Our question comes from First Thessalonians 5:19-20, which says, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.” The “Spirit” of this text is the Holy Spirit. The Greek word rendered “quench” means “to extinguish.” Every time this word is used in the New Testament it refers to quenching a fire or things on fire (literally or metaphorically). As used in this verse, the word means “to quench, suppress, or stifle divine influence.” Why were these Christians warned against quenching or extinguishing the Holy Spirit? How can man quench the Holy Spirit?
This admonition was given during the time when the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were in use. The Holy Spirit used individuals with these gifts to convey His Word to the church. In the absence of the written New Testament, the church depended on these gifts for their guidance and edification. Apparently, these inspired individuals, their messages, or both, were being despised or disregarded by some in the church. In doing so, they were, in a figurative sense, pouring water on the fire that was guiding the church. They were quenching the Spirit when they suppressed, stifled, or ignored those who spoke by inspiration.
Although the age of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit has ended, the need for this admonition has not. The written words of the Holy Spirit can be suppressed and ignored today, just as the spoken words of inspired men were despised in the first century. When a church exchanges the simplicity of the Gospel for its own plans, politics, conventions and creeds, the Spirit has been quenched. When a preacher is pressured into becoming an ear tickler (2 Timothy 4:2-4), the Spirit has been quenched. When gospel sermons, Scripture readings, and Bible studies are replaced with drama skits, comedy routines, puppet shows, political speeches and musical reviews, the Spirit has been quenched.
Some people believe the working of the Holy Spirit is irresistible, but the Spirit can be resisted. “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51, see also Isaiah 63:10). The Holy Spirit is resisted when men will not listen to His word. “Yet for many years You had patience with them, and testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands” (Nehemiah 9:30, emphasis mine - HR).
The Spirit works through His Word (Isaiah 55:10-11). Through it He pricks hearts (Acts 2:37, 7:54) and causes them to burn (Luke 24:32). A fire can be quenched by dousing it with water, covering it with dirt, or by removing its fuel. Whenever the Word of God is ignored, the Spirit has been quenched. We quench the Spirit today when we…
- Ignore the message of God’s love for us and continue to love the world (1 John 2:15-17).
- Ignore the sacrifice of Christ and continue to serve self (Matt. 16:24).
- Ignore the authority of Christ and continue to do what we want (Luke 6:46).
- Ignore the true Light and continue to walk in darkness (John 1:9).
- Ignore the riches of Heaven and continue to lay up treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19-21).
- Ignore the call to holiness and continue to walk in uncleanness (1 Thess. 4:7).
- Ignore the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14) and continue to descend the path that leads to Hell (Matt. 7:13-14).
Do not quench the Spirit. If you know that you need to respond to the Gospel in faith and obedience, then DO IT! If you know that you need to repent of sin and start living right, then DO IT! Don’t put out the fire that the Spirit has lit in your heart.