Set Ablaze
The Zeal of a True Disciple

THE FIRE THAT TERRIFIES THE WORLD

What if I told you that the world doesn't fear lukewarm Christians?

What if I told you that Satan does not tremble at church attenders who nod politely at sermons and yawn through their Bibles?

But set one soul on fire for God—ignite one disciple with a holy zeal—and the gates of hell begin to shudder.

There’s a reason why Nero didn’t throw half-hearted believers to the lions. No. He burned the ones who burned for Christ.

So let me ask you: Where is your fire?

Where is your zeal? Where is the passion that once surged through the veins of the early Church? Where is the fire that moved men like Paul, who said, “Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)?

Has it grown cold? Have we replaced zeal with convenience? Are we fans of Jesus or are we on fire?

Today, I’m not talking to the curious. I’m not talking to the casual. I’m speaking to those who are ready to be consumed—to be zealous disciples in a generation of slumber.

Let’s walk through Scripture. Let’s walk through fire. And let’s come out ablaze.

ZEAL IN THE SCRIPTURES—HOLY FIRE NEVER HIDES

Let us turn first to Romans 12:11:

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

This is not a suggestion. This is a divine expectation. God is not calling for passive believers. He’s calling for warriors on fire.

Look at the life of Elijah. The prophets of Baal were laughing, cutting themselves, putting on a religious show. But Elijah—he was burning with a holy fire. He stood alone, trembling but fearless, and called down fire from heaven.

1 Kings 18:22—Elijah said, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord…” He stood, alone, against hundreds.

Why?

Because zeal is not measured by popularity—it is measured by devotion.

And let’s talk about Jesus Himself.

In John 2:17, after He flipped the tables and drove out the money changers, the disciples remembered what was written:

“Zeal for Your house has consumed Me.”

Let that sink in. Consumed Me.

Jesus wasn’t moderate. He wasn’t diplomatic when God’s house was being desecrated. He was zealous. He was ablaze with divine jealousy for the Father’s name.

So why do we think we can follow Him with cold hearts?

CHURCH HISTORY—WHEN ZEAL SET THE WORLD ON FIRE

Now, let me take you through the halls of history—through the blood-soaked stones of the early Church, through the prayers of reformers, and the cries of martyrs.

Polycarp, the disciple of John, was brought before the Roman proconsul.
“Swear by the fortune of Caesar,” they told him. “Deny Christ, and you shall live.”

Polycarp, eighty-six years old, replied:

“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

They burned him alive.

Zeal.

Not emotional hype. Not Sunday-only faith. Blood-stained, soul-deep zeal.

Then there was John Knox—the firebrand of Scotland. He prayed, “Give me Scotland, or I die.” He preached so boldly against sin and idolatry that Queen Mary of Scots said she feared his prayers more than an army of ten thousand men.

Zeal.

Or William Tyndale, who dared to translate the Bible into English. They strangled him and burned his body. His crime? Making God’s Word accessible. But before he died, he cried out, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!”

And He did.

These men were not content with safe Christianity. They were not sedated by comfort. They were awakened by zeal.

THE COST OF ZEAL—WHY IT’S RARE

Now you might ask, “Why is such zeal so rare today?”

Because zeal will cost you everything.

It will cost your popularity. Your comfort. Your reputation.

It might cost your family, your job, your future plans.

That’s why Jesus said in Luke 14:26:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”

Strong words. But not cruel. He’s not asking for emotion—He’s asking for priority.

If Christ is not your greatest passion, your greatest pursuit, your greatest fire—then you are not yet a true disciple.

Let me say it plainly: You cannot follow Jesus casually. You cannot walk with a crucified Savior and not expect to carry a cross.

You cannot be a zealous disciple while clinging to idols.

ZEAL’S FRUIT—WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BURN FOR GOD

Zeal doesn’t just inspire—it transforms.

When you are consumed with zeal for Christ:

• You stop negotiating with sin.

• You stop asking, “How far can I go and still be saved?”

• You start asking, “How holy can I be?”

• You stop waiting for permission and start obeying the Great Commission.

When you burn for Christ:

• Lukewarm people will feel uncomfortable around you.

• Dead churches will label you “fanatical.”

• But heaven will call you faithful.

Look at Paul again. After encountering Jesus, he didn’t attend a few Bible studies and settle into a comfortable pew. He said in Philippians 3:8:

“I count all things as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

This man was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, stoned—and still burning.

Why? Because the fire was within, not around him.

HOW TO BECOME A ZEALOUS DISCIPLE—NOW

Now, I know what some of you are thinking:

“But I don’t feel that kind of fire…”

That’s because zeal isn’t a personality trait—it’s a byproduct of intimacy with Christ.

So how do we get that fire?

1. Seek God until He becomes your everything.
Not your weekend visit. Your everything. Zeal begins where idols end.

2. Repent of spiritual apathy.
Ask yourself—when did the fire begin to die? What quenched it? Was it sin? Was it fear? Was it comfort? Confess it and return.

3. Feed the flame daily.
A fire without fuel dies. Read the Word. Pray like your life depends on it. Surround yourself with fire-filled believers.

4. Count the cost—and pay it.
Zeal comes with scars. But Jesus is worth every wound.

THE CHURCH NEEDS FLAMES, NOT FANS

I’ll end with this:

In Revelation 3:15–16, Jesus speaks to the church of Laodicea:

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm... I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Those are terrifying words.

The Son of God would rather us be cold than fake the fire.

Beloved, if your walk with Christ costs you nothing, it may be worth nothing.

But if today, you are willing to burn—to live with holy zeal, to surrender everything, to stand like Elijah, to speak like Paul, to live like Christ—then you are not just a Christian…

You are a disciple.

PRAYER: SET US ABLAZE

Oh God,

Rend the heavens and come down.

Tear away our idols, crush our complacency, destroy every altar that is not Yours.

Forgive us, Lord, for serving You with divided hearts. For playing games with holy things. For worshipping comfort over the cross.

We repent, Father.

Baptize us again—not with water, but with fire. Not with form, but with passion. Set us ablaze with a holy zeal that cannot be quenched.

We don’t want to be popular—we want to be pure.

We don’t want applause—we want anointing.

We don’t want ease—we want eternal impact.

Jesus, burn away the dross. Light the torch again. Let the world see in us what they saw in the saints of old—a people who were not afraid to die, because they had already died to themselves.

We are Yours. Entirely. Forever. Amen.

ARE YOU READY TO BURN?

So I ask you now—are you ready to burn?

Are you ready to be misunderstood, mocked, and perhaps martyred?

Are you ready to stop playing church and start being the Church?

Are you ready to wake up each day not asking, “What can I get from God?” but “What can I give Him today?”

Then rise up.

Let your life preach louder than your lips.

Let your heart beat with the thunder of heaven’s call.

Be the Elijah of your city. The Paul of your generation. The flame that pierces the darkness.

And when you stand before the King on that Day, may He look you in the eye and say:

“Well done, My zealous servant.”

Now go. And burn.