A Burning Fire

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Introduction

1.      The chicken and the pig discuss a breakfast of ham and eggs

2.      People shrink from commitment, at work, at home and at church

3.      Jeremiah’s experience and his cry – “It becomes a burning fire . . . I cannot endure it.”

4.      The Bible is filled with stories of people who had a “burning fire”  

Discussion

1.      There ought to be a burning fire to understand people

a.       To know those with whom I worship – we have obligations to “one another”  

b.      To care about those with whom I worship – See the attitude of Jesus in Mark 6:34

                                                            i.      He saw them

                                                          ii.      He understood them

                                                        iii.      He helped them  

c.       To pray for those with whom I worship – James 5:16  

2.      There ought to be a burning fire to understand God’s Word

a.       To know what I believe – Americans have probably never had so many “options” as are available through TV and the internet  

b.      To know why I believe – It is good to know what you believe; it is better to know why you believe as you do!  

c.       To know how to communicate that to others – It is even better when you can communicate your beliefs to others – the Great Commission requires us so to do  

3.      There ought to be a  burning fire to serve the Lord

a.       In worship – Israel went to Jerusalem three times a year – Ps 122:1  

b.      In godly living – Rom 12:1 – God never accepted an impure sacrifice  

c.       In reaching out to the lost – In a time when most people claim to be “Christian” it does not seem as urgent to evangelize  

Conclusion

1.       No one can light the fire for you

2.      No one can fight the battle for you

3.      You will choose either to be on fire for the Lord or you will choose to be a bystander in the greatest battle being fought between the forces of evil and the forces of good