Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 10
April 30, 1959
NUMBER 51, PAGE 5b

Enthusiasm

Forrest D. Moyer, Sunnyvale, California

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." (Red. 9:10)

1) We must have enthusiasm for God's way — the truth. Jesus said, "The truth shall make you free." There is a need for zeal in search for and adherence to the truth. Zeal without knowledge will destroy. "They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." (Rom. 10:1-3). Thus, Paul described the reason why his brethren in the flesh, the Jews, were lost. Paul was zealous for God (Acts 22:3), and when he learned God's will, he gave up what had been profitable to him (Phil. 3:7-8). If we have gone wrong, the Lord admonishes us to "be zealous, and repent." (Rev. 3:20). Yes, we need enthusiasm for the Lord's way!

2) We need enthusiasm for Bible study. The people of Berea were considered by the Holy Spirit as being noble. Why? They had a zeal for Bible study — "they searched the scriptures daily." (Acts 17:11). We need this same enthusiasm for Bible study! We shall then search the scriptures daily! We shall attend every Bible class possible! We need a zeal for Bible study.

3) We must have enthusiasm for converting the lost. James says, "Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:20). We need this zeal for the lost because "the fields are white unto the harvest." (John 4:35). There are many lost souls who would obey the gospel if they knew it. Let's build enthusiasm for the saving of souls! As Paul had, so we need the attitude of saying, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved." We should constantly pray for the lost, but our actions should correspond to our prayers.

4) We need enthusiasm for good works. Jesus died that He might "purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Tit. 2:14). And "it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." (Gal. 4:18). If we have enthusiasm for what is good, we will "not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is ..." (Web. 10:25).

When each of these things is combined with the others, it will help to produce well-rounded activity in the Lord's work. We will study the Bible and do only what it teaches — nothing less and nothing more. We will teach the lost the way of truth and our good works will be seen that others may be led to glorify God. (Matt. 5:16).