On Being On Fire for God

Be on fire for God! The Greek word, Zeo or zelos means “to boil with heat; be hot.” English words such as fervent, [fever] zealous, and jealous are used in translation. Note that zealous is a positive, while jealous is a negative. Both are boiling hot emotions. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:11, NIV)

Text: Luke 21:34-36
Key Verse: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" (II Thessalonians 2:3)

Apostasy and falling away describe the same condition. Both are translated from the same Greek word, meaning “defection from truth, rebellion, turning away.” Reprobate and castaway [unapproved, rejected, worthless,] are synonyms. (See II Corinthians 9:27.) Apostasy is an attitude of the last days.

I. End-time Attitudes – A Falling Away Shall Come - II Thessalonians 2:3
Laodicea – prophetic – Last in the list of the seven churches of Asia - "because thou art lukewarm... I will spue thee out of My mouth!" (Revelation 3:15-19) Compare with what we see and hear today.
Note: End time promises embrace both "a great falling away" and "a great ingathering." (Harvest Revival!)
The “great falling away” and the “great revival” will be simultaneous!
    A. The Actions of Apostasy – II Timothy 4:3-4
        1. Always a trading down in value
        2. The “great falling away” must come first... before...
        3. “The ‘dusk’ of degeneration.” – John 9:4
        4. Satan/robber/deceiver/ tempter - BUT - we’re drawn by our own lusts – James 1:14
        5. “Itching ears” turn to “fables” (fiction, myths, tales)
    B. The Path of Apostasy – Romans 1:21-32
        1. Darkening of the Heart – Vs. 21 ("...the love of many shall wax cold" - Matthew 6:23; 24:12)
        2. Uncleanness – Vs. 22 (moral impurity - I Thessalonians 4:17)
        3. Vile Affections – Vs. 26 (perversion/s - I Corinthians 6:9-10)
        4. A Reprobate Mind – Vs. 28 (carnal mind is at enmity with God - Romans 8:7)
    C. The Ultimate End of Apostasy – Philippians 3:18-19
        1. Eternal Damnation (the act of turning away becomes permanent -the only hope is total repentance)
        2. At the 4th stage – Conscience seared (I Timothy 4:2) - No longer want to repent.
        3. No one can sin & stay at the same level of iniquity. Consider Lot, his wife & family, Esau,
             and Saul. Sin is like a lure that draws men into ever descending degrees of separation from God and
             Truth - James 1:14-15 (See also Hebrews 2:1-3; 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 12:25; Numbers 15:30.)
II. Antidote — Be Fervent in Spirit! – Romans 12:11 – H20 @ 212degrees=boil (& steam) - BUT! Cold water into boiling water does NOT heat the cold water; rather, it cools the boiling water!
    A. Be Prepared – for the coming of the Lord – Luke 21:34-36
        1. Wise & Foolish – Matthew 25:1-13 - all 10: virgins, oil, lamps, slept, lamps went out, & heard
              the midnight cry...  however, the wise had a reserve supply of oil, the foolish did not.
        2. Surfeiting, Drunkenness, Cares –cool fervency - taken unawares. Does it just happen? No!
    B. Be Expectant – Titus 2:11-13 – denying... looking... [See Matthew 24:44; Luke 24:36.]
        1. Ready and Expecting – Earnest expectation creates readiness! - Revelation 16:15

Internalizing: God hates lukewarmness! He'd rather we be one or the other - cold or hot. Be zealous! Keep your spiritual temperature at fever pitch! Feed the fever! Fervency: prevents getting caught in the falling away – AND – prepares us for the coming great revival.

Like Lot's wife and Demas, some trade eternal life for this present world; sound Bible doctrine for lust, Truth for fables, Worship for entertainment. They reach for gain in this world and lose their eternal soul in the process. Falling away (apostasy) is a downward spiral that leads to eternal damnation. Be fervent Amid Apostasy! Be on fire for God!

Special Note: What you're reading are my lesson notes from the Adult Sunday School lesson I taught on April 6, 2014.  It was requested that I post my notes online. These notes are from the 2013/14 Adult Teacher's Manual, published by Word Aflame; United Pentecostal Church International, Hazelwood, Missouri.