Spiritual Fervency

It is with great joy that I welcome you to the year 2022. No doubt, 2021 came with all shades of positive and negative things, but we are most grateful to God that we are to celebrate the new year.

From childhood, I have always known the new year resolution to be the culture of many even though most people don’t follow through on the decisions made at the dawn of the year (and many may be discouraged to continue the endless cycle of making resolutions). The culture is still a good one to hold on to, so we can evaluate our lives and do more for ourselves because our decision dictates our destiny. It will be a good thing to make realistic and achievable decisions and not be carried away by emotions.

Many times, the reason for our failure in the resolutions we make might be because we are aiming to do too many things at the same time. One of the profound scriptures that came alive to me in 2021 is: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). It serves as the summary of what we should resolve to do in just three phrases. If these three things are followed through, we will find ourselves living fulfilling lives. It’s important to note that these three are very important, and not one is more important than the other. However, for this blog post I want to look more into spiritual fervency because it seems to be the most ambiguous of the three.

I came across several synonyms and definitions of fervency, which include but are not limited to having fervor, zeal, the intensity of feeling, enthusiasm, fire, heat, boiling over, intensity, passion, vehemence and even violence. Going through each of the detailed definitions of these synonyms alone in the context of spiritual fervency is both enlightening and reviving. Of all the definitions of fervency that I came across, the terms ‘boiling over’ and ‘fire’ caught my attention and gave a refreshing understanding. We can’t just ignore the fact that God expects us to have an active spiritual life. Fire can’t go unnoticed, and water at a boiling point comes with restlessness and heat. This is the explanation of the burning passion God would want for our spiritual life and towards him. The question is: can we then truly say we are fervent spiritually?

It is important for us to note that God is not pleased with anyone who has drawn back in passion towards him and his work, examples were found in the letters John wrote to the angels of the churches which stated: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth”( Revelation 3:15-16). To the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:2-5, he wrote: “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent”.

These verses show that when a man lacks passion and enthusiasm towards God, he is likely to fall. It is therefore very important to start with the evaluation of our spiritual lives to know where we have fallen, repent where necessary, and go back to what we did when the passion was there. This can only be achieved when we come sincerely to God to restore the passion and excitement (joy) in our hearts. David prayed: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12a).

Even though we may belong in faith, we need to position ourselves as newborn babes as instructed by Apostle Peter to desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2).

When we saturate ourselves with the word of God in an atmosphere of the Holy Spirit, we will have the testimony of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 20:9, which states: Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

We cannot have the word burning in us and not share the gospel. Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:16

It is also very important to know that our spiritual fervency can only be sustained by consistent prayer life and waiting. 

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31.

One of the acts that bring sustainable answers to our request comes when we have intentional and fervent prayers. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b KJV. I love the way the Amplified Bible, Classic edition put it; “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

Finally, 1 Peter 4:8 instructed that above all things have fervent charity (love) among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Love is the height of spirituality and we should pursue fervently this virtue alongside our passions in prayers, words, and evangelism. Men of like passion like Apollo (Acts 18:24-25), Epaphras (Col. 4:12) to mention just a few have displayed fervency in their spiritual lives, burning actively in their prayer life, intercession, and love. The Lord is more than willing to give us more fervency this new year if we are willing to position ourselves for the fire from heaven to descend on our altars.

Author: Victor Ogunlola