1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. 1. The Holy Spirit is represented as fire, the source of light and heat, because of His searching, illuminating, quickening, reviving, refining, assimilating influences. 2. It is implied that He may be quenched; not in Himself, but by the withdrawal of His influences, and so His graces, which are indicative of His presence, may be extinguished. 3. He may be quenched in others as well as in ourselves. (1) In ministers, by contempt of their ministrations. (2) Among Christians, by neglect of social prayer and religious conversation. Christians are like coals of fire which kindle into a blaze only when kept together. How disastrous to zeal are dissentions (Ephesians 4:30-32). I. THE INSTANCES IN WHICH WE MAY QUENCH THE SPIRIT. 1. By slighting, neglecting and resisting His operations. When the Spirit stirs us up, and we neither stir up ourselves nor our gifts, we quench the Spirit. 2. By diverting the mind from spiritual concerns, and engaging in vain and unnecessary recreations. The love of pleasure will extinguish the love of God. Fulfilment of the lusts of the flesh renders walking in the Spirit impossible. 3. By inordinate affections towards any earthly object. The life and power of godliness are seldom found among those who are eager in the pursuit of worldly gain (Matthew 19:16-22). 4. By robbing Him of His glory, by denying His Divinity, or the necessity and efficacy of His operations. 5. By sins of omission and commission. These are opposite to His nature. One will damp His sacred fire, a course of iniquity will extinguish it. II. THE REASONS WHICH SHOULD WARN US AGAINST THIS DANGER. If we quench the Spirit — 1. He will be silent to us, and will cease to admonish and guide either directly or through His ministers (1 Samuel 28:15). 2. He will suspend His influences and leave us in darkness. 3. We shall sin both against God and our own souls. (B. Beddome, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Quench not the Spirit. |
    |