I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      It is said that familiarity breeds contempt.  It may be more common for familiarity to breed indifference, and this is what has happened to many Christians who have mostly lost their zeal for the Lord.

B.      Presently, let us consider the element of zeal in the lives of Christians, what happens when zeal is lost, and how zeal may be restored.

II.      WHAT IS ZEAL?

A.      Consider a brief word study to get the full meaning of the word “zeal.”

                                                             1.      The English word “zeal” is basically transliterated from the Greek word zēlos, and it is defined as “excitement of mind; ardor; fervor of spirit.”

                                                             2.      A better understanding of zeal comes by going a step further and noticing that zēlos is derived from the root word zēo, which means “to boil with heat; be hot.”

a.       So then, zeal can best be understood in terms of the figures of heat and fire.  Someone who is zealous for something is “on fire” for it.

b.       Today, many people use the word “passion” in the same way the Bible uses the word “zeal.”  A person who is passionate about a subject is zealous for it.

                                                             3.      Other words in our English New Testaments are translated from these similar root words.

a.       “Zealous” typically comes from the word zēlōtēs (Acts 21:20; 22:3; 1Cor. 14:12; Gal. 1:14; Tit. 2:14; 1Pet. 3:13).  Zēlōtēs means “one burning with zeal.”

b.       “Zealot” is likewise translated from zēlōtēs.  The apostle Simon (not Peter) was called the Zealot (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13), which may indicate his involvement in a Jewish group that believed in armed resistance against the Romans.

c.        The word zēloō (twelve occurrences) is variously translated as “jealous,” “earnestly desire,” “envious,” and other terms according to the contexts in which the word is used.

B.      Notice a few Bible examples that demonstrate zeal.

                                                             1.      When Jesus cleansed the temple of the moneychangers and merchandisers, His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Thy house will consume Me” (John 2:17; ref. Ps. 69:9).

                                                             2.      When the apostle Paul was recalling his former way of life as a Jew, he proved his zeal for Judaism by pointing to his persecution of the church (Phil. 3:6; ref. Acts 8:3; 9:1-2).  Paul (Saul) then had “a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge” like his fellow Jews (Rom. 10:2), but it was a potent example of zeal nonetheless.

                                                             3.      When Paul was endangered in Macedonia, he was comforted by the zeal of the Corinthian Christians on his behalf as they mourned and longed from him (2Cor. 7:5-7).

C.      According to these words and examples, we may understand zeal for Christ to be that inner fire of true devotion to Him that manifests itself through a transformed life and faithful obedience.

                                                             1.      The transformation of a Christian described in Romans 12:1-2 and Galatians 2:20 requires zeal to accomplish.  Only zealous devotion and conviction can motivate one to make such a change.

                                                             2.      Without that inner fire of zeal, a Christian’s faith is bound to be lifeless and unmotivated.  How can such a faith please God or save a person’s soul (Heb. 11:6; Jas. 2:14-26)?

III.   ZEALOUS OR ZEAL-LESS?

A.      The church at Laodicea is a study in lukewarm Christianity, i.e., Christianity without zeal (Rev. 3:14-22).

                                                             1.      Notice the Lord’s assessment of this church: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (vv. 15-16; note that the word “hot” comes from the Greek zestos).

                                                             2.      Instead of being zealous, the Laodicean Christians were zeal-less.

a.       They were not spiritually hot, which means that they had no zeal for the Lord.

b.       Neither were they spiritually cold, which means that they were not opposed to the Lord.

c.        Instead, they were lukewarm, which means that they were indifferent.  The Lord actually considered this condition to be worse than being cold.

                                                             3.      The source of the Laodiceans’ lukewarmness was spiritual unawareness, insensitivity, and unfaithfulness.

a.       Notice verse 17 – “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked….”

b.       This attitude was exactly opposite of the poverty of spirit that Christ commended in Matthew 5:3.  They were impoverished, but they would not recognize their condition.

                                                             4.      The solution to their lukewarmness was given by the Lord in verses 18-19.

a.       In verse 18, the Lord advised them to buy from Him that which they lacked.  They needed to recognize that only through Him could they correct their spiritual poverty, nakedness, and blindness.

b.       Christ then directed them to “be zealous therefore, and repent” (v. 19).  Whereas they had not been hot (zestos), Jesus commanded to get hot or zealous (zēloō).

B.      Zeal-lessness, lukewarmness, indifference, and apathy are silent destroyers of churches and Christians.

                                                             1.      Indifference in the church takes the life from the local congregation.  Although an apathetic Christian intends no harm, his lack of zeal can be as destructive as persecution, false teaching, division, and strife.

                                                             2.      The Scriptures characterize an indifferent person as being equivalent to a destroyer and an enemy.

a.       Notice Proverbs 18:9 – “He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.”

b.       Also consider Christ’s words in Matthew 12:30 – “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

c.        Thus, for the one who does nothing, his lack of activity is like an opposing effort.  He is destructive and contrary to anything that is good.

IV.    LIGHT YOUR FIRE!

A.      If your fire for the Lord has gone out, then you must find a way to renew zeal for the Lord within yourself.

B.      First, you need to experience some godly sorrow and repentance.

                                                             1.      You need to wake up and realize your spiritually dead, lazy, indifferent, apathetic, lukewarm, and zeal-less condition.  If you have not been actively concerned about the Lord’s church, the Lord’s word, the Lord’s work, and the Lord Himself, then be honest with yourself and admit it.  You are not deceiving anyone except yourself (Gal. 6:7-8).

                                                             2.      Realizing your spiritual indifference should result in godly sorrow, for such apathy is an offense toward God.  Godly sorrow should then lead you to a renewed zeal as it did in the Corinthian Christians (2Cor. 7:11).

                                                             3.      Godly sorrow should also produce repentance (2Cor. 7:10), for spiritual indifference is a sin.  Like the Laodiceans, all apathetic Christians should repent of their sin (Rev. 3:19).

C.      You also need some renewing of your mind.

                                                             1.      Notice Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

                                                             2.      A renewed mind leads to renewed, zealous conduct, including what is stated in Romans 12:11 – “…not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”  The word “fervent” is from the Greek word zeō, which means “hot.”  Therefore, this is saying that you need to get hot in spirit and serve the Lord.

                                                             3.      Realize that the gospel is exciting.  If the idea of a crucified and resurrected Lord and Savior coming back to save you from fiery destruction and take you away to eternal life in heaven does not provoke you to zeal, then nothing can.

D.      Most of all, you must look to Jesus for all of your spiritual needs.

                                                             1.      Like the Laodiceans, you need to be aware that your spiritual poverty, nakedness, and blindness can only be relieved through Jesus Christ.  Do not look to any other source.

                                                             2.      In Jesus alone can we find “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3), spiritual completeness (Col. 2:9-10), and “everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2Pet. 1:3).

V.      CONCLUSION

A.      The Lord has stated His disgust for zeal-less, lukewarm Christianity.  He said, “I will spit (lit. vomit) you out of My mouth.”  Surely, we do not want our faith to provoke such a disgusted reaction from our Lord.

B.      Therefore, let us follow Christ’s example and be consumed with zeal for God’s house.  The world may think that we are religious fanatics, but the Lord will be pleased by our zealous faith and good deeds.