1 Thessalonians 5
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost is recorded in the second chapter of Acts. On this day, the Spirit came, “like the blowing of a violent wind,” and, “they saw what looked like tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” The Spirit came to individuals that were gathered together as a group. He came to empower individual believers to do work as part of a body of believers. That He came and appeared as fire is a fitting metaphor, although, the visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost would look like tongues of fire. This is not the first instance of the power of God being displayed as fire. Moses encountered a burning bush that was not consumed. (Ex 3:2) During the Exodus the Lord guided the Israelites across the wilderness as a pillar of cloud by day and as a pillar of fire by night. (Ex 13:21) Moreover, those who are visibly and diligently working on behalf of the Lord are often said to be on fire for God.
So what is this quenching of the Holy Spirit? Remember, the Holy Spirit came to those waiting in the upper room while they were gathered as a group. There was individual empowerment for the benefit of the organization. The individuals did not go their separate ways and serve the way they felt was fitting. They served together as a corporate body, each them exercising the gift mix they were given at the point of their salvation.
These verses of scripture come as final instructions to the church in Thessalonica. Paul admonishes them as a church not to quench the spirit. Allow people to serve in the area where God has gifted them. Be open to ideas for new ministries based on the laborers that God brings. Too often the church will move people into various ministries because there is-in their opinion-a real need that must be filled and the person they asked said yes. When church leaders fail to equip the believers for the work of the ministry in accordance with their spiritual giftedness, they are quenching the Spirit.
As individuals we can quench the Spirit the way we quench any fire: We cut off its supply of fuel. The power of the Holy Spirit comes by abiding with God. It comes from an active prayer life and time spent in God’s Word. Prayer is talking to God. Studying His word is listening to God. Conversations are critical to all relationships.
We quench the Spirit when we remove the source in ourselves when we cut ourselves off from God. When we become too busy for God, we are busier than God intended for us to be. We also quench the Spirit when we succumb to the temptations of the flesh. Our salvation is never lost but our fellowship with God can be thwarted when our time is spent on those things that are not edifying to us or glorifying to Him. We quench the Spirit in others when we fail to use our gifts to build up other believers in the church and when we fail to allow them to exercise their spiritual gifts in service to God and His Kingdom.
Pray that you will become on fire for God. Ask Him to reveal anything in your life where you may have quenched the Spirit. Repentance always leads to restoration; restoration towards fellowship; fellowship towards service.
Pray that you will become on fire for God. Ask Him to reveal anything in your life where you may have quenched the Spirit. Repentance always leads to restoration; restoration towards fellowship; fellowship towards service.
