Quench or Ignite

8/13/2020

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.”

Holy Spirit power is the most amazing thing to experience. I have found that the closer I walk with God, the more guidance and inspiration I receive. The more I listen, the more I hear. The greater my focus is on Jesus, the more attuned to the Holy Spirit I become. The still small voice of the Spirit leading, directing, and comforting is a powerful encounter. Chambers writes, “The checks of the Spirit come in the most extraordinarily gentle ways, and if you are not sensitive enough to detect His voice you will quench it, and your personal spiritual life will be impaired.” These words are so true. Whenever I allow myself to be lured away from concentrating on God, I cannot hear the Holy Spirit and can easily fall into confusion. This is exactly where the destroyer wants me to be, confused and unfocused.  

The verses that contain the excerpt used by Chambers expand on this charge. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. So not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” If I follow this and other charges in the Word of God, and make it my focus for everyday living, I will gain the discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit. The most amazing moments come when I get out of the way, am still and focusing on my breath, being grateful, and listening to the still small voice. Living in the world it would certainly be easier to quench the Spirit and stay safe from scorn and persecution, but as God’s creation, we are ordained to have our spirits on fire for Him!