SERMONS and LESSONS

Pastor Smith preached this sermon about Pentecostal Fire on Sunday morning November 7th, 2004.  You can also hear this and other sermons on our audio page thanks to Tom Vallance! 

Listen to this Sermon

STIR YOUR FIRE and SHAKE OFF THE SNAKE!

TEXT: (Acts 28:1-10 KJV)  And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. (2) And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. (3) And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. (4) And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. (5) And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. (6) Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. (7) In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. (8) And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. (9) So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: (10) Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

INTRO:

1. There’s NOTHING unimportant in the book of THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES!

a. If we truly believe that God orchestrated everything in the life of Paul, we must also believe that even the smallest detail is ordained by God.

b. I’ve discovered some of the most profound truths are in the details of God’s word.

2. Nothing that happened on this tiny island was by chance.  God was orchestrating it all.

3. They had just survived what had to be one of the most traumatic events of their lives… They had been caught for weeks in a terrifying storm and finally shipwrecked on the shore of this strange little island.

a. We must come to realize that on the other side of the storm God may not bring us to a resort paradise, but to a place where we can be a blessing to others.

4. The ’where’ of this event was significant…

a. It wasn’t by chance that they landed on this island… an island of pagans who had never heard of this man called Jesus.

b. Often we’re so busy licking our wounds and talking about the storm we just came through, that we miss the real opportunity to make a difference for God.

5. What they did on this island was significant as well… right down to the smallest detail.

a. Look what happen as soon as they got on that little island... (2) And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. (3) And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

b. They were tired, weary, their strength was spent, they where in a confusing place and situation… but they took time to build a fire.

c. The fire would comfort them.

d. The fire would change their condition (from cold and wet to warm and dry)!

e. The fire would illuminate them… others could see exactly where they were at!  

f. The fire would guard them from the harsh elements and probably would even save their lives!

c. I believe that in the fire of the Holy Spirit we can also find all of these things!

6. When you’re weary, weak, confused and just don’t know what to do… build a Fire!

a. Stir up those Holy Ghost Fires in some desolate place and watch what God can do.

b. That Holy Ghost fire will comfort you.

c. That Holy Ghost fire will change your condition.

d. That Holy Ghost Fire will illuminate you.

e. That Holy Ghost Fire will guard you from this old world.

7. But you ask… “What does it take to ‘Build a Fire’ in the middle of my situation?”

I. THIS WASN’T A NEW FIRE… BUT A REKINDLED FIRE

a. They didn’t have to start by rubbing sticks together they no doubt used a fire that had already been kindled.

b. I’m not looking for a new fire or a new fad passing by… I want to rekindle that same fire that burned in Acts the 2nd chapter.

A. THE EMBERS OF PENTECOST ARE STILL GLOWING

1. God is still moving.

2. But what that means to your life will be determined by what you do with those glowing embers.

3. If we’ll rekindle the fire, we’ll soon see the flames and feel the FIRE power.

ILL. There have been many cold mornings that I have gone to the old heating stove and opened the cold door only to see a red glow deep inside the ashes of yesterday’s fire!  All it took was a good stirring and some dry kindling to bring the fire back to life and heat back to the house!

4. The world says the fires of Pentecost have gone out, but yesterday’s fire can once again be BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE!

5. The problem isn’t that the fires have gone out but God’s people have stopped feeding it!  

6. Most of us are more than a little bit worried about building a fire in the wind for fear that it will get out of control!  REST ASSURED THAT JUST LIKE ON PENTECOST, THE FIRE OF GOD IS A CONTROLED FIRE!

II. PAUL’S FIRE HAD TO BE FED!

a. Though he was tired, Paul understood that the fire wouldn’t last long unless it was fed so Paul laid some sticks on the fire.

b. If you’re waiting on someone else to build a fire for you, you’re going to be disappointed!

c. Maybe you’ve be waiting for just the right evangelist to stir up your fire.

d. We are told in God’s Word that we must stir up that gift that is within us, we’ve got to feed our own fire! 

A. IT HAD TO BE FED THEN AND THERE.  IT COULDN’T WAIT!

1. Paul couldn’t wait for things to get better He needed to build a fire NOW!

2. In darkest crises of his life, David (we’re told) “encouraged himself in the Lord.”

3. Learn to feed your fire when there is no one else to feed it.

4. When you don’t know what else to do… feed the fire.

5. When you feel like it and when you don’t feel like it…feed the fire.

6. Even if you are the only one left with glowing embers… FEED YOUR FIRE!

B. FEED IT THE DRY THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.

1. Some people are sitting around waiting for spontaneous combustion to take place!

2. When I feel a little dry I just rekindle my fire with a handful of dry attitudes, a shovelful of dry spirits, a bushel of dry days, a heap of dry services, and a whole lot of dry outlooks.  Then just watch the Holy Ghost set them ablaze again in my life!!

3. Dry things won’t last long in the intense heat of the Holy Ghost.

4. Don’t miss one single area… if it’s dry it belongs in the fire.

C. FEED YOUR FIRE ON THE THINGS YOU HAVE PREPAIRED ESPECIALLY FOR GOD!

1. It took effort on Paul’s part to “gather” that bundle of sticks… he was preparing for the fire.

2. Is your heart, ready for the fire?

3. Have you prepared the way for the Holy Ghost to burn anew in your life.

4. Is your worship prepared before hand? Is your faith prepared before hand? Is your anticipation prepared before hand?

5. Will God find a prepared altar for Him to rain His fire upon?

III. THIS FIRE BROUGHT OUT THE SERPENT!

a. The Bible is very clear about what brought out the serpent… Acts 28:3 “…there came a viper out of the heat…”

b. The old serpent the devil won’t bother the church as long as it’s cold and lifeless, but as soon as Holy Ghost fires begin to stir he’ll raise up to STOP THE MOVE OF GOD DEAD!  

c. The serpent latched onto Paul’s hand, while he was stirring and feeding the fire.

d. The devil will do anything to keep you from being on fire for God… anything to keep you from stirring up the gifts of God!

A. OTHERS ARE QUICK TO CRITICIZE.

1. It took no time at all for somebody to be whispering about what was going on with Paul.

2. The natives began to whisper among themselves.  The natives still like to whisper!

3. When the devil lifts his head in the midst of what God is doing, there are always critics sitting back just looking for some opportunity to judge what God is doing!

4. Look at what they were whispering about… (4) And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

5. The enemy’s clan will declare… the church is going down, the serpent has won.

6. The enemy declared Paul as ‘sinful’ “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.”

7. Even God’s elect are tempted to whisper evil, negative, bad things about one of their own.

8. Paul didn’t buy into all the negative, bad things they were whispering.  I like what he did…

B. HE SHOOK THE SNAKE OFF INTO THE FIRE!

1. He didn’t defend himself or try to treat the wound or the serpent on his own.  INSTEAD… HE USED THE FIRE!

2. Just stir up the fire a little more and the devil will have to go.

3. When you cast the devil into the heat of that Holy Ghost fire HE WILL LET GO OF YOUR SITUATION! 

4. Stop trying to convince the devil to leave you alone.

5. Stop trying to fight the devil in your own strength.

6. JUST Shake him off in the fire!

7. Shake him off during Holy Ghost worship! Just shake him off during Holy Ghost singing!  Just shake him off during some good old Holy Ghost shouting and dancing in the Sprit!  

8. Paul could stand the heat, but the snake had to go.

ILL. The 3 Hebrew Children came out of the fire unsinged because the Lord was with them!

C. HE FELT NO HARM!

1. I like the result… (5) And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.  

2. They expected the hand of Paul to swell up… BUT IT DIDN’T!

3. Society sits back and waits to see the church get all puffed up and filled with the poison of anger, strife and division!  But when we shake the devil off we feel no harm.

4. When the devil wants you to get mad at your brother of sister…  Just shake it off.

5. The devil will want you to be poisoned by depression & discouragement… Just shake it off in the fire of the Holy Ghost.

6. The devil will want you to give up and wait for death… Just shake it off in the fire and go on with living.

7. If you’ll just shake it off…you’ll make an impact on the lives of those around you.

8. I think one of the things that has destroyed more people’s testimony than anything else is how they respond when the enemy attacks.

IV. THIS FIRE WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING!

a. I believe that that physical fire had spiritual significance because of what happened after this event.

b. One thing was clear the Holy Ghost was already at work on this tiny island.

c. Because of that little fire and even because of the devil’s attacks Revival was destined by God to break out on that tiny island for 3 months.

d. Even when the devil tries to hinder us, God can even use the devil to bless us and open doors we could never open on our own.

e. Revival starts when we stir up the fire and shake off the devil.

A. BY STIRRING THE FIRE AND SHAKING OFF THE DEVIL GOD WILL SEND REVIVAL THAT TURNS OUR CRITICS INTO CONVERTS!  (6) Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

1. Holy Ghost revival has a way of changing people’s hearts and minds.

2. Don’t be angry at your critics or those who put you down, they might be your next converts to the Lord!

B. BY STIRRING THE FIRE AND SHAKING OFF THE DEVIL GOD CAN SEND A REVIVAL THAT OPENS DOORS!  (7) In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. (8) And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

1. There’s no doubt that Publius had heard about what happened.

2. They didn’t just stay in someone’s home, but in the home of a man called the “chief man of the island.”

3. Their Godly influence was growing.

4. In the house they found yet another opportunity to minister of the power of God.

C. SOON REVIVAL COVERED THE ENTIRE ISLAND!   (9) So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: (10) Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

1. Who would have ever thought that a group of shipwrecked prisoners of Rome could make such an impact in such a short period of time?

2. Surely our time is running out… we must start stirring up the gift that is in us, so the world can see and believe.

STIR YOUR FIRE AND SHAKE OFF THE DEVIL!