SPIRIT’S FIRE
By Rick Mathes
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit;
There is only one baptism and it includes the fullness of the Triune Godhead. No further injection of the Holy Spirit is necessary. However, you do have your hand on the dimmer switch. You can turn up or down the power of the Holy Spirit’s influence in your life and relationship with those around you.
The Holy Spirit is quenched:
- BY NEGLECT: I went about the task of painting three rooms in my house in three days. I neglected my devotions, prayers and Christian music. I leaked the Holy Spirit so much that I was slipping cuss words out and seriously thinking about getting a sex-pack of beer. (I am a former alcoholic.)
- WORLDLINESS: This most certainly includes how others perceive you. I went to the movie staging area of Disneyland and saw that all the houses and buildings were only as thick as the two-by-fours that held the façade up: no depth or the real thing behind it, much like your life right now.
- INDULGENCE: Liquid levity in alcoholic beverages is short lived and results in an awful hangover. Drugs cause addiction and there are even some who are committing suicide “by fork.” (Gluttony.)
- THOUGHTS: You really are what you think. I have seen many who have hit the mother of bottoms rise to unexpected levels of success once they developed a relationship with Jesus.
- FEELINGS: Satan can and often does counterfeit feelings. Just because it feels good doesn’t mean it came from godly sources. Any crack or heroin addict will give this a hearty amen!
- And then there is the list of corruptions:
- What you read
- Who you are employed with
- A backsliding family
- Friends that only walk the wide road
- A church filled with demons
We are triune beings that are composed of three of Satan’s main targets:
- Our flesh
- Our spirit
- Our soul
Nothing would make the devil more happy but for you to quench the Holy Spirit by tuning the dimmer switch down to as low as it will go and put the Spirit’s fire out!
Rick Mathes 