Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Maintain Your Fire

Posted on 30 Sep 2018, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

Title: Maintain Your Fire

Text: Matt. 3:11, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)

[Mat 3:11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

[Act 1:8] But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

[Act 2:1] When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

[Act 2:2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

[Act 2:3] Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

[Act 2:4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Introduction

John the baptist told the people that he was only baptizing with water
That Somebody is coming, whose sandals he was not worthy to carry, that person will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire
Jesus said that you shall receive power (fire) when the Holy Spirit come upon you
In Acts 2:1-4, the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and it appeared that fire sat upon each of them

Main Topic

1. Baptism of the Holy Spirit produces fire

Acts 1:8
Acts 2:1-4 – Baptism of the Holy Spirit produced fire in the disciples
[Luk 12:49] “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
[Luk 12:50] But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

2. What is the fire for?

Peter –
- Acts 2 – Peter who denied Jesus three times out of fear is now bold enough to preach in public about Christ
- Acts 3 – He also prayed in public for a lame man by the gate called beautiful
- Acts 4 – He was bold enough to face the Sanhedrin that he could not stop preaching Christ
Paul –
- Acts 8 – Saul consented to the death of Stephen and persecuted many follower of Christ
- Acts 9 – the fire came upon Saul and he became brother Paul and the rest was history
You
- [Joh 14:15] “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
- [Joh 14:16] And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
- [Joh 14:17] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
- [Joh 14:18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
- [Joh 14:19] “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
- [Joh 14:20] At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
- [Joh 14:21] He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
- The fire will help you run your race better
- The fire will protect you from the enemy
- The fire will deliver you in the time of need
- The fire will help you help others catch fire

3. You must maintain your fire

The parable of the 10 virgins – Matt. 25:1-13
- 5 were wise and 5 were foolish
- The wise ones knew the oil in their lamp will not be enough, so they brought extra oil
- The foolish ones did not bring any extra oil
- The oil ran out – may your oil never run out in Jesus name
- Don’t be like the foolish virgins, keep your oil flowing
How to keep the fire burning
- Prayer
  - You caught fire by praying. Don’t stop praying
  - You keep the fire burning by praying all manner of prayer
  - Pray in your native tongue, pray in the tongues of the Holy Spirit
  - Your relationship with the Holy Spirit produces the oil to keep your fire burning
- Word
  - The Word will keep you grounded, so you cannot do without the Word
  - [Mat 4:4] But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ “
  - You must feed your spirit man with the Word on a daily basis
- Assemble with other fire carriers
  - [Pro 27:17] As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
  - [Heb 10:24] And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
  - [Heb 10:25] not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Conclusion

If you are yet to catch the fire, you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and with fire
If you already caught the fire, you must maintain your fire by
- Prayer
- Word
- Assembling with other fire carriers.

Sermon

Maintain Your Fire