NOT LAGGING IN DILIGENCE

"NOT LAGGING IN DILIGENCE, FERVENT IN SPIRIT, SERVING THE LORD."
Romans 12:11 (NKJV)

A number of other things that Apostle Paul said in that same Romans 12 are:
I. Believers should not lack in diligence (Romans 12:11).
II. Fervent in spirit (Romans 12:11).
III. Serving the Lord (Romans 12:11).
What was said in the verse was a charge, a kind of admonition, or what is meant to spur or psyche the people up.

I. A believer is admonished not to lag in diligence, which is forwardness, eagerness or earnestness.
That is, a believer should be diligent in the spiritual exercise; the reading and studying of the Bible and the practicing of it. When a believer lives right, being diligent in the assignment given to him or her would not be difficult.

What does it mean to be diligent?
Being diligent does mean to be earnest and care for whatever is committed into your trust (Colossians 4:17).
Thus, there should be no lagging or drooping or laxness in whatever you are doing in the Kingdom.

II. Fervency in your spirit is about being aglow; being hot or on fire for God. Fervency is usually a product of passion, being passionate about God and the things of the kingdom.
When the matters of God and His kingdom always turn you on.
Fervency is being called for because some who could be considered as believers are cold to the things of God and His kingdom—they are not enthused about the things of God.
Thus, the admonition is, be fervent in the spirit.

What would make you fervent in the spirit is your desire for the Word of God. When you are in the pursuit of God, your heart is craving for Him, your Word intake would automatically increase.
And when the Word intake increases, that definitely changes your prayer life—there would be a surge or an increase in your prayer life.
A believer at the level being explained here is automatically on fire for God, such is fervent in his or her spirit.

You cannot separate fervency in the spirit from the Word consumption and increase in prayer.
Fervency starts from insatiable desires for the Word of God and prayer.
When these two things are down or not found in a believer's life, It means the person is cold and has lost the fire he probably had before.
You keep God's fire or fervency in your life through daily consumption of the Bible and consistent prayer.
A believer who is lagging in Word intake and prayer is far from fervency, such is already cold—such is already fast asleep in his or her spirit.

Some of the things that are peculiar to whoever is cold in the spirit or the characteristics of being cold in the spirit:
• Reading and studying of the Bible would be burdensome to such.
• Praying, especially tarrying in the place of prayer, would become an uphill task. Such would find it difficult to pray alone when he is not in the company of other believers.

The truth is, being fervent in the spirit is kindled by the consumption of the Word of God and the prayer of a believer.
It is also sustained by the same way or method you kindled the fire.
I would want to admonish whoever is reading this to strive and be endeavoured to keep the fire he or she has.
Note:
• Rekindling a fire might be difficult If you allowed the fire to go out completely.
• Fire or fervency in the spirit might be doused or slackened when a believer inclined to the natural side of life. However, If the person is quickly reawakened, the dousing fire can be reignited or made aglow again. But the fire you allowed to go out completely might be difficult to rekindle because the flesh and the devil would want to stand and resist the move of the rekindling or revivification.

When a believer is no longer fervent in the spirit, the anointing would first of all be ebbing gradually and eventually be completely lost.
The lose of fervency in the spirit starts with the neglecting of the daily reading of the Bible and apathy in prayer.
When you start getting busy in whatever you are doing to the point that you are shelving or putting off or postponing prayer, it means you have started slipping spiritually.
It might not be noticed quickly at the initial stage, It depends on the immunity you have had by the reason of the number of years you have soaked yourself in the Word of God and prayer; however, no matter how, It would eventually show and be made known with time.

III. Serving the Lord (Romans 12:11). When diligence and fervency are gone, serving God would become tedious, an uphill task.
Your services to God are sustained through diligence and fervency in spirit. Whilst your diligence and fervency are made through your Word intake and prayer.
You cannot claim you are serving God when you are not faithful; diligent and fervent, in what you are assigned to do. Remember, serving God means serving His interest, being passionate about the increase and expansion of His Kingdom on earth.

For your service in the Kingdom to continue, you have to be diligent in your Word intake and prayer which would eventually keep aglow the fire in your spirit. It is when you are on fire in your spirit that your services in the kingdom would be impactful and relevant to the people of God—the Body of Christ.
Thus, keep the fire burning that you might not lose your rewards at the end.

You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' mighty name.
Peace.

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!