A Heart on Fire | Sean Finch | 28th August 2022

Family Church Online

This is week four of the series on Matters of the Heart. Ps Sean speaks about a heart on fire for Jesus. One of his principle scriptures is Luke 24; 30-32 where the Disciple’s eyes were opened in His presence. Reading from verse 30 (NKJV) “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

So, the disciples are hanging out with this person, not knowing who he was. Having a conversation with Him as He opened the scriptures, the word of God, the most powerful thing, the revelation of Jesus set their hearts on fire inwardly in a spiritual way.

But what was actually happening was they were walking with Jesus, and in that moment, everything inside of them - faults, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purpose and endeavours were set on fire. Right there, in that moment, set alight for the kingdom of God.

Are we not in a similar situation – gathered in His presence? Are our hearts being set ablaze for Him as we move around, igniting passion in our world? To see miracles, to see the power of God working in people’s lives, to see people delivered from sickness….we all need to be set on fire. Fire in the Bible usually depicts God's presence. Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3 asks why the bush does not burn. In Exodus 19, Moses brings the people out of the camp at Mount Sinai to meet with God, the Lord manifests in a thick cloud of fire and smoke in order that the people might see, hear and believe.

Look in the New Testament to see what God has done in His actual name. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem in all Judea Samaria to the ends of the Earth” (Acts 1:8). This is incredible. What God is saying is that you shall receive the fire of God in you, what does Paul say in Romans 12:1? (KJV) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”. We call down the fire to hit our sacrifice inside of us. We are the Living Sacrifice that we can call upon the name of the Lord and watch the fire.

Peter denied Jesus three times but later, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4, NKJV). But later in verse 14, Peter delivers a message telling them to “heed his words”. This was a new Peter – who had the fire of God in his heart.

The thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections and purpose changed - the power of God took him over and that was in his life would never be the same again. Then Peter said in verse 38 “repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”. He speaks into a great big crowd for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promise, is to you and to your children and to all who are far off for. This call is for us now as well. We all need the fire of God in our hearts.