How Can We Quench the Spirit? Believers are Sealed With the Mark of God! Pastor Gary Boyd

We should avoid putting out the fire of the Spirit within us, but unfortunately, it is possible: believers can quench the working of the Holy Spirit with which they are sealed. How can this happen? Here is an enlightened explanation….

Thessalonians 5:19

Paul told the Thessalonians “Quench not the Spirit” in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. The NIV translates this, “Do not put out the fire of the Spirit.” We find a parable to this in Ephesians 4:30. “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” God seals with his mark his people for the day to be redeemed, just as the Devil imitates God by sealing his own with the mark of the Beast.

The Redeemed

The redeemed children of God are sealed with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30.) You cannot lose him, however, you can suppress him. If you consider the context of Paul’s command, this is possible in at least two ways:

1. We can quench the Spirit in us if we do not develop the gifts of grace we have received. This is why it says afterwards: “Despise not prophesying,” (1 Thessalonians 5:20). Prophesying means to say that (a specified thing) will happen in the future, like

"Jacques was prophesying a bumper harvest."

Synonyms are: predict, foretell, forecast, foresee, forewarn of, and prognosticate. It is not about visions

that contradict the revealed Word, or some kind of revelation about the condition of other people through so called clairvoyance.

Some Gifts Have Ceased

In this sense we must also admit some of the gifts of grace have ceased since the times of the apostles. We, as Christians, cannot force the return of certain gifts, because some were only met for a certain time in history. However, the spiritual gifts that are given freely within the church today are very important. They should be recognized and encouraged, and no one in the church should suppress them. When the

spiritual gifts are given room the Lord himself is given room. In those places living churches are created, in which living water of the Holy Spirit flows.

Gifts of the Spirit

We ourselves should not put out the fire of the Holy Spirit in ourselves, in that we do not practice them because of false humility, perhaps not feeling worthy, being ashamed, or simply having fear of man and what the non-believers will say. Sometimes we know what we ought to do, but do not do it. We should firmly grasp that every person who is sealed with the Spirit has received at least one gift, for myself it is the spirit of Prophesy, and all gifts should be for the benefit of the true Church.

Do Not Suppress

Church leaders and others should not suppress the gifts within the Church, but further them in order to bring more believers into the Church. This should always take place in accordance with the gifts of the Spirit, “But the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:7). “You too who are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). “Strive after love, but strive zealously after the working of the Spirit, mostly that you prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1). With spiritual gifts it is always about the building of the Church and spreading the word of God to the unbelievers. Whoever suppresses the spiritual gifts extinguishes the Spirit in him.

2. The Holy Spirit is also quenched through the practice, clinging to and tolerating of sin. When we consider the context, we see in verses 12 to 18 of 1 Thessalonians 5, clearly what can put out the fire of the Holy Spirit: A. When we do not esteem others but despise them, for Jesus said how can you hate your brother and say you love me. You should love your brother as you love me. B. When we do not have peace with one another. C. When we do not have the courage to admonish unruly people. D. When we do not accept the weak. E. When we are

not patient with one another. F. When we reward evil with evil and bear grudges, remembering the Lord says, Vengeance is mine! G. When we do not strive after good. H. When we neglect to talk to our heavenly Father in prayer. I. When we are ungrateful for the blessings we have. J. When we do not abstain from every kind of evil.

The Objective of the Spirit within Us

The grace of the Holy Spirit is to spread the word of God so that more may be drawn into the Church and saved for eternal life. The Great Commission is to spread what you know, that God has told you, to the vast masses of unbelievers so that they too will come to serve the Lord. For it is his wish that all be saved and come to live in the glory of his everlasting light. We must be more like Jesus, loving our brothers, even though they may do us harm, moving on them in the Spirit of the Lord for he wishes all to be saved. May God keep us from grieving his Spirit!