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Your King Has Come - Indelible Grace
It’s kind of a strange question, I know. But it originates straight from Scripture, and the English word used to translate the Greek (zeo) is the word ‘fervent’, and it literally means to boil with heat; be hot. Twice in the New Testament the phrase fervent in spirit is used, once to describe Apollos (And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus), and once as an exhortation to the saints in the church at Rome (Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.).
I’m sure we are all probably at least a little familiar with this phrase, fervent in spirit, but do we really understand the depth of its meaning? It is an indicative (an objective statement of fact) in Acts when used to describe Apollos, and coming from Paul in Romans it is in imperative (a command to do or be something). Jesus, in His well-known statement about lukewarmness, uses the adjective form of the verb zeo in Revelation 3:16 for the word ‘hot’.
This is what John Gill says in his commentary on the phrase fervent in spirit:
fervency of spirit is opposed to that lukewarmness of soul, (Revelation 3:16) , that coldness of affection, and leaving of the first love, (Revelation 2:4) , so much complained of, and resented by Christ in his people: or else in the Spirit of God; for there may be fervency in men’s spirits, which comes not from the Spirit of God, as in the Jews, and particularly Saul, before his conversion, who had “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge”, (Romans 10:2) ; but when “the love of God is shed abroad in the heart” by the Spirit of God, (Romans 5:5) , this will make a man’s spirit fervent in the service of God, for which the apostle would have these believers concerned. A disciple of the wise men among the Jews is said to be, “fervent”, because the law is as a boiling pot unto him; much more should a disciple of Christ be fervent, who has the Gospel of Christ, the love of God, and the grace of the Spirit to inflame his soul with true zeal and fervor. (emphasis mine)
So, how do we become fervent in spirit? I think one way we do this is by seeking after God’s will and His glory in everything we do, by loving Him and doing what He commands. And where do we learn how to love and obey Him…in the Bible alone, of course. Devotion to the study and understanding of the Scriptures is one sure-fire way, I think, to becoming fervent in spirit. Now, this is certainly not the only way, and cannot be done in a vacuum. I believe we must also ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in this endeavor. I believe we should cry out to God to make us fervent in spirit, and to give us a heart for the things that bring honor and glory to Him. Be prepared, though, because if God is pleased to grant you fervency in spirit, those around you who may be quite comfortable in their lukewarmness will not appreciate your newfound zeal for the things of God.
Oh, that we as professing Christians would not be content with lukewarmness. For Christ will not (cannot) tolerate that in His kingdom. As He says, He will spit (literally, vomit) the lukewarm out of His mouth. I pray to God that I will be fervent in spirit. Won’t you do the same?
