When the Fire Goes Out

Bible Passage

Revelation 3:15–16 CSB

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.

INTRODUCTION

Step with me into the ancient dust of Mount Carmel.

The air is thick with tension.

On one side, four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, shouting, dancing, cutting themselves, desperate for a spark from their silent god.

On the other, one solitary man—Elijah—standing tall, eyes blazing with holy fire.

The people of Israel, God’s chosen, stand in the middle, silent, wavering, caught between two opinions.

Elijah’s voice thunders: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him!”

But the people say nothing.

Apathy has frozen their hearts.

They have seen miracles, tasted manna, but now they are lukewarm—neither for Baal nor for God, just… stuck.

But when Elijah prays, the fire of God falls—consuming the sacrifice, the stones, the water, the very dust!

Suddenly, the people fall on their faces, crying, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

Church, what would happen if the fire fell in your life today?

What would happen if God’s holy flame consumed your apathy, your complacency, your spiritual indifference?

Are you ready for a RESET?

THE DANGERS OF FAILING TO RESET: THE LAODICEAN WARNING

In Scripture, Jesus speaks to the church in Laodicea: “I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. Because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Laodicea was a city of wealth, comfort, and self-sufficiency.

But their water was tepid—neither the healing hot springs of Hierapolis nor the refreshing cold streams of Colossae.

It was lukewarm, useless, and made people sick.

Jesus says, “That’s what your faith has become—lukewarm, tasteless, powerless.”

I need us to understand tonight that a lukewarm faith is a faith that makes Jesus nauseous!

He’s not asking for a little more effort.

He’s not looking for a polite, Sabbath-morning Christianity.

He wants a faith that is on fire—healing, refreshing, alive!

BIBLICAL CASE STUDIES: THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF SPIRITUAL APATHY

Let’s walk through the Word tonight and see what happens when God’s people fail to reset:

1. Solomon:

Started with wisdom, ended with compromise.

He let small sins slide, married foreign wives, and his heart drifted from God.

The kingdom was divided, and his legacy was tarnished.

2. David:

A man after God’s own heart—until he stayed home when kings went to war.

A season of apathy led to moral failure with Bathsheba, and his family suffered for generations.

3. Samson:

Gifted, anointed, but careless with his calling.

He played with temptation, ignored warning signs, and woke up one day to find the Spirit had left him.

4. The Church in Sardis:

Had a reputation for being alive, but Jesus said, “You are dead.”

They were busy, but not burning.

Active, but not alive.

5. The Israelites in the Wilderness:

Saw miracles, but grumbled and longed for Egypt.

Their apathy kept them wandering for forty years, missing the Promised Land.

Spiritual decline is rarely sudden—it’s a slow leak — not a blowout.

It’s the little compromises, the neglected prayers, the silent drift that leaves us lukewarm and lost.

So how do we know our fire is fading?

You stop hungering for God’s Word.

Prayer becomes a ritual, not a relationship.

Sin doesn’t bother you like it used to.

You’re more excited about Netflix than the next move of God.

You avoid spiritual responsibility—let someone else serve, someone else witness, someone else pray.

You say, “I’m fine. I don’t need anything.”

Saints of God, The most dangerous place to be is not in open rebellion, but in quiet complacency.

When you are complacent

You lose your passion

Your heart grows cold.

When you are complacent

You lose your power

Your prayers lose their punch.

When you are complacent

You lose your sense of purpose

You drift, directionless, missing your calling.

When you are complacent

You lose his presence

Jesus stands outside, knocking, waiting for you to let Him back in.

When you are complacent

You lose your witness

The world sees a powerless church and turns away.

A lukewarm church cannot change a cold world!

But there is hope!

Jesus says, “Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. Be zealous, therefore, and repent.”

Sanctification is not a one-time event—it’s a daily, Spirit-empowered journey.

It’s waking up every morning and saying, “Lord, reset my heart. Refocus my mind. Revive my spirit!”

Our message is clear, Before Jesus returns, the church must move from lukewarm to on fire!

We must seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, surrender our self-sufficiency, and let God’s love ignite us again.

You can’t microwave revival.

You must seek it, surrender to it, and let the Spirit set you ablaze!

Closing

As i close, I came to tell somebody

You don’t have to stay lukewarm!

You don’t have to settle for a faith that’s tasteless, powerless, and cold!

God is calling you to RESET!

To REFOCUS!

To REVIVE!

When the fire falls, chains are broken!

When the fire falls, dead things come to life!

When the fire falls, the church becomes unstoppable!

Don’t let the fire go out!

Don’t let your passion die!

Don’t let your witness fade!

It’s time to stir up the gift!

It’s time to fan the flame!

It’s time to open the door and let Jesus in!

If you know you need a reset, We must Cry out, “Lord, set me on fire again!”

Let the Spirit move!

Let the fire fall!

Let the church be the church—hot, holy, and hungry for God!

He’s able!

He’s willing!

He’s waiting!

Don’t let the fire go out—RESET, REFOCUS, & be REVIVED!