Wild Fire part 5 | Ordinary Pyromaniacs

New Living Translation Chapter 4

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

idiotes (id-ee-o'-tace); an ignoramus, an ignorant or unlearned person, an idiot.

Unschooled - aka - idiots. Unschooled. Fireworks Story. Idiot right? Not the person, who should probably be leading a church. Didn’t have what it took. Didn’t make the cut.

These disciples didn’t have what it took either. The religious thought that were just ordinary, unschooled idiots....In other words, don’t have what it takes. You ever felt like you didn’t have what it takes for God? God set, us on fire, when want be pyromaniacs for Jesus. Hope church, just a bunch of ordinary pyromaniacs.

Pyromania is an impulse disorder in which individuals repeatedly fail to resist impulses to deliberately start fires

Admit it. I’m gonna accept my disorder today… Hello, my name is Tadd Grandstaff and I’m just an ordinary pyromaniac. Welcome to Hope Church, I’m a pastor, but I’m also an arson. I can’t help it. I just love to start fires for Jesus. God has set me on fire for Him and I just can’t get enough of helping to set other people on fire for Him. I’m sick, I get a kick out of watching people burn for Jesus. I need some help!

Ordinary Pyromaniacs Who Have Been with Jesus… Admit their disorder.

New Living Translation Chapter 5

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.”

We all have a disorder - it’s not just being pyromaniacs. No, it’s called sin. We have to admit [confess] that we are all sinners. We all have sinned and we will continue to sin. Too often we let our disorders keeps us from what God has for us. We have to admit that we are sinners and then embrace the grace and forgiveness that Jesus offers to us.

The New International Version Chapter 5

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Ordinary, unschooled, idiots for Jesus. They were all sinners. They accepted their disorder, fell at the knees of Jesus, and they did’t receive condemnation and judgement in return. No, Jesus forgave them instantly. They left everything behind. Jesus said, get up - we got work to do. You are forgiven, restored, set free.

Some of you today are too trapped in your sin - your sin from the past, sins in your present and even the feat of your future sins. Sin has become a debilitating disorder for you. That is not what Jesus wants for your life. He gave His life to set you free from it. Accept it your disorder. Accept your sin. Then accept the forgiveness that He offers and allow Him to use it in your life. He’ll use your disorder to reach others for Him. It’ll be His story in your life.

Ordinary Pyromaniacs Who Have Been with Jesus… Burn boldly for Him.

New Living Translation Chapter 4

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

What made the difference? What gave this men the boldness What made ordinary, unschooled men bold for Jesus? What set them on fire?

New Living Translation Chapter 4

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.

Boldness is a behavior born out of a belief What you believe determines how you behave.

Look at your behavior - you can follow your behavior straight back to what you believe. Not honor God with your body… it’s often because you don’t believe you deserve to be honored. Not being a Godly husband/father… cause you don’t believe you can. Not living a life that honors God in your relationships … cause you don’t believe that His ways and His timing is perfect. Don’t believe God can use you.... cause you don’t really believe in His forgiveness and grace.

What is keeping God from starting a wild fire in and through me?

It’s Me!

What do you believe about God? It determines your behaviors. What is He calling you to do? Faith and Obedience. You gotta trust me. If I’ve promised to you use. If I’ve promised to take care of you. If I’ve promised to forgive and restore.. then you have to walk boldly.

Ordinary Pyromaniacs Who Have Been with Jesus… Become an unstoppable Wild Fire.

The New International Version Chapter 4

20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

No, we are not going to stop talking about Jesus. You are not gonna shut us up!

The New International Version Chapter 5

38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

What is keeping you from allowing God to start a wild fire in you and through you?

Afraid you don’t have what it takes? These men didn’t either. I don’t either. Afraid you have messed it up? Get in line. We all have. God just wants you to be willing. Embrace Him. Allow Him to use you. The Holy Spirit will equip you for the task. God is calling every follower of His to step out in faith and to trust Him.

God doesn’t call the prepared, but He always prepares the called.

God is calling you, and as He calls you, He is gonna equip and empower you. So, we don’t walk with a spirit of fear or timidity, but we walk boldly.... Ignited, empowered, emboldened by The Holy Spirit .. why? Because when you walk with God you never walk alone. He fights battles before you, ahead of you, you walk in His strength and power and not your own.

God loves to us ordinary men and women to change the world. Why because ordinary people realize they need an extraordinary God. They know they can’t do it with out Him. I don’t have what it takes without God and you don’t either.

If God changed the world through some ordinary men…You think He can’t do the same thing through you? In your family, your marriage, your work place, your school? He not only can - He will. If you’ll allow Him to use you!! If you’ll allow Him to set you on fire.