“Fan the Flame: Keeping the Flame of Our First Love for Jesus Burning.”
At the heart of this message is a simple but powerful truth: God starts the fire, but we are responsible for tending it. Just as a campfire dies when it is neglected, our passion for Christ can grow dim if we fail to continually feed our relationship with Him. Paul reminds Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God,” not because the fire is gone, but because it needs to be stirred and strengthened.
We began by looking at Acts 2, where God poured out His Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The fire that appeared over the disciples symbolized God’s empowering presence, and that same Holy Spirit still lives in every believer today. He is the One who convicts, comforts, teaches, empowers, and transforms us. We cannot create spiritual fire ourselves—the Holy Spirit ignites it, and we simply cooperate with Him.
We also discussed the difference between water baptism and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is our public declaration that we belong to Jesus, while the baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers us to live for Him. God never intended for us to live the Christian life in our own strength.
The heart of the message centered on six practical ways we fan the flame:
• Love God with total surrender by giving Him every area of our lives.
• Protect purity by living as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
• Practice sacrificial love by putting others before ourselves.
• Build up the Body of Christ through unity, encouragement, and service.
• Make wise, Spirit-led choices every day.
• Live with Kingdom values, investing in what will matter for eternity rather than temporary things.
• Protect purity by living as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
• Practice sacrificial love by putting others before ourselves.
• Build up the Body of Christ through unity, encouragement, and service.
• Make wise, Spirit-led choices every day.
• Live with Kingdom values, investing in what will matter for eternity rather than temporary things.
Throughout the sermon, we were reminded that every decision either feeds the fire or allows it to fade. Surrender, obedience, love, holiness, community, and an eternal perspective all become pieces of wood placed upon the fire of our first love for Christ.
As we concluded, we were reminded that the Holy Spirit who came with wind and fire in Acts 2 still fills believers today. Whether your flame has grown dim, whether you need to take the step of water baptism, or whether you simply desire a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus lovingly invites you to draw near again.
God has already started the fire—our calling is to keep feeding the flame until our lives shine brightly enough to lead others to Christ.
May we each choose this week to add another piece of wood to the fire through surrender, obedience, love, and faithful devotion to Christ.
Blessings,
Pastors Scott & Beth Cecil
Victory Faith Church
Victory Faith Church