Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
The Bible warns us about “quenching” the Holy Spirit. Other translations of the Bible use words like “stifle,” “extinguish,” or “restrain.”
We would never willingly “quench” the Holy Spirit but do. You may feel an urge to do something and then ignore it, thinking it was just you when the Holy Spirit was trying to direct you.
He leads us through our spirits, not through our intellect. The number one way we “quench” Him is by ignoring Him or pushing His leadings off as a result of allowing our reasoning to override them.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
Can you grieve an impersonal object like a chair, guitar, or water glass? The answer is that you cannot!
The Holy Spirit is a person who our actions or words can grieve. He lives inside of us, and there will be times when you will feel grieved because you are sensing His pain within your spirit.
You must train yourself to make immediate adjustments at the first sense you’ve done something that has grieved the Holy Spirit. We are talking about recognizing that He is Holy and must be reverenced. These adjustments are one way that you will show your respect for Him.
The things that we’re discussing will require you to learn the ways of the Holy Spirit. Most Christians have not been taught these things and do not know how to respond to Him appropriately. Some may have learned one or two ways that He moves and so miss the majority of His leadings as a result. The following are examples of how people allow themselves to be trapped in an endless cycle of fleshly responses to His movements.
- Some people have learned that the proper response is to shout so they always shout when sensing His presence.
- Some people have learned to laugh when they sense His presence and so shout whenever the Spirit begins to move.
- Some people have learned to dance when they sense His presence and so dance anytime then sense His presence.
Each of these responses may have a place but are not appropriate in every instance that the Spirit moves. Christians tend to get a tunnel vision based on how they have learned to respond to the Holy Spirit. This result is that they are limited in their scope of understanding and expressing what He is doing.
I think one of the great hindrances to our walk with the Spirit is the propensity to elevate men or women who flow in the anointing and lead “big” ministries. We focus on the person but instead focus on the one within them that has anointed them. There will be people God calls you to follow to learn from their experience walking with Him, but we must not elevate them above our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
It is possible to short circuit the anointing. As an example, there are times when the Holy Spirit settles over a congregation. These are very holy moments often characterized by silence. I have been in countless services where this happened, and someone jumped up and started to give a “word.” They may have sensed Him giving this but did not deliver it at the appropriate moment, and you could sense the anointing lift.
The Holy Spirit moves in many ways, and we must not allow ourselves to become focused only on one or two that we’ve experienced. Moving in the wrong direction opposite the one He is going is something we often do in ignorance. He will help you learn how to flow with Him if you allow Him to.
But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. (Isaiah 63:1)
The word “vex” could also be translated as “disturb” or “grieve.” We do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit in any way regardless of whether we do so on purpose or ignorantly.
Understanding the holiness of the Holy Spirit is key to our developing reverence for His presence in our lives. It is a significant key to our being able to unlock His ministry through us. If you do not learn to respect His presence, you will continue to struggle in your ability to walk with Him.
You will find that the Holy Spirit will not treat you anything like the devil does. He will always work with you and never try to coerce or manipulate you. Satan will work continuously to make you do something opposite of the Holy Spirit, who will always be available to lead you along the path God has ordained you to walk.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:23 – 29)
The NASB translation uses “insult” in place of the phrase “hath done despite.” We have seen that the Holy Spirit can be grieved, vexed, and now insulted.
I believe that there are three things that each of us must avoid at all costs regarding our relationship with God. First, we must never do anything to disrespect the blood of Jesus. Second, we must always be respectful of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our midst. Finally, we must show reverence to the Word of God.
We see in Hebrews 10 that the Holy Spirit can be insulted. I have sat in service listening to people talking during worship and felt how it grieved Him that they were so disrespectful of His presence. You must recognize Him, and you can become more aware of His presence in your life.
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