Sermon Title: Church in the Mind of God – A Burning People

Key Scripture(s):

Leviticus 6:8-13 (NLT):

Then the Lord said to Moses, 9 “Give Aaron and his sons the following instructions regarding the burnt offering. The burnt offering must be left on top of the altar until the next morning, and the fire on the altar must be kept burning all night. 10 In the morning, after the priest on duty has put on his official linen clothing and linen undergarments, he must clean out the ashes of the burnt offering and put them beside the altar. 11 Then he must take off these garments, change back into his regular clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean. 12 Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must never go out. Each morning the priest will add fresh wood to the fire and arrange the burnt offering on it. He will then burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. 13 Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.

And then very quickly let’s go to Leviticus 9:24. Chapter 6 is only the instructions; chapter 9 shows what happened when the priests actually carried out their duties for the first time.

Leviticus 9:24 (NLT):

Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.

Description:

This sermon reminds us that the Church was born in fire - at Pentecost - and that this same fire is still available today. But many of us have settled for embers. We've grown content with past experiences, comfortable routines, and the slow cooling of once-burning hearts. Yet God’s call remains: keep the fire burning. A burning people is what the Church in the mind of God looks like.

Pastor Dominic explores six truths from Leviticus 6:

• Be the priest - you are not a spectator. You are called to tend the flame of God’s presence in every area of life - at work, at home, at university, etc. As a priest, you carry God’s presence everywhere.

• Build the altar - God’s fire only falls on prepared places. Your heart is the altar now.

• Bring the sacrifice - fire doesn't fall on empty altars. What in your life needs to be surrendered again — your plans, your comfort, your control?

• Clear the ashes - old wounds, old victories, and unconfessed sin can suffocate the flame. Clear them out to make room for fresh fire.

• Remember the source - we don’t create the fire. God does. But we must prepare the altar for Him to move.

• Feed the fire - yesterday’s flame won’t fuel today’s passion. Daily devotion, obedience, worship, and spiritual discipline are your firewood.

God will send the fire - but we are responsible to keep it burning. God sends revival, but we have more of a part to play than we often think!