Rekindling The Flame

Text: 2 Timothy 1:2–7 (CSB)

I. STORY

Close your eyes, picture a campfire.

Someone adding blocks of wood, tending to the fire.

What if that fire never was tended to? Maybe 2-3 times a year someone used?

Stay on fire constantly?

No! It would die.

A fire that is not tended to is a fire that will die out.

II. STRUGGLE

Things I’ve Heard…

“Miss services we encountered God.”

“Miss the camp experiences”

Give encouragement…

Possible to have those experiences every…

Sunday Morning

Wednesday Night.

Day!

possible, preferred by God, be ON FIRE 24/7.

why DOESN’T it happen like that?

Timothy

Had an ON FIRE experience with Paul.

Paul reminds Timothy: even a strong calling can cool down.

You have to keep the flames alive. “Rekindle”

Big Idea: To be on fire for God, we have to keep the flames alive.

How?

III. SCRIPTURE

1. Shake Off the Ashes (v. 2–6)

Timothy. sincere faith + real calling.

Fire wasn’t as bright as before.

How does a fire die? Apathy.

Apathy - Lack of interest + involvement.

Apathy is the extinguisher of an on fire lifestyle.

Why did Timothy + why do we get apathetic?

It’s easy!

Easier to…

scroll on TikTok for an hour…

just be bold about Jesus at Church.

If you live in apathy… don’t be surprised when your fire dies fast.

Solution - “Rekindle the gift of God”  = “shake the ashes off”

What’s dead in your faith right now?

Worship?

Time with Jesus?

Takes you wanting those things to burn.

2. Quit Being Cowards (v. 7a)

“spirit of fear” — Greek word means cowardice.

Gently correcting Timothy, not shaming.

Gentle correction - We have given into a spirit of Fear -

You know how?

Most on fire youth i’ve ever seen until… Sunday Morning Service.

It’s fear. I’ve asked.

About to brag about youth Sunday - no one could tell from Sundays.

This spirit is demonic. Enemy would love for you to only worship on Wednesday.

Enemy would love praise to be an on/off switch.

You wanna be on fire? You don’t get to chose when your flame burns.

3. Use what God’s given you (v. 7b)

Spirit gives power, love,  sound judgment - how we sustain the fire.

POWER - ability to do anything beyond one’s strength.

Not our strength, His strength.

Use Greek.

Why Power? - so we don’t have to do it through our own might.

LOVE -

Defining trait of a Christian

Why Love? - so we see people like He sees them.

SOUND JUDGEMENT - ability to think clearly.

Get past anxiety & temptation.

Why sound judgement? - so we can outwardly AND inwardly be on fire.

IV. STEP

How do we rekindle that fire? How do we stop being cowards?

Moment of prayer, bowing our heads.

Listen to Holy Spirit for conviction.

Rely on God’s power instead of your own.

Ask: Where have I not been spirit steered?

Love Others Even When It’s Hard

Ask: Who have I not shown God’s love to?

Use The Sound Mind God Gave You.

Ask: Where Is My Mind Not Sound?