Stir Up The Gift

🔥 Revive Us Again – Week 2: Stir Up the Gift

God has already placed His Spirit within you —

revival comes when you stir up what’s been sleeping.

2 Timothy 1:6–7 NIV

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Opening

Last week, we talked about what happens when the fire goes out —

when we drift,

grow cold,

and lose our first love.

But here’s the good news:

even when the fire looks gone, the embers are still alive.

THIS MORNING, we’re GOING TO TALK about how to stir up what’s already inside you.

Because revival IS NOT God sending something new —

REVIVAL IS..... God awakening something that’s been asleep.

OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....

Revival doesn’t start with God giving more —

it starts with you using what He already gave.

1. God Has Already Placed Something Inside You

Paul tells Timothy,

“Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you.”

He doesn’t say,

“Ask God for a new gift.”

He says, “Timothy, you already have it — now stir it up.”

LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND TELL THEM…..

STIR IT UP

The phrase fan into flame in Greek (ana-zoo-pora-ho) literally means to rekindle a dying fire.

OH COME ON.....WE HAVE ALL DONE THIS.....

CROUCHED DOWN BY THE FIRE THAT IS DYING AND.....

blowing gently until the coals begin to glow again.

THE POINT IS..... Some of you think you’ve lost your fire —

but really, it’s just buried under some ashes.

Ashes of disappointment,

ashes of fear,

ashes of routine.

But the spark is still there — God never took it away.

CHURCH…. WE don’t need a new anointing — WE need a fresh awakening.

Example: Moses and the Staff

Think of Moses standing at the burning bush (Exodus 3–4).

When God called him to lead Israel,

Moses felt unqualified.

He said...............“What if they don’t believe me? ..........I’m not even a good speaker.”

Why me???

And God asked him one simple question:

“What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2, NIV)

Exodus 4:2 NIV

2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.

OH MY LORD....

It was just a shepherd’s staff — ordinary, worn, unimpressive.

But once God breathed on it.......LORD HELP US

that same staff............ parted seas,

brought water from a rock................. and became a symbol of divine power.

God didn’t give Moses something new —

He revealed the potential of what was already in his hand.

Some of you are waiting for new tools,

new platforms,

new opportunities…

But GOD IS saying,

“What IS already in your hand?

BECAUSE That IS what I’ll use.”

Practical Application:

Think about the last time you felt passionate about ....

serving,

praying,

worshiping,

or giving.

What’s changed?

Life didn’t take your gift — life just covered it UP

AND Your role is to fan it back into flame.

TO Pray again. TO Serve again.

YOUR RESONSIBLITY IS TO..........Step out again.

OH COME ON SOMEBODY....

THE SAME SPIRIT THAT LIVES IS IN YOU IS THE SAME SPIRIT THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD

AND the same Spirit that was in you THEN......WHEN you first believed

is still in you today.

CAN SOMEBODY SAY AMEN.....

YOU JUST GOTTA STIR IT UP

FAN IT INTO FLAME

2. Fear and Fire Can’t Live in the Same House

Paul SAID,

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid.”

That means fear is not from God —

it’s the enemy’s tool to keep you quiet and passive.

OH MY LORD.....

SOME OF YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT

UNDERSTAND THIS....

Fear and faith are both invisible forces —

but whichever one you feed will dominate your spirit.

Fear whispers........“Don’t risk it.” Faith declares........“God IS already in it.”

Fear says......“What if I fail?” Faith says.....“What if God moves?”

Fear says......“I’m not qualified.” Faith says......“THE ONE who called me is faithful TO SUPPLY AND EQUIP ME FOR HIS WORK.”

OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....

When fear silences you.....

the gift inside you goes dormant.

But when faith rises.......... that gift starts to move again.

LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND TELL THEM

FEAR IS A LIAR

FEAR GRIPPED Gideon....

in Judges 6. When God found GIDEON,

he was hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat in fear of the enemy.

He didn’t see himself as a leader —

God called him something that didn’t match his situation.

HE SAID......“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12, NIV)

Gideon said,

“How can I save Israel?

I’m the least in my family.”

And God said............... “I will be with you.”

OH MY LORD SOME OF YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS RIGHT NOW

God DID NOT speak to who Gideon was —

He spoke to who Gideon would become once the gift was stirred.

When Gideon finally believed God more than he believed his fear,

he tore down idols,

rallied his people,

and saw victory with only 300 men.

LISTEN TO ME CHURCH....

When you stop hiding from what God called you to.....

fear loses its grip and faith starts to roar again.

STOP HIDING......

STOP RUNNING.....

STOP IGNORING......

Romans 8:15 NIV

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Ask yourself:

What has fear kept me from doing?

Maybe it’s praying out loud.

Maybe it’s starting that ministry.

Maybe it’s forgiving someone who hurt you.

This week, I CHALLENGE YOU...

confront that fear with faith.

The gift WITH IN YOU CAN NOT operate where fear is in control.

3. The Holy Spirit Empowers, He Does Not Excuse

Paul says the Spirit gives power, love, and self-discipline.

That’s not just emotional hype —

that’s real, practical revival living.

HE GIVES YOU Power — THE ability to do what you couldn’t do on your own.

HE GIVES YOU Love — A heart to serve and forgive when it’s hard.

HE GIVES YOU Self-discipline — maturity to stay steady when you’d rather quit.

💡 Teaching Insight: In the early church, “power” (Greek: dynamis) wasn’t just miracles —

it was inner strength.

It’s where we get the word dynamite — explosive energy that changes what it touches.

PETER IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE

Before Pentecost,

Peter was impulsive, fearful, and unstable.

He denied Jesus three times.............even to a servant girl.

But after the Holy Spirit came...

Peter stood before thousands and preached the Gospel with boldness.

IT SAYS....

Acts 4:8 NIV

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

Acts 4:12 NIV

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

THIS IS THE same Peter who once ran from a question.....

AND THEN became the man who ran toward persecution.

UNDERSTAND THIS......

When the Spirit fills you,

your weakness becomes your weapon.

Power isn’t personality — it’s presence.

God didn’t change Peter’s personality; He changed his power source.

HE BECAME DYNAMIS.....

THE SPIRIT GAVE HIM POWER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING IT TOUCHED

OH MY LORD....THAT IS GOOD....

When you’re tempted to quit, rely on His power.

When people test your patience, respond with His love.

When life feels chaotic AND OUT OF ORDER......walk in self-discipline

because order..... invites God’s presence.

The Spirit doesn’t just make you emotional — He makes you effective.

..........WORSHIP TEAM COME.............

4. Revival Is YOUR Responsibility

STOP RELYING ON THE PASTORS AND THE WORSHIP LEADERS TO STIR YOU UP

STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL LETHARGY

OH MY LORD HELP ME......

Signs of Spiritual Lethargy

Prayer feels like a chore

Worship feels empty or mechanical

The Bible feels dry or uninteresting

Conviction is weaker or easily ignored

There’s no hunger for God

Compromise feels easier

Church involvement becomes optional

Obedience feels inconvenient

It’s not usually sudden — it’s a gradual fading of spiritual fire.

THE PROBLEM IS YOU.....STOP BEING LAZY AND PASSING THE BLAME....

YOU ARE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR FIRE

Paul didn’t say,

“I’ll stir it for you, Timothy.”

He said,

“I remind you to fan into flame.”

UNDERSTAND THIS....CHURCH

revival is personal responsibility.

We want God to do it all —

but He says.........

“You stir.......... I supply.”

OH COME ON SOMEBODY..... You don’t need another conference to catch fire

you just need commitment.

You don’t need a new song —

you need surrender.

You don’t need a new atmosphere —

you need a new attitude.

The Holy Spirit is not waiting to move — He’s waiting for permission.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN PASTOR CHRIS....HOW DO I GIVE GOD PERMISSION????

PERMISSION COMES THROUGH PREPERATION....

the phrase “give the Holy Spirit permission” IS a way of describing...

an attitude of openness, surrender, and readiness.

It’s not about controlling God or “allowing” Him in a literal sense,

IT’S about:

Willingness — choosing not to resist what God wants to do.

Preparation — creating space in your heart, mind, and life.

Surrender — setting aside your own agenda so He can lead.

Expectation — being ready for Him to guide, convict, comfort, or empower.

So in practical terms, that kind of “permission” looks like:

Praying with openness (“Lord, have Your way in me.”)

Yielding your plans or habits to God

Listening for His prompting

Being willing to act or change when He leads

SO.....

giving the Holy Spirit “permission” is really a way of saying....

you are preparing yourself and choosing to cooperate with His movement.

does that make since?????

LOOK AT David

In 1 Samuel 30, David returns to Ziklag to find everything gone —

his home burned,

his family taken,

his men ready to stone him.

And Scripture says,

1 Samuel 30:6 NIV

6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

He didn’t wait for someone else to lift him.

He didn’t post about it or complain —

he stirred himself.

He prayed,

sought God,

and recovered all that was lost.

OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....

Sometimes you’ve got to encourage yourself in the Lord.

When no one IS cheering,

WHEN no one IS clapping,

WHEN no one IS validating you —

that IS your moment to stir your own fire.

HOW DO I DO THIS PASTOR.....HOW DO I STIR MYSELF UP

I CHALLENGE YOU.....

Wake up a few minutes early this week to pray before your day starts.

Worship AT home.....DON’T JUST WAIT FOR church.

Speak encouragement into someone ELSES life.

WHEN I COUNSEL OTHER PEOPLE OR HELP OTHERS BY ENCOURAGEING THEM OR LIFTING THEM UP

I COME FROM THOSE MEETINGS.....STIRRED UP AND UPLIFTED

YOU GOTTA POUR INTO SOMEONE ELSES LIFE....LIFT THEM UP

THIS IS A SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE OF HEAVEN

WHEN YOU GIVE....YOUR RECEIVE

POUR INTO SOMEONE’S LIFE AND WATCH WHAT GOD DOES IN YOUR LIFE

WHEN WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS....

IN TURN...WE ARE ENCOURAGED

THESE ARE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES IN SCRIPTURE....

GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU

IT’S UP TO YOU.....REVIVAL IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

YOU HAVE TO TAKE spiritual ownership of your walk.

You’ll be amazed how quickly the fire grows when you give it fuel.

CHURCH....

HE HAS GIVEN YOU..... AS A BELIEVER...... THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBLITY TO KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

AMEN???

Isaiah 60:1 NIV

1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

It’s time to get up, church.

Time to shake off the ashes.

IT’S Time to stir what God planted in you long ago.

......STAND TO YOUR FEET ALL OVER THIS HOUSE.......

Leonard Ravenhill

“A praying man will stop sinning, and a sinning man will stop praying.”

“The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it.”

A.W. Tozer

“If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, most of what the church is doing would go right on and nobody would know the difference.”

John Wesley

“Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell.”

THE TRUTH IS THIS.....

The world doesn’t need more talent — it needs more flame.

And the fire that burned in the upper room is the same fire that’s burning in you.

THINK ABOUT THAT......THE “FIRE OF GOD” THAT WE READ ABOUT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

IT’S THE SAME SPIRIT THAT LIVES IN YOU TODAY

WE NEED TO STIR IT UP......

Altar Call

This morning,

IN JUST A MOMENT I WANT TO OPEN THESE ALTARS AND call every believer who’s been feeling...

dry, weary, or afraid — TO COME

YOU CAN’T wait for someone else to RELIGHT YOU —

the Holy Spirit is here to fan your flame.

REMEMBER.....REVIVAL IS YOUR RESPOSIBILITY

Maybe you’ve let fear stop you.

Maybe you’ve been holding back your gift. Maybe you’ve felt spiritually numb.

CHURCH WE HAVE GOT TO WAKE UP....WE HAVE GOT TO BEGAN STIRRING THE GIFT INSIDE OF US

ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR MORE OF GOD

ARE YOU DESPERATE FOR HIM

..............WOULD YOU COME TODAY.................

PAUL SAID....

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…”

Let that be your prayer this week — “Lord, stir up what’s been sleeping. Make me burn again.”

CLOSE IN PRAYER