Continuous Passion of Christ

What is passion?
A strong and extravagant fondness or desire to another.
I hear many people speaking about the finished works of the cross.
While this teaching is partially true it is not completely true.
This teaching preaches it was all done at the cross we have nothing to do. Just drink and be merry.
Where does that leave passion?
I ask you my friends – do you believe Jesus was joyous on His death day? In the garden of Gethsemane He asked the Father to take the cup of agony away from Him.
You see, passion is experiencing the joys and pains of Who you are passionate about.
Let us look at it like this: when your spouse is hurting do you rejoice? No, you should sorrow and weep with them until they are all better.
Jesus said no greater love has a man then this: that he would lay down his life for his friend. Jesus considers us friends, He laid His life down for us. That was agony – the pain, the sorrow, the distress He took upon Himself came at a great price. His own friends would not stay up with Him on His last night to pray.
Jesus did not come to bring peace. By this I mean, following Christ is taking up our cross. I go through massive amounts of warfare everyday, but that is the passion He has given me for Him that keeps me going. That is an example of passion. I am not near as passionate as I wish to be, but His passion rages in my spirit.
Jesus come to divide the wheat from the tares and even families would be split apart. This is not a joyous thing. Yes, we are to count it all gladness when somebody comes against us but there is nothing fun about suffering.
Did you know Jesus still suffers? He still hurts. You can disbelieve me all you want, but I have felt His heart in deep intercession.
He is broken for a bride that continually rejects Him. He is broken for a world that is hell-bound and with no hope for a future. He was wounded for our transgression yet He still feels the affects of those transgression.
Living in the passion of Christ is difficult sometimes. Because in that intimate state the holiness of the Lord blinds you. Isaiah said, “woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips, I am undone.” That is what the passion of the Lord did to Isaiah. He was not in joyous bliss yet crying out with Truth of whom he was – unholy.
You see true intimacy with Jesus draws forth your sinful nature and draws you into genuine repentance. Repentance is not always fun however, it is needed. But, the passion of Christ goes deeper.
Did you know almost everyone of Jesus’ followers in the Word were martyred? They did not die in a state of exaltation, they died humiliated.
His passion is a fiery passion – He laughs when we laugh, He cries when we cry, He is our bridegroom, and that is what a good Husband does.
What about us? Will we laugh with Him? Sure, that’s fun. But what about crying with Him in that place in His heart where He hurts? The chamber of weeping? Will we experience the fullness of His passion? Or just a part we enjoy?
Everybody loves a laugh, but only true friends stand in the gap with their friends when they hurt – are you willing to partake of every aspect of Whom He is?
-Cait floodgaterevival.com

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