You know those Planet Earth high-definition videos on the Discovery Channel that show us the intricacies of creation in all its colors, sounds, and movements? We need one for middle school boys. There may not be a more wildly amazing organism in all of God’s wide world than 11–14-year-old males. I’d watch that episode over and again.
Middle school boys will take a burning stick or candle, wet their fingers, and see if they can stifle the flame without getting their fingers scorched. When one of their buddies holds on too long, the rest of the gang breaks out in laughter at their hand shaking friend. Within seconds, another underdeveloped brain will yell, “Lemme try!” I love middle school boys.
Paul cautions Christians about putting out a flame when he writes, “Do not quench the spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Like squeezing the life out of a burning candle, Christians should not extinguish the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our church. Warren Wiersbe comments, “When the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives and churches, we have a warmth of love in our hearts, light for our minds, and energy for our wills. He melts us together so that there is harmony and cooperation; and He purifies us so that we put away sin.”
There are many ways we might quench the Holy Spirit. Here are a few:
An Angry Temper. Our Lord promised all his followers of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s presence promotes peace not rage. Believers given to angry outbursts repress the Holy Spirit’s efforts to calm us in aggravating scenarios.
Stubbornness. Our Lord said the Holy Spirit will guide his followers in truth. A refusal to consider the morality of a behavior or the benefit of a different behavior on a relationship or the necessity to think biblically about a scenario may be a rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work to change us from what we are to what he desires we become. Most of us a far more stubborn than we might admit.
Indifference. From the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit works to conform us to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we excuse our offensive conduct and words, we push back against the Spirit’s work to rid us of the old way before Christ.
Insensitivity. The presence of the Holy Spirit should make Christians the most sensitive of people to the needs, feelings, and condition of others, especially our fellow Christians. Responding to scenarios with primary consideration of self denies the presence of the Spirit who makes us sensitive to the world around us.
Laziness. The Holy Spirit delivers to us the capacity to work good things, whatever those good things are in the individual life, but it is work. By definition, work requires effort and can be hard to accomplish. Some Christians fill their hours with activity but with little of the work for which the Spirit has equipped them.
Have you ever considered the question, “Do I quench the Spirit?”
As always, thanks for reading, and I welcome your feedback and any suggestions you might have for an upcoming Lunchtime Musing.