Fervent in Spirit
“Be Fervent in spirit”
“Do not be slothful in zeal,
be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Romans 12:11 (ESV)
To “be fervent in spirit” is the result of a heart that has touched Him, the touchstone of all creation.
Fervency in spirit is the Divine imprint upon a heart made alive by the fire of His being filling our own. Intensity is the fruit of love and abandonment. His fire within cannot coexist with apathy and lethargy. The true apprehension of us by Christ is described in the pure language of the scriptures.
“When He ascended up on high,
he led captivity captive…”
Ephesians 4:8
His resurrection is the basis of this captivation by Him. He took my addictions, my lost and captive heart and by the revelation of His wonder, those things lost their grip. Resurrection Life is the source of true freedom! There are no self-help strategies, no answers for the human condition other than Christ Himself. It is not the Christ of religion, words, and doctrines. It is only as the resurrected ONE reaches down from heaven’s Throne of Grace that men and women are set free.
Paul’s whole premise of faith was the Resurrected One; not words about Him but the very Life of Him. Who can behold Him and remain pragmatic, dispassionate, and satisfied with anything less than the fire of God burning within?
“And if Christ be not risen,
then is our preaching vain,
and your faith is also vain”
1 Corinthians 15:14
To all who struggle with sin, with failure within and without, come to Him, seek Him, for He will not turn away from a broken and contrite heart. He came and more importantly IS come, to set the captives free and to make them new creations filled with the vibrancy of His Life.
“For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved”
Romans 10:3
Addictions are simply our attempt to fill the emptiness, the hurt, the abandonment, and the sorrow of heart that comes to all in this broken world. Freedom is found in His love, His forgiveness, and His life filling us unto the true freedom for which He has redeemed us. When Christ fills the heart there is no room for other things! His fulness is our freedom.
Fervency of spirit is the resounding wonder of a life captivated by His beauty.
“Do not be slothful in zeal,
be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Romans 12:11 (ESV)
It is the fervent in spirit who serve the Lord.
See: Morning by Morning
Brian Troxel
Amen we have be fervent in the spirit and rejoicing in hope.
I love that scripture
Amen!
Blessings
BT
Amen. Nothing or no one can feel the void missing in our hearts, except Jesus Christ! Only when we seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first, will we find true peace and joy! (Matthew 6:33)
So true! Blessed are they who know this in their experience.
Blessings
BT
You wrote:
“It is not the Christ of religion, words, and doctrines. It is only as the resurrected ONE reaches down from heaven’s Throne of Grace that men and women are set free.
“Paul’s whole premise of faith was the Resurrected One; not words about Him but the very Life of Him. Who can behold Him and remain pragmatic, dispassionate, and satisfied with anything less than the fire of God burning within?”
What you wrote reminds me of this:
Back in 2002 this guy picked me up while I was hitchhiking through Humboldt, Iowa. A few months later he saw me walking through Estherville, Iowa and showed me Ezekiel 21: 27 (which is very significant to me). He later sent me a letter and told me about Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) and a book written about him by Karen Armstrong. I have read maybe one page of Pascal’s PENSEES.
Armstrong writes: “On the night of November 23, 1654, Blaise himself had an experience which lasted ‘from about half-past ten in the evening till about half an hour after midnight’ (November 24) and which showed him that his faith had been too remote and academic. After his death, his ‘Memorial’ of this revelation was found stitched into his doublet:
FIRE
‘God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob’
Not of philosophers and scholars.
Certainty, certainty, heartfelt, joy, peace.
God of Jesus Christ.
God of Jesus Christ.
My God and your God.
‘Thy God shall be my God.’
The world forgotten and everything except God.
He can only be found by the ways taught in the Gospels.
“This was not the God of the philosophers, but the God of revelation.”
Good to hear from you! Always appreciate the comments and the testimonies of your travels.
Be blessed.
BT