Grieving and Quenching the Holy Spirit of God! 4-1-26

Quenching the Spirit is like tying a knot in a water hose, which stops the flow of water.

Many conversations have come up lately about the church and why it is powerless. Grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) – Quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:5:19). These are a few reasons that come to my mind;

1) one may be because of the church being out of balance

2) people get turned off

3) lack of proper teaching.

It is wrong for people to abuse the use of gifts, but that should never have a bearing on the use of gifts. Christians who are surrendered to the Spirit of God know how to discern between both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). The devil does not want the gifts to function in the body of Christ, and he does everything possible to keep the church to encourage each other with these awesome gifts that are for God’s glory. His greatest influence comes through the pastors because they want to be looked up to.

In the church of Corinth people were operating in the gifts, but they were abusing the gifts and Paul addressed it. A group of people wanted to be looked up to and by them operating in the vocal gifts, it made them look as though they were more special than others. They prided themselves in their wisdom and vocal skills. It’s the same today in some churches that function in the gifts (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

The Spirit of God was being quenched (no power in the church) and He was grieved (sad) that the people would not function in the power He gave them. This is not about emotions- shouting and running all over the place and saying it was the Holy Spirit or the Spirit sure was high in the church today; those are our emotions and we have control over them. I am a prime example; if something was going on in my personal life that was problematic, once certain words were spoken, they set off my emotions. Let all things be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Some churches today remind me of what Jesus told John to write to them. Some were doing some good works but they had left their first love (Revelation, chapters 2-3:13). One was called a dead church (Laodicea). They thought they had it going on, but God was highly displeased with them because He could not find one thing that was the way He ordained for His church to be.

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:14-19).

What powerful Words of correction, rebuke, and warning! The Spirit of God is quenched because people are acting as though they don’t need Him. I challenge my brothers and sisters to examine yourselves and see if you are conducting yourselves the way the church of Laodicea did, and the church at Corinth. These two churches thought they were okay, but they needed to repent and surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Whatever people do not accept from the Word of God, will be revealed in that day. Everyone must give account at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthian 5:10).

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org