Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-22 ESV)
I have begun recently to realize that I have indeed quenched the Spirit in several areas of my life. In my response to charismatic extremes, I have despised prophecy. I have also tried to operate in my spiritual gifts in ways that were not dependent on the Spirit, whose gifts they are. I have acted as if I am an owner of my gifts rather than merely a dependent steward.
But recently another thought has occurred to me - since my flesh (old self/false selves) wars against the Spirit, then indulging in these is another way of quenching the Spirit, or putting the Spirit's fire out. If the Spirit is the Spirit of sonship (and he is) then when I live as an orphan trying to earn acceptance then I am quenching the Spirit too (Gal 5:16-26; Romans 8:5-16).
All of these ways are ways of independently trying to find life apart from God. Each of these ways quenches the Spirit's work in my life. I am seeking to surrender afresh to the Spirit in repentance in all these areas. I need prayer.
other parallels:
grieving the Spirit (Eph 4:30)
resisting the Spirit (Acts 7:51)
2 comments:
Encouraged by the way the Lord is leading you in these meditations.
thanks, bro. I'll keep you in the loop!
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