Church in the Mind of God - A Burning People

When God envisions His church, He doesn’t picture a passive community but a burning people—men and women ignited with His Spirit, consumed with holy passion, and radiant with His glory. Rev. Dominic De Souza’s message, Church in the Mind of God – A Burning People, reminded us that Christianity is not about cold ritual but about carrying fire.

From the beginning, fire has marked God’s people. Moses encountered Him in the burning bush. Elijah called down fire on Mount Carmel. At Pentecost, tongues of fire rested on every believer. The pattern is unmistakable: God sets His people ablaze so they can set the world alight.

But fires require tending. Just as the priests in the Old Testament were commanded to keep the altar fire burning day and night, we too must guard and nurture our flame. Distractions, complacency, and sin seek to dim it. Yet through prayer, worship, the Word, and fellowship, the fire grows stronger.

A burning church is not known for its programs or structures but for its passion for Jesus and its impact on the world. People should sense God’s presence when they encounter us, just as crowds could not ignore the early disciples.

We are not called to smolder. We are called to burn bright—for our families, our communities, and our generation. That’s the church in the mind of God: a people aflame, unashamed, and unstoppable.



Church in the Mind of God – A Burning People (Devotional) 

The Bible tells us in Leviticus 6:13: “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” This was more than ritual—it was a picture of the believer’s life.

In Acts 2, when the Spirit fell at Pentecost, tongues of fire rested on the disciples. That fire wasn’t just for a moment; it was to mark their lives forever. Likewise, God has ignited a flame in us—not for a season, but for a lifetime.

But fire must be fed. It requires fuel. Prayer, worship, Scripture, and fellowship are the wood that keeps it alive. Without them, our hearts grow cold. With them, our passion burns brighter.

Rev. De Souza reminded us that the church God sees is a burning people—men and women alive with His Spirit, contagious in their faith, and radiant with His presence.

Is your fire flickering? Today, ask God to breathe fresh wind on your flame. He delights to rekindle what seems weak and to set you ablaze again.

Prayer:
Lord, keep my heart burning for You. Fan into flame the gift of Your Spirit within me. May my life shine with Your presence and ignite others with Your love. Amen.