The Church on Fire

The Church on Fire

Text: Acts 4:31-33.                            

“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”

          I heard a story. A village atheist was not a bad man, he just did not believe. He was not interested in church, and there was only one in the area. It was cold and dead, more a social club, with no decisions being made. One day the church building caught on fire, and the whole town ran toward it to help extinguish the flames, including the village atheist!

        Someone cried out: “Hey, this is something new for you, the first time we have ever seen you running to church!” He replied, “This is the first time I have ever seen the church on fire!”

          Is this church on fire? A spiritual fire of the Holy Spirit I mean. If it was, we would be in fear of God this morning. We have all experience church services, with all the right words and actions, BUT there is no fire and no Holy Spirit there, a dead and dying church, just waiting to be buried!

          In Genesis 22. God told Abraham to take his son, Isaac to the mountains to become a human sacrifice. They arrived at the location, and Isaac still did not realize that HE was going to be the sacrifice. Isaac knew there had to be THREE things to have a sacrifice: “wood, fire, and a lamb.” “But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Now years later, as we look at most churches around us, we can invert the question and ask, “We have the wood, we have the Lamb, but where is the fire?”

Wood: cross of Calvary.

Lamb: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

But where is the fire? So, what are the characteristics of a church on fire for God? We have an example of an on-fire church in Acts 4, so let us take our points from there:

1.    ENDURED WITH POWER.

The leadership: Verse 8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The people: Verse 31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

We need power to fulfil God’s purpose we need God’s power, alone. We can accept no substitute. We cannot depend upon man programs, promotions, publicity, empty visions, or even worship choruses to stir the people into emotional high. None of these things can substitute for the power of the Holy Spirit upon a church.

          “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. Paul says I am not depending upon my wisdom, fancy sermons, tear-jerking illustrations, or funny stories. But the power of the Holy Spirit.

What happens when the leadership and the people are endued with power?

Souls will be saved (at least 3,000 in Jerusalem when this happened in Acts 2).

Worship services will be inspiring, the music will be uplifting. “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Ephesians 5:18-19.

World outreach missions’ program will be divinely directed by God.

Divine wisdom will accompany all our church decisions (Acts 15:28).

          What is the result when the leadership and people are not endued with power? Serving God will be a chore, a burden, if you do it in the energy of your flesh, rather than being endued with power! This is how we must serve God: in the energy of the Spirit, rather than the energy of the flesh. It is not us trying to make something happen, but us allowing something to happen TO us and THROUGH us, or even DESPITE of us!

2.    EQUAL IN POSTION.

“So, when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord”
Acts 4:24.
“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul”
Acts 4:32.

All pulling in same direction, locked arms together toward a common goal. Because we ALL come to Christ the same way, by the Cross! No looking at each other, but too busy looking at Christ. This church will be on fire for God! When we have a common goal, and we all must join hands in equality and unity.

          But there are some dangers we all fall into.

1.    Self-importance.

We believe we deserve special treatment, advantage, consideration, recognition. This problem of magnifying our own importance can happen to anyone, any church member, but it usually develops in the heart of a leadership! Pride has taken down many great preachers.

2.    Lack of importance.

An attitude of unfaithfulness which says, it does not matter if I am there or not, in the worship group or not, in choir or not, in children’s work or not, tithe or not, attend the services or not. We ALL have our part in this church. Do not minimize your importance to this body of Christ. There is something for all to do. Just be faithful!

3.    Misplaced calling.

          This is trying to be something God never intended you to be. This person wants to sing, but cannot carry a note, lead the worship, but cannot play the piano. What is my gift in God? Most people will tell you, you have a powerful voice, a great word, etc.

4.    EVANGELISTIC IN PRIORITY.

Many Christian do not like “street preaching.” But that is where we all need to start, in our street, telling our neighbours, work mates, family and friends. It is very evident, as you bring people to church, you witness on the job, etc. That’s the very best outreach a church can have, is one that is lived by it is people as they go on their way. Walk the talk!

That is what an on-fire church is all about, evangelism, winning people to Christ! Go into the entire world! The best remedy for a sick church is to put it on a soul-winning diet! R.G. Lee said, “God never intended for the church to be a refrigerator in which to preserve perishable faithfulness. He intended it to be an incubator in which to hatch our converts.”

CONCLUSION:

Church is to be a hospital for sinners, not a rest home for saints.

We are to be fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium!

          That is why the Lord left us here! And when we forget that, we lose our fire!