Sunday Morning 1st Service | Fire Within: Starting the Year with Holy Momentum #3

Jan 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Spirit's Fire: Meant to Spread

The divine fire within you is not meant to be contained for personal comfort alone. God's desire is for this overflow to be shared, igniting others through your witness. Just as a hidden fire needs stirring and oxygen to blaze, the Spirit's presence in you is designed to spread, bringing light and warmth to the world around you. Holding back this burning fire can cause more pain than the act of releasing it. [51:32]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: Where have you recently sensed a stirring to share hope or pray for someone, and what small step could you take to release that divine fire this week?

Day 2: Bold Prayer Releases Heavenly Fire

Unified, courageous prayer has the power to shake foundations and empower mission. It's not about asking God to change our circumstances for ease, but about seeking courage to stand and share His truth. This kind of earnest prayer is active, effective, and energized, producing real results in the world. When believers pray with boldness and expectation, heaven's fire is released, sustaining explosive growth despite opposition. [01:04:59]

Acts 4:29-31 (ESV)
"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."

Reflection: When faced with challenges, do you tend to pray for comfort or for courage to engage? What would it look like to pray for boldness in a specific difficult situation this week?

Day 3: Obedience Carries the Fire Forward

Prayer alone doesn't complete the assignment; stepping out in obedience is required. The fire of God doesn't follow obedience, but rather accompanies it, empowering you as you go through everyday life. Just as God assured Moses of His presence for an impossible task, and led Israel with a pillar of fire, He promises to be with you always. Your simple acts of obedience, even when you feel unqualified or fearful, can transform lives across generations. [01:11:37]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: What is one specific act of obedience, perhaps a conversation or an invitation, that you've been postponing, and what is the very next step you can take to move forward with it?

Day 4: Continually Filled for Holy Purpose

The Holy Spirit lives within every believer, sealing the deal unto salvation. This is not about earning something new, but about receiving what God has already promised for boldness and mission. Scripture shows us that disciples were filled not just once, but repeatedly, for the moment demanded power. Whether it's a first-time filling, a refilling when weary, or a deep hunger for all God has, His presence empowers us to walk out His call. [01:19:42]

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)
"When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel a particular weariness or resistance to boldness, and how might you intentionally open yourself to a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit this week?

Day 5: Live Ignited, Carry Momentum Forward

We are called to be a people who live ignited, carrying the fire of God forward every day, not just in moments. This sustained momentum is not accidental; it is nurtured by our ongoing obedience, bold prayers, and unwavering courage. No matter the opposition or trials, our faith and identity in Christ can remain unshaken. Let us commit to living in that place where we are continually carrying His presence, making Him known across the earth. [01:29:54]

James 5:16 (ESV)
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Beyond this devotional, what spiritual practice or commitment will you adopt to intentionally sustain the fire and momentum of God's presence in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

A clear, urgent call unfolds to rekindle, tend, and release the Spirit’s fire so faith becomes contagious rather than contained. Starting with the image of a campfire—ash that revives when stirred—the teaching traces a spiritual arc: stir the embers through disciplines, fan the flame by prayer and fasting, and then allow that fire to move out through bold witness and obedience. Grounded in Romans 8:11, it stresses that the Holy Spirit already indwells every believer, supplying not a partial presence but the very power that raises Christ and produces fruit like love, patience, and self-control. That indwelling is not static; it is commissioned to spread.

The work of the Spirit is linked to dynamic power (dunamis) for witness in Acts 1:8, illustrating that spiritual empowerment is given for action—public testimony and mission—rather than private consolation. Historical and biblical examples sharpen the point: Jeremiah’s “fire shut up in his bones” showed the ache of withholding God’s call; Pentecost and Azusa Street demonstrate how refilling and communal seeking can unleash conversion and revival; Acts 4 displays how unified, courageous prayer literally shook foundations and emboldened proclamation. Scripture invites repeated fillings of the Spirit—not as a status game but as renewed equipping for specific moments of mission.

Obedience is presented as the necessary trajectory for the fire to travel. “As you go” (pareo) reframes the Great Commission as daily life engagement, assured by the promise “I am with you always.” Obedience does not earn the Spirit’s presence; rather, God promises His presence within the call and sends His power to accompany steps taken in faith. Practical application threads through the teaching: send the text, start the conversation, forgive, invite someone to church, sign up to serve—small acts that carry the flame outward.

The gathering culminates in an invitation: to be filled, refilled, or to surrender for all God intends. Corporate prayer, humble obedience, and renewed courage are presented as the means by which personal revival becomes communal mission, urging every believer to identify one concrete act of obedience to carry the fire forward.

Key Takeaways

1. The Spirit dwells and empowers The Holy Spirit’s indwelling is ontological, not optional: divine presence reorients identity and enables holy fruit and supernatural action. That presence creates capacity for courage and compassion, so believers are called to live from what God has already given rather than striving to manufacture spiritual life. This truth turns spiritual longing into practical confidence for everyday witness. [52:03]
2. Fire is meant to spread Spiritual warmth and zeal are not private commodities; they are contagious by design and intended to ignite others through testimony and service. Holding the call in breeds inner ache—Jeremiah’s image of fire “shut up in my bones” reveals that withholding obedience wounds the soul more than the risk of release. Sharing faith is therefore both relief and fulfillment of vocation. [53:27]
3. Bold prayer releases heavenly fire Prayer that asks for courage and alignment, not merely comfort, summons divine power that produces tangible results. The early church’s prayers led to shaking foundations and bold proclamation, showing that unified, expectant prayer activates God’s purposes in the public realm. Persistent, righteous petition works and changes circumstances when aligned with God’s mission. [1:04:47]
4. Obedience carries the fire forward “As you go” reframes discipleship as ordinary life infused with mission; God promises His presence within that movement, not as a reward for effort but as accompaniment for obedience. Practical steps—conversations, invitations, service—are the pathways the Spirit uses to spread revival. God’s promise is not fire after obedience but fire in obedience, calling for faithful movement into everyday opportunities. [1:19:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[48:27] - Opening prayer and expectation
[49:20] - Series recap: Fire Within
[50:57] - Rhythms and disciplines to fan flame
[52:03] - Romans 8:11 — Spirit within believers
[54:08] - Acts 1:8 — Power to witness
[56:55] - Jeremiah: the ache of withheld call
[1:01:03] - Pentecost and baptism in the Spirit
[1:05:10] - Acts 4: unified, bold prayer
[1:12:14] - Matthew 28: Go — obedience in everyday life
[1:20:02] - Invitation: be filled or refilled
[1:29:54] - Commission: carry the fire forward
[1:31:58] - Altar ministry and closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

Romans 8:11
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."

Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Acts 4:29-31
"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."

Observation questions

According to Romans 8:11, what is the specific "source" of the life given to a believer’s mortal body, and where does that source currently reside?
In Acts 1:8, the word for power is dunamis, meaning supernatural ability released for action. [54:25] Based on this verse, what is the primary reason Jesus promises this explosive power to his followers?
Looking at the prayer in Acts 4:29-31, what specific request did the believers make in response to the threats they faced, and what physical sign followed their prayer? [01:06:42]

Interpretation questions

The image of a fire "shut up in the bones" suggests that withholding God’s word can actually be more exhausting than delivering it. [56:55] Why might silencing a spiritual prompting cause more internal pain or "aching" than the potential risk of being rejected by others?
The command to "go" in the Great Commission (pareo) implies a mission that happens "as you live" or "as you move through everyday life." [01:12:32] How does this perspective change the way a person views their workplace, school, or neighborhood?
In Acts 4, the believers immediately gathered to pray after being threatened and imprisoned. [01:06:15] What does their choice to pray for boldness—rather than for safety or the removal of their enemies—reveal about the true purpose of the Holy Spirit’s fire?

Application questions

The Holy Spirit lives within every believer, providing the power to walk out fruit like love, patience, and self-control. [52:53] Which of these fruits feels most difficult for you to produce on your own right now, and how can you rely more on the Spirit’s indwelling presence this week?
We often experience a "stirring" to pray for someone or start a conversation, much like a fire that needs to be released. [59:49] Can you describe a time recently when you felt that nudge? Did you follow it, or did you hold it in, and what did you learn from that experience?
Spiritual fire is not intended for private comfort but for public testimony. [55:32] Who is one person in your daily life—at the gym, the office, or home—who needs to see the "fire" of God’s hope through your words or actions?
It is often said that God does not give the fire after we obey, but rather in the act of obedience. [01:19:04] What is one specific step of obedience you have been putting off because you don't feel "ready" or "fired up" yet?
Bold prayer is "energized" and "produces real results." [01:07:51] If you were to stop asking God for "ease" in your current circumstances and start asking Him for "courage," how would your prayers sound different tonight? [01:10:31]
Momentum in our faith is not accidental; it is sustained by small, daily acts of obedience. [01:30:50] What is one concrete act—like sending an encouraging text, forgiving a debt, or inviting someone to church—that you will commit to doing before next Sunday?

Sermon Clips

34s

#FireInObedience

“``God does not give fire after obedience. He promises fire in obedience. God does not give fire after obedience. He promises fire in obedience. Now, guys, what we're talking about this morning, this isn't about earning something new, but it's about receiving what God has already promised for this moment.”

47s

#ReleaseTheFireWithin

“And what he realized is that holding that fire in hurt more than it did to release it. Holding that fire in on the inside, I mean, it said it was burning in his bones. Guys, shut up in his bones, like, let me out, like aching. You know how some of y'all feel on a cold morning? Aching, that hurt. His bones, his inner being was burning to release what God was wanting him to do. And so silencing the call produced more pain than obedience ever did. Silencing the call produced more pain than obedience ever did.”

42s

#PowerForWitness

“And so what I want us to recognize is that Jesus did not promise power so that we could feel spiritual. Now it's awesome when we have those moments when his presence comes and it's heavy and we sense it in a different way. I love those special moments that we have with him. But in this moment, what we're talking about today is that power that he's put within us was not just for ourselves, but it's so that we could be a witness of Jesus, so that we could boldly proclaim who he is as king and savior and lord. And so that fire was never meant for private comfort. It was always meant for public testimony.”

29s

#PrayersThatWork

“And so prayer that releases fire is not passive. It is aligned, it is bold, and it is expectant. And James uses the word in ergo for prayer that works powerfully. And how many of you know that Elijah's persistent prayers controlled the weather? We also know that ordinary believers aligned with God released heaven's fire.”

19s

#PrayAndStepOut

“Here's the thing. Prayer alone doesn't finish the assignment. How many of you were like, yes. I can just pray. Great. But how many you know that oftentimes when we pray, he speaks and then what is required of us? We have to step out in obedience. Right? So step three is we have to step out in obedience.”

25s

#GuidingFireEmpowers

“Could he do it in his strength, own way? Absolutely not. But God being with him, he did exactly what he was asked to do, was he not? God assured hesitant Moses at the burning bush that divine presence, his guiding fire would enable the impossible task of deliverance for his people.”

49s

#ObeyInTheSmallThings

“What might obedience look like for you? Maybe it's actually sending that text to a person when they pop up into your mind, and I said I should encourage them or I'm praying for you. Maybe it's actually starting that conversation that you're afraid is gonna be rejected or that you're fearful that I won't have all the answers. Maybe it's forgiving someone. Maybe it's you thought you forgot forgave somebody and it was dealt with, and the holy spirit said, we need to work on that a little bit more. There's a little bit more that needs to be released there. Maybe it's signing up to serve.”

45s

#LiveIgnitedDaily

“We don't want moments of just fire, but we wanna be a people that live ignited. We don't wanna have you a people that every January have to see the ashes and stir it up. We don't wanna have to be a people that are like, okay, what discipline do I need now? We wanna live in that place where we are carrying the word twenty four seven, three hundred and sixty five days a year, period. No matter what opposition comes, no matter what trials come, that it does not shake our faith, does not shake who we are. Guys, let me tell you, momentum is not accidental. It is sustained by our obedience, by our bold prayers, and by our courage.”

35s

#PrayerFueledGrowth

“And so guys, we know that the early church, they faced arrest, they faced opposition, But I believe that corporate prayer sustained explosive growth despite the danger. I mean, we see it. You can't deny it. It's in the word. Right? After Peter and John's release, the believers prayed and the room shook, and boldness increased on the inside of them, and the church multiplied.”

33s

#PrayForBoldness

“What happened before that? In the same chapter, they had been arrested. They had been threatened. They had been put in prison. They were commanded to stop teaching about this Jesus. And as soon as they left the prison and were released, they immediately went where? To their church family. And what did they immediately start doing? They started praying. And guys, when we look at scripture, and we're gonna read it in a moment, they didn't pray for safety. They didn't pray for comfort. What'd they pray for? Boldness.”

29s

#FromFearToBoldness

“Fearful disciples became world changers. We are a byproduct of what they did today. They became bold after the resurrection and after the experience that they had at Pentecost. They stepped out. The gospel spread everywhere.”

34s

#ReleaseTheFire

“today, we're gonna talk something about something a little bit different. We're gonna kinda shift gears a little bit because we are on fire. Right? We've got those disciplines going on. And here's what we need to know is once we have tended to that fire, then we have a responsibility to release it. It's not meant to be contained within us and only for us. And so, you know, if God has lit something in you this year or in the past couple couple weeks, what is the next question? It shouldn't be how do I keep it, but it should be how do I release it?”

25s

#SpiritWithinBoldness

“And I believe that he wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit. Now let me remind you that if you belong to Jesus, the holy spirit already lives within you. This moment is not about getting more from God, but it's about God getting more of us for boldness and for mission.”

29s

#AnswerTheStir

“but it was feeling that stirring of God, what do you want me to do in this moment? And I believe that a lot of us have that. And I know we always all of us can probably share opportunities where we felt that stirring and we missed it. Aren't we thankful that the Lord uses people and we know he's got a way through somebody else even when we miss it. But I'd rather get to the place where I don't ignore it and I obey it more than I dismiss it. That's sharing that fire.”

30s

#ActOnThePrompting

“And if I had to be honest, I bet maybe some of you have even felt something similar to this this week. Maybe at work, maybe at home, maybe at the gym, maybe at school, you almost said something. You almost prayed for someone. You almost invited someone, and that fire just kinda stirred. Anybody ever been there? You know, I thought about an example several weeks ago.”

21s

#WaitPrayGo

“to go forth and to speak. And so that's kinda what I see here is that, like, that fire leaped. Right? Jesus said, wait for it. They were waiting. They were praying. They were filled, and then it empowered them to go out and to share. Because when we look in the New Testament, we see that a lot of times the disciples were kind of fearful. Were they not? They were hiding. How many times did Peter deny Jesus?”

23s

#PentecostFire

“You know, at Pentecost, this is actually in Acts chapter two, it talks about how tongues of fire rested on each believer. Maybe you guys ever remember hearing that story or maybe seeing some videos, like, you know, they're in a room and they're praying and all of a sudden you see, and then they have like this little flame over over their head.”

29s

#AlignedBoldPrayer

30s

#StirredToSpeak

28s

#ObedienceTransformsGenerations

“And the China Inland Mission was actually founded, and then they sent out hundreds of missionaries that went out to share. So his simple act of obedience, lives were transformed across generations all because he stepped out and trusted that that fire would go with him.”

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