WORD OF THE DAY:
     FERVENT IN SPIRIT

     In contrast to slothfulness, God instructs us to be fervent in spirit. What is it
     to be fervent in spirit? What are the qualities of a fervent Christian?

          Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

We can be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, (on fire for Him) or, the difference, slothful and cold.

          I would thou wert cold or hot.

     The first occurrence of a word is significant because frequently, God defines the term
     or gives attributes of it right there in the context.

     Please notice, in the record below, that even though God describes this believer as being
     fervent in spirit, He also indicates that this man did not know it all, [he only knew about
     water baptism, not baptism in holy spirit] but what He knew and understood, He taught
     boldly. He was also a meek man, receiving the instruction in the way of the Lord more
     perfectly, from Aquila and Priscilla.

     I underlined the characteristics belonging to this spiritually fervent man.

          And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria,
          an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to
          Ephesus.

          25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and
          being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently
          the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

          26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom
          when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto
          them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

          27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren
          wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he
          was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

          28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly,
          shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

     1.mighty in Scriptures
     2. instructed in the way of the Lord
     3.spoke boldly
     4. taught diligently
     5. helped the believers much
     6.convinced the Jews publickly
     7.showed, by the Word, that Jesus is Christ

     all demonstrated his fervency in spirit.

     I did not underline the word eloquent, because not every spiritually fervent person is
     necessarily eloquent. For example, Moses needed Aaron to speak for him. Amos, the
     prophet, was not as highly educated as the Apostle Paul, who was also an eloquent
     speaker. Being fervent requires speaking boldly for God, not eloquence, although
     it does help!

     Like Apollos, let us also be fervent in spirit and serve the Lord, being mighty in the
     Scriptures, being instructed, being bold speakers, being diligent teachers, being
     much help to others, convincing others publickly and showing by the Word, that
     Jesus is the Christ. Amen.

-Carol Kenreigh

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