Embracing the Transformative Fire of the Spirit

Devotional

Day 1: Purified by the Fire—God’s Refining Work in Us

God’s fire is not meant to destroy, but to purify and transform, burning away sin, pride, and anything that would hinder His presence in your life. Just as a refiner’s fire removes impurities from gold and silver, so God uses the pressures and trials of this world to refine us, making us holy and set apart for His purposes. This purification is not about being perfect, but about being surrendered—allowing God to cleanse us so that we can become vessels fit for His Spirit. Ask yourself if you are resisting the refiner’s fire or surrendering to it, so that Christ can shine through you. [01:10:29]

Malachi 3:2-3 (NIV):
"But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness."

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you sense God is trying to purify you? What would it look like to surrender that area fully to Him today?

Day 2: Passion Ignited—Letting the Fire Spread

When God’s fire purifies us, it also ignites a passion within that cannot be contained. This passion is meant to spill over onto others, just as Jeremiah described God’s word as a fire shut up in his bones that he could not hold in. The fire of the gospel was always designed to spread, not to be hoarded. When you are truly passionate for Jesus, it becomes evident in your words and actions, and others are drawn to the light and warmth of Christ in you. Let the Holy Spirit fan the flame in your heart so that your passion for Jesus becomes contagious. [01:18:57]

Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV):
"But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."

Reflection: When was the last time your passion for Jesus overflowed onto someone else in a tangible way? Who can you share that passion with today?

Day 3: The Cost of Division—Standing with Christ No Matter What

The fire of God not only purifies and ignites passion, but it also brings division, separating you from old ways and sometimes even from people who do not share your commitment to Christ. As you grow in fervor for God, you may find that some relationships change or fall away—not because you reject others, but because the light in you makes a clear distinction. Jesus warned that following Him would sometimes divide even families, but this is the cost of true discipleship: standing fully with Christ, no matter what it costs, and refusing to compromise your faith. [01:22:58]

Luke 12:51-53 (NIV):
"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Reflection: Is there a relationship or situation where your commitment to Christ is causing tension or separation? How can you stand firm in love and truth without compromising your faith?

Day 4: Empowered for Mission—The Fire and Gifts of the Spirit

The same fire that purifies and ignites passion also empowers you for mission. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came as tongues of fire, equipping the church with supernatural gifts to spread the gospel with boldness and effectiveness. These gifts—teaching, prophecy, wisdom, healing, discernment—are not ornaments but tools, fuel for the mission God has given you. The Spirit’s fire makes it possible to live as a light in a dark world, and the same Spirit that fell on the apostles is available to you today. Let God stir up the gifts within you and send you out to make a difference right where you are. [01:24:42]

Acts 1:8 (NIV):
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Reflection: What spiritual gift or passion has God placed in you that needs to be stirred up and used for His mission today?

Day 5: Total Surrender—Becoming Like Christ Above All

Purification prepares the way for impartation; before God can fill you with His power, He must have your whole heart. The most miserable place to be is wanting to be a Christian while still clinging to the world. Heaven is not the goal—Christlikeness is. God’s desire is to transform you into the image of His Son, and this requires total surrender. Let go of every attachment, every competing love, and allow Jesus to be Lord over every area of your life. When you surrender fully, you become a vessel through which His fire, passion, and power can flow freely. [01:13:54]

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV):
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Reflection: What is one area of your life you have not fully surrendered to Christ? What step can you take today to offer it to Him as a living sacrifice?

Sermon Summary

Today, the focus is on the fire that Jesus came to cast upon the earth—a fire that purifies, ignites passion, brings division, and empowers for mission. This fire is not a gentle warmth for our comfort, but a consuming, refining force that transforms lives from the inside out. Jesus’ longing was not for judgment, but for a people so radically changed by the Spirit that the world cannot help but notice the difference. The call is to be more than just churchgoers warming our hands by the fire; it is to be set ablaze, to be upper room people, filled with the Spirit, living boldly and passionately for Christ.

Transformation is the evidence of this fire. The world is watching, especially in times of conflict and uncertainty, to see if the church will truly be the light and the salt. The fire Jesus brings is meant to make us radically different, unafraid to stand against the world’s systems, willing to risk comfort and security for the sake of the kingdom. This fire purifies, burning away sin, pride, and anything that hinders God’s presence, preparing us to receive the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.

Purification always precedes impartation. God cannot fill a vessel that is not surrendered and sanctified. The most miserable place is not being lost, but trying to live with one foot in the world and one in the kingdom. The goal is not simply heaven, but Christlikeness—being transformed into His image, surrendered fully to His lordship.

Passion is the natural outflow of this fire. Like Jeremiah, when the fire is shut up in our bones, we cannot keep silent. This passion is contagious, designed to spread, to ignite others, to make the gospel known everywhere we go. But this fire also brings division, separating us from old ways and sometimes even from those closest to us. True discipleship costs everything, but the reward is a life empowered by the Spirit, equipped with gifts to fulfill the mission right where we are.

The invitation is clear: allow the Holy Spirit to stir the fire within, to purify, ignite, separate, and empower. Surrender fully, let the aroma of God’s glory fill your life, and step boldly into the mission He has for you.

Key Takeaways

1. Purification Precedes Power Before God can impart His power and gifts, He must first purify the vessel. This refining process is not about comfort but about removing anything that contaminates our faith, making us holy and set apart for His purposes. Only a surrendered, sanctified heart can become a true dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. [71:53]
2. Passion Is the Evidence of Transformation A heart set ablaze by the Spirit cannot remain silent or indifferent. True passion for Christ is a strong, barely controllable force that spills over into every area of life, affecting those around us and fueling the spread of the gospel. A cold heart is dangerous to the kingdom, but a burning heart is unstoppable. [78:57]
3. The Fire of God Brings Holy Division When the fire of God purifies and ignites us, it naturally separates us from old patterns, relationships, and the world’s systems. This division is not about arrogance or isolation, but about being so transformed that the world recognizes the difference. Standing with Christ may cost us everything, but it is the mark of true discipleship. [83:54]
4. Spiritual Gifts Are Tools, Not Ornaments The gifts of the Spirit—teaching, discernment, faith, healing, and more—are not for display but for mission. They are the fuel that empowers us to be light in a dark world, equipping us to serve, witness, and bring hope to those around us. The Spirit’s fire makes it possible to live courageously and effectively for Christ. [86:22]
5. Surrender Is the Gateway to Revival Revival begins with a personal decision to surrender everything—ambitions, relationships, comfort, and even our own will—to Jesus. When we allow the Holy Spirit to stir the fire within, the aroma of God’s glory fills our lives and overflows to others. The call is to let the fire fall, to be purified, ignited, and sent out for the sake of the world. [96:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:33] - The Identity and Call of “I Am”
[45:10] - The World Is Watching the Church
[48:44] - Transformation: From Goat to Sheep
[53:26] - The Fire Jesus Came to Cast
[55:48] - Fire as Transformation, Not Judgment
[57:23] - The Upper Room and Radical Change
[58:44] - The Consuming Fire of God
[60:27] - Fire and Water: Spirit and Power
[62:22] - Purification and the Love of God
[64:17] - Lordship and Surrender
[66:50] - The Beatitudes and Persecution
[68:46] - Purity and the Refiner’s Fire
[71:53] - Purification Precedes Impartation
[73:54] - Christlikeness Over Heaven
[76:00] - Passion That Spreads
[78:57] - The Fire Shut Up in Our Bones
[80:08] - The Fire of Division
[82:58] - The Cost of Discipleship
[84:42] - The Fire That Empowers Mission
[86:22] - Spiritual Gifts in Action
[89:11] - The Emmaus Road Encounter
[91:42] - The News That Ignites
[96:24] - Stirring Up the Fire Within
[98:41] - A Prayer for Purity and Passion
[101:30] - The Call to Decision
[103:40] - Public Declaration and Surrender
[106:39] - Rekindling Lost Passion
[108:56] - Leaving Changed and Empowered

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 12:49-53 (NIV) — > “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) — > When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Malachi 3:2-3 (NIV) — > But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.

Observation Questions

In Luke 12:49-53, what does Jesus say he has come to bring, and what does he say will be the result among families?
According to Acts 2:1-4, what happened to the disciples when the Holy Spirit came upon them? What was the visible sign?
In Malachi 3:2-3, what is the purpose of the “refiner’s fire” and what does it accomplish in God’s people?
According to the sermon, what is the difference between “warming our hands by the fire” and being “set ablaze” by the Spirit? [[55:48]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus describe the fire he brings as something that causes division, even within families? What does this tell us about the nature of following him? [[01:22:58]]
The sermon says, “Purification always precedes impartation.” Why is it important for God to purify us before giving us spiritual gifts or power? [[01:11:53]]
The pastor described passion for Christ as “a strong, barely controllable force that spills over into every area of life.” What does it look like when someone’s life is truly set on fire for Jesus? [[01:18:57]]
The sermon mentions that spiritual gifts are “tools, not ornaments.” What is the danger of treating spiritual gifts as ornaments, and how should they be used instead? [[01:26:22]]

Application Questions

The sermon says, “The most miserable place is not being lost, but trying to live with one foot in the world and one in the kingdom.” Is there an area of your life where you feel divided in your loyalty? What would it look like to surrender that area fully to Jesus? [[01:13:11]]
The fire Jesus brings “burns away sin, pride, and anything that hinders God’s presence.” What is one thing in your life that you sense God wants to purify or remove? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to do that work this week? [[01:10:29]]
The pastor said, “A cold heart is dangerous to the kingdom, but a burning heart is unstoppable.” Have you ever felt your passion for Christ grow cold? What practical step can you take this week to rekindle that fire? [[01:18:57]]
The fire of God “naturally separates us from old patterns, relationships, and the world’s systems.” Has following Jesus ever cost you a relationship or required you to make a hard choice? How did you respond, and what did you learn from it? [[01:22:58]]
The sermon challenges us to let the aroma of God’s glory fill our lives and “step boldly into the mission He has for you.” What is one way you can step out in faith this week to serve, witness, or bring hope to someone around you? [[01:36:24]]
The pastor described spiritual gifts as “the fuel that empowers us to be light in a dark world.” Do you know what spiritual gifts God has given you? How are you using them for the mission, and is there a new way you feel called to use them? [[01:26:22]]
The invitation is to “allow the Holy Spirit to stir the fire within.” What would it look like for you to give the Holy Spirit permission to stir up the fire in your life? Is there a prayer or action you want to take today to say “yes” to that invitation? [[01:36:24]]

Sermon Clips

The refiner's fire purifies and cleanses for purity. Now, look at this word, purity. Purity, listen to me, means freedom from adulteration. That means altered. That's what this word means, altered or contaminated. We're free, listen to me, from things that would alter our faith. Are y 'all listening good? When Elijah called fire down from heaven, they didn't have a problem with him until he refused to let his God be one of the other gods along with them. But when he made the bold statement, I want you to understand, my God's not like your gods. My God is above your gods. My God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, amen. My God is alpha and omega. He's the beginning and the end, and he's this moment right here, right now. And when he did that, that's when the war broke out. And in your life, the world doesn't care if you talk about your God or your Jesus. It's when you make the declaration, but he's the only way to heaven, amen. He's the way, the truth, and the life. And no man come to the Father but by him. That's when things start to get sticky, amen. [01:08:30] (79 seconds) #PurityInFaith

We're to be so passionate about Christ that everywhere we go, it spills over on others. Hang around with Ralph Newton at a fast food restaurant? It won't be long. You might be thinking you're going to eat some chicken, but you're going to be saying amen. Because he's going to work the conversation into Jesus. And here's what he's going to do. He's going to talk loud enough on purpose that he's going to disrupt some other folks' lunch. Amen. And they didn't know it, but he's going to sprinkle some Jesus on them. Amen. And then he's going to sprinkle a little bit of light of the world. Amen. On them. Because the passion within, he can't keep it there. Fire. The fire is designed to spread. Listen to me. The fire of the gospel was always designed to spread. Not for you to keep it. Not for you to hoard it up. But to spread it. [01:15:29] (67 seconds) #PassionThatSpreads

There's a fire that's been shut up in your bones, and you dare not keep it to yourself. Hallelujah. He said, I try to hold it in, but I can't. This is the passion of God. The fire of the Holy Ghost. When his fire purifies us, his passion should naturally flow. And with that passion, the Spirit releases gifts that fuel the mission. There's teaching that builds up the body. There's prophecy that stirs faith. There's words of wisdom and knowledge that bring light into dark places. What am I trying to tell you? Here's the key thing I want you to know. That impartation brings with it a passion that has the ability to affect all those around it. Listen to me. Listen to me. Listen to me this morning. And we could talk about the churches in Revelation, but here I want you to understand it this way. A cold heart is dangerous to the kingdom. But a burning heart is unstoppable. [01:18:49] (61 seconds) #DivineSeparation

God starts moving in your life. Purifying your life. Separating you away from an old lifestyle. Come on. With a passion that, listen, let me tell you something. You won't have to. If the passion of God is really vibrant inside of you, you won't have to get away from the crowd. The crowd will want to get away from you. Oh, I'm about to preach today. Amen. I know what I'm talking about. Amen. I've seen it. I'm not talking about reckless zeal. I'm talking about the pure passion of God. It will separate you. It will cause divisions. And some of you today are wondering, what happened to all of my club or all of my crew or all those folks I used to hang around with? I got news for you. They evaluate where they are and where you are and ask you, did you really lose your friends or did God separate you because you've got a renewed passion for the gospel? Doesn't mean you're going to forget about them and don't want to reach them, but I got news for you. The spiritual and the unspiritual have less and less and less in common the more you are fervor with passion. [01:20:47] (78 seconds) #CostOfDiscipleship

The fire, listen to me, that purifies. The fire that empowers and the fire that sends you into mission. And I'm not talking about world missions. I want you to know we've got a mission field right under our feet right here. And it's through the gifts of the Spirit, healing, faith, discernment, tongues, interpretation, that this fire spreads with a supernatural effectiveness. The gifts are not ornaments, they're tools. They're the fuel for the mission. Jesus set ablaze and the Spirit equips us to ignite the world. Key point, the Spirit's fire makes it possible to live as a light in a dark world. [01:25:00] (41 seconds) #IgnitedByResurrection

And the response to that was this. It was late at night. The road back to Jerusalem was a dangerous highway. And nobody with any good sense would have gone back at night. But the Bible says it ignited a fire with inside of them, amen. And they started thinking, wait a minute. Don't you remember when he started revealing himself to us on the road while we were walking, something started burning with inside of us. There was a blaze that started working in us. And we never felt more alive than we are right now. And the Bible says they ran back to Jerusalem and they found the women and they found the other disciples. And they said, it is true. This Jesus whom was crucified on Friday, today on resurrection, I tell you, he's alive and he's well. I wonder, what does that news do to you today? Does it light a passion with inside of you? Does the word of God still become a fire that's, like Jeremiah said, shut up in my bones that I can't get away from? [01:30:46] (69 seconds) #PassionForTheLost

The fire purifies first and foremost. It saves the sinner. Cleanses. It ignites the heart with passion. It divides us from the rest of the world, amen, and it empowers us. I ask you today, when was the last time the fire fell on you? When was the last time that Paul told his little protege, Timothy? He said, Timothy, do I need to remind you today that there's an available fire with inside of you? Bill, he was, in essence, telling him, here's what I want you to do, Timothy. When things get rough and when things get tough and you feel like you're all alone and you can't make sense of the world and you're ready like Jeremiah to throw in the towel, here's what I want you to do. I want you to fan the flame that is with inside of you. [01:35:01] (61 seconds) #ChristLikenessFirst

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