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Sermon Series: Spiritual Gifts
Sermon Title: Fire On The Earth

Today, the focus is on the fire that Jesus came to cast upon the earth—a fire that purifies, ignites passion, brings division, and empowers for mission. This fire is not a gentle warmth for our comfort, but a consuming, refining force that transforms lives from the inside out. Jesus’ longing was not for judgment, but for a people so radically changed by the Spirit that the world cannot help but notice the difference. The call is to be more than just churchgoers warming our hands by the fire; it is to be set ablaze, to be upper room people, filled with the Spirit, living boldly and passionately for Christ.
Transformation is the evidence of this fire. The world is watching, especially in times of conflict and uncertainty, to see if the church will truly be the light and the salt. The fire Jesus brings is meant to make us radically different, unafraid to stand against the world’s systems, willing to risk comfort and security for the sake of the kingdom. This fire purifies, burning away sin, pride, and anything that hinders God’s presence, preparing us to receive the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.
Purification always precedes impartation. God cannot fill a vessel that is not surrendered and sanctified. The most miserable place is not being lost, but trying to live with one foot in the world and one in the kingdom. The goal is not simply heaven, but Christlikeness—being transformed into His image, surrendered fully to His lordship.
Passion is the natural outflow of this fire. Like Jeremiah, when the fire is shut up in our bones, we cannot keep silent. This passion is contagious, designed to spread, to ignite others, to make the gospel known everywhere we go. But this fire also brings division, separating us from old ways and sometimes even from those closest to us. True discipleship costs everything, but the reward is a life empowered by the Spirit, equipped with gifts to fulfill the mission right where we are.
The invitation is clear: allow the Holy Spirit to stir the fire within, to purify, ignite, separate, and empower. Surrender fully, let the aroma of God’s glory fill your life, and step boldly into the mission He has for you.

Key Takeaways:

  • 1. Purification Precedes PowerBefore God can impart His power and gifts, He must first purify the vessel. This refining process is not about comfort but about removing anything that contaminates our faith, making us holy and set apart for His purposes. Only a surrendered, sanctified heart can become a true dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. [71:53]
  • 2. Passion Is the Evidence of TransformationA heart set ablaze by the Spirit cannot remain silent or indifferent. True passion for Christ is a strong, barely controllable force that spills over into every area of life, affecting those around us and fueling the spread of the gospel. A cold heart is dangerous to the kingdom, but a burning heart is unstoppable. [78:57]
  • 3. The Fire of God Brings Holy DivisionWhen the fire of God purifies and ignites us, it naturally separates us from old patterns, relationships, and the world’s systems. This division is not about arrogance or isolation, but about being so transformed that the world recognizes the difference. Standing with Christ may cost us everything, but it is the mark of true discipleship. [83:54]
  • 4. Spiritual Gifts Are Tools, Not OrnamentsThe gifts of the Spirit—teaching, discernment, faith, healing, and more—are not for display but for mission. They are the fuel that empowers us to be light in a dark world, equipping us to serve, witness, and bring hope to those around us. The Spirit’s fire makes it possible to live courageously and effectively for Christ. [86:22]
  • 5. Surrender Is the Gateway to Revival. Revival begins with a personal decision to surrender everything—ambitions, relationships, comfort, and even our own will—to Jesus. When we allow the Holy Spirit to stir the fire within, the aroma of God’s glory fills our lives and overflows to others. The call is to let the fire fall, to be purified, ignited, and sent out for the sake of the world. [96:24]

Bible Reading:

Luke 12:49-53 (NIV) — > “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) — > When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Malachi 3:2-3 (NIV) — > But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.

Observation Questions:

In Luke 12:49-53, what does Jesus say he has come to bring, and what does he say will be the result among families?
  1. According to Acts 2:1-4, what happened to the disciples when the Holy Spirit came upon them? What was the visible sign?
  2. In Malachi 3:2-3, what is the purpose of the “refiner’s fire” and what does it accomplish in God’s people?
  3. According to the sermon, what is the difference between “warming our hands by the fire” and being “set ablaze” by the Spirit? [[55:48]]

Interpretation Questions:

  1. Why does Jesus describe the fire he brings as something that causes division, even within families? What does this tell us about the nature of following him? [[01:22:58]]
  2. The sermon says, “Purification always precedes impartation.” Why is it important for God to purify us before giving us spiritual gifts or power? [[01:11:53]]
  3. The pastor described passion for Christ as “a strong, barely controllable force that spills over into every area of life.” What does it look like when someone’s life is truly set on fire for Jesus? [[01:18:57]]
  4. The sermon mentions that spiritual gifts are “tools, not ornaments.” What is the danger of treating spiritual gifts as ornaments, and how should they be used instead? [[01:26:22]]

Application Questions:

  1. The sermon says, “The most miserable place is not being lost, but trying to live with one foot in the world and one in the kingdom.” Is there an area of your life where you feel divided in your loyalty? What would it look like to surrender that area fully to Jesus? [[01:13:11]]
  2. The fire Jesus brings “burns away sin, pride, and anything that hinders God’s presence.” What is one thing in your life that you sense God wants to purify or remove? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to do that work this week? [[01:10:29]]
  3. The pastor said, “A cold heart is dangerous to the kingdom, but a burning heart is unstoppable.” Have you ever felt your passion for Christ grow cold? What practical step can you take this week to rekindle that fire? [[01:18:57]]
  4. The fire of God “naturally separates us from old patterns, relationships, and the world’s systems.” Has following Jesus ever cost you a relationship or required you to make a hard choice? How did you respond, and what did you learn from it? [[01:22:58]]
  5. The sermon challenges us to let the aroma of God’s glory fill our lives and “step boldly into the mission He has for you.” What is one way you can step out in faith this week to serve, witness, or bring hope to someone around you? [[01:36:24]]
  6. The pastor described spiritual gifts as “the fuel that empowers us to be light in a dark world.” Do you know what spiritual gifts God has given you? How are you using them for the mission, and is there a new way you feel called to use them? [[01:26:22]]
  7. The invitation is to “allow the Holy Spirit to stir the fire within.” What would it look like for you to give the Holy Spirit permission to stir up the fire in your life? Is there a prayer or action you want to take today to say “yes” to that invitation? [[01:36:24]]