Rekindling the Fire: The Call to Passionate Warriors

In a world that often celebrates passivity and complacency, there's a stirring call for men to rise up as passionate warriors. This isn't about physical battles, but a spiritual awakening to the divine purpose God has instilled in every man's heart. It's time to shed the shackles of indifference and embrace the fire of righteous passion that God intended for His warriors.

The Pendulum of Passivity and Abuse

Many men find themselves swinging between two dangerous extremes: passivity and abuse. On one end, we see the warrior who has abandoned his cause, becoming passive and disengaged. This isn't a new phenomenon; we can trace it back to the very beginning in the Garden of Eden. While Eve's first sin was rebellion, Adam's was passivity. He stood by, silent and inactive, as the serpent tempted and Eve fell. This passive stance echoes through generations, manifesting in men who turn their backs on the battles they're meant to fight.

Psalm 78:9 paints a vivid picture of this passivity: "The warriors of Ephraim, though fully armed, they turned their backs and fled when the day of battle came." How often do we see this today? Men, fully equipped to lead, protect, and guide, instead choose to disengage from family responsibilities, moral stands at work, or financial stewardship.

On the other end of the spectrum lies abuse - the warrior who, having lost his true cause, becomes destructive. We see this exemplified in King Saul, who abandoned his calling and turned against David in jealous rage. His words in 1 Samuel 19:15 reveal a heart consumed by misplaced passion: "Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him." This abusive tendency often stems from unaddressed anger and a refusal to take responsibility for one's own life.

The Call to Passionate Purpose

But there's a better way. God calls men to be consumed with passion for His purposes. Jesus himself demonstrated this zeal when He cleared the temple, declaring, "How dare you turn My Father's house into a market!" (John 2:16). This passion wasn't destructive or passive; it was purposeful, aligned with God's will, and transformative.

So what does it mean to be a passionate warrior in today's world? It boils down to two primary callings:

1. Someone to Protect

A true warrior always has someone to protect. This isn't limited to physical protection but extends to emotional, spiritual, and moral guardianship. Nehemiah understood this when he rallied men to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. He didn't entice them with personal gain but reminded them of their higher calling: "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your homes" (Nehemiah 4:14).

This protective instinct isn't just for those with families. Single men can find fulfillment in protecting the vulnerable around them - be it aging parents, fatherless children, or struggling single mothers. The key is to look beyond oneself and embrace the warrior's call to safeguard others.

Moreover, protection goes beyond the willingness to die for someone. The greater challenge - and calling - is to live for them. It's about dying to oneself daily, guarding hearts, nurturing spirits, and standing firm in God's standards even when it's unpopular.

2. A Kingdom to Advance

Passionate warriors are kingdom builders. The question is: which kingdom are you building? Many men exhaust themselves building personal kingdoms of wealth, status, or comfort. But these never satisfy because we're created for something greater - God's eternal kingdom.

Matthew 11:12 tells us, "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." This isn't a call to passivity or aggression, but to passionate, purposeful living that advances God's reign in our hearts and world.

Rekindling the Warrior's Fire

So how do we rekindle this warrior spirit? It starts with recognizing our divine design. Every man is created with a cause to fight for, a purpose that makes him come alive when he's pursuing something beyond himself. This cause isn't about personal gain or glory, but about advancing God's kingdom and protecting those entrusted to our care.

It requires dying to our own kingdoms. As Allen Redpath wisely said, "Before we can pray, 'Lord, Your Kingdom come,' we must be willing to pray, 'My kingdom go'." It's about surrendering our personal agendas and aligning our passions with God's purposes.

This passionate living isn't always comfortable. It might mean standing up against injustice at work, setting higher standards for your family in a permissive culture, or sacrificing personal comfort to meet the needs of others. But it's in this challenge that we find true fulfillment.

Remember, until you find a cause for which you're willing to die, you'll never truly live. God is calling out His warriors - men who are neither passive nor abusive, but passionately aligned with His heart. Men who protect the vulnerable, advance His kingdom, and live with purpose that transcends personal gain.

The world doesn't need more passive men who stand by as evil triumphs. Nor does it need abusive men who misuse their strength. What our families, communities, and world desperately need are passionate warriors - men fully alive in their God-given purpose, courageously advancing His kingdom of love, justice, and righteousness.

So, warrior, what will your cause be? Will you continue building sandcastles that will wash away, or will you join in constructing an eternal kingdom? Will you turn your back on the battles that matter, or will you stand firm, protecting those in your care and advancing God's purposes?

The call is clear. The need is great. It's time for God's warriors to arise, rekindling the fire of divine passion and purpose. For in doing so, we not only find our truest selves but also become instruments of transformation in a world desperate for authentic, passionate warriors of God.