When I first was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost, I was extremely fired up. I was feeling conviction like I never had before. I was dreaming dreams, and seeing the world with new eyes. Out of the instinct of the Spirit I desired to be holy, and every time I got around worldly things (music, movies, etc.) I felt a strong tug in my chest, telling me to stay away. I had no trouble connecting with God at all. I also was met with tension by people that I know, and I'll never forget what someone told me.
"Everyone feels like that when they first get the Holy Ghost, but it'll burn out eventually."
That was not what I wanted to hear. It made me angry that someone would say that. I knew what I felt, and that I needed to do something. Paul didn't just "burn out" after he was saved! He went right out to preaching the gospel! When Jesus called the disciples, he never said "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and stay right where you are until you fall!."
What had been said was unbiblical.
A month passed, and sure enough, the fire was beginning to fade. I held on, though. I kept trying to fuel the fire, although my past was creeping up on me. The resistance was growing. Somehow, God kept me through all that was happening, through my own failures, through my doubts. He held me. He's held on to me until where I am now.
Anyway, here's what I believe God has been showing me: Burnout is not the will of God.
The initial fire of the Holy Ghost is never meant to burn out, or fade. The passion and boldness that often comes with getting saved is from God. God wouldn't give you boldness unless he wanted you to be bold, right? Why are we empowered by the Holy Ghost? To do something.
How did the church in the book of Acts grow so fast? By chapter 4, there were at least 5,000 people. Woah. That's major church growth. Maybe it's because the people of God turned right around and shared the love that God had given them with others.
Remember the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-28)? Three servants were given a number of talents. One was given 5 talents, another was given 2, and the last received only 1 talent (from what I have read in a Bible footnote, a talent is worth more than a thousand dollars.)
v16-"Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents."
v17-"And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two."
So the first two servants went and used the talents they were given to double what the master had originally given them.
v18-"But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money."
The last servant did nothing with his portion of his master's money. Let's look at the outcome of this parable:
v19-"After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
v20-And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
v21-His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
v 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
v23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
v24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
v25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
v26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
v27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
v28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
v29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
v30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
So the one who did nothing with what he was given was punished, and what he had was taken away. Woah. That stinks. But it's the Word of God. This is a part of how the kingdom of God works.
If God gives us the Holy Ghost, doesn't he want us to share it? When He comes back, what will you have to show of what God gave you? Will you have given forth fruit? Or will you have no profit? I want to have something to present to God at His return. I don't want to be there on judgment day with nothing but bad works in the account of my life. We aren't saved by works, but by faith, however faith without works is dead. How does this all tie in with burnout? If we don't get out there and act on our faith, if we don't direct the fire somehow, it will burn out. If you put a pot over a candle, the candle will burn out because no oxygen will be able to fuel the fire! So the Bible says to let your light shine! Don't cover it up, let it shine through the darkness!
So, maybe I got a little off topic there, but hopefully this was able to minister to someone.
Praise God
-Larry
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