Zeal, Fervency

  Zeal is enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal; its synonym is passion. Zeal also means passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; intense interest or endeavor; eagerness to accomplish or obtain some object. Extreme zeal is fervor, which is warmth of feeling; ardor; impassioned earnestness: as, the fervor of enthusiasm; from the Latin fervor a boiling, violent heat; passion, ardor, fury, from fervere to boil; be hot.


“Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD.”–2 Kings 10:16


  Zeal, being synonymus with fervency and passion is closely aligned with the impulsive-appetitive soul, which operates on a spectrum from being fervently devoted to serving God (a religious zealot) to being utterly hedonistic in gratifying every physical-sensual appetite, or worse, to being the willing servant of evil through destruction of the good—lies, debauchery, cruelty, and murder.






Edna Lister on Zeal and Fervency

Be urgent and zealous in well-doing and seek all due rewards for the price of using the Light to make the world bright, a world of joy and beauty.–Edna Lister, November 6, 1938


Stand together with greater ardor, greater zeal, greater fervency than ever during this coming week. It is a crisis for all of us and the world in every way. What has happened in Poland is nothing compared with the wholesale destruction that could yet occur.–Edna Lister, September 15, 1939, [WWII: Russia attacked Poland from the East.]


Stand fervently with me in desire, and with me vividly in imagination, with a declaration backed up by all faith. Strange, how long it takes us to learn how to stand and know. To stand on your declaration even when everything looks like failure on the outside. To know as God, with the faith of God, when everything is black, when men fail, when all things are weak, when everything you've depended upon goes flat—that is all you need to do. And when you reach the point and the place where you know you will not be moved from your declaration of perfection, then the Power moves through you and release comes. So stand more faithfully, more ferventlyat the white point of heat, lnowing that all is well and very well. I am with you always and the end is the fullness of all Light!–Edna Lister, November 10, 1939


Hold. Stand. Pray in ever greater fervency and ardor, which is the outpouring of Love, coming from the full sacrifice of self, from the full surrender of self.–Edna Lister, November 14, 1939


Let’s set a new high mark this week. Let’s speed up on everything in every way. Let’s put more zeal into our praise. Let’s put more praise into each hour. Miracle after Miracle! Miracle upon Miracle! We shall do ever greater things in ever greater ways but only if we DO things in ever more fervor with every breath we draw and improve day by day in every way!–Edna Lister, March 5, 1941


We are not burning at the white point of heat in releasing the Spiritual Power emanating from on high. Be in more fervor of devotion, in more zealous use of praise, lest we are not found to be of the highest effort to release the full essence of Power already ours for our own new and renewed creations.–Edna Lister, March 18, 1941


Pray with me with even greater fervor, please. I find myself in one of those places where I have to stand and “…”know“…” through interference of some kind, which causes a “drought” in my personal affaiors and income! …I have to pray my way through everything! Yet, God never fails. Therefore, I know and am very happy!–Edna Lister, July 23, 1941


The Elect are not yet creating enough fervency within their own souls to fulfill Law to precipitate God's plans for perfection into outer form. This is now our work. Power must come through God's agents here, so choose carefully and prayerfully to close each hour of service for this fulfillment. Resurrection must follow the death of all old ideas and plans, and you must then revise, renew and recreate plans. How do you stand on this? Every plan must be revised and raised to a higher level. This requires significant energy, so do not misuse the power released to bring the new to pass. Much more substance is necessary to build a new bridge to the future glory of our New Jerusalem.
  This is now our work—to release the power of the attraction of love that will allow God's agents to transform the old into the new. Our praise and prayers condense this substance enough to be used by living organisms. A few of the Elect descend to be used by this Power. Others of the Elect send substance through. The greater the need, the greater the substance necessary. There is no disgrace in a few being so fervently faithful, so in love with God as to be constant, steadfast and at the white point of heat under all conditions. But there is disgrace in many or the few becoming indifferent, lukewarm and saying “Why should I carry the burden when others do not?”–Edna Lister, November 27, 1941


Let us be ever alert and pray without ceasing, for we cannot have as our own anything we do not give. Prayer does return to us as added things. It does come home. Strong prayers of faith are needed as never before. We can do this wherever we are working. Choose anew to be more fervent and steadfast. More faithful and more loving. A little more faith is possible. A little more love is possible, and the two are unbeatable. They do create. So, we stand and DO.–Edna Lister, July 9, 1942


Let’s get together in Love and know Light is moving through our own Creations gloriously while knowing they are for our greatest Good. Declare with me: “I am now gloriously irresistibly expectant and joyously, fervently knowing.”–Edna Lister, August 26, 1942


You ARE Chosen. Therefore, put on the whole Armor of Light. It is now yours to use. Let praise echo back and forth between you and God. Let Love vitalize and quicken every area in your life, your body, and in your affairs. Sometimes we allow our bodies and affairs to stagnate and almost die, but the same life that gave us the first idea, that opened a business in the first place, can once more make it alive, IF we grow hot enough in our Praise.
  Lukewarm praise produces lukewarm results. Let’s burn! Let’s flame! Let’s sizzle and be consumed by the full heat of the White Light of the Christ! Only through enough Power in prayer of praise can what you need for your affairs be released as Substance, which shall become those affairs. Only praise, enough praise in enough wholehearted fervency, can do this. Enough praise shall release uthe substance of light needed to fulfill all your desires. All your prayers shall be fulfilled!–Edna Lister, September 29, 1942


More Power than you can use has been stored in your own Oversoul star for you to release under prayer, praise and singing. Pray in greater fervor. Love with greater volume. Be in the white heat of praise and joy, ad be ever greater in sacrifice of self. Renunciation of all earth shall give give the keys of Heavenly Realms of Power.–Edna Lister, August 10, 1944


To be used by God's Light as Power, your body must burn with that zeal which alone makes you a possible instrument!–Edna Lister, September 11, 1944


All Power of Faith has been given to you, yet you must strive to be equal to using it more and more, until you burn in zeal to use it. Glory shall assail you to consume all your past indifference and you shalt stand free to serve God.–Edna Lister, January 29, 1945


We have entered Lent, our Master's forty days of Passion and Sacrifice. Pray and give up whatever has been your own limitation. Consecrate these days to release great Power. Are you satisfied with your own fervency? Can you increase your praise? Can you hold fast to your sacrifice of self that shall reveal great and mighty truths unto your? Praise God together for His Release of greater Power through you. See how many gifts and miracles you can praise God for in your present life, then pour out Love.–Edna Lister, February 15, 1945


Your ‘desire for perfection’ is Good. Yet your performance of self-discipline generates too little heat to melt and dissolve that petty self to lift your impulsive-appetitive soul into sublission to your conscious use of Mind. You still cool off to a point below that perfect white point of heat, which you must maintain for soul-balance and a three-way at once daily expression, with self in submission to pure Love. Only when desire and will for you rule you through your own Oversoul live with God in full consciousness, which we call “Seership and Prophecy.”
  Do you desire this with enough fervor, enough desire to lift you fully into complete Light? If so, then seek to praise longer moments, with deeper soul fervor, until you reach a place of Light from whence you cannot be dragged down by anything of earth. Make new vows to be lifted to this so-high point of fervor with complete continuity. Thus you may pay the price to achieve Seership and Prophecy.–Edna Lister, July 3, 1945


You’ll never reach too high a point of zeal, of love, of joy. You can keep on expanding into a greater capacity. It takes more substance to build a great ideal than for a small, “world-size-pattern.” You can increase the fervency of your Praise each hour. You can increase the Power behind your own Unconquerable Faith each hour—if you care enough about it!–Edna Lister, September 17, 1945


Never let go of the foundation principles of Jesus Christ. God never stands for a 50 percent or 90 percent miracle! March up to where the 100 percent miracles take place! Assume responsibility for all around you, and for others, and never settle into being satisfied! Move up to where Love rules, where the great universal principles abide, for only by reaching the burning, flaming desire of Light and Love can you become red hot in fervency or get to the white point of heat needed for a miracle. The best of all miracles come from the molten principle of Love!
  Light is the original substance of which all things are made, according to Genesis 1 and John 1. Go into an executive session with yourself. How can you have darkness when principle and Light move in and possesses you? You must BE perfect. When imperfect in any part, that part is held out and walled off by a wall of fire from the Light. Believe this! You can always climb to a higher, greater point of zeal and fervency.–Edna Lister, September 3, 1949

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Zeal in Scripture

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.–John 2:17

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.–Romans 10:2

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.–Romans 12:11

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.–Philippians 3:6

For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.–Colossians 4:13

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.–2 Corinthians 7:11

For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.–2 Corinthians 9:2

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

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.–Revelation 3:19

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.–Isaiah 9:7

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.–Isaiah 37:32

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.–Isaiah 59:17

Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.–Ezekiel 5:13

And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.–2 Kings 10:16

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.–2 Kings 19:31

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.–Psalm 69:9

Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.–Psalm 119:127

My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.–Psalm 119:139

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Fervency in Scripture

[Be] fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.–Romans 12:11

Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.–1 Peter 4:8

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.–James 5:16

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

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.–2 Peter 3:12

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.–Acts 18:25

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.–2 Peter 3:10

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884–1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


Etymology of zeal: from Greek zēlos "ardor, eager rivalry, emulation," "a noble passion" [Liddell & Scott], but also "jealousy;"


Zeal is both a law of being, and a law of doing.


References

American Heritage Dictionary, 5th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. ISBN 9780544454453.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia. New York: The Century Co., 1896.

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV). Public Domain.