Fueling Your Zeal By Sharing Your Faith

Years ago a family from Mississippi visited the congregation where I was preaching. They brought with see them his mother, Evelyn, who had recently retired to Florida. Evelyn’s son asked me if I would visit his mother, who was not a Christian, and try to secure a Bible study with her.

After the family returned home, I visited Evelyn in the retirement community where she lived. She was very pleasant and agreed to a Bible study. Each week we would cover a topic relating to God’s Plan for our salvation. Evelyn was receptive, as we slowly made some progress.

As the weeks turned into months, Evelyn told me one day, she was returning to Mississippi to visit her son and would be gone for a while. I wondered if the break would ruin the momentum and advances made in the lessons.

One Sunday, a few weeks later, I looked into the audience and saw Evelyn had returned. When the sermon concluded and the invitation to obey the gospel was extended, Evelyn came forward along with another lady. When I sat down to greet Evelyn and ask her it she was ready to be baptized, Evelyn responded, “Oh, I was baptized when I was in Mississippi visiting my son.”

“So, why did you come forward? I asked. “To support my friend,” Evelyn said as she nodded toward the other lady. “She wants to be baptized too.”

When Evelyn returned home, her friend asked about her trip. Evelyn excitedly told her she had become a Christian. When her friend inquired what that meant and what she did, Evelyn simply shared her faith. Without any training or evangelism classes, this new convert’s zeal inspired her friend to also become a Christian.

This story reflects how one’s zeal is essential for a fulfilling, vibrant spiritual life. Furthermore, our zeal is fed by sharing our faith. Evangelistic outreach not only blesses others, builds the church family, but strengthens our own faith and enhances our relationship with God.

“We must be the Good News before we can share the Good News,” is more than an evangelistic cliche. This speaks to our commitment, character, and consecration of life. One doesn’t need to be a trained preacher, or a Christian for many years before he/she can share their faith. Our love for the Lord and our zeal will affect and infect the hearts of those who feel our passion. Zealously letting our light brightly shine will attract others and provide opportunities to share our faith.

This process is a positive upward spiral. Our zeal compels us to share our faith. But the more we share our faith, it provides the fuel that increases our zeal. One unknown writer offered this insight. “Every time you speak about how God has worked in your life, you’re revisiting those moments of transformation, which can reignite the passion you may have lost over time.”

Furthermore, sharing your faith creates occasions for conversation and questions that challenge you to dig deeper, study more, and learn how to provide a reason for your hope (1 Pet. 3:15). This process further fuels your spiritual passion.

In a church family where there is an evangelistic environment, the community builds a collective feeling of zeal. When we share a common love for the Lord and are passionate about His will, His Word, and His work, the mutual edification and encouragement fuels a zeal that feeds off of one another. As Paul put it, our fellowship provides the context for Believers to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24).

While “The Great Commission” (Mk. 16:15-16) was originally given by Jesus to the apostles, it was not and is not limited to their work. Each generation must embrace that challenge to faithfully and passionately carry the soul saving message to our friends, neighbors, and relatives.

As we’ve seen in the past number of posts, zeal is not sustained by emotion alone. It is fueled by worship, service, fellowship, and discipleship. Combined with wisdom, knowledge, courage, diligence and energy we can “Be the Good News” and “Share the Good News.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman