Fervent Servants
Romans 12:9-11
9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.
The word “fervent” means “very hot; glowing.” It indicates being marked by intensity of feeling; zeal; earnestness. God wants us to serve him fervently; zealously; with intensity of feeling; “on fire.” God is not interested in half hearted, indifferent, unconcerned, or sluggish servants. He wants Fervent Servants.
I. Fervent in Spirit.
Our spirit is our inner most being, our “heart.” God expects our heart to be consumed with Love for Him, love for His Word, His Will, His Work. He wants us to be “on fire,” like Jeremiah who proclaimed God’s message to a back sliding nation. Though he was ridiculed, mocked and persecuted and felt like shutting his mouth, he cried out, “His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones...and I could not stay.” The fire of God burned in Jeremiah’s heart and spirit. Even when his Mind wanted to give up; even when his Emotions were overwhelmed and ready to quit; His spirit was still fervent and on fire for God.
The Bible says about Apollos that he was “fervent in spirit.”
Are you a Fervent Servant? Is your Heart on fire for God? Are you Fervent in Spirit?
II. Fervent in Mind.
Paul commends the Corinthians for being “fervent in mind.” (2 Cor. 7:7) This is a mind that is on fire with the things of God. A mind that thinks on Spiritual Things; meditates on the Word of God; considers God’s blessings; desires God’s will. Remember the song that said, “I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus.” Acts 17:11 says of the Berean believers, “ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Readiness of mind means Eagerness of Mind. Their minds were fervent about God’s Word and they eagerly received the Word and searched the Scriptures every day to lay hold on the Truth. Are you a Fervent Servant? Is your Mind on fire with the Things of God? Are you fervent in Mind?
III. Fervent in Love.
1 Peter 4:8 tells us to “have fervent charity among yourselves. 1 Peter 1:22 says, “see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”
We are instructed, yea, even commanded to love with intensity. We are not to love with words alone but with deeds; not with sentimental feeling but with practical actions. God expects us to love one another with REAL Love; fervent love; love that is on fire. Brothers and sisters in the Lord all around us need for us to express our love to them and demonstrate our love to them. It’s one thing to stand up in a service and say, “I love everybody here!” It’s another thing to show that you love someone “in deed and in truth.”(1 John 3:18)
IV. Fervent in Prayer.
James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The lackadaisical, lukewarm prayer avails nothing. Real Prayer is more than just saying words. There must be Fire in our praying. Fervent prayer is effectual; it causes an effect. Fervent prayer avails much; it accomplishes a lot. James said about Elijah that he “prayed earnestly.” He did not yawn through his prayers or pray with his mouth while thinking about a multitude of other things with his mind. We preach about Jacob who “wrestled” with an angel till the breaking of day. We too are told that we are wrestling, not with flesh and blood, but with “principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places.” This is certainly no time for apathetic praying; this is a time to be fervent in prayer. Are you a fervent servant? Are you fervent in prayer? Is your prayer glowing and burning with holy fire?
V. Fervent in Labor.
Jesus said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me while it is yet day, for the night cometh when no man can work.” Jesus felt the urgency of his hour and labored fervently for God. In Ecc. 9:10 we are told that whatever our hand finds to do, we are to do it with our Might. In other words we are to do our work diligently, strongly, fervently. Paul said of Epaphras that he was “always laboring fervently...in prayers” and that he had “great zeal.” (Col.4:12,13) Can it be said of you that you are always laboring fervently? Do you have great zeal? Are you a fervent servant? Is your work for God on Fire?
When Jesus sent messages to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 & 3, he rebuked the Laodecian church for being lukewarm. They were not on Fire. They had no fervency; no zeal, no fire. They were just “going through the motions.” Jesus warned them that he would “spew them out of his mouth,” and said to them, “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten; be ZEALOUS therefore and repent.” Jesus says to you and I today, Be Zealous; be on fire; be fervent.
9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.
The word “fervent” means “very hot; glowing.” It indicates being marked by intensity of feeling; zeal; earnestness. God wants us to serve him fervently; zealously; with intensity of feeling; “on fire.” God is not interested in half hearted, indifferent, unconcerned, or sluggish servants. He wants Fervent Servants.
I. Fervent in Spirit.
Our spirit is our inner most being, our “heart.” God expects our heart to be consumed with Love for Him, love for His Word, His Will, His Work. He wants us to be “on fire,” like Jeremiah who proclaimed God’s message to a back sliding nation. Though he was ridiculed, mocked and persecuted and felt like shutting his mouth, he cried out, “His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones...and I could not stay.” The fire of God burned in Jeremiah’s heart and spirit. Even when his Mind wanted to give up; even when his Emotions were overwhelmed and ready to quit; His spirit was still fervent and on fire for God.
The Bible says about Apollos that he was “fervent in spirit.”
Are you a Fervent Servant? Is your Heart on fire for God? Are you Fervent in Spirit?
II. Fervent in Mind.
Paul commends the Corinthians for being “fervent in mind.” (2 Cor. 7:7) This is a mind that is on fire with the things of God. A mind that thinks on Spiritual Things; meditates on the Word of God; considers God’s blessings; desires God’s will. Remember the song that said, “I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus.” Acts 17:11 says of the Berean believers, “ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Readiness of mind means Eagerness of Mind. Their minds were fervent about God’s Word and they eagerly received the Word and searched the Scriptures every day to lay hold on the Truth. Are you a Fervent Servant? Is your Mind on fire with the Things of God? Are you fervent in Mind?
III. Fervent in Love.
1 Peter 4:8 tells us to “have fervent charity among yourselves. 1 Peter 1:22 says, “see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”
We are instructed, yea, even commanded to love with intensity. We are not to love with words alone but with deeds; not with sentimental feeling but with practical actions. God expects us to love one another with REAL Love; fervent love; love that is on fire. Brothers and sisters in the Lord all around us need for us to express our love to them and demonstrate our love to them. It’s one thing to stand up in a service and say, “I love everybody here!” It’s another thing to show that you love someone “in deed and in truth.”(1 John 3:18)
IV. Fervent in Prayer.
James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The lackadaisical, lukewarm prayer avails nothing. Real Prayer is more than just saying words. There must be Fire in our praying. Fervent prayer is effectual; it causes an effect. Fervent prayer avails much; it accomplishes a lot. James said about Elijah that he “prayed earnestly.” He did not yawn through his prayers or pray with his mouth while thinking about a multitude of other things with his mind. We preach about Jacob who “wrestled” with an angel till the breaking of day. We too are told that we are wrestling, not with flesh and blood, but with “principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places.” This is certainly no time for apathetic praying; this is a time to be fervent in prayer. Are you a fervent servant? Are you fervent in prayer? Is your prayer glowing and burning with holy fire?
V. Fervent in Labor.
Jesus said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me while it is yet day, for the night cometh when no man can work.” Jesus felt the urgency of his hour and labored fervently for God. In Ecc. 9:10 we are told that whatever our hand finds to do, we are to do it with our Might. In other words we are to do our work diligently, strongly, fervently. Paul said of Epaphras that he was “always laboring fervently...in prayers” and that he had “great zeal.” (Col.4:12,13) Can it be said of you that you are always laboring fervently? Do you have great zeal? Are you a fervent servant? Is your work for God on Fire?
When Jesus sent messages to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 & 3, he rebuked the Laodecian church for being lukewarm. They were not on Fire. They had no fervency; no zeal, no fire. They were just “going through the motions.” Jesus warned them that he would “spew them out of his mouth,” and said to them, “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten; be ZEALOUS therefore and repent.” Jesus says to you and I today, Be Zealous; be on fire; be fervent.
posted by Junction Hill Pentecostal Church | 3:14 PM
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