We cannot prevent God from accomplishing His work in the world around us, but we can quench His Spirit in our lives. God has given us the freedom to withstand the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives. When we ignore, disobey, or reject what the Spirit is telling us, we quench His activity in us. The prophet Isaiah described the result: “Hearing you will hear and not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them”(Isa. 6:9; Matt. 13:14–15). - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day
Where is your heart directed? Is your heart divided? Have you allowed the thorns and thistles of bitterness over past hurts and failures to get what you want harden your heart?
Many have and have fallen away from the faith. As Scripture has mentioned, some try to use their freedom in Christ as a means for sordid gain. They use it as a reason to further their own riches at the expense of others. There's mention of consciousnesses being seared as with a branding iron.
But it's not just not letting go unwillingly from following Christ, it's also those who have let their disillusionment drive themselves away. They brought their own expectations and were disappointed so they walked away from God. They willingly walked away.
Quenching the Spirit is to put out the flame that He is trying to get going in your life.
It's not just to warm the soul but to expose what's inside a person's heart.
Many fight the Spirit in His attempt to clean house and prepare such a one to become like Christ.
Read the Old Testament. For that matter read through the whole Bible. Look up how many times God mentions the question of striving with man. Look up how often His patience was pushed too far and He had to deal with Israel and how she treated Him.
What ways do you quench the Spirit?
Probably more than you think.
Look at where your thoughts go.
Look at what you occupy your time with.
Look at who you put or what above your walk with Jesus.
Is family more important than your walk with God? Is your work? Is any aspect of your life more important than your transformation into what the Spirit doing in your life?
What did Jesus say? If you love anything more than me you are not worthy of Me.
Some it's work. Some it's games. Some in family activities. Some it's their hobbies.
Some it's sports.
Satan isn't going to show up on your doorstep and advertise that he is there an wants to interfere in your life. He is a deceiver. He is the father of lies. Know your enemy. He will entice you just as he did Eve. He will twist God's Word just as he did with Eve. Just as he did throughout history. As he did try with Jesus in the wilderness. You are no different!
Subtlety is his nature. You will find yourself excited about whatever is now in the place of God in your life!
It will indeed quench the Spirit. Your trials in life will get worse and worse because of the distance between you and God.
So what do you do? Repent and return. It's the message in the New Testament. Jesus tells a Church in Revelation to return to their first love. It's God's message to you and anyone who drifts away.
You want to see God work in your life? Stop quenching the Spirit and begin obeying Him. Let go of what you hold onto that had taken the place of Jesus on the Throne of your heart.
If you at all think a thought that begins with "But I gotta have..." then my dear Reader you have a very big problem.
If you at all have a thought of "It's not that bad...I really am ok." Then look again. If you use words like "..not that bad" then it is.
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