Stirring the Fire: Surrendering to God's Plan

Devotional

Day 1: Stir Up the Gift Within You

Paul reminds Timothy that the spiritual fire within him is not gone, but needs to be intentionally stirred up. Just as a campfire needs to be poked and tended to keep burning, so too does the gift of God inside each believer require attention and action. It’s not about having done something wrong or being far from God; sometimes, the flame simply needs to be rekindled through intentional practices like prayer, worship, and time in the Word. God has already placed something powerful inside of you, and He’s waiting for you to take the step to stir it up, so that His power can ignite in your life once again. [01:24:47]

2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

Reflection: What is one intentional step you can take today to stir up the spiritual gift God has placed within you—whether it’s setting aside time for prayer, worship, or encouraging someone else?

Day 2: Feed the Fire—Don’t Just Stir It

A fire cannot keep burning if it is only stirred; it must be fed with new fuel. In the same way, your spiritual life needs more than just occasional moments of excitement or revival—it needs to be continually fed with your time, your heart, and your surrender. God has already given everything for you, even sacrificing His Son, and now He asks you to bring all of yourself—your hopes, your hurts, your brokenness—to Him. When you offer your whole self, even the parts you think are unworthy, God consumes it and turns it into something that shines for others to see. [01:36:16]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life—maybe a hurt, disappointment, or fear—that you can offer to God today as fuel for His fire in you?

Day 3: God’s Plan Is for You to Worship and Follow Him

So often, anxiety and worry come from trying to figure out every detail of your future, but God’s plan is simple: worship Him and follow where He leads. When you let go of the need to control every outcome and instead focus on loving and seeking God, He promises to guide you and provide for your needs. True peace comes not from having all the answers, but from trusting that God is your everything and is always with you, even when you don’t know the next step. [01:11:36]

Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV)
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Reflection: What is one decision or worry you can surrender to God today, choosing instead to worship and trust Him with your future?

Day 4: Be the Stick Man—Ignite Others with Encouragement

God calls each of us not only to tend to our own spiritual fire, but also to be the “stick man” for others—to encourage, lift up, and help reignite the flame in those around us. Sometimes, all it takes is one person willing to pray, encourage, or simply show up for someone else to spark a chain reaction of faith and revival. Your willingness to step out and encourage someone could be the very thing that helps them encounter God’s presence and purpose for their life. [01:28:36]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Reflection: Who is one person you can encourage or pray for today to help stir up the fire of God in their life?

Day 5: Fall in Love with Jesus—Seek His Presence Above All

The early believers in the upper room weren’t seeking spiritual gifts or experiences—they were simply seeking Jesus, longing for His presence. When you make it your aim to fall in love with Jesus more than ever before, everything else falls into place. God promises that if you seek Him, you will find Him, because He never leaves. No matter how you feel or what you’re facing, draw near to Jesus today, and let your heart be consumed by His love and presence. [01:41:36]

Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally seek Jesus’ presence today—whether through worship, prayer, or simply being still before Him?

Sermon Summary

Tonight, we gathered as a community hungry for more of God, and the Spirit’s presence was tangible from the very beginning. The heart of the evening centered on a simple but profound truth: God’s plan for our lives is not as complicated as we often make it. We spend so much time anxious about decisions—where to go, what to do, who to become—when God’s primary desire is that we worship Him and follow where He leads. When we make Him our everything, our worries and anxieties lose their grip, and we find clarity and peace in His presence.

Drawing from Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6, we explored the metaphor of fire. Just as a campfire needs to be stirred and fed to keep burning, so too does the spiritual fire within us. Many of us have experienced moments of spiritual passion—at camp, at special services, or in times of revival—but over time, that fire can dwindle to smoldering ashes. Paul’s instruction to Timothy was not to pray for a new fire, but to intentionally stir up the gift already placed within him. This means being proactive: reading the Word, worshiping, fasting, and seeking God beyond the mountaintop moments.

But stirring is not enough. Fires need fuel, and the only thing that truly feeds the fire of God is more of ourselves—our brokenness, our disappointments, our anxieties, and even our sin. God has already given everything for us, holding nothing back, and He asks us to do the same. When we lay down our burdens and offer all that we are, God consumes it and transforms it into something that can ignite others. Our vulnerability and surrender become the spark that encourages others to do the same, creating a chain reaction of revival.

The call tonight is to be intentional, to be the “stick man” who stirs and feeds the fire—not just in our own lives, but in the lives of those around us. God is looking for a generation willing to give Him everything, to let go of what weighs us down, and to pursue Him with undivided hearts. When we do, we become the light that glows in the darkness, and the world cannot help but take notice.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s plan is simpler than we think: worship and follow Him. We often complicate our lives with anxiety over decisions, but God’s primary desire is for us to make Him our everything. When we do, He leads us step by step, and the rest falls into place. Our peace is found not in knowing every detail, but in trusting the One who does. [70:58]
2. The fire of God within us must be intentionally stirred. Spiritual passion fades when left unattended, but Paul’s instruction to Timothy was to “fan into flame” the gift already given. This requires discipline—reading, worshiping, fasting, and seeking God even when we don’t feel like it. The fire is sustained by our daily choices, not just by mountaintop experiences. [84:47]
3. Stirring is not enough; the fire must be fed with all of ourselves. It’s easy to settle for memories of past encounters, but a smoldering fire cannot change the world. God asks us to bring our whole selves—our brokenness, pain, and even our failures—and lay them on the altar. When we do, He consumes it all and turns ashes into something that brings light and warmth to others. [93:49]
4. Vulnerability and surrender ignite revival in others. When we are honest about our struggles and offer them to God, it gives others permission to do the same. Revival is contagious; one person’s willingness to “feed the fire” can inspire a whole community to pursue God more deeply. Our authenticity is the fuel that keeps the fire spreading. [97:21]
5. Freedom comes when we lay down what we were never meant to carry. Many of us are weighed down by burdens, disappointments, and anxieties that God never intended for us to bear. When we surrender these to Him, we experience a freedom and lightness that cannot be found anywhere else. God’s consuming fire not only burns away our burdens but also empowers us to walk in His purpose. [99:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:17] - New Year’s Eve Lock-In Announcement
[22:26] - Games and Fellowship
[30:38] - Introductions and Special Guests
[31:17] - Pantomime and YWEA 2026 Challenge
[37:36] - Vision for Generational Change
[47:29] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[69:44] - Gratitude and Setting the Stage
[70:14] - God’s Plan and Our Anxiety
[72:37] - Is God Really Our Everything?
[75:34] - Prayer and Introduction to Fire
[77:57] - Lessons from Timothy: Rekindling the Fire
[82:07] - The Stick Man: Stirring the Flame
[86:18] - Feeding the Fire: Beyond Stirring
[93:49] - Giving God Everything: Fuel for the Fire
[99:18] - Laying Down Our Burdens
[101:03] - Invitation to Surrender and Worship
[120:25] - Closing Prayer and Fellowship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV) — > For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Observation Questions

In 2 Timothy 1:6, what does Paul specifically tell Timothy to do with the gift God has given him?
According to the sermon, what are some ways people experience the “fire” of God in their lives? ([01:19:00])
What does the “stick man” do around a campfire, and how was this used as a metaphor in the sermon? ([01:23:11])
What does the preacher say is the difference between stirring the fire and feeding the fire? ([01:32:56])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul tells Timothy to “fan into flame” the gift, instead of asking God for a new fire? What does this say about our responsibility in our spiritual lives? ([01:25:32])
The sermon mentions that God’s plan is simpler than we make it—mainly to worship and follow Him. Why do people often complicate God’s plan with anxiety and worry? ([01:10:58])
The preacher says that feeding the fire means giving God “more of ourselves”—even our brokenness and disappointments. Why might it be hard for people to offer these things to God? ([01:36:16])
How does vulnerability and surrender in one person encourage others to do the same, according to the sermon? ([01:37:21])

Application Questions

The sermon says that God’s plan is for us to worship Him and follow where He leads, and that our anxieties often come from trying to figure out every detail ourselves. What is one area of your life where you feel anxious about the future? How could you practice worship and trust in that area this week? ([01:10:58])
Paul tells Timothy to “fan into flame” the gift already given. What is one practical way you could intentionally “stir up” your spiritual life this week—like reading the Bible, worshiping, or fasting—even if you don’t feel like it? ([01:24:47])
The preacher said that stirring the fire isn’t enough; we have to feed it with all of ourselves, including our pain and failures. Is there something you’ve been holding back from God—like a disappointment, sin, or fear—that you could lay down before Him this week? What would it look like to do that? ([01:33:49])
The sermon talked about being the “stick man” not just for ourselves, but for others. Who is someone in your life who might need encouragement or help to “stir up” their faith? How could you be a “stick man” for them this week? ([01:28:36])
The preacher said that revival is contagious and that our honesty about struggles can inspire others. Is there a struggle or story from your life that you could share with someone to encourage them in their faith? ([01:37:21])
The message ended with the idea that freedom comes when we lay down what we were never meant to carry. What is one burden you are carrying right now that you sense God is asking you to surrender? What step could you take to give it to Him? ([01:39:18])
The sermon challenged us to pursue God with undivided hearts. Are there distractions or “weights” in your life that are keeping you from giving God your full attention? What is one thing you could change this week to pursue Him more wholeheartedly? ([01:38:22])

Sermon Clips

Paul writes to Timothy, and he's telling him. He's saying, man, the Fire is still there, but you need to be a little bit more intentional about stirring the gift that's inside of you. Come on. What Paul is telling Timothy is sometimes you got to get up earlier than you normally do and read your Bible longer than you normally read it. You got to turn on worship music instead of some of that stuff you've been listening to. Sometimes you got to push the plate back and, and fast a meal or two so that you can stir up the supernatural gift that's inside of you and the power of God can begin to flow through you again. [01:24:33] (38 seconds) #IntentionalIgnition

Some of you in the room spiritually, you feel like you're cold. You feel like the flame has gone down. And what God is telling you tonight is, I haven't left you just stir it a little bit. [01:25:16] (15 seconds) #StewardTheFlame

The fire of revival is already in you. It's just time for you to be intentional, to glow in a dark place. You can always tell where the fire is at night because it glows. Come on. It glows. [01:28:58] (18 seconds) #BrokennessToBrightness

You see, here's what I've noticed about folks. Fire is that you can only stir it so many times. Students, in this moment and in this world, stirring the fire isn't enough. You gotta feed it. You gotta feed it. You see, when one of the things that the stickman is responsible for is not to just stir the ashes, but it's to add wood to the flame. And as long as you put something to burn in the burn pile, the flame will continue to burn. But as soon as the only thing you're doing is stirring it and you're not adding anything to it, eventually it will go out. [01:32:32] (58 seconds) #SeekAndFind

Some of y' all are carrying things that you're not supposed to be carrying in this moment. If you're willing to put it down, you'll feel freedom like you've never felt before. And when you put it down in the presence of God, he completely consumes it, which means it can't be brought back ever again. [01:39:18] (21 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?