and serving are eternally linked - One cannot have zeal without using it to serve the Lord and one cannot really serve the Lord without zeal! Heat comes from fire and fire comes from the Holy Ghost. We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives so we can serve God with the kind of zeal He expects from us! Remember what John the Baptist said about Jesus? 

Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” 

We desperately need that baptism today! Without it, we become like the Laodiceans. Here's what Jesus said to the leader of the church at Laodicea.

Revelation 3:14-19, These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

This was written to the leader of a successful church that had grown apathetic and had lost its zeal. He thought everything was wonderful - attendance and tithing were up, they may have even been building a new worship center - but God said they were wretched, pitiful, blind and naked! 


God help us to see what you see in us - and God give us your zeal!