Quench Not the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:14-22

The Lord gave us checklists in the Bible, and our focus today is on the checklist that only appeared once in the Bible and has to do with our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
The Bible told us of the things that can be quenched, Numbers 11:2 (Fire); Hebrews 11:34 (Violence of fire); 2 Samuel 14:7 (Coal); 2 Samuel 21:17 (Light); Psalm 104:11 (Thirst); Ephesians 6:16 (fiery darts of the wicked) and the things that cannot be quenched such as hell fire (Mark 9:43-44).
We have exceptional counsel in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 that we should “Quench not the Spirit.”
Believers must take this standing order and restraint from the Lord seriously.

P1. Wonders of the Holy Spirit in Believer’s life

John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; John 16:13

The wonders of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life surpass the world’s seven wonders.
Holy Spirit dwell in us (John 14:23), renew us (Titus 3:4-7) and outpour His Spirit on us (John 3:34).
Holy Spirit anoints us (1 John 4:6; 1 John 2:20, 27), leads us (John 16:13), intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27) and seals us (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Holy Spirit instils the fear of God in us (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).
Holy Spirit grants us wisdom, knowledge and understanding (Ephesians 5:15-18).
Holy Spirit counsels us and fortifies us (1 Corinthians 2:13).

P2. Warning Against Quenching the Holy Spirit in Believer’s life

Mathew 12:29-31; Ephesians 4:17-32; Acts 7:51; Isaiah 63:10; Acts 5:3

There is a warning not to shut down our receptive channel to the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51, 53).
The Lord warned us not to blaspheme, grieve, resist, lie, rebel and vex the Holy Ghost (Psalm 51:11).
The Lord warned us not to resist the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sins consistently (John 16:8-9).
We should learn from Ephraim (Hosea 7:9-10), “gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.”
We should learn from Samson (Judges 16:20), “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.”
We should learn from Demas (2 Timothy 4:10), “having loved this present world.”

P3. Willingness to keep Holy Spirit fire aglow in Believer’s life

Psalm 94:16; Romans 8:15–16; Mathew 3:11; Luke 4:1; Acts 2:2-4; 7:55

God is unhappy with a lukewarm church or lukewarm believer because they are difficult to predict (Laodicea, Revelation 3:14–16).
Jesus is God with us. Holy Spirit is God in us, willing to ignite His fire in believers’ life.
The Lord is willing to baptize us with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
Holy Spirit is willing to make us burning and shining light.
Holy Spirit, keep our hearts warm in a cold world (John 5:35).
Holy Spirit gives us light in a dark world (John 1:5).
The letter killeth, but Holy Spirit gives us life (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Let your fire ever burn upon the altar; never let it go out (Leviticus 6:13).

“Lukewarm Christians are evidence of the sin of ‘choking out’ the voice of the Spirit. No church fellowship can grow spiritually where the Spirit of God is not honored as its very life. When the lives of Christians are lukewarm and carnal, rather than dedicated and holy, it is evident that the Spirit is being quenched. Such a church is in need of a deep moving of the Spirit of God in a Biblical revival” – Myron Augsburger.

“There is a great need in these days of apostasy for spiritual discernment. We need to discern how the Spirit of God is leading. In these times we must have a ‘word from the Lord,’ a prophetic voice, forthtelling, making the Gospel relevant in today’s situation” – Myron Augsburger.

“The sin of suppressing the Spirit’s insights rather than surrendering to them has robbed many a professing Christian of joy in the world” – Myron Augsburger.

“Quenching the Spirit is a sin marked by complacency, indifference, and being satisfied with the status quo” – Myron Augsburger.