” … be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
1. A Christian should be fervent in the faith. ” … it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1 :3-4).
When the faith is under attack, it needs to be defended. (Read Titus 2:1 ;Acts 20:29-31; 1 Corinthians 16: 13; 2 Timothy 4:7.)
2. A Christian should be fervent in brotherly love. “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 fervently” (1 Peter 1 :22).
A mark of true discipleship to be seen by all men. (Read John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:20; Romans 12: 10.)
3. A Christian should be fervent in prayer. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5: 16)
If it is the prayer of faith, we may expect that it will be fervent. (Read Ephesians 6: 18; Acts 12:5; Matthew 6:5-8.)
4. A Christian should be fervent in worship. “And his disciples remembered that it was written, the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (John 2:17).
The early church is our example in worship. (Read Acts 2:42- 47; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25.)
5. A Christian should be fervent in mind. “And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more” (2 Corinthians 7:7).
The effect of wrong thinking; you are what you think. (Read Proverbs 23:7; Philippians 4:8.)
6. A Christian should be fervent in good works. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).
The life that we live; the Gospel puts emphasis on the life. (Read Titus 2:7; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 10:24.)
7. A Christian should be fervent in spiritual gifts. “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church” (I Corinthians 14:12.)
These gifts edify and build up the believer and give him strength. (Read 1 Corinthians 12.)