Build Up The Fire

Build Up The Fire Acts 28:1-10

INTRODUCTION

I believe that there is nothing in the Bible that is insignificant. Every passage is significant, it is God’s Holy , inerrant and infallible Word. The smallest details are ordained by God.

In my 25 years in the Gospel ministry, I’ve discovered some of the most profound truths are in the details of God’s word.

READ ACTS 28:1-10

Nothing that happened on this tiny island here was by chance… God was guiding it all.

EXP: The ’when’ of this event was significant…they had just survived what had to be one of the most traumatic events of their lives… caught for weeks in a terrifying storm and finally shipwrecked on the shore of this strange little island.

APP: We must come to realize that on the other side of the storm God may not bring us to a resort paradise, but to a place where we can be a blessing to others.

EXP: The ’where’ of this event was significant. It was not by chance that they landed on this island… an island of pagans who had never heard of Jesus Christ.

APP: Often we’re so busy licking our scars and talking about the storm that we miss the real opportunity to make a difference for God.

EXP: What they did on this island was significant as well… down to the smallest detail. Notice what the first thing they did when they found themselves on this island.

Read Vs. 2,3

They were tired, weary, their strength was spent, they where in a confusing place and situation… but they took time to build a fire. The fire would comfort them.

The fire would change their condition. (Cold and Wet, Warm)

The fire would mark them… tell others where to find them.

The fire would guard them from the elements (Rainy)

APP: I believe herein lies a spiritual key for our life. When you’re weary, weak, confused and just don’t know what to do… build up the Fire! Ask the Lord to stir up in you a spiritual fire with His Holy Spirit and watch what God can do.

That fire will comfort you.

That Holy Spirit fire will change your condition.

That Holy Spirit Fire will mark you.

That Holy Spirit Fire will guard you from this world.

T.S.: But what does it take to ‘Build A Fire’ in the middle of my situation? I. A REKINDLED FIRE

ILL: Survivor: One of the most important things that the survivor teams needed to accomplish was to get a fire started, so that they could sterilize water, cook their food and keep warm at night. They tried to start it by rubbing sticks together, it was hard to do, sometimes they failed to do it and had no fire for days.

A. NOT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER FIRE

Paul and those with him didn’t need to start the fire, they just needed to rekindle it, to feed it, build it up. We who are already believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ have a spiritual fire in us, the indwelling Holy Spirit. From time to time we let the fire die down. We let ourselves get in the way of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.

I’m not looking for a new fire, a new fad passing by…I want to rekindle that same fire that started burning in me when I first came to Jesus Christ. It never completely burns out, Jesus sees to that.

B. THE EMBERS ARE STILL GLOWING God is still moving. But what that means to your life will be determined by what you do with those glowing embers. If we’ll rekindle it, we’ll soon see the flames and feel its power.

ILL. As a little boy I had went through a phase like many do with a fascination with fire and that got me in trouble more than once. But I quickly learned that a fire that looks out isn’t necessarily out. But if you stoke it and blow on it and feed it… soon it will be full force again.

The world says the fires of Christianity have gone out, even some churches say that. The problem isn’t that the fires have gone out… God’s people aren’t stoking it and feeding it in their own lives, so the body of Christ becomes of no spiritual use in the communities.

We feed the fire by feeding on God’s Word. We feed the fire by doing God’s will in our lives, being obedient, and in reaching out to those around us.

ILL.

The reason many won’t stir up the fire is they’re afraid that it will get out of their control. II. A HUNGRY FIRE

EXP: As tired and weary as they where, Paul understood that the fire wouldn’t last long unless it was fed.

READ Vs. 3

APP: … If you’re waiting on someone else to build a fire for you, you’ll be disappointed… Waiting for an evangelist to stir up the fire or some singing group or the pastor or even a brother or sister? We must stir up that gift that is within us, we’ve got to feed that fire in our own lives.

A. IT HAD TO BE FED IMMEDIATELY. EXP: Paul couldn’t wait for things to get better, He needed to build a fire.

ILL: In darkest crises of his life, David “encouraged himself in the Lord.”

APP: Learn to feed that fire when we don’t have anyone else to feed it. When you don’t know what else to do… feed the fire. When you feel like it and when you don’t feel like it…feed the fire. When you’re the only one feeding it (no mention of anyone else feeding this fire)

B. FEED IT ON THE PREPARED THINGS IN OUR LIVES.

It took effort on Paul’s part to “gather” that bundle of sticks…he was preparing for the fire. Is your heart, ready for the fire? Have you prepared the way for the Holy Spirit to burn anew in your life. Is your worship prepared before hand? Is your faith prepared before hand? Is your anticipation prepared before hand? Will God find a prepared alter for Him to rain His fire upon? III. A HOT FIRE

The bible is very clear on what brought out the serpent Acts 28:3 …there came a viper out of the heat,… That old serpent the devil won’t bother the church as long as it’s cold and lifeless, but as soon as Holy Spirit fires begin to stir he’ll raise his ugly head to prevent it. The serpent latched onto Paul’s hand, that which was stirring and feeding the fire. The devil will do anything to keep you from being on fire for God… anything to keep you from stirring things up for God.

OTHERS ARE QUICK TO CRITICIZE. It took no time at all for somebody to be whispering about what’s going on with Paul. The natives on that island begin to whisper among themselves. When the devil lifts his head in the midst of what God is doing, there’s always critics sitting back looking for some opportunity to judge what God is doing there. Notice what they whispered… Acts 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. The enemy’s clan will declare… the church is going down, the serpent has won. The enemy declared Paul as ‘sinful’ “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.” The serpent even recruits church people to criticize what God is doing at another church… ought to be ashamed. They’ll say there must be sin in that church or in your life or this would have not happened. They’ll say this must be God’s judgment against them. Had Paul heard what they were saying he might had bought into it but instead, I like what he does…

B. HE SHAKES THE SNAKE OFF INTO THE FIRE

He didn’t defend himself or try and deal with this serpent on his own. Just stir up the fire a little more and the devil will have to go. That grip he has on your situation… he’ll have to let go in the heat of that Holy Spirit fire. Stop trying to convince the devil to leave you alone. Stop trying to fight the devil in your own strength.

ILL: D.L. Moody once called on a leading citizen in Chicago to persuade him to accept Christ. They were seated in the man’s parlor. It was winter and coal was burning in the fireplace. The man objected that he could be just as good a Christian outside the church as in it. Moody said nothing, but stepped to the fireplace, took the tongs, picked a blazing coal from the fire and set it off by itself. In silence the two watched it smolder and go out. “I see,”said the man. Shake him off in the fire! Shake him off in worship, in singing, in teaching. Paul could stand the heat, but the snake had to go.

ILL. Like the three Hebrew guys thrown in the fiery furnace by King Nebecaneser, when we get in the fire with Jesus, that which has bound us has to let go. The ropes binding their hands are the only things affected by the fire.

C. HE FELT NO HARM

I like the result…

READ Vs. 5

…but that didn’t happen.

When a non-believer thinks that Satan attacks expects the church to get all puffed up and filled with the poison of anger, strife and division… but when we shake it off we feel no harm.

The devil will want you to mad with everyone in the church… just shake it off.

The devil will want you to be poisoned by depression & discouragement… just shake it off in the fire.

The devil will want you to give up and wait for death… just shake it off in the fire & go on.

If you’ll just shake it off…you’ll make an impact on the lives of those around you. I think one of the things that has destroyed more people’s testimony than anything else is how they respond when the enemy attacks. IV. A FIRE THAT SPREAD

I believe that that physical fire had spiritual significance because of what happened after this event. One thing was clear, the Holy Spirit was already at work on this island. Because of that little fire and even because of the devil’s attacks revival would break out on that tiny island for 3 months.

APP: Even when the devil tries to hinder us, God can even use Satan to bless us and open doors we could never open on our own. Revival starts when we stir up the fire and shake off Satan.

A. A FIRE THAT TURNS CRITICS INTO CONVERTS

EXP: Vs. 6

A Spiritual fire has a way of changing peoples hearts and minds.

Don’t be angry at your critics or those who put you down…they may be the ones that become your converts in the end.

God will work in your life in such a way that even your critics will have to admit that God is with you.

B. A FIRE THAT OPENS DOORS

READ Vs. 7,8

EXP: No doubt that Publius had heard about what happened. They didn’t just stay in anyone’s home, but with the “chief man of the island.” Their godly influence was growing. In the house they found yet another opportunity to minister of the power of God.

C. A FIRE THAT COVERS THE ISLAND

Vs. 9, 10

EXP: Who would have ever thought that a group of shipwrecked prisoners of Rome could make such an impact in such a short period of time?

APP: I believe we are living in the last days. Our time to tell others the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is running out… we must start stirring up the spiritual fire that is within us, so the world can see and believe. CONCLUSION:

APP: Do you need to shake off the serpents of your life into the fire that the Lord has given you?

Do you need to stir your life again until you feel Him ablaze in your life?

Do you hunger for a renewal that will set our community on Fire for Jesus Christ?