Fan the Flame!

Introduction:

“Fan into flame” - See God’s gifts awaken in us

Perhaps, in freezing cold weather, can fan into spiritual flame a powerful current of God’s close power & love…

Pentecostal roots: belief.

Context: Paul & letters to Timothy

Spir. son; raised him in Truth, taught ministry & preaching, gifts etc

2 Timothy 1:5 “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

You're Part of a Spiritual Legacy

Perhaps you had parents/grand’s who taught you and raised you in Truth.

Acknowledge found. set behind you, built up B4 you! Honor those who instilled truth in you!

Hope U realiz'g: Standards set & boundaries made not restrictions to frustrate, but fences to protect from harm

ANECDOTE Blessed have 2 parents: did best, raised me to love others well; to learn about & love Jesus, listen to Him. Others: SS teacher Dorothy, grandp’s prayed.

You may not even have kids (yet), you can be part of someone’s Spir. legacy!! Rockstar teacher/leader

Perhaps you are the first one, forging a spiritual legacy: starting w/ YOU! Joshua 24:15

Joshua 24:15c “…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.””

Generations before you may have failed to instill Christ, but that changes! today.

You’ve been learning, growing, struggling to live life ded. to JESUS.

But that legacy changes w/ YOU.

Now you will go on to lead others to God as well.

Brings AP great JOY! to consider what salvation is doing & has done in Tim’s life.

He would not hesitate to implore you: >>

“Give your Life to Christ!”

Salvation Call

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Pray

Romans 8:1–2 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

If u prayed, Jesus now lives in your heart; close to you!

Just took your first step toward XP’ing Jesus more pwf’ly in life!

Hear me: From before creation, God knew you & has a purpose for your life

UR life may seem purposeless, hard… never said be easy (make things hard for ‘selves!)

Jesus is always with us; even when circum. don’t change right away…

God has the power to redeem anything/one & turn them around for good.

… just might not see it yet!

AP takes thanksgiving posture & turns it into a challenge.

Coming from place rejoicing in Tim’s faith, he says

2 Timothy 1:6 “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.”

My challenge for you today is >>

Fan your Gift into Flame!

In the tabernacle/temple, priests cmd’d to KEEP the fire burning on altar:

Leviticus 6:12–13 “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood… The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”

More than just convenient for that next day’s bout of sacrif; had theol. & symb'c signif.!:

God’s pres. always evident at the place of His dwelling.

Stood out to others as they encamped around tent; constant glow, light coming from spot where GOD was & their indiscretions atoned for.

And God’s earthly family, chosen stewards, called to participate

Similarly,

Paul commands Timοthy to participate in stoking the coals of the Spirit’s activity within him.

We can, then, take this command as for us today as well.

You are specially-chosen by God to be an influence, spokespers., for Christ in your arena.

So others see Christ in us, our flame requires upkeep!

Discover your Spiritual Gifting

The Holy Spirit empowers us in specific roles that He wants us to use “for everyone’s good”.

Some more common, some more supern. feeling. ALL for good of church.

If not used for good/purity of Church, self’h, means… misuse or abuse!

Can’t cry ‘misuse’ just bc don’t understand…! || Doesn’t mean true just bc impressive…!

AP enumerates list 1 Cor 12

1 Corinthians 12:4, 7-11 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them… “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

Find your S.H.A.P.E.— myFIT, “Class 102”.

Spir Gift, Hrt-Pass., Abilities, Person'ty, & Exper.

Cursory test to assess how God might already BE/ be leading to work by His HS.

We SHOULD consider how God wants us to serve… and then practice doing it. Serve! (1 Cor 12:31; 1 Cor 14:1)

Not always in front of others; not just in-church. But bring Glory to JESUS.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts…”

1 Corinthians 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”

I fully believe G. has a special gift that HS wants to foster in you.

Going to discuss more about this next week…

Stay Plugged-in to Him

X uses agric. metaphor to challenge disc. to stay charged with His life.

John 15:4–5 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Hope, in prev. 2 snowy wks stayed cnct’d to Jesus… watch online; Bible study; Read Bibles, prayed as fam.

Effectiveness called into question with Jesus’ metph: “fruit”.

Goes further: unproductive Xians will be judged harshly!

We can’t be counted worthy, can’t fulfill His call, if not cnctd to the vine!

Taking time to study scripture, praise his character, & fellowship with His people (Christians) each form us into who God designed us to be.

Gives us opportunities to GROW and to help others grow in THEIR love of Jesus.

It’s something that happens organically, WHEN we’re trying, longing, desiring to get close to Jesus!

I think the part of us that Jesus helps transform first is a will-component; the drive/desire/heart to want to know Jesus more.

Truth: Our pursuit is not a WHAT but a WHO. >>

Seek more of Jesus

May we never be content in our relationship with Jesus! (Always desire progress.)

When was last time you were challenged in your view of Jesus?

Pursue Him greater, deeper, stronger!

Should never be fully content with relat. with JESUS

Key word: “MORE”.

If you trust X as Lord, enough to get into heaven & have His HS with you.

Bible points to a special XP w/ HS after

Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Powerful encounter w/ HS at WELL after salv. (after Pentec. XP!) >>

Desire the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…””

Believe there is a secondary XP, after salv., when God’s Spirit fills you up to overflowing!

Often demonstrated by a supernatural language being spoken as well!

Acts 2:4 “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Note: Not LESS of Xian w/o XP; just special gift God wants to pour out. Why not accept??

BapHS can strike in us a greater desire/ability to walk in boldness.

Seek the ‘GIVER’ of the gift & not the gift.

Might say “man, wish I could prophesy”; “I would love to heal ppl.”; “I really want to speak in tongues!”

a) those are good desires. AP encouraged such desires in 1 Cor; but also…

b) >>

Jesus is more important; the Holy Spirit is more important than the special gift.

As the Spirit changes our desires, we grow in our desire for Jesus.

Jesus has to be our focus.

His sacrifice & res. is what makes all of this conversation possible!

So we’re going to end with >>

COMMUNION

Join our hearts together & seek the one who opened the doorway to salvation; crushed the devil & everything that could thwart God’s plan.

Remember decisive victory & brutal sacrifice on that tree.

(“as the ushers prepare”)

Put ourselves in His position & feel the price pd. for our freedom.

Ask Jesus & His Spirit to meet us right now and:

Pray:

1. “Develop in me a desire to be used by your Spirit, personally.”

2. “Let me experience His presence in an overwhelming new way.”

3. “Continually fan this experience & my gifts into a flame that burns away all darkness & lightens others’ paths toward Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

BENEDICTION:

Ephesians 1:17–19 “[May] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ… give you the Spirit of wisdom & revelation, so that you may know him better; that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you[; and that you may understand] the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”