Contagious Zeal

I want to draw your attention on the following questions for you to ponder upon today. Are you excited about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you excited about what Jesus is doing in your own life? Is Jesus really real in your life?

Many Christian get excited about this meeting and that conference, and are always running from church to church in search of spiritual excitement. Always looking to find a place to satisfy their souls, ever searching and never coming to the knowledge of the truth. Others stay home doing nothing, while others are trying to re-develop church with new man made projects, concepts and programs that will last only for a season until they discover something new.

God has got only one plan, Love God, love people and preach the Word. You will never find satisfaction in a program, but you will find it in a person; the Lord Jesus Christ. Is the fire of the Holy Spirit burning down deep in your soul? Do you have this exciting urge to serve God and people printed down deep upon you heart? Do you have this intense desire to know Christ intimately and to make Him known in your community? Or, do you know only church, structure and religion?

Let me share with you from Scripture the excitement four individuals had about their faith. The account is found in Mark 2:1-12. These men knew that Jesus was in the house (verse 1). They knew that Jesus was holding evangelistic meeting in this particular house, He was preaching to them. They knew there was salvation and healing in the air. They knew that if they could just get to Jesus something would happen.

They decided to unite together for the same cause and bring their paralysed friend to Jesus (verses 2-3), this was their goal. They joined their efforts to bring someone who could not bring himself to Jesus. Isn't this the same goal churches should have in their communities, join together to bring people to Jesus?

As they approached the house they realized that it would be impossible for them to go through the crowd. The crowd will always try to stop you from getting to Jesus, but only if you let them, specially the religious crowd. These men were determined to bring this sick person to Jesus. They were determined not to let the crowd win. If they couldn't go through the door then let's go through the roof and lower the sick man at Jesus' feet.

These men had a contagious zeal they were excited about their faith (verse 4) and what Jesus was about to do. They knew without a shadow of a doubt what Jesus could and would do for the man's condition. They did not just sit down and talked about it. They put their faith in action. Are you as excited about Jesus and what he can do like these men were?

After taking the roof apart (verse 5), the Bible records that Jesus saw their faith, and said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven. This man found healing and salvation on the same day, because four men got together, gathered their strength and did what was needed to bring him to Jesus. They were excited about their faith, they had a contagious zeal. What an exiting time to be there. You would think that everyone would be as contagious as these men, but it is never the case.

It just happened that the religious class was sitting there in the house (Verse 6). It seems like they did not stand up to help the four. They were sitting there reasoning in their hearts, accusing Jesus of blasphemy. When revival broke in the house it seams that the spiritual fire extinguishers showed up to put a stop to their faith. Happens all the time. You will always find three kinds of people in church: the pickers, the kickers and the stickers. The pickers will pick at everything you do, the kickers will kick at everything you have done, but the stickers will be there for you all the way. They will be there for you and with you in hard times and in good times.

The criticism never stop Jesus from continuing what he had started (verse 8-10). Jesus did not say to the religious crown I am so sorry I have offended you, you're right I have gone to far I will take back what I said because I was not religiously correct. After rebuking those who sat down and did nothing he proceeded in commanding the paralytic (verse 11), Arise, take your bed and go home.

The bible says (Verse 12), Immediately he arose, he took up his bed and went home praising and glorifying God. He left the rest of the crowd amazed and in awe at what just occurred and expressing the famous seven words always quoted in churches when something different is done in the name of Jesus, We never saw it done this way.

Let me ask you, where are you standing today in your faith? Do you possess a contagious zeal like these four men? Or, are you sitting amongst the religious crowd reasoning amongst yourself and criticizing what Jesus is doing? Are you excited about your faith? Only you know the condition of your heart and the only way out of the rut you're in is to confess your sins to God, repent and invite Jesus in your house.