Set Yourself on Fire

Introduction:

If I mention a famous name, tell me what they are known for:

• Alexander Graham Bell (telephone)
• Thomas Edison (light bulb)
• Christopher Columbus (discovering America)
• Apostle Paul (14 books of N.T.)
• Alexander Graham Dublinski (1^st telephone Pole)

 

Prov.22:1; Eccl.7:1 Reputations are important to God.  Sometimes you’ll hear a person say that they don’t care what others think of them – God cares – therefore we better learn to care also.  If you want salvation ‘just for you & those only you care about’ you won’t be saved.  God wants us to have a heart like His – love our neighbour, everyone, as yourself.  1Tim.5:14; 2 Sam.12:14 David’s sin ruined his reputation.  Good thing he was strong enough to keep his soul.  Not many can recover like that.

1 Tim. 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

Definition of Reputation:

• The views or opinions that are generally held about somebody or something
• Something that somebody is known for: the generally accepted estimation of somebody or something as having particular qualities or attributes

 

It’s my goal for BAC to be known for being:

• On fire for God;
• A part of people who have power with God;
• No nonsense, no politics, no games – serious business serving God with all our heart.   We know what holy means.

 

Don’t take away from this reputation – contribute to it.  We are defining to this community exactly who we are – we are not trying to fit into the world’s idea of religious people!  It’s sad past believers have converted to ‘religious’.

 

Titus 2:14 … a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  That’s supposed to be us, our reputation.

Acts 2:15 …  not drunk as think; we know how to have a good time.

 

The Lesson:

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 8:31 … If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; we have a reputation to uphold in obeying the Bible & showing our love for one another.

Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

 

Fire:

1. Pile of material such as logs or coal that is set alight & used as fuel for heating, cooking, or burning something

2. Blaze: the light, heat, and flames caused by something that is burning

3. Process of burning: the rapid production of light, heat, and flames from something that is burning, e.g. in the combustion of wood, coal, or petroleum

 

Fire can be:

• Instructive; meaning it can be an open flame giving light to guide us in the dark (walking or

reading);  2 Cor.4:6 giving us light of the knowledge of Jesus Christ to see naturally & spiritually.

• Constructive; fire used to produce pottery; a fire break to stop a forest fire,  heat water for building heat, engines;  Jer.43:9; Psa.12:6 purifies silver & gold (referring to us)  Job 23:10
• Destructive;  destroy things (garbage, old & worn out things), warfare uses, cremation – Deut.9:3; God will destroy our enemies; Prov.6:27; Rev.20:14-15 lake of fire

 

Conclusion:

Luke 3:16 God wants us to be baptized with the Holy Ghost & with fire!  Fire in praise, fire in prayer, fire in testimony, …& fire at home & work.   Fire attracts attention – cold hearts seek the heat; people in the dark seek the light to see better; those in fear seek protection!  God has it all for everyone in the Holy Ghost.

• Psalm 57:4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire.  Church is the best place to renew & exercise your fire.