Scripture

Do not quench the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV)

Observation

What does it mean to “quench the Spirit”? 

According to Merriam-Webster, “quench” means to “put out, extinguish,” like one might do with a fire when pouring water over it. Furthermore, Merriam-Webster indicates that quenching can mean cooling something down or causing something to lose warmth. Considering these definitions, can we apply them to the Holy Spirit? After all, that’s what Paul is talking about here. 

The Holy Spirit is a fire that cannot be put out (cf. Hebrews 12:29). Therefore, Paul cannot say that we can extinguish the Spirit within us. Still, the Holy Spirit can be grieved and neglected (cf. Ephesians 4:30, 1 Timothy 4:14). Indeed, we can also control the Holy Spirit, as revealed here.

The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

1 Corinthians 14:32 (NIV)

In this verse, Paul reveals that those the Holy Spirit uses can influence how the Spirit uses them. Since there were Corinthians who were being disorderly in worship and claiming the “Spirit” took control of them, Paul corrected their thinking by pointing out their error. 

Understanding what Paul said to the Corinthians is the key to understanding 1 Thessalonians 5:19. If we can control how the Spirit influences us and how we allow the Spirit to work within us, we can let the Spirit do what he wants or we cannot. 

Therefore, when Paul said, “Do not quench the Spirit,” in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, he was referring to stifling or resisting the movement of the Holy Spirit in and around us. Here are some examples of how one might “quench the Spirit.”

You’re standing in line at the supermarket, and the Holy Spirit tells you to engage the person behind you in conversation. Perhaps the Spirit tells you to say something like, “How’s it going?” However, instead of listening to the Spirit, you say nothing. Yet, who knows what could have happened if you obeyed the Spirit? Instead, you chose not to listen, and thus, you quenched the Spirit. 

Here’s an example that I run into frequently. At my church, we often have a program or a set way that things are done. We start with praise and worship, then we have prayer, and then we go back to the “testimonial” service that includes more praise and worship. However, every so often, the worship leader will go off in some other direction and “mess up” the order of our service. When this happens, we might have a prayer service and eventually get back on track. During these times, I find it incredibly difficult to just “allow” the Holy Spirit to move within the service because we’re not doing what we usually do. In these times, if I don’t allow the Spirit to move, I could be quenching him.

Any time the Spirit begins to move or tells us to do this or that, and we don’t, we could be quenching the Spirit. Consider this verse from Corinthians. 

For we live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

Whenever the Spirit urges us to go his way, and we decide to go on our way, we’re quenching the Spirit, but I think we’re also paying more attention to our “sight” than our faith. 

In my personal life, I’ve gotten a lot better at listening to the Spirit and recognizing when he’s moving in my life. However, when it comes to corporate events, I don’t always have the discernment I need to recognize when it’s the Holy Spirit changing the order of things and not someone “going off” and “doing their own thing.”

Application

For me, the best way to avoid quenching the Spirit is to ask God to open my eyes, ears, and heart to what the Spirit is doing and saying.

Prayer

Father, I praise you for who you are and your gift of the Holy Spirit that leads and guides me into all the truth. Forgive me for those times when I have resisted the movement of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Please continue to open my eyes to see, ears to hear, and my heart to understand what the Spirit is saying and doing. Please help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Thank you for doing these things. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.