Relight The Fire

Devotional

Day 1: True Joy Comes from Jesus, Not Circumstances

Joy is not dependent on our circumstances or fleeting happiness, but is rooted in the unchanging presence of Jesus, who has already overcome the world. When life feels overwhelming and darkness presses in, remember that Jesus warned us trouble would come, but He also promised us peace and victory through Him. Instead of chasing after temporary happiness that rises and falls with your circumstances, anchor yourself in the joy that comes from knowing Christ and resting in His finished work. [02:56]

John 16:33 (ESV)
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve been chasing happiness based on circumstances? How can you intentionally seek the deeper joy that Jesus offers in that area today?

Day 2: Spiritual Enthusiasm Flows from Daily Time with God

Spiritual fire and enthusiasm are not the result of hype or trying harder, but are cultivated through consistent, daily time spent in God’s presence—trusting Him, walking with Him, and worshipping Him in every part of life. Just as David’s boldness before Goliath was built in the quiet fields with God, your courage and light are fueled by the private moments you spend with Him, not just public displays or Sunday worship. Make it your aim to draw close to God each day, letting His presence fill you and ignite your spirit, so you can shine bright even when darkness surrounds you. [24:14]

1 Samuel 17:45 (ESV)
"Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'"

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally spend time with God today—trusting, walking, or worshipping Him—outside of your normal routine?

Day 3: Drifting from God Leads to Complacency and Sin

When we step back from daily intimacy with God, we become vulnerable to spiritual complacency, old habits, and even sin, just as David did when he stayed home from battle and fell into temptation with Bathsheba. Spiritual drift doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a slow process of choosing comfort over calling, and apathy over passion. Recognize the warning signs in your own life—sporadic church attendance, old habits resurfacing, or a loss of spiritual hunger—and let God draw you back to Himself before complacency takes root. [32:45]

2 Samuel 11:1 (ESV)
"In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem."

Reflection: Where have you chosen comfort or routine over God’s calling in your life? What is one step you can take today to move back toward spiritual passion and away from complacency?

Day 4: Restoration Begins with Honest Repentance and Returning to Your First Love

When you realize you’ve drifted or lost your spiritual fire, restoration starts with honest self-examination, repentance, and a return to the practices that once fueled your love for God. Like David, own your spiritual state without blaming others, and ask God to create a pure heart, renew your spirit, and restore the joy of your salvation. Go back to the basics—trusting, walking, and worshipping God daily—not out of duty, but out of delight, so your light can shine bright again. [39:25]

Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

Reflection: What is one spiritual practice or habit you used to do that brought you close to God, but have let slip? How can you reintroduce it into your life this week?

Day 5: Let Your Light Influence the World, Not the Other Way Around

There are two types of people: those who let their circumstances dictate their spiritual temperature, and those who let the fire of God within them influence the world around them. God calls you to be a thermostat, not a thermometer—to shine bright and bring hope, joy, and love to a dark world, not to be dimmed by it. Decide today that the light in you will not bow to the darkness around you, but will shine even brighter as you stay close to God and let His presence radiate through you. [42:32]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who needs to see the light of Jesus through you this week? What is one specific way you can let your light shine for them today?

Sermon Summary

We are called to be the light of the world, not just in word but in the way we live every day. The world is desperate for hope, for joy, and for the love of Jesus, and it’s through our lives that people see Him most clearly. But I know that for many, the fire inside can grow dim. Life is hard, and the enemy works overtime to discourage us, to make us feel like our light is barely flickering. Yet, it’s in these moments of darkness that our light is needed most. The presence of darkness doesn’t mean we’ve failed; it means our light is essential.

Happiness is fleeting because it depends on our circumstances, but joy is rooted in the presence of God and remains constant, no matter what we face. Jesus told us plainly that trouble will come, but He has overcome the world. Our challenge is not to let our circumstances dictate our spiritual temperature, but to let the light of Christ within us influence the world around us. We don’t shine brighter by trying harder; we shine brighter by drawing closer to God, by being “entheos”—in God, filled with His presence.

David’s life is a powerful example. As a young man, his daily trust, walk, and worship with God gave him the courage to face giants. But when he drifted from God’s presence, he lost his fire and fell into complacency and sin. The difference was not in his circumstances, but in his closeness to God. When we drift, we don’t drift toward discipline or passion—we drift toward comfort and apathy. The way back is not through shame or self-effort, but by returning to our first love, by doing again the things that once filled us with joy and purpose: daily trust, daily walk, daily worship.

If you feel your light has grown dim, you’re not alone. The answer is not to fake it or to try to muster up enthusiasm, but to get close to God again. Own where you are, repent, and ask God to restore the joy of your salvation. Let’s be a people who don’t just shine for a season, but for a lifetime—people whose light refuses to bow to the darkness around us, because we are continually drawing near to the source of all light.

Key Takeaways

1. Joy is deeper than happiness Happiness is tied to our circumstances, but joy is rooted in God’s presence and remains steady through every season. When we pursue joy, we find a strength that isn’t shaken by life’s ups and downs. This joy becomes a testimony to the world that our hope is anchored in something greater than what’s happening around us. [02:11]
2. Spiritual fire is fueled by daily closeness Trying harder doesn’t make us shine brighter; drawing closer to God does. Our spiritual enthusiasm is sustained by daily trust, daily walk, and daily worship. When we make God our constant companion, our light grows, and we’re prepared for whatever battles come our way. [15:45]
3. Drift leads to complacency, not passion When we stop pursuing God intentionally, we naturally drift toward comfort, apathy, and self-centeredness. Spiritual drift is subtle but dangerous, slowly replacing vibrant faith with routine and old habits. The way back is to recognize the drift, repent, and return to the practices that once brought us close to God. [35:11]
4. Enthusiasm is “in God”—not in hype True spiritual enthusiasm isn’t about emotional highs or favorite songs; it’s about being “entheos”—in God. When our hearts are filled with Him, we become thermostats, not thermometers, setting the spiritual climate around us rather than being shaped by it. This kind of enthusiasm is contagious and transformative. [13:41]
5. Restoration comes from returning to first love When we’ve lost our fire, the answer isn’t to shame ourselves but to return to our first love. Like David, we must own our spiritual state, repent, and ask God to restore the joy and passion we once had. God is always ready to renew us when we draw near to Him with honest hearts. [39:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Called to Shine in Darkness
[01:09] - When Your Light Grows Dim
[02:11] - Joy vs. Happiness
[03:53] - Facing Darkness with Light
[04:35] - Closer to God, Brighter the Light
[05:28] - Faking It and Feeling Disconnected
[07:26] - Life’s Dodgeball: Spiritual Fatigue
[09:04] - My Story: Losing and Regaining Fire
[11:18] - Relight the Fire: Guarding Your Heart
[12:33] - The Power of Enthusiasm (Entheos)
[15:45] - Daily Practices that Fuel Fire
[18:53] - David: From Enthusiasm to Apathy
[21:15] - Where David’s Boldness Came From
[24:35] - Worship: More Than a Song
[27:17] - Daily Devotion Prepares for Giants
[30:36] - Two Seasons in David’s Life
[32:45] - Comfort vs. Calling
[35:11] - The Danger of Spiritual Drift
[39:35] - Returning to First Love
[42:32] - The Light in Me Won’t Bow
[43:22] - Prayer for Rekindled Fire
[44:07] - Invitation to Salvation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 16:33 (ESV) — > "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

2. 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (ESV)
> "Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.'"

3. Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)
> "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

Observation Questions

According to John 16:33, what does Jesus say about the troubles we will face in this world, and what encouragement does He give? [02:43]
In the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17), what was different about David’s approach to the giant compared to the rest of the Israelite army? [20:13]
In Psalm 51, what does David ask God to restore to him after he recognizes his sin? [39:04]
The sermon mentions two types of people: those who let their circumstances change them, and those who let God in them change their circumstances. What are some examples the pastor gives of each? [13:20]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus say we can have peace even though we will have trouble in this world? What does it mean that He has "overcome the world"? [02:43]
The pastor says David’s boldness came from his daily walk with God, not just a one-time event. How does this challenge the idea that spiritual passion is only for “big moments”? [21:48]
When David lost his spiritual fire and fell into sin, what was the root cause according to the sermon? How does this relate to spiritual drift in our own lives? [32:45]
The sermon talks about “entheos”—being in God—as the source of true enthusiasm. How is this different from just being excited or hyped up emotionally? [13:41]

Application Questions

The pastor said, “You don’t shine brighter by trying harder; you shine brighter by staying closer to God.” What is one practical way you can draw closer to God this week, especially if you feel your light is dim? [04:35]
Think about a time when you felt more passionate or enthusiastic about your faith than you do right now. What daily habits or practices were you doing then that you might have drifted away from? [36:52]
The sermon warns that when we drift, we don’t drift toward discipline or passion, but toward comfort and apathy. Are there areas in your life where you’ve noticed this drift? What’s one step you can take to move back toward spiritual passion? [35:11]
David’s story shows that spiritual restoration comes from owning where we are, repenting, and returning to our first love. Is there something you need to own or confess to God right now? What would it look like to “return to your first love” this week? [39:35]
The pastor described two types of people: thermometers (who let circumstances set their spiritual temperature) and thermostats (who set the temperature around them). Which one do you relate to more, and what would it look like for you to be a “thermostat” in your family, workplace, or friend group? [13:20]
Joy is described as being deeper than happiness, rooted in God’s presence and not in circumstances. What is one situation in your life right now where you need to choose joy over happiness? How can you remind yourself of God’s presence in that situation? [02:11]
The sermon says, “The light in me will not bow to the darkness around me.” What is one area of darkness or discouragement you’re facing, and how can you let God’s light shine through you in that area this week? [42:32]

Sermon Clips

You don't shine bright by trying harder. If you came in here and said, I'm going to shine brighter. Do I look brighter? Did it work? No, you don't shine brighter by trying harder. You shine brighter by staying closer. Closer to God. Because when you get close to him, he radiates his light through you. [00:04:26] (21 seconds) #ShineCloserToGod

The best part is when you get on fire for God, when you have that spiritual enthusiasm, it spreads to those around you. It becomes contagious. And that's what God wants. He wants you to come to church today. Get your fire back. Go out there and blaze hot in front of a world that's full of darkness. And they say, I want what you've got. [00:17:48] (19 seconds) #ContagiousFire

Worship is what keeps your light lit when the dark seasons show up. And the key word is you've got to do it daily. It was an everyday, constant, regular event in David's life. He trusted God and his faith stayed strong. He walked with God and it kept his heart close to God. And he worshiped God and it kept his light bright. [00:26:45] (17 seconds) #DailyWorshipLight

Sometimes we lose our fire because we just want peace. We're weathered, we're worn, and we're just tired. And we're just like, God, I just want some peace. And when he stepped away from the battle, when he stayed back at the palace, his light started to fade. But later you'll see when he stepped back into the presence of God, his light burned bright again. [00:32:54] (21 seconds) #PeaceRestoresFire

Don't blame what happened here in an hour and five minutes on Sunday for where you're at the rest of the week. All right? I can give you what I can give you in an hour and five, but you've got the rest of your week to pursue God, to get in theos. Because I can't fill you up in one day what you neglected for six days. [00:38:25] (17 seconds) #PursueGodDaily

``The light in me will not bow to the darkness in the world around me. The light in me will not bow to the darkness that is around me. I'm going to keep that fire burning on the inside. And I don't do it by trying harder. I do it by getting closer, closer to God. And he'll restore that fire. [00:42:42] (22 seconds) #LightWon'tBow

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