The Zeal of Thine House Hath Eaten Me Up

The Zeal of Thine House Hath Eaten Me Up

Mobile, AL Conference, Dec. 2-4, 2011

Mike Vinson

Joh 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
Joh 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of
money sitting:
Joh 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple,
and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
Joh 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's
house an house of merchandise.
Joh 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten
me up.

If Christ is our example, then "the zeal of [God's] house" should 'eat us up' also. The Greek word
for 'eaten' here appears fifteen times in the New Testament. Of those fifteen times, twelve entries
have been translated as 'devour' or 'devoured'. So the zeal of God's house had devoured Christ,
and the zeal of God's house ought to also be devouring each of us.

So what does it mean to be devoured by the zeal of God's house? How would you and I be
devoured or eaten up by the zeal of God's house?

Christ did this in the physical temple at Jerusalem. Yet not long after this event, in the fourth
chapter of John just two chapters later, when Christ communes with 'the woman at the well' in
Samaria, He tells her all of her own life's history, just as if He has known her all her life. Then
we learn a rather shocking truth, considering what we just read back there in chapter 2 of the
gospel of John.

Joh 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Joh 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place
where men ought to worship.
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this
mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the
Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

So the cleansing of the physical temple in Jerusalem was really nothing more than a type and a
shadow of the cleansing of the true temple which Christ tells this Samaritan woman is "neither in
this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem" but is rather "in spirit". If we are given any real 'zeal for the
house of God', we will realize how blessed we are to know where that temple is. We know that it
is "neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem". So where is God's new temple "in spirit"?

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Where are those whose are being 'eaten up' by the zeal of God's house? Where is Christ's new
house? Where does Christ now dwell? Here is the answer to all of those questions:

Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he
took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled
both the book, and all the people,
Heb 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
Heb 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the
ministry.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of
blood is no remission.
Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be
purified with these;but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures
of the true; butinto heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

So that temple in Jerusalem where Christ chased out the money changers, was merely "the
pattern of things in the heavens" which "should be purified with... the blood of calves and goats".
But Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are [mere] figures of the
true; but [He has entered] into [the temple in] heaven itself..."

So where is this new Temple which is not in Samaria or Jerusalem? Where is this temple that
Christ has entered into? It is now only by being in this new "house of God" that we can now say
"the zeal of thine house has eaten me up". So, for our own edification, we need to ask and to
know where that house is now to be found, and even more to the point, we need to examine
ourselves and ask ourselves if we even have any zeal for that "house of God? Rest assured the
zeal of God's house is still eating up our Lord, as it really should, because it must also be
consuming and devouring us who our Lord equates with Himself.

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Act 22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me?
Act 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth,
whom thou persecutest.

So where did Christ go after His resurrection? We are plainly told that He has entered into "the
heavenly things themselves". So what, according to the sum of God's word, is the house of God?
What do the scriptures tell us? If it is the zeal of this house that should consume and devour us
all, then we need to know all we can about "the zeal of thine house".

Eze 43:4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect
is toward the east.
Eze 43:5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of
the LORDfilled the house.

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Eze 43:6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.
Eze 43:7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles
of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy
name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom,
nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
Eze 43:8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the
wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they
have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.
Eze 43:9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me,
and I will dwellin the midst of them for ever.
Eze 43:10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of
their iniquities:and let them measure the pattern.
Eze 43:11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the
house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and
all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the
laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all
the ordinances thereof, and do them.
Eze 43:12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof
round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

"The law of the house" is "the zeal of thy house" which should, and which does, devour all who
are granted to have Christ dwelling within.

"...shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof,
and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all
the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep
the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them."

Many sermons have been preached concerning these verses in Ezekiel 43, connecting these
verses to a coming temple to be built in Jerusalem, but for all who have been granted eyes that
see and ears that hear the things of the spirit, here is the anti-type of these verses here in Ezekiel
43. Here is the temple which is "neither in [Samaria] nor yet in Jerusalem". Here is the house
whose zeal should be devouring us all.

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have
laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth
thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall
be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire.

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1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is
holy, which temple ye are.

Yes, God's word is "that which is written" (1Co 4:6), but where are we told that word would
dwell? From where do we receive that word?

Eze 43:6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.

What does the Lord say from "out of the house"? What is the "law of the house" the Lord
instructs Ezekiel to show to the house of Israel when He instructs Ezekiel to "show the house to
the house..." Here is the New Testament anti-type of that verse:

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the
beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might
be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

"By the church" means the same as "out of the house" where Christ dwells. Let's read it again:
"...Let them measure the pattern... shew them the form of the house, and the fashion
thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof,
and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write
it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof,
and do them."This is the house whose zeal should be consuming all of us, making us able to
"rejoice in tribulations" because of "the zeal of thine house..."

Psa 69:7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
Psa 69:8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
Psa 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that
reproached thee are fallen upon me.

The zeal of God's house causes the reproaches of Christ to fall upon those who are today His
home and His house. Here is the New Testament anti-type of those who today are eaten up of the
zeal of God's house.

2Co 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with
comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
2Co 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on
every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
2Co 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming
of Titus;
2Co 7:7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you,
when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I
rejoiced the more.

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It is the zeal of the house of God which produces comfort when brothers come together to
encourage brothers. It produces joy in tribulation. It produces an "earnest desire" for the welfare
of our brothers and sisters; it produces mourning ["with those who are mourning"] and it
produces a fervent mind toward others within this "house of God". It does all of this within itself,
because that 'house of God' is you and me, if indeed we are "in Christ.

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone,
elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

The 'zeal of God's house' produces "a holy priesthood" which does not tolerate spiritual
fornication as spiritual sacrifices, but is zealous to "offer up spiritual sacrifices [which are]
acceptable to God...' and which turns away God's wrath and gives us a covenant of great peace
and the promise of being the "holy priests" of God. Here is the Old Testament type of 1Peter
2:5-6.

Num 25:6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a
Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children
of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 25:7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up
from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
Num 25:8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the
man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of
Israel.
Num 25:9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Num 25:10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 25:11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away
from the children of Israel, while he was zealous [Hebrew, qana] for my sake among them,
that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy [qinah].
Num 25:12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
Num 25:13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting
priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of
Israel.

The zeal, or 'qana', of Phinehas, and the jealousy, 'qinah', of God, worked together to stay the
wrath of God upon Israel, as it does within us.

If Phinehas had been indifferent about the open flouting of Israel's covenant with God, and if he
had be half hearted in his response to this incident which so clearly demonstrated that Israel
despised their marriage vows to God, he would have not been given the priesthood or the
covenant of peace. Here is the anti-type of this story of the Israelite man and the Midianitish
woman, in the New Testament:

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen,
the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

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Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my
mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and
anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

When we look at how the Hebrew and the Greek words for this word, which is translated 'zeal' in
both the Old and the New Testaments, are defined, we get a broader view of how God feels about
this thing we call 'zeal'. John 2:17 is quoted from Psalms 69:9, so we know that we have what the
holy spirit considers to be the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew. So let's just look at how both are
defined and how they are used, and we will know what is the mind of the spirit concerning this
word 'zeal'.

We will look at the Hebrew word first. Here is the word and its Strong's definition:

H7068
‫קנאה‬
qin'âh
kin-aw'
From H7065; jealousy or envy: - envy (-ied), jealousy, X sake, zeal.
Now here are the various translations for this word in the order of how it is most frequently
translated:
H7068
‫קנאה‬
qin'âh
Total KJV Occurrences: 43
jealousy, 24
Num_5:14-15 (3), Num_5:18, Num_5:25, Num_5:30, Num_25:11, Deu_29:20, Psa_79:5,
Pro_6:34, Son_8:6, Isa_42:13, Eze_8:3, Eze_8:5, Eze_16:38, Eze_16:42, Eze_23:25, Eze_36:5-6
(2), Eze_38:19, Zep_1:18, Zep_3:8, Zec_1:14, Zec_8:2
zeal, 9
2Ki_10:16, 2Ki_19:31, Psa_69:9, Psa_119:139, Isa_9:7, Isa_37:32, Isa_59:17, Isa_63:15,
Eze_5:13
envy, 7
Job_5:2, Pro_14:30, Pro_27:4, Ecc_9:6, Isa_11:13, Eze_35:11 (2)
envied, 1
Ecc_4:4
jealousies, 1
Num_5:29
sake, 1
Num_25:11

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When we look at the root H7065, from which this word is derived, it becomes even clearer that
the Hebrew means'jealous'.

H7065
‫קנא‬
qânâ'
kaw-naw'
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) zealous, that is, (in a bad sense) jealous or envious: -
(be) envy (-ious), be (move to, provoke to) jealous (-y), X very, (be) zeal (-ous).
Here are the entries for this word in the order in which it is most commonly translated. Once
again it is most often translated as 'jealous'.

H7065
‫קנא‬
qânâ'
Total KJV Occurrences: 31
jealous, 10
Num_5:14 (3), Num_5:30, 1Ki_19:10, 1Ki_19:14, Eze_39:25, Joe_2:18, Zec_1:14, Zec_8:2 (2)
envied, 5
Gen_26:14, Gen_30:1, Gen_37:11, Psa_106:16, Eze_31:9
jealousy, 5
Deu_32:16, Deu_32:21 (2), 1Ki_14:22, Psa_78:58
envious, 4
Psa_37:1, Psa_73:3, Pro_24:1, Pro_24:19
envy, 3
Pro_3:31, Pro_23:17, Isa_11:13
zealous, 2
Num_25:11, Num_25:13
enviest, 1
Num_11:29
zeal, 1
2Sa_21:2
So when we read that our "God is a jealous God" we understand that He does not tolerate
infidelity or half-hearted love, but is zealous for our affections, just as we ought to be for His.

What is it God will not accept?

Jer 3:10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her
whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

Here, by contrast, is the only kind of love God will accept of any of us:

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

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Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God
am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me;

Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

That is a godly jealousy. That is the zealous love of God, and whole-hearted love is the only kind
of love He is interested in. That is the only kind of love we must be willing to show to our Lord
and our Savior. In other words "Godly jealousy" is nothing less than "the zeal of Thy house".

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

"I the Lord thy God am a jealous God" simply tells us that he is a God who is zealous for us, His
house. Here is where this same word is used as the very name of God:

Exo 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a
jealous God:

In conclusion, the Hebrew word translated 'zeal' in Psalms 69:9 comes from, and is most often
translated as, 'jealous', and is related to God's intense love for his people who He calls His wife.

Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer
the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

Israel here is called the Lord's bride, while in Hosea 11 Israel is called God's son:

Hos 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

So the Lord is fervently jealous and zealous for both His son and His wife, whose we are if we
are "in Christ" and He is "in us".

Now let's examine the Greek word for 'zeal' which is found there in John 2. Here is that Greek
word with its Strong's definition:

G2205
ζῆλος
zēlos
dzay'-los
From G2204; properly heat, that is, (figuratively) “zeal” (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an
unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband [figuratively of God], or an enemy, malice): -
emulation, envy (-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.

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Here are the entries for this word in the order of how it is most frequently translated:
G2205
ζῆλος
zēlos
Total KJV Occurrences: 17
zeal, 6
Joh_2:17, Rom_10:2, 2Co_7:11, 2Co_9:2, Phi_3:6, Col_4:13
envying, 4
Rom_13:13 (2), 1Co_3:3, Jam_3:14, Jam_3:16
indignation, 2
Act_5:16-17 (2), Heb_10:27
emulations, 1
Gal_5:20
envy, 1
Act_13:45
envyings, 1
2Co_12:20
fervent, 1
2Co_7:7
jealousy, 1
2Co_11:2
Here now is the definition of the root for this word translated 'zeal', in John 2:9.
G2204
ζέω
zeō
dzeh'-o
A primary verb; to be hot (boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids), that is, (figuratively) be fervid
(earnest): - be fervent.
And here are the only two entries for this word in the New Testament:

Act 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in
the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
Act 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent [G2204, zeo] in
the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of
John.

Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent [G2204,zeo] in spirit; serving the Lord;

So the Greek word has as its root the concept of being "hot" or fervent, and is most often
translated as the word 'zeal', as it is translated in John 2:17.

Joh 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me
up.

How "the zeal of thine house" applies to a many membered body

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We are all to be zealous for the house of God. But how does that zeal express itself in the
completely different pars of that 'house', that priesthood, and that 'body of Christ'? Let notice
what we are told in this regard:

Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same
office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity;
he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is
good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one
another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent [Greek, zeo, to be hot] in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

He that prophesies is to do so "according to the portion of faith". He is never seeking
preeminence, and he does not ever "think above what is written" (1Co 4:6). Whether ministering
or teaching, or exhorting others, we are admonished to be patient and wait for what God gives
you to minister to and to teach or to exhort. If you are granted to give to others, then just give,
without expecting anything in return, and without trying to control those you are helping. Give
"with simplicity". If you are granted to rule then do so diligently and seriously, and if you are
granted to show mercy, then do so cheerfully.

None of these things are easy to do. If they were we would not need to be reminded of them.
None of these attributes come naturally. We are admonished never to be slothful in any of our
business, but instead be "fervent in spirit". So then let's understand clearly that there is no
contradiction at all between being patient for our prophesying, our ministering, teaching, or our
exhorting, and the ability to be devoured by our zeal for the house of God. Patience is an
essential part of our zeal for the house of God.

To Summarize

We have seen that the zeal of God's house devoured our Lord:

Joh 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten
me up.
These words are not recorded to simply let us know what Christ did that day in the temple in
Jerusalem. That entire event took place just for the purpose of telling us that it is we who must be
consumed with by that zeal of the house of God. It is we who are told that we must live by those
words.

We have seen that we are that house, if we are in Christ and He is in us. Therefore it is we who

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are the house whose zeal must consume the Christ within us.

We have seen that our zeal of God's house will have us wanting desperately to know all there is
to know about that house, and to keep all the things that are written therein, so as to never add to
or take away from that house:

Eze 43:10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of
their iniquities:and let them measure the pattern.
Eze 43:11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the
house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and
all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the
laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all
the ordinances thereof, and do them.

Are we even interested in "the goings out and the comings in... and all the ordinances of the
house of God? Are we zealous to "keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, to
do them"?

Our zeal must be "according to knowledge" of the true doctrine of the true Christ. The doctrine
of Christ is the form and ordinances thereof, and the doing of them. If we are not even aware of
those ordinances and doctrines, then we will always be led into the self-righteousness of
Babylon:

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their
own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Zeal is never, ever "lukewarm". Zeal is always a hot, zealous, and "fervent spirit" towards Christ.
Zeal is always seeking the comfort and consolation of the house in which Christ dwells:

2Co 7:7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you,
when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent [Greek, zelos, zealous] mind
toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

How do you and I feel towards others who have the mind of Christ? Do we have a zealous
fervent spirit toward our brothers and sisters in Christ?

The zeal of God's house within us provokes the same zealous spirit in many others who are in
Christ:

2Co 9:2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of
Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

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Are we provoking others to be zealous and of a "forward mind" towards their brothers and sisters
in Christ? They are "Thy house" whose zeal should be consuming us all.

Zeal produces "godly jealousy" toward the Christ of Christ.

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous [Greek - zeloo, zealous, fervent] over you with godly jealousy [Greek
- zelos, zeal]: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin
to Christ.
Are we careful to be faithful to our espoused husband and to those with whom He identifies
Himself, or is it more important to us to please men?

Zeal produces repentance from dead works.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Has our zeal for God changed us from who we were as that "old man, the first Adam" to the
point that "all things are become new" and we no longer know any man after the flesh, not even
Christ? (2Co 5:16). Or are we still living in the aion of this world, walking according to the spirit
that now works in the children of disobedience (Eph 2:2)?

The zeal of God's house gives us power in our lives which produces good works within that
house. The zeal of God's house gives us confidence and the authority to speak and exhort others
to walk with, and in the footsteps of Christ, whose prayer was not for the world, but for those
who His Father had placed in His house.

Joh 17:9 I pray for them [those in His house]: I pray not for the world, but for them which
thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise
thee.
Zeal stays and restrains the wrath of God within the Christ of Christ.

Num 25:11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away
from the children of Israel, while he was zealous [Hebrew, qana] for my sake among them,
that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy [qinah].

The zeal of the house of God takes us from hating and persecuting Christ and His doctrine to
hating the way of life we once lived, and the doctrines we once believed. It is "the zeal of Thine
house" which brings us to want to 'know him and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, making us conformable unto his death;'

Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law,
blameless.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those [in the zeal of His house] I [have] counted loss
for Christ.

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Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but
dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his
sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
'The zeal of Thine house has eaten me up'. Is that true for all of us? Let's all follow this scriptural
admonition, and let us allpray for the same zeal which is that mind of Christ:
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not
your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you [because you are His house], except ye be
reprobates?
"Jesus Christ is in you" because you are 'lively stones in His spiritual house'. You and I have
much to appreciate and we both have every reason to be 'devoured by the zeal of His house'.

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