Title: F.D.Z.P.

This is a simple, straightforward sermon about Fervency, Diligence, Zeal and Perseverance.  My purpose today is to encourage every member to invoke these essential elements to the Salvation Process.

What follows are a series of questions.  Both the questions and the answers for each question originate in a single scriptural reference.  What you will experience is being overwhelmed with the importance of these subjects and how much God is insuring we get the message.

What must be true about the Spirit in us if we are to serve the Lord?
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

Whom must we live our lives like?
2 Corinthians 5:15
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

How often are we to seek the Lord?
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

How are we to love the brethren?  What must be the condition of our heart?
1 Peter 1:22
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:

What are we to be looking for?  By what means are we to be found by God in peace?
2 Peter 3:13-14
13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 
14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 

Are we to ever allow wavering in our walk within the Salvation Process?
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

What must we do to withstand the evil day?
Ephesians 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When it comes to our Godly calling, what are we supposed to do?  What promise do we receive of God if we do this thing?
2 Peter 1:10-11
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

What kind of love covers a multitude of sins?
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

How much joy and peace should be in us?  What quantity of hope is to be in us?
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

To what extent are the sufferings of Christ to be in us?  How about our consolation or imploration/exhortation?
2 Corinthians 1:5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

Notice the commentary:
So our consolation also aboundeth by Christ - By means of Christ, or through Christ, consolation is abundantly imparted to us. Paul regarded the Lord Jesus as the source of consolation, and felt that the comfort which he imparted, or which was imparted through him, was more than sufficient to overbalance all the trials which he endured in this cause.

If we are to abound in the elements of the Salvation Process, just how much does God want us to abound in them?
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Can we allow ourselves to faint from the Salvation Process?
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

What does it mean, “…if we faint not.”?  Notice the commentary…

if we faint not-- but continue to the end, persevere constantly in doing acts of beneficence, and patiently wait, as the husbandman does, for the precious fruits of the earth; for there must be a distance of time between sowing and reaping; men must not expect to reap as soon as they sow; and therefore should not be weary of sowing, nor impatient in waiting, though they do not see as yet the appearance of the fruits thereof; for in their season they will be seen and enjoyed.

We have learned much in the Salvation process.  What are we to do with the knowledge?
2 Timothy 3:14 [see Lesson]
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

How do we get stronger and stronger in the faith?
Job 17:9
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

In what things are we to abound?  “Abound” means to “have a great amount”, “to be fully supplied” and “to be filled.”
2 Corinthians 8:7
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

Where does grace come from?  How much do we receive?  In how many things does God want us to be sufficient?  To what purpose?
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Notice that God wants us sufficient in ALL things and that we are to be abounding or filling ourselves up in good works.

Does God want our love to abound?  If so, in what way?
Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Notice the commentary now…

In knowledge - The idea is, that he wished them to have intelligent affection. It should not be mere blind affection, but that intelligent love which is based on an enlarged view of divine things - on a just apprehension of the claims of God.

And in all judgment - Margin, “sense;” The word here means, the power of discerning; and the meaning is, that he wished that their love should be exercised with proper discrimination. It should be in proportion to the relative value of objects; and the meaning of the whole is, that the wished their religion to be intelligent and discriminating; to be based on knowledge, and a proper sense of the relative value of objects, as well as to be the tender affection of the heart.

Why does God give us great and precious promises?  How are we to add the fruits of the Spirit to our lives?  That is, how are we to go about invoking all these fruits?  How does God show us how we can avoid being barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord?

2 Peter 1:4-8
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Notice the commentary…

For if these things be in you, and abound - If they are in you in rich abundance; if you are eminent for these things.

They make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful - They will show that you are not barren or unfruitful. The word rendered “barren,” is, in the margin, “idle.” The word “idle” more accurately expresses the sense of the original. The meaning is, that if they evinced these things, it would show.

(1)        that they were diligent in cultivating the Christian graces, and,
(2)        that it was not a vain thing to attempt to grow in knowledge and virtue.

Their efforts would be followed by such happy results as to be an encouragement to exertion. In nothing is there, in fact, more encouragement than in the attempt to become eminent in piety. On no other efforts does God smile more propitiously than on the attempt to secure the salvation of the soul and to do good. A small part of the exertions which men put forth to become rich, or learned, or celebrated for oratory or heroism, would secure the salvation of the soul. In the former, also, men often fail; in the latter, never.

God gives us a high calling?  How are to go about attaining the prize or promise of this high calling?
Philippians 3:11-14
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 
Straining Toward the Goal
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Note:  Some in Paul’s time thought the resurrection had already taken place.

On “pressing for the mark”, the commentary says…

I pursue along the line; this is a reference to the white line that marked the ground in the stadium, from the starting place to the goal, on which the runners were obliged to keep their eye fixed; for they who transgressed or went beyond this line did not run lawfully, and were not crowned, even though they got first to the goal.

We are preached the Word of God.  We learn about Christ.  What are we to do with this knowledge of Christ now?
Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 

To what degree are we to love God?
Matthew 22:37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
How do we love God like this?  Notice the meaning from the commentary…

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart - The meaning of this is, thou shalt love him with all thy faculties or powers. Thou shalt love him supremely, more than all other beings and things, and with all the ardor possible. To love him with all the heart is to fix the affections supremely on him, more strongly than on anything else, and to be willing to give up all that we hold dear at his command,

With all thy soul - Or, with all thy “life.” This means, to be willing to give up the life to him, and to devote it all to his service; to live to him, and to be willing to die at his command,

With all thy mind - To submit the “intellect” to his will. To love his law and gospel more than we do the decisions of our own minds. To be willing to submit all our faculties to his teaching and guidance, and to devote to him all our intellectual attainments and all the results of our intellectual efforts.

“With all thy strength”- With all the faculties of soul and body. To labor and toil for his glory, and to make that the great object of all our efforts.

What does God say about the principle of perseverance?
Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

How did Apollos speak and teach the things of the Lord?
Acts 18:24-25
24 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. 

Epaphras [E-Pap-er-us] was a member of the church.  How did he pray for the brethren?
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

What did Paul want from the members in Thessalonica regarding their Salvation Process?
Philippians 4:16-17
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 

How did Jesus approach the mission/calling He was given?
John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

What did Jesus mean by, “the night cometh, when no man can work.”?

the night cometh when no man can work; meaning the night of death, and of the grave, and suggesting his own death hereby, that he had but a little time to be in this world, and therefore would make the best use of it, to do the will and work of his Father that sent him; and which should be a pattern to us. This life is but short, it is but as the length of a day; a great deal of business is to be done; and death is hastening on, which will put a period to all working.

God declared to Israel that none of the diseases visiting Egyptians would come upon them.  He stated that He would heal them.  What did they have to do as their part of the bargain?
Exodus 15:26
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Should we prove all the preaching we hear?
Acts 17:10-11
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 

If we are filled with goodness and Godly knowledge what are we able to do?
Romans 15:14 
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

What did Paul tell the Philippians to do “in the Lord”?
Philippians 4:1
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Did Paul tell the Thessalonians the same thing?
1 Thessalonians 3:8
For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

What did Paul tell Timothy regarding doctrine and the Word of God?
2 Timothy 1:13 [see Lesson]
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

What kind of prayers are effective?
James 5:16
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.

For whom is our love to abound?  To whom is it to abound?  Who makes for this increase in our love?
1 Thessalonians 3:12
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

Are we to be ready---prepared to do good works?
Titus 3:1 [see Lesson]
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.

How are we to keep our heart?  What does it mean to “keep our heart”?
Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Notice the commentary…
Keep thy heart with all diligence,.... The mind from vanity, the understanding from error, the will from perverseness, the conscience clear of guilt, the affections from being inordinate and set on evil objects, the thoughts from being employed on bad subjects; and the whole from falling into the hands of the enemy, or being the possession of Satan:

Great diligence had need be used in keeping it, since it is naturally so deceitful and treacherous; a strict eye is to be kept upon it; all the avenues to it to be watched, that nothing hurtful enters, or evil comes out; it is to be kept by all manner of means that can be thought of, by prayer, hearing, reading, meditation; and, above all, by applying to Christ for his grace and Spirit to sanctify, preserve, and keep it. Or, "above all keeping, keep thine heart" (b); though other things are to be kept, and care taken of them, as kingdoms and cities, and towns and families, and treasures and riches; yet the heart above all:

Does God notice the works we do?  In what way would God have us do these works?  Till when?  How does one inherit the promises of God?
Hebrews 6:10-12
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

In Paul’s letter to the Corinth church, how does he say that we are to be doing the Work of the Lord?
1 Corinthians 15:58 
Therefore, my beloved brethren, 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.

What are we to do about our time management?
Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

What does “redeeming the time” mean?

Redeeming the time - The word rendered here as “redeeming,” means “to purchase; to buy up” from the possession or power of anyone; and then to redeem, to set free - as from service or bondage.  Here it means, to rescue or recover our time from waste; to improve it for great and important purposes.

Does God tell us to be fruitful and increasing in the knowledge of God?
Colossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Is part of our calling to be full of zeal regarding good works?
Titus 2:14 [see Lesson]
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Are we to remain firmly loyal or constant and unswerving to the end?
Hebrews 3:14
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.

Are we to hold fast to our Godly calling?
Hebrews 4:14 
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Times will get hard in the end time.  What are we told to do about that?
2 Timothy 2:3 [see Lesson]
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

What does God promise us if we hang unto our calling?
Psalm 37:24, 28 
24--Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
28a--For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever…

When we are beset with trial and tribulation, what is our attitude to be?
2 Corinthians 4:8-18 
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

What happens if we grow weary in the Salvation Process?
2 Thessalonians 3:13
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

What do we receive if we continue in well doing?
Romans 2:6-7
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 

What is one of the chief things we should be confident about?
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

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