Do Not Become Sluggish! Hebrews 6:9-12 (Hebrews 6:9-12), “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 10:36), “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” There is a need for fervency, zeal! Are you “slow and inactive” toward God? Or are you ON FIRE in your faith and service to Him! Hebrews 6:9-12

Do Not Become Sluggish Fervent in Spirit (Romans 12:11; Acts 18:25) (Romans 12:10-11), “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Acts 18:24-25), “Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.” How we Serve the Lord, there should be…     1. Zeal – Boldness - Determination, Desire to worship & serve – Endurance i.e. – a Faith that does not draw back (Hebrews 10:39), “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

Do Not Become Sluggish Fervent in Spirit (Romans 12:11; Acts 18:25) Fervent in Love (1 Peter 4:8; Proverbs 10:12) (1 Peter 4:8), “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." (Proverbs 10:12), “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” With a Pure Heart (Matthew 5:44-45), “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Keep Yourselves in Love of God (Jude 21), “keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Do Not Become Sluggish Fervent in Spirit (Romans 12:11; Acts 18:25) Fervent in Love (1 Peter 4:8; Proverbs 10:12) Fervent in Prayer (James 5:16-18; Acts 12:5) (James 5:16-18), “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (Acts 12:5), “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” Prayer is Powerful Zealous Endurance is Essential

Do Not Become Sluggish Fervent in Spirit (Romans 12:11; Acts 18:25) Fervent in Love (1 Peter 4:8; Proverbs 10:12) Fervent in Prayer (James 5:16-18; Acts 12:5) A Fervent Heat (2 Peter 3:10-12) (2 Peter 3:10-12), “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” The Future Fervent Heat is a Necessary Reason to be Holy, 2 Pet. 3:11. The Pain of an Eternal Fire that is never Extinguished is Incentive to Be Fervent in Faith Now! (Mark 9:45-46), “And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.‘”

Conclusion The spiritually sluggish do not inherit the promises of God! (cf. John 2:17) Are you filled with zeal for God’s house?   Jesus was filled with zeal and indignation when He saw His Father’s temple had become a house of merchandizing He overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and used a whip to drive out the animals and evil men. (John 2:17), “Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."