Never Let the Fire Go Out: 4 Enemies of Your Passion

Sermon outline

After a long, challenging year, guard your passion for God against fatigue, overload, criticism and draining relationships, and rekindle it through worship, self-talk, good company and the pursuit of wisdom, so that 2019 is better than 2018.

1. Never let the fire in your heart go out

   Passion is intense enthusiasm, ambition materialised into action, putting your heart, mind, body and soul into something. Everyone gets frustrated and tired, feelings are not constant, and people fail to protect their passion. But you can dream again and be more effective in 2019 than in 2018, and count on God to give back seven times what you lost.

   “You can dream again.”

   • Romans 12:11-13
   • Proverbs 4:5-12

2. Enemy one: fatigue

   You can overwork yourself on a worthwhile dream until weariness devastates it. Jesus told His disciples to come apart and rest a while, and God Himself rested on the seventh day, not because He was tired but to set a rhythm and an example for us.

   Illustration: A famous American president would not make important decisions after a certain time in the afternoon, because decisions made tired are likely to be compromised.

   “God commands us also to rest.”

   • Mark 6:31
   • Genesis 2:2

3. Enemy two: attempting too many things at the same time

   Don't take too much on your plate for 2019. Paul said 'this one thing I do'. Before you enter the new year, decide what matters most and grasp it, cast aside what matters least, and accept your limitations instead of trying to do double what others do.

   “When you focus on one thing, you'll do it well.”

   • Philippians 3:13

4. Enemy three: listening to criticism

   Someone may have lied about you or falsely accused you, but do not allow anyone to dilute or dissolve your passion; it is wise to keep away from people who are constantly critical. Instead of dwelling on your failures, celebrate the many things you did well in 2018, and it will light a fire for 2019.

   Illustration: One of the greatest teachers of our generation said he would not read bad reports about himself in the newspaper.

   “Do not allow anyone to dilute or dissolve your passion.”

5. Enemy four: unhealthy relationships

   Find out who drains you emotionally, who has become a parasite in your finances and who is disrespectful in conversation with you. Value the close friendships with people who inspire you.

   “Every friendship does not have equal value.”

6. Recapture your passion: know what matters most

   First, identify what matters most to the heart of God for you as an individual, because He has a specific word, mandate and commission for you that He is not giving the next person. Second, identify what matters most to you about your life, and avoid friendships that demand unreasonable, exhausting effort.

   “God's got a specific word for you.”

   • Ephesians 5:11

7. Recapture your passion: deal with what went wrong and what distracts you

   Third, identify what has gone wrong, give God your whole heart and start believing Him for the impossible: your past is concluded and cannot be changed, but your future can. Fourth, identify the specific things that distract you and drain your passion, because the curse causeless shall not come; avoid relationships that pull you down and gravitate to people who build you up.

   “You cannot change the past, but you can change your future.”

   • Proverbs 26:2

8. Recapture your passion: the atmosphere and the conversations that ignite you

   Fifth, recognise what in the atmosphere awakens your energy and enthusiasm, and follow it. Sixth, identify the people whose conversations ignite something in your heart, and be careful which words you let in, because words create the feelings in your life.

   “Words are the seeds for feelings.”

9. Recapture your passion: worship, self-talk and an overcomer's vocabulary

   Seventh, sing songs of worship to cure deadly introspection, because worship corrects your focus and brings you into God's presence. Eighth, when no one else encourages you, encourage yourself, because God is your strength. Ninth, speak like an overcomer, not a victim: the news zones in on the negative, but we have a more sure word of prophecy, and if God is for us, who can be against us?

   “God gave you a mouth to conquer your mind.”

   • Psalm 100:2
   • Psalm 19:14
   • 2 Peter 1:19
   • Romans 8:31

10. Keys to building your personal wisdom

    Look for books and material connected to your passion, read for a purpose and collect what you learn in a notebook or computer, and set aside part of your monthly budget for wisdom, even if it means fewer burgers. Learn to read faster, make a room or corner of a room your university where you meet with God, set a daily time to listen to good teaching, such as on your morning drive, and use a highlighter to mark what matters most.

    Illustration: He holds up his Bible to show how he highlights it, saying it has been Bible after Bible of reading, notes and notes written over notes.

    “You could read in a book what it took a man 30 or a woman 30 years to learn.”