Quench not the Spirit    Quench: To put out; to put out the flame, light or sight of, or the desire for; to slake; to dampen down; put an end to.    Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.  (1 Thessalonians 5:14-24) We see here that Paul is exhorting the Christians of Thessalonica to repent of any worldly ways that they were susceptible to, and are included here in God's word for our eternal benefit.    Here are some other passages from God's word covering the subject. You'll become aware that the necessity of repentance is also well covered:  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;  (Psalms 104:10-14) If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.  (Jeremiah 4:1-4) Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up. For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel. For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought. Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.  (Amos 5:1-6) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  (Ephesians 6:16)   Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, who walk in the power and comfort of God the Holy Spirit, the following is an incident that you can identify with:  A few of the worldly and Spiritual experiences that have befallen my wife and I while in the motor car that the Lord God supplied for our benefit have already been recorded among the teachings on this web site1. Here is one more, showing how easily one can become complacent in the presence of God's mercy and grace; thinking of No 2 instead of Number One.  One day, while driving through the suburbs on our way to town it became apparent that the vehicle ahead of us had gone through a stop street without the stop lights even going on. At the next stop we came up behind this stationary vehicle and as we stopped behind, it reversed into our battle-scarred car. A witness to the incident was an acquaintance and the next time we met remarked that the other driver was also known to him.  Needless to say, the matter was reported at the local police station, in the process of which it became apparent that the other vehicle was also not insured and that the driver thereof was trying to make a living as an itinerant gardener.  There was a cast iron case against him, what was I to do?  My Lord asked the same question.   As we previously read, the Children of Israel, the chosen people, had the same problem and were warned by God through two of His prophets. God's promise was fulfilled; in His time.  Are you and I not guilty of the same? On a daily basis?  Will the Holy Spirit's power and presence depart from our time of worship, and of our walk in this everyday world, sinful creatures that we are?  Yebo: we do the quenching and the world grows a little darker.  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (Romans 8:1)   Our need of the Holy Spirit and His Gifts have previously been considered on this web site. However in view of the above they are listed and described once again as a refresher course.  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.  (Romans 12:3-8) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.  (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.  (1 Corinthians 12:27-31) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (Ephesians 4:7-11)   My friend, please take time out to consider the following hard to swallow possibility: the spiritual gifts that you have been given and use; are they used for the benefit of the Kingdom, or for your own glory?  Further, by their, and your, nature, do they originate in the Throne Room or elsewhere?    Please do not quench the Holy Spirit in your being while sojourning on this world.    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)