Tag Archives: Hebrews

Do Not Quench the Spirit

The NT is a life led after the Spirit, for then the believers are sons of God (Rom8:14).

Rom8:14-

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.”

There are two widely known verses that caution the believer against doing that will jeopardize the relationship with the Spirit.

They are –  do not quench the Spirit of 1The5:19 and do not grieve the Spirit of Eph4:30.

The context of not quenching the Spirit has the context of 1The5:16-23 concerning Christian conduct, and do not grieve the Spirit has the context of Eph4:17-32 concerning the Christian walk.

Both Christian conduct and Christian walk mean generally about the same; it is about the theme of obedience, emulating Christ by fulfilling the love commandments in practical ways.

Contextually speaking from 1The5, not quenching the Spirit appears to focus on inward (for self-benefit) and outward (benefiting others) conduct. 

Do not quench the Spirit is sandwiched between these two forms of Christian conduct.

1. 1The5:16-18 detail the inward conduct of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks precedes 1The5:19.

2. 1The5:20-23 detail the outward conduct of not despising prophesying, examining all things as per the guidelines of Rom 12:1-2 for the goal of doing good and abstaining from all evil, even in appearance. This outward conduct follows 1The5:19.

Therefore the wise counsel to not quench the Spirit has a specific context. 

The Spirit is quenched when we are trapped in grieves of this world vs. rejoicing in the eternal promises, communing with the world vs. praying, and complaining vs. giving thanks.

The Spirit is also quenched when we despise or resent the gifts of prophecy in others out of envy or doubt, when we neglect to test all things to confirm the will of God and when we fail to abstain from even the appearance of doing evil.