Praying for Misguided Zealots

Sermon Audio Notice: Unfortunately we only recorded about the first 15 minutes of this sermon, and will be unable to produce this sermon either digitally or on audio tape. Sometimes equipment fails for various reasons and thus mirrors our fallen natures.

INTRO

I. PAUL’S DESIRE FOR ISRAEL’S SALVATION (v. 1).

A. It is a heart desire.
Heart = reflects the whole inner man, the desires, the emotions, the mind, the will.

B. It is a praying desire.

Now this desire for their salvation and devotion to prayer is amazing for several reasons.

1) Paul knew God was only saving a remnant (9:6-29; 11:5-8).

IS THIS A CONTRADICTION? NO. The sovereign God who chooses whom He will save also ordains the means by which they will be saved and that is by the preaching and praying of God’s people.

2) The unbelieving Jews were his enemies.

2 Cor. 11 details much of the persecution they brought upon him.

II. REASONS WHY PAUL PRAYS FOR ISRAEL’S SALVATION (vv. 2-3).

Reason #1 – "they have a misguided zeal for God."

Misguided zealots need prayer. WHY?

a) Misguided zeal is evil. See Jn. 16:2; Mt. 7:22-23.

b) Misguided zeal can do much harm to others. See Mt. 23:13-15.

c) Misguided zeal is so spiritually blind.

Reason #2 – Their zeal was based on willful ignorance (vv. 2-3).
a) The "not in accordance with knowledge" in v. 2 is explained in v. 3.

b) Their ignorance was over "God’s righteousness". This has possibly two ideas:

1) God’s righteousness found in the law.

2) But even more to the point, they were ignorant that the righteousness needed                  to get one to heaven was a gift of God’s grace (3:21-24) through faith in Christ.

    Reason #3 – Their zeal sought to establish their own righteousness (v. 3).

Israel just didn’t get it. Like Adam and Eve they sought to make garments out of fig leaves to cover their nakedness by their works but all to no avail for God saw right through it.

CONCLUSION

1) Let us have the heart of Paul and pray for the salvation of such zealots today.

2) Let us seek to be zealous for truth, for Christ, for the gospel, for good works.