“never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord”
Romans 12:11
“KEEP” Such a powerful word in this verse! “do not let the fire fade”
Yesterday I was studying this scripture. I was really encouraged and lifted up personally- big time. Then I had a visual that I was able to use hands on with our sons to teach them such a wonderful biblical application and include as part of our day together.
This is our life without exercising our faith in Christ – STAGNANT. No activity. Achieving nothing.
We must have the proper ingredients. THEN… we must turn up the heat
So that we may see the works of God produced for His glory – “how sweet are Your Words” “taste and see that the Lord is good”
Spiritual Fervor or Zeal literally means to boil. Fervent in the greek is ZEO, to boil with heat. We need to turn up the heat! Our faith and desire to live to please the Father in obedience and trust. We must turn it up so that we are boiling passionately to live for God in all that we eat, drink, all that we do, for His glory.
Stagnant is not the Spiritual life we want. Unfortunately our flesh is weak, and the troubles within and around can bring us discouragement and weightiness in our lives. This is the time, God gets our attention of how much we still rely on the flesh rather than Him, and we press in, amping up our discipline in the Lord and He produces. The heat is necessary.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory[a] and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” 1 Peter 1:6-7
“lay aside every weight and run the race with endurance… looking to Jesus” Hebrews 12:1
I posed a couple questions that I answered first, and then they answered. Recognizing specific areas of struggle to trust and where God is working to show our need to depend more fully on Him as we run to him and not away from Him.
- What are you passionate about? Are you even more passionate about serving the Lord and pleasing the Father?
2. Are you satisfied with your passion for God as it stands right now? Rate it on a scale. Is it increasing?
What are the ingredients and how do we turn up the heat? Well I will just share a few thoughts and what we discussed.
The all encompassing in the gospel of Christ Jesus the Savior and Lord! “repent and believe”. Receive Him as Lord. Pray more and more and more… and more. Read the Word to study it and apply it – use it to transform your life. Worship Him more in whatever we are doing? Worship Him more in song. Spend time with like minded Believers to grow, encourage and strengthen. Examine ourselves continually. Get up and obey and trust the One Who provides everything we need for a Godly life.
One scripture that touched my heart relating to Spiritual Zeal is JESUS HIMSELF in John 9:4
Jesus said: “I MUST work the works of HIM Who sent ME WHILE IT IS DAY”
He is our perfect example. Humble, suffering servant. Lived on this earth to please the Father and obey Him in all things. His highest regard and purpose each day was completely and wholeheartedly embracing it with the utmost value and passion to be about the work of the Kingdom-for the sake of others. “WHILE IT IS DAY”!!
A passionate Christ! He experienced great anxiety facing His mission, but in obedience to the Father, this was His passion, His zeal, His purpose – in order to bring Him glory!
What more motivation do we need?
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? ” Matthew 16:24-26
Now let me say as I am writing this, I was on my knees before the Lord at the start of this day literally telling the Lord “I cannot stand my flesh”. I really cannot. I say foolish things. Do foolish things. Think foolish. Yet, God the Perfect One, has saved sinners like me, and He is the faithful One to accomplish this necessary work in me. I wrestle, I grieve, I repent, I get up and press on-His grace, His gift, His Spirit. I ask Him to produce. I want it to be His real transforming work. Genuine Spirit working and nothing artificial. Thanks be to God we have the victory in Christ Jesus Our LORD!
“He who has begun a good work will be faithful to complete it” Phil. 1:6
A FEW OTHER SCRIPTURES:
2 Cor. 9:2 When we are passionate and it stirs ups and encourages others in their walk with God
Titus 2:14
Matthew 22:35-40
John 2:17
