8 Spiritual Qualities

(Message by Philip Joseph on March 28, 2010)

Two weeks ago, we heard a message from the first half of Romans 12. My burden today is to share with you from the second half of Romans 12.
Romans 12:9-21 lists 27 spiritual qualities. I would like to share 8 of these qualities with you from Romans 12:11-13.

1. Not lagging behind in diligence

Don’t trail behind, as some in a race (I Cor 9:24). Run the race to win the prize! Don’t be a back-bencher, but move ahead in the things of God.
Don’t be Lazy. God has put wisdom in a tiny ant to be hardworking. So as the Scriptures say in Proverbs 6:6-9 “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?”
Be Diligent, as the Word says in Hebrews 6:11,12 “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end…be imitators of those who through faith & patience inherit the promises.” Let talk less & work more, as the Scriptures says in Proverbs 14:23 “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”


2. Keep Your Spiritual Fervour
Maintain Your Cutting Edge. Be zealous. As it was said about our Lord that “zeal for His house would consume Him”(John 2:17), we too need to be zealous. Even at the tender age of 12, the boy Jesus was deeply involved “in the things of His Father”(Luke 2:49)
We must be all the more careful, since we are living in the Laodicean age, in which love for God would be lukewarm. (Rev 3:15). Our Lord warned us in Matthew 24:12 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold”.
We all know that to keep our spiritual fervor, we need to engage in the following spiritual exercises :
Prayer & worship
Reading the Word
Faith & Obedience
Fellowship
Utilizing our gifting

3. Serving the Lord
Even today, as in the time of Isaiah, God is looking for people to serve Him. (Isaiah 6:8). He is looking for our availability not ability. As we are available for His service, He can & will give us the ability to serve Him.
We need to ascertain our spiritual gift & utilize our spiritual gifting (I Pet 4:10). We must passionately serve the Lord, and not men (Eph 6:7)

4. Rejoicing in hope
We believers ought to be the happiest people on earth. We need to “rejoice that our names are recorded in heaven”(Luke 10:20). We have a wonderful hope of eternal bliss! This is why Paul encouraged people to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4)

5. Persevering in trial
We need to persevere till the end (Mt 24:13). Never give up! We need to be assured that trial is never beyond our ability (I Cor 10:13). In every trial, ”His Grace is always sufficient” (2 Cor 12:9)

6. Devoted to prayer
We need to pray & “keep alert with an attitude of thanksgiving”(Col 4:2). We can pray at any time & at any place. Scripture exhorts us to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thess 5:17)
We need to “keep asking, seeking & knocking”, knowing that we shall certainly receive (Mt 7:7)
We need to pray also for the needs of others & become an Intercessor (I Tim 2:1). This is something that all of us can do.

7. Contributing to the needs of the saints
God desires that we should be compassionate (Mt 9:13)
Our Love for God leads us to love His family (I John 5:21)
We need to do good to all people, especially believers (Gal 6:10)

8. Practicing hospitality
Apostle Peter exhorts us to “be hospitable without complaining” (I Pet 4:9). God desires that we do not neglect to do good & share & show hospitality (Heb 13:1,2,16)

In conclusion, let us practice these 8 spiritual qualities :
Do not lag behind in diligence
Be fervent in spirit
Serve the Lord
Rejoice in hope
Persevere in trial
Devote to prayer
Contribute to the needs of the saints
Practice hospitality