2026 Wk 23 - Remote Ponca
Fire in the City • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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INTRO:
16 On that day Jerusalem will be told,
“Do not be afraid, Zion!
Do not lose courage!”
17 The Lord your God is with you.
He is a hero who saves you.
He happily rejoices over you,
renews you with his love,
and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.
Mighty mighty mighty!
Just how MIGHTY is your GOD?
If you are watching online please chat back “example of how Big Your God is?
Songs:
Mighty Mighty Mighty is the Lord Our God
Great and Mighty is He
Our conversation today strengthens the connection to Pentecost, outreach, personal testimony, and the Foursquare emphasis on the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.
In our series…FIRE IN THE CITY
We come to
Week 2: What’s Stopping Your Story?
Primary Texts: Exodus 4:10-12; Jeremiah 1:6-8
Supporting Texts: Judges 6:12-16; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Acts 1:8
Big Idea
The greatest obstacle to sharing God’s work in our lives is often not opposition from others, but the fears, wounds, and insecurities within us. The Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to tell an extraordinary story.
INTRODUCTION
Two weeks ago we learned that the fire of Pentecost was never meant to stay inside the Upper Room.
The Holy Spirit was given so God’s people could become His witnesses.
Yet many believers know they should share their faith but remain silent.
The question is not, “Do I have a story?”
The question is, “What’s stopping me from telling it?”
I. GOD OFTEN CALLS PEOPLE WHO FEEL UNQUALIFIED
Moses: “I’m Not Able” or
“I’m Not Good Enough”
But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
• Moses focused on his limitations.
• God focused on His presence.
• Moses saw weakness; God saw a deliverer.
Jeremiah: “I’m Too Young”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
• Jeremiah saw inexperience.
• God saw purpose.
Gideon: “I’m Too Weak”
The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
• Gideon saw insignificance.
• God called him a mighty warrior before he believed it.
Principle:
God rarely chooses people because they feel ready.
He chooses people who will trust Him.
II. THE ENEMIES OF YOUR STORY
The enemy cannot erase your testimony, but he will try to silence it.
Fear
• What if I say the wrong thing?
• What if people reject me?
Shame
• My past is too messy.
• People know who I used to be.
Insecurity
• I don’t know enough Scripture.
• I’m not a preacher.
Past Failures
• I’ve stumbled too many times.
Disappointment
• God didn’t answer the way I hoped.
Rejection
• I’ve been hurt before.
These become barriers that keep God’s people silent.
III. GOD DOESN’T REQUIRE PERFECTION
The Bible is full of imperfect witnesses.
• Moses had excuses.
• Gideon had doubts.
• David had failures.
• Peter denied Jesus.
• Paul persecuted the church.
Yet God USED them ALL.
Key Statement:
God has never required perfection before participation.
Your testimony is not powerful because your life was flawless.
Your testimony is powerful because God remained faithful in the middle of your weakness.
IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT CHANGES THE HEART
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.* And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”
The Holy Spirit:
• Replaces fear with courage.
• Replaces shame with grace.
• Replaces insecurity with confidence.
• Replaces silence with boldness.
The same Spirit who filled believers at Pentecost still fills believers today.
Foursquare Emphasis…
Jesus is our Savior, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Healer, and Coming King.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not merely an experience to remember.
They didn’t know what this was going to be or mean but obedience was there motive for Luke wrote…THE DISCIPLES WANTED THE PROMISE !
Luke 24:46-49
“…And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
It is power to be a witness., boldness
HS given to make us WITNESSES!
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
V. PEOPLE NEED AUTHENTIC HOPE
Today’s world is not looking for perfect Christians.
People are looking for “authentic hope”.
They need someone who can say:
• “I’ve been broken.”
• “I’ve struggled.”
• “I’ve failed.”
• “But God met me there.”
The greatest evangelistic tool in our city may be a believer willing to tell an honest story about God’s faithfulness.
RESPONSE
Ask:
What fear has been silencing your story?
What wound has convinced you to stay quiet?
What excuse have you been offering God?
Know this today…
Charles Spurgeon wrote, The strongest defense against sin is not willpower alone—it is closeness to Jesus.
Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit for you and me!
God’s presence all around us…
WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT ACCORDING TO JESUS…—
15 “If you love me, obey* my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,* who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.
The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.
But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.*
Are you looking for the Holy Spirit?
Let me remind you:
The same God who called Moses, Jeremiah, and Gideon is calling you.
And the same Spirit who empowered the early church is available today.
He said we would recognize the Holy Spirit and He would come to live in us!
CLOSING MINISTRY MOMENT
Mighty is our God—before, now, and always.
We will always need the Holy Spirit.
Jesus sent Him to be our Helper.
What weakness or fear are you carrying today?
What has been stopping your story?
Could we call upon the Holy Spirit right now?:
“Holy Spirit, fill me afresh. Replace my fear with faith. Replace my shame with confidence in Christ. Give me boldness to tell my story and point others to Jesus.”
Call to Action
This week, share one part of your story with one person.
Not because you are perfect, but Because God is faithful.
So, Let the fire leave the church and reach into the city.
:::
Ask yourself… “Who Needs Your Story?”
PtL
[from Acts 8 (Philip and the Ethiopian). Week 2 addresses what’s stopping us; the next step is helping people see who God may already be preparing to hear their testimony.]
======= Morning & Evening Rewrites =======
M&E 06-01-2026 ( rewrite and outline)
“The evening and the morning were the first day.” — Genesis 1:5
God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
I. God Created Life with Seasons
• Evening and morning were part of the first day.
• Life includes both joy and sorrow.
• Faith does not eliminate difficult seasons.
II. Every Believer Experiences Both
• Times of celebration and times of struggle.
• Seasons of nearness and seasons of longing.
• Testing and triumph are both part of the journey.
III. How Should We Respond?
Trust God
• His purposes are good in every season.
• Receive both blessings and challenges from His hand.
Worship God
• Praise Him in the daylight.
• Trust Him in the darkness.
• God’s grace often shines brightest in difficult times.
Remain Faithful
• Serve in seasons of strength.
• Persevere in seasons of struggle.
• Every season has a purpose.
IV. The Promise
• Night does not last forever.
• God walks with us through every season.
• The darkness is not the end of the story.
• Morning is coming.
Key Thought
The same God who gives the morning is present in the night.
:::
M&E 06-02 Rewrite
“The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.” — Galatians 5:17
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Every believer experiences an ongoing battle within. Our old sinful nature pulls us away from God, while the Holy Spirit leads us toward Christ. This struggle is not a sign that something is wrong—it is evidence that God is at work in us.
The old nature never surrenders easily. It constantly seeks opportunities to regain control. But the Spirit equips us with prayer, faith, hope, and God’s Word to resist and overcome.
This battle continues throughout our lives. We will not achieve perfection on this side of heaven. Yet we do not fight alone. Jesus, our Savior and Captain, stands with us. He has already won the ultimate victory and promises to strengthen us in every struggle.
Are you facing temptation today? Do you feel the pressure of the world, the flesh, or the enemy? Don’t lose heart. Keep fighting. Keep praying. Keep trusting.
God is with you. His power is greater than your weakness, and His Spirit is stronger than any force that comes against you.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. The battle may be long, but the victory is sure. Through Him, you are not fighting for victory—you are fighting from victory.
:::
M&E 06-03
“These were potters, and those who lived among plants and hedges; they lived there with the king for his work.” —1 Chronicles 4:23
They were the pottery makers who lived in Netaim and Gederah. They lived there and worked for the king.
Not everyone in the king’s service held a prominent position. Some were potters, shaping ordinary clay. Others worked in fields and gardens, tending plants and maintaining hedges. Their tasks may have seemed small or unnoticed, but they mattered because they were serving the king.
The same is true for us. God does not measure the importance of our work by its visibility, but by our faithfulness. Whether we lead from a platform, serve behind the scenes, care for a neighbor, teach a child, visit someone in need, or quietly pray for others, every act done for Christ has value.
Some people wish they had a different assignment, a different platform, or a different place to serve. Yet God often calls us to make a difference right where we are. The question is not whether our role seems important, but whether we are faithfully serving the King in it.
The beautiful truth of this passage is that these workers lived “with the king.” Even while working among clay, plants, and hedges, they enjoyed the king’s presence. In the same way, no place of faithful service is too humble for fellowship with Christ. He is present in the hospital room, the classroom, the workplace, the neighborhood, the shelter, and the prison. Wherever His work is being done, He is there.
So take courage if your service feels unnoticed. God sees what others overlook. Some of His greatest treasures are found in the most unlikely places, and some of His most faithful servants are known only to Him.
Stay where He has called you. Serve faithfully. Walk closely with the King. And when the story of your life is written, your faithfulness will not be forgotten.
:::
M&E 06-04
Here is a contemporary rewrite that preserves the warmth and wonder of the original:
“The kindness and love of God our Savior.” — Titus 3:4
But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,
How wonderful it is to spend time with Jesus and experience His love firsthand. There is no greater joy than being led by the Holy Spirit into a deeper understanding of who Christ is and how much He cares for us.
When we reflect on the story of Jesus’ love, countless examples come to mind. Everything He has done has been aimed at drawing us closer to Himself—connecting our hearts with His heart and shaping our thoughts and desires to reflect His own.
As we meditate on His amazing love, we see the glorious Savior generously sharing all the riches of His grace with His people. The sheer weight of such love can leave us overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. Even the small glimpses of His love that the Holy Spirit reveals to us now are almost more than we can take in. What will it be like when we see it fully?
One day, in eternity, we will understand all that Christ has given us. We will have the wisdom to appreciate it, the clarity to see it, and endless time to marvel at it. Then our fellowship with Jesus will be deeper and sweeter than anything we have known on earth.
Who can fully imagine the joy of that relationship? It is one of those blessings beyond anything we could ever dream or conceive—treasures God has prepared for those who love Him.
What a day it will be when we see the abundance Christ has stored up for us! Even now, faith allows us to catch glimpses of His limitless riches, as though looking through a dim reflection. But when we finally see Him face to face, we will be immersed in a depth of fellowship and love beyond description.
Until that day, let our highest praise belong to Jesus Christ, our gracious Savior, whose love for us is marvelous, immeasurable, and beyond comparison.
:::
M&E 06-05
“The Lord shut him in.” — Genesis 7:16
A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them.
Noah was safely enclosed by the loving hand of God. The Lord Himself shut the door, separating Noah from a world rushing toward judgment. In the same way, God’s grace sets His people apart. We no longer belong to the values, pursuits, and sins of this world; our Father has called us into a different life.
But Noah was not merely shut away from danger—he was shut in with God. When the Lord said, “Come into the ark,” He revealed His desire to dwell with Noah and his family. What a privilege for believers today: to live in God’s presence and know that He lives within us.
Noah’s safety was complete. The flood that destroyed others only lifted him higher. The storms that raged around him only carried him forward. Outside the ark was ruin; inside was peace. Outside of Christ there is no lasting security, but in Him there is perfect rest.
And the God who shut Noah in also kept him there. Those who belong to Christ are held by everlasting faithfulness. No enemy can pull them away, and nothing can separate them from His love.
One day the door of grace will close. Those who trust Christ will enter eternal joy, while those who reject Him will remain outside. Today His invitation still stands.
Lord, shut me in by Your grace. Keep me secure in Your love, steadfast in Your presence, and safe in Your salvation.
:::
M&E 06-06
Here’s a distilled contemporary rewrite that preserves the gospel invitation and devotional warmth:
“Behold, I am vile.” — Job 40:4
“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
Take heart, weary sinner. If you feel unworthy to come to God because of your sin, you are not alone. The greatest saints—Job, Isaiah, and Paul—were all deeply aware of their own unworthiness. The first step toward grace is often the honest confession: “I am vile.”
If God’s people still struggle with sin, how can you hope to make yourself clean before coming to Him? The good news is that Christ does not wait for sinners to become worthy. He welcomes them as they are.
Jesus came for the guilty, the broken, and the lost. Come to Him today and say, “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. Wash me and make me clean.” Whoever confesses their sin and trusts in Him will find mercy.
You do not need a perfect record—only faith in a perfect Savior. Come just as you are. The blood of Christ is sufficient, and His grace is greater than your sin.
Now is the time. Believe in the One who justifies the ungodly, and you will discover that the vilest sinner can become a forgiven child of God.
:::
M&E 06-07 (Contemporary rewrite)
“You who love the Lord, hate evil.” — Psalm 97:10
You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his godly people
and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
If you love God, you have every reason to hate sin. Just think about the damage it has done. Sin once blinded you to the beauty of Christ and deafened you to His voice. It led you away from God, poisoned your heart, and left you trapped in patterns that could never satisfy. Before God’s grace found you, sin was taking you toward destruction.
But God intervened. Through Jesus Christ, you have been washed, forgiven, and made new. Looking back at where sin once had you should make you grateful for grace—and determined not to return to what nearly ruined you.
Yet sin remains an enemy. It constantly seeks to distract, deceive, and weaken us. If we tolerate it, it will fill our lives with needless pain and rob us of peace. But when we reject evil and pursue holiness, we experience the joy and freedom God desires for His children.
The strongest defense against sin is not willpower alone—it is closeness to Jesus. The more time we spend with Him, the less attractive sin becomes. His presence reshapes our desires and strengthens our hearts to walk in obedience.
Lord, guide my steps by Your Word. Let sin have no control over me. Give me a sincere heart that loves what You love and hates what dishonors You.
:::
