WHAT QUENCHING LOOKS LIKE

Do not quench the Spirit.  I Thess. 5:19

When the word “quench” is used in the English language, it usually has to do with putting out a fire.  That is a good analogy of what happens when the fire of the Spirit is diminished in someone’s heart.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He assured His disciples that He would send someone to pick up where He left off.  He would continue the relationship with each of them through His Holy Spirit.  The parental nature of His relationship would carry on.  Just as He did in their presence, His Spirit would comfort, teach, and intercede for them.

So, what does the process of quenching look like in several of these areas?

For me to receive someone’s comfort, I have to be willing to admit that I hurt.  Otherwise, I protest when they extend their sympathy and insist to them that I am doing just fine.  Put off, my friends leave frustrated.  The Holy Spirit longs to come to me in the ravaged places of my life.  I can refuse to acknowledge that those areas exist. In so doing, I quench His overtures and keep Him at arm’s length.

For me to sit under a teacher, I must declare myself in need of his wisdom.  Otherwise, I turn a deaf ear to whatever he says.   I can be offended that the teacher might think me in need of instruction.  How many times does the Holy Spirit wish to instruct me, but I am too threatened to admit I might benefit from His guidance!

Ephesians 4:30 says that I am not to grieve the Holy Spirit.  Quenching is what I do to the Spirit.  Grieving is what the Holy Spirit experiences because of what I did.

Any overture You make, I am open.  I embrace Your every move in me.  Amen