ZION NEWS: March
March 2020 VOL. 50, NO. 3
Holy Zeal
“For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” 2 Kings 19:31
We don’t use the word zeal much these days. A simple definition would be, “enthusiastic devotion”. I would define Holy Zeal as “righteous enthusiastic devotion”. “The zeal of the Lord Almighty” is truly awesome and awe inspiring. I’m sure I don’t want to be on the wrong side of God’s zeal.
The same phrase, “zeal of the Lord Almighty” is used by the prophet Isaiah in 9:7. God will accomplish the millennial reign of Christ zealously. We can be confident in His righteous enthusiastic devotion!
Back to 2 Kings, chapters 18 and 19. I encourage you to take a little time to read the account for yourself. For this newsletter: Something unique, something common and something worth remembering.
Something unique: A king who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,” He destroyed the idols, even the bronze snake Moses held high in the desert. (Jn. 3:14) Hezekiah trusted and followed the Lord.
Something common: An enemy requiring surrender to their authority and promising peace in return. The Assyrian empire was powerful and brutally sadistic. Bondage to ungodliness is not peace.
Something worth remembering: “And the Lord was with him”. (King Hezekiah) The Lord heard and answered his prayers. The Lord Almighty is the defender of His remnant. “That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.” 2 Kings 19:35a
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2
As we approach Renewal may the “zeal of the Lord Almighty” accomplish His refining purpose in each one of us. May the glory of the Lord of Hosts fill our hearts and equip us to walk closer with Him. Holy Zeal is our assurance.
Please pray for Rev. Dave and each service.
His by grace,
Chris
Calendar of Events
SPIRITUAL RENEWAL SERVICES
Dave Martin has been a Christian since 1978 when he was 19. He and his wife, Karen, have been married for 30 years and have four children, all in their 20’s: Ruth, John (married to Katie), Annie, and Tim. He’s the lead pastor of Krall’s Mennonite Church and a car salesman at Ebersole Honda-Buick-GMC. In addition to Krall’s, Dave has been pastor of churches in western Pennsylvania and Maryland and has been on mission trips to India, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, and Russia. In the 1970’s he got autographs (in person) from Roberto Clemente and Jesse Owens. For our renewal services, Dave will be preaching all five of his sermons from one passage in the gospel of John (his favorite book of the Bible). The messages will be dug out of John 1:19-51. Sunday, March 8, 10:15 a.m.: John 1:19-39 “Practices of the Prophet” Sunday, March 8, 7:00 p.m.: John 1:35-41 “The Actions of Andrew” Monday, March 9, 7:00 p.m.: John 1:40-42 “When Simon Was Silent” Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m.: John 1:43-46 “Finding Philip” Wednesday, March 11, 7:00 p.m.: John 1:43-51 “Seen in the Shade”
A church wide Spiritual Gifts Test is planned for March 21st at 9AM in the church and will last a couple hours. Church friends and family, members and non-members are encouraged to attend. Please mark your calendars!
Don’t Settle
For most of us, the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them.
—John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted
The deadline for April Zion News is March
mzrchurch.org 