3. Building & Maintaining = Process What has to be done to build and keep a fire going? What has to be done to build and keep a fire going? Building & Maintaining our spiritual fire is a process. Building & Maintaining our spiritual fire is a process. 7-Step Process to build & maintain our spiritual fire. 7-Step Process to build & maintain our spiritual fire. Text: Jn. 6:68-69 Text: Jn. 6:68-69

4. The 7-Step Process Step 1: Prepare Your Zeal Step 1: Prepare Your Zeal – Where is our zeal for God built? – How was Peter’s heart prepared? Gal. 3:24 Gal. 3:24 Lk. 1:17 Lk. 1:17 – How can our hearts be prepared? New Law New Law Dwelling on pure things (Phil. 4:8) Dwelling on pure things (Phil. 4:8) Eliminate evil/Replace with purity (1 Th. 5:22; 1 Pet. 2:11-12; Phil. 1:9-11) Eliminate evil/Replace with purity (1 Th. 5:22; 1 Pet. 2:11-12; Phil. 1:9-11)

5. The 7-Step Process Step 2: Ignite Your Zeal Step 2: Ignite Your Zeal – Peter’s 1st encounter with Christ (Jn. 1:35-2:11): Invited to come to Christ (1:40-41) Invited to come to Christ (1:40-41) Received a new name (potential) (1:42) Received a new name (potential) (1:42) Witnessed the power of Christ (2:7-9) Witnessed the power of Christ (2:7-9) Zeal IGNITED (2:11) Zeal IGNITED (2:11) – What happened later? (Mt. 4:17-22)

6. The 7-Step Process Step 2: Ignite Your Zeal Step 2: Ignite Your Zeal – How can we draw closer to God to ignite zeal? Prepare our hearts (Step 1) Prepare our hearts (Step 1) Spend time with Christ Spend time with Christ Spend time with Christ’s disciples Spend time with Christ’s disciples Consider the power of God through Christ Consider the power of God through Christ Focus on the attributes of God when we pray Focus on the attributes of God when we pray

7. The 7-Step Process Step 3: Fuel Your Zeal Step 3: Fuel Your Zeal – Was Peter’s initial zeal mature? (Mt. 26:35; 26:51; Mk. 8:31-33) – How did Christ help Peter to fuel his zeal? Courage (Mt. 14:26) Courage (Mt. 14:26) Wisdom (Mt. 16:23; 26:51-52) Wisdom (Mt. 16:23; 26:51-52) Diligence (Jn. 21:19) Diligence (Jn. 21:19) Energy (Mt. 26:41) Energy (Mt. 26:41) Loving Service (Jn. 13:8ff) Loving Service (Jn. 13:8ff)