Message Notes

1. Passion for God is fueled when I continually acknowledge, “I need God and I’m indebted to Him forever for his grace and love to me through Jesus.”

Luke 7:36-47  
Luke 18:11-14  
1 John 1:9
James 5:16

Prayer of Neediness(Francis Chan): Jesus, I need to give myself up.  I am not strong enough to love You and walk with You on my own.  I can’t do it, and I need You.  I need You deeply and desperately.  I believe You are worth it, that You are better than anything else I could have in this life or the next.  I want You.  And when I don’t, I want to want You.  Be all in me.  Take all of me.  Have Your way with me.

2. My passion for God is fueled when I keep telling him and others of my gratitude for His love and grace and power.

Mark 5:18-20
Luke 17:15-16
1 Corinthians 6:9-11

3. Repeated obedience expresses our love for Jesus and fuels our passion for him.

John 14:21, 23  

Reflection:
-in what ways do I feel needy for God today?  Tell him and someone else.
-how has God been good to you; how has he had mercy upon you?  Tell someone.
-what command is Jesus calling you to obey lately?   How, when, with whom?

Prayer of Response: (A.W.Tozer)
“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.  I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace.  I am ashamed of my lack of desire.  O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.  Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed.  Begin in mercy a new work of love within me.  Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’  Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.”