Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Good morning, brothers and sisters! Today, we're going to dive into the thrilling topic of God's Fresh Fire. Now, you might be asking, what is this fresh fire? Well, as the respected Christian author Leonard Ravenhill once said, "The church that is man-managed instead of God-governed is doomed to failure. A ministry that is college-trained but not Spirit-filled works no miracles." This fresh fire, my friends, is the power, blessing, and purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Our key scriptures today are from Zechariah 2:5, which says, "And I myself will be a wall of fire around it," declares the LORD, "and I will be its glory within." Then, we also have 1 Peter 1:7, "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." These verses illuminate the power, blessing, and purpose of God's Fresh Fire in our lives.
Opening Prayer: Let's pray. Father, we ask you to set our hearts ablaze with your fresh fire. Open our minds to your Word today. Ignite us with a passion to know you more and to serve you better. Let your Holy Spirit guide us as we seek to understand the power, blessing, and purpose of your fresh fire in our lives. Amen. Now, let's dive into the word of God together.
The Power of God's Fresh Fire is an idea that is both profound and transformative. It refers to the divine energy, the spiritual dynamism, and the heavenly potency that God bestows upon us through His Holy Spirit. This power is not merely a metaphysical concept, but a tangible force that can radically alter our lives, our relationships, and our world.
A. The power of God's Fresh Fire is first and foremost a transformative power. Just as fire changes the nature of what it touches, so too does the power of God's Fresh Fire alter the nature of our lives. It burns away the chaff of sin, the dross of selfishness, and the impurities of our old selves. It refines us, reshapes us, and remakes us into the image of Christ. This transformative power is not a one-time event, but a continual process. As we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we are constantly being transformed into the likeness of Christ, from glory to glory.
B. The power of God's Fresh Fire is also a purifying power. Just as fire purifies gold, removing its impurities and enhancing its value, so too does the power of God's Fresh Fire purify our hearts. It exposes and eradicates the hidden sins, the secret faults, and the subtle compromises that often lurk in the shadows of our hearts. It brings to light the things that we would rather keep hidden, not to shame us, but to cleanse us. This purifying power is not a punitive measure, but a divine mercy. It is God's way of preparing us for His holy presence, for as the scriptures say, "Without holiness, no one will see the Lord."
C. The power of God's Fresh Fire is also an empowering power. It equips us with the spiritual gifts, the divine abilities, and the heavenly resources that we need to fulfill our God-given purpose. It enables us to do what we could not do on our own, to achieve what we could not achieve in our own strength, and to become what we could not become by our own efforts. This empowering power is not a personal privilege, but a divine commission. It is God's way of equipping us for service, for as the scriptures say, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses."
D. The power of God's Fresh Fire is also a sustaining power. It sustains us in times of trials, tribulations, and temptations. It strengthens us when we are weak, comforts us when we are grieving, and encourages us when we are discouraged. This sustaining power is not a temporary relief, but a permanent provision. It is God's way of assuring us of His constant presence, for as the scriptures say, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
E. The power of God's Fresh Fire is, in essence, the power of God Himself. It is the power that raised Christ from the dead, the power that defeated sin and death, and the power that is now available to us through the Holy Spirit. It is a power that is not only available to us, but also resides within us. It is a power that is not only for us, but also for the world.
The Blessing of God's Fresh Fire is a profound and transformative concept that permeates the Christian faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO