KEEP YOUR FIRE FOR THE LORD
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: KEEP YOUR FIRE FOR THE LORD
Main Scripture: Romans 12:11; 2 Timothy 1:5-7; Jude 20-21
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week, consider reading the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Did you know that your passion for the Lord and heart to serve Him can diminish and fade if you don’t tend to it? Keeping your spiritual fervor is like keeping your fire for the Lord burning. I think we’ve all been there and have felt it if we are honest.
This would be considered a part of the spiritual disciplines in the Christian faith. The Bible talks about this more than we realize but expresses it in different ways. You’ll read words and phrases such as be diligent or be vigilant. Keep, stand firm, or hold on. Be alert or on guard. Give wholeheartedly or make every effort.
I've looked at this as spiritual momentum or being in a spiritual rhythm with the Holy Spirit. At salvation, the Holy Spirit came in and set a fire in us for God and the things of God. We play a role in keeping that flame lit by remaining in fellowship with God and in step with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
We’re going to look at a few examples of this important discipline. I’m going to make us aware and warn us of the dangers of idleness. Then I’ll finish with how to keep or even rekindle our fervor and fire for the Lord.
Notes:
Scripture Context and Meaning
Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (NIV). In the NLT, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.”
Never … lacking (“not shrinking, not hesitating, not being lazy”) in zeal (en spoudē, “diligence,” rendered “diligently” in 12:8), and being fervent in spirit.
Keep your spiritual fervor is literally, “being fervent, or boiling (zeontes, used only here and in Acts 18:25 of Apollos) in the spirit” (either the Holy Spirit or one’s inner life). Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 489). Victor Books.
At salvation, the Lord gave you the Holy Spirit. In scripture, He is like a fire. Hebrews says God is an all-consuming fire. To be cold and lukewarm is counter to who the Holy Spirit is in us. But this is not something we can muster up on our own. This fervent fire, this passion for the Lord and His work can only be lit and set on fire by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If there is no fire and no light for God and for serving him in this world then we need saving. If there is a flame it means you are saved but it needs to be stoked, fed, and used. We must keep it aflame by being in fellowship and in service to the Lord.
In 2 Timothy 1:5-7, the Apostle Paul tells his apprentice, Timothy…
I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:5-7)
Paul knows Timothy has genuine faith. The Spirit, the fire of God dwells in Timothy (v. 5).
His faith is strong… “That same faith continues strong in you” (v. 5).
“Fan into flames the spiritual gift.” Use your gift…keep the ember burning into flames…(v. 6).
Self-Discipline (v. 7). It takes diligence and discipline to keep zeal and fervor for the Lord. Discipline chooses the healthier option, the more productive habit that fuels the fire instead of putting it out.
Jude 1:20-21 NIV 20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Build yourselves up. Personal edification (“build yourselves up”) comes from progressing in the knowledge of “your most holy faith.”
Praying in the Holy Spirit does not necessarily mean praying in tongues here but you certainly can. It can mean praying in the power, with the help, and with the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Prayers like this are fervent and powerful prayers of faith.
Keeping oneself “in God’s love” (Jude 21) does not indicate that salvation depends on one’s own efforts…Instead, a believer is nurtured as he is occupied with God’s love for him and is in fellowship with Him (cf. John 15:9–10, “remain in My love”).
Waiting (prosdechomenoi, “looking expectantly”) for the blessed hope, the return of Christ for His church. Pentecost, E. C. (1985). Jude. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 923). Victor Books.
How to keep our fire:
Beware of idleness
If you can be fervent and on fire as a believer this means you can also be unenthusiastic, cold, or unconcerned about the Lord and His work. Church, if this is where you are, you are low-hanging fruit for the devil and your flesh.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Spurgeon had some strong words in one of his sermons back in the day:
“A man who wastes his time in sloth offers himself to be a target for the devil, who is an awfully good rifleman. In other words, idle men tempt the devil to tempt them.”
“If the devil catches a man idle he will send him to work [for him], and find him tools.”
“Religion never was designed to make us idle. Jesus was a great worker, and his disciples must not be afraid of hard work.”
What got David in trouble with Bathsheba? He usually led the army into battle but this time he stayed back and in his idle time fell into sin.
There’s a time to rest, but even our rest should honor and please God, and we must guard against feeding our sinful appetites.
1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Fuel the Fire - Fellowship with God every day.
I think most know of Moses’ burning bush moment with God. This burning bush encounter changed Moses forever. But Moses continued to pursue and meet with God. If the day you were saved was your burning bush moment every day after is to dwell in God’s presence like Moses did.
Pray - Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Keep God’s Word in your heart - Psalm 119:11; 15-16 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you…I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.
True story: Evangelist Robert L. Sumner, in his book The Wonder of the Word of God, tells of a man in Kansas City who was severely injured in an explosion. His face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He had just become a Christian when the accident happened, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in braille. But he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been too badly damaged to distinguish the characters. One day, as he brought one of the braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash, he thought, “I can read the Bible using my tongue.” At the time Rober Sumner wrote his book, the man had read through the entire Bible four times. If he can do that can you discipline yourself to read the Bible?
Guard yourself from things that hinder your fire
Matthew 26:41; Psalm 141:4; Proverbs 4:23; Daniel 1:8
Examples: Busyness, neglecting fellowship with God. Not being in Biblical community. Skipping church. Neglect serving and the use of your gifts. Sinful choices. All of these actually make your fervor and fire die out.
Matthew 26:41 We need to remember, “The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”
Psalm 141:4 The Psalmist prayed, “Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.”
Proverbs 4:23 Follow the wisdom in God’s Word which says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV). Other versions say, “Keep your heart with diligence”
Daniel 1:8 Daniel knew this truth when he was in Babylon. Scripture says, “But Daniel purposed (determined, resolved) in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank (Daniel 1:8a NKJV).
Remember this, If you’re not moving forward it doesn’t take much to go backwards.
Stay active in serving the Lord
Serving is often overlooked in spiritual growth disciplines or habits. We typically think of spiritual growth as prayer and scripture study but serving should be included because the Christian life is a life of service just as Jesus served! I want to encourage us this year to go further and serve others in discipleship.
Hebrews 6:10-12 NIV God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Stay in community with those who are on fire for the Lord
You’ve probably heard this before, remove a piece of coal from the fire and it gets cold. Place that coal back into the fire with the others and it heats up again.
Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
Why is it important to keep your fire and zeal for the Lord?
What areas or things try to hinder your flame?
In what ways do you excel in keeping your fire?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!