Did you know the words fervent and fervently are not found in the Old Testament anywhere? (I refer to the King James Version; other versions are about the same.) These words aren't found very often in the New Testament either. Fervent is in the King James version just 7 times and fervently shows up in only two verses. And yet, I find myself thinking about this word all the time. Actually, Paul commands us in Romans 12:11 - "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit; serving the Lord."
I think since we are commanded to be "fervent in spirit;" it might be a good idea to know a little more about what it means, don't you? So I looked it up both in my American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and in my copy of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. In Romans 12:11 cited above; Strong's says the Greek word is "defined "as a primary verb meaning to be hot - as in liquids to boil, as in solids to glow; to be fervid, (earnest) - be fervent."
The dictionary's definition is very similar: "having or showing great emotion or warmth; passionate, ardent; extremely hot, glowing." I suppose most of us already had a good idea of the definition of fervent just from the context of the verse. However, it seems to be much, much more than just not being slothful in business. If we are fervent in spirit and in the service of our Lord - we are to be on fire for him. We are to "glow" in the Spirit of His love and we are to be earnest in our commitment to Him.
Luke describes such a man in Acts 18:25 -"This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." This man was Apollos. And when Priscilla and Aquila heard him speaking boldly in the temple, they took him aside and taught him (the scripture says expounded) the way of God more perfectly. Apollos was apparently not arrogant or vain in his preaching; but was truly fervent in spirit because he was not offended at being taught the truth more extensively. As eloquent as he was, he must have truly loved the Lord and had an intense desire to learn. He accepted what he was taught. Verse 28 says, "For he (Apollos) mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." How wonderful it is to know that those in the early church spoke so boldly for our Lord! Apollos is only one example of many who were fervent in spirit.
Being "fervent in spirit" is only one way the word is used. We are also to be fervent in our prayers to our Heavenly Father. Many are familiar with James 5:16 which says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." We are to pray with zeal-- earnestly seeking God's blessing. James tells us when we pray with such heartfelt pleading that our prayers will avail much. An example of this type of prayer is found in Colossians 4:12 where Paul tells the Colossian church that "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you always laboring fervently for you in prayers" and get this - listen to what Epaphras is praying for his fellow Christians - "that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." He is fervently praying for their spiritual lives - their souls.
The fervent prayers of Epaphras fit perfectly into the next way that this word is used. The apostle Peter uses this word twice in his first epistle when he is speaking of the love Christians are to have for one another. We are instructed in I Peter 1:22 - "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart - how Peter? -- How are we to love one another? "with a pure heart fervently." I Peter 4:8 says "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover a multitude of sins." So as Epaphras was fervently praying for his brothers and sisters in Christ, he was showing his fervent love for them.
We see then, that we are commanded to be fervent in spirit -serving the Lord; we are to pray fervently; and we are to love one another fervently with a pure heart. I am beginning to think that the Lord doesn't take these three things lightly at all and He doesn't want us to either. This fervor is pretty serious business. Love fervently - pray fervently and serve fervently. Be on fire for the Lord. Love Him so much that you glow! Our fervent hearts and spirits will show the world who we serve and who we strive to glorify.
Peter uses "fervent" in one more context. As it is used here, it explains exactly why we should obey the Lord's commands with a fervent spirit. Remember how we talked about the definition of the word meaning hot or boiling? Well Peter gives us a couple of warnings in his second epistle: 2 Peter 3:10 - "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and works that are therein shall be burned up." Peter refers to this fervent heat again two verses later. With these warnings in mind, it becomes clear how important it is know God's commands and to keep them.
I want to serve, pray and love fervently don't you? When this world passes away, I want to be with the sheep who are told "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for all the bountiful blessings you bestow on me each day. Thank you for helping me to understand the meaning of what it means to be fervent in spirit. Please help me to keep my heart pure and full of love for you. Give me an ardent desire to serve you. Help me to learn to love others more fervently and to pray more earnestly.
In your precious Son's name, Amen.
Please keep Christ above all things - fervently,
Robin
No comments:
Post a Comment