Sermon By John Ramirez

Your Fire Is Your Responsibility

In the Olympics of Old, the athletes would run with a lit torch. Their goal was not who came first, second, or third – that came a long time later – their goal was who finished with their torch lit. In the Holy Bible, there were two moments where the fire of the Holy Spirit fell. In the Book of Acts 2, the fire fell on the apostles, and in Acts 10, the fire of God fell on Cornelius’ household.

You are reponsible for your own fire. In the upper room, it wasn’t a corporate fire that touched everybody, it was individual tongues of flame that landed on each person who received it. Your fire is your responsibility. Many Christians will finish their race but the torch will not still be lit. The devil is after your fire.

The enemy’s primary target is not your stuff, status, or schedule—it’s your fire. Don’t trade God’s presence for good possessions or convenient opportunities.

I. Be All In

Are you all in for God? Are you completely committed? Is Jesus part of your life or your whole life? Jesus should be your whole life as a Christian. The devil is robbing the house of God on earth by inviting Christians to buy into the kingdom of God without selling out. We do this because we allow the devil to trick us with convenience and comfort.

I was a devil worshipper for 25 years, got married on Halloween, and had a demonic wedding. I was more dedicated to the devil than most Christians I had encountered were to Christ. When I was in the kingdom of darkness, I went to demon-church from 7 pm till 5 am, while most Christians could hardly attend church for 2 hours, and they were desperate to leave because they wanted to watch a football game.

Comfort and compromise are the devil’s favourite tools. Share on X

II. Your Fire Is Your Personal Responsibility

We blame the devil for everything, whereas we never blame the flesh or your mind that has been hijacked.

In Acts 2, “tongues as of fire…rested on each one.” This shows it was each person’s personal responsibility, not just to receive the fire of God but to keep it fanned into flame and burning brightly for the Lord.

God lights; we steward. Your pastor can fan your flame, but he can’t carry it.

Examine yourself and ask these questions:

• Do I burn like I used to? Am I still praying, fasting, and in the Word?
  

III. The Devil’s Real Target: Your Fire

The devil is not after your spouse, children, phone, job, or parking spot— he is after your flame. He is after the gift and presence of God in your life.

His tactic isn’t always attacking you; it’s to get you to settle or compromise for less than God’s will —a slow dimming.

The Holy Spirit gives you fire — but it’s your job to keep it burning. Share on X

IV. Presence vs. Possessions

Exodus 33:15 — “If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”

You can have provision without God’s presence—but you’ll be miserably successful because you won’t have the joy and peace of the Lord.

Moses would rather stay without milk & honey than move without God (Exodus 33:15). If you don’t have God’s presence, you will always live on the border of your purpose and destiny, and never enter the promised land.

V. Position or Presence?

Saul craved position; David craved Presence. Don’t take the devil’s bait; you need God’s presence in your life. Don’t buy into a spirit of compromise.

Titles, platforms, “deals,” and optics can become substitutes for God’s Presence. Take everything to God in prayer. Get God’s opinion about it first.

God gives you purpose; the devil gives distractions. Share on X

VI. How Compromise Creeps In

Convenience, comfort, craving “good things” without God; busyness that kills prayer; prophetic counterfeits (Acts 8:18–24). The life the modern church lives is that they want everything God has to offer without giving up anything for Him.

Impatient people want to have everything they want, whether God is in it or not. The Bible teaches us that if God isn’t in it, you don’t want it—even if it looks good, (Psalm 106:15; Proverbs 14:12). We are in love with the things we do for Jesus, but not in love with Him anymore.

We give more attention to the natural man than the spirit man. When you remove prayer, you invite defeat. Prayer opens prison doors. The devil fears nothing from a prayerless Christian. Your victory and your prayer life cannot be separated.

Religion builds buildings; presence builds people. Share on X

VII. Rekindling the Flame: Add Wood to the Fire

Proverbs 26:20 — “For lack of wood the fire goes out.”

The Wood we need to add to keep our fires burning for God are:

1. Obedience — quick surrender (John 14:21).
   
2. Trust — take it to prayer, wait for green lights (Proverbs 3:5–6).
   
3. Focus — eyes on Jesus, not outcomes (Hebrews 12:1–2).
   
4. Integrity — single-hearted devotion (Psalm 24:3–4).
   
5. Devotion Rhythms — Word (Jeremiah 15:16), fasting (Matthew 6:16–18), corporate prayer (Acts 4:31).
   
6. Community — let leaders and friends fan the flame (2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 10:24–25).

“The devil isn’t after your stuff – he’s after your fire.” Share on X

Watch The Full Sermon Here: