FIND OUT IF YOU ARE RESTRAINING OR QUENCHING THE HOLY SPIRIT

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There are quite a number of versions of the bible with different choice of words in relation to what the scripture is saying in  1 Thessalonians 5:19. Let us take a look at how other versions of the scriptures interpreted 1 Thessalonians 5:19.

- King James Version, American Standard Version and Darby English Version share the same interpretation saying "Quench not the Spirit".
- Amplified Version added by saying "Do not supress or subdue the Holy Spirit".
- Contemporary English Version says "Don't turn away God's Spirit".
- International Standard Version and NIV says "Do not put out the Spirit's fire".
- Good News Version says "Do not restrain the Holy Spirit".

However, there is need to understand the two key words in this topic which are 'Quench or 'Restrain' and the 'Spirit'. If we do this we will be able understand the topic deeply.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF QUENCH OR RESTRAIN?
To 'Quench' means ;
- To extinguish or put out (as fire or light).
- To cool rapidly by dipping into a bath of coolant, as a blacksmith quenching hot iron.
To 'Restrain' means;
- to control
- keep in check
- to deprive of liberty
- to restrict or limit.

WHICH SPIRIT ARE WE ASKED NOT TO QUENCH?
We must understand that there are two kinds of spirit. One is holy (the Holy Spirit) and the other is evil (evil spirit). If we must compare the two spirits, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of power, love and self-control as written in
2 Timothy 1:7 ...."For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control" while the evil spirit (demon) originated from the kingdom of darkness were satan dwells. This evil spirits have the nature of fear. This is because, the Holy Spirit is not a Spirit of fear and cannot share the nature of fear with an evil spirit. There are scriptural evidence that an evil spirit is a spirit of fear. The scripture revealed to us how two men possessed with demon became afraid when they saw Jesus in the book of Matthew 8:28-29...........
[28] When Jesus came to the territory of Gadara on the other side of the lake, he was met by two men who came out of the burial caves there. These men had demons in them and were so fierce that no one dared travel on that road.
[29] At once they screamed, “What do you want with us, you Son of God? Have you come to punish us before the right time?”

Reading this scripture, you must have seen where those evil spirits in these two men 'screamed' when they saw Jesus. That was an act of fear. But the Spirit inside of Jesus was the Holy Spirit who is not of fear.
The question now is, which spirit is the scriptures instructing we should niether quench nor restrain? Having understood the nature of the two spirits. It is obvious no one would want to be possessed by a spirit that is of fear (evil spirit) but rather the one that is of power, love, self-control and without fear. Thus the reason why the scriptures adviced we should not quench 'Him' (the Holy Spirit).

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
It is very important to know who the Holy Spirit is to us as a believer, to enable us understand why he should not be quenched or restrained in our lives.
The Holy Spirit is all of these and many more to us as written below.
He is a;
- Helper in John 14:16
- Teacher in John 14: 26
- Reminder in John 14: 26
- Producer in Gal 5: 22-23
- Giver in 1Cor 12:4-11
- Birth Giver in Titus 3:5

Now we are aware of who 'He' is, shall we continue as believers to quench or restrain this lovely personality from helping us to please God and do exploits to the glory of God? Shall we continue to restrain 'Him' from teaching us the scriptures and reminding us of the voluminous teachings of Jesus Christ? Shall we continue to quench his effort to produce the nine fruits that 'He' naturally produces in us? which are love, joy, peace, humility, goodness, kindness, patience, faithfulnes and self-control. Shall we continue to restrain 'Him' from giving us spiritual gifts for the good of men? Shall we continue to quench his effort to always make us feel like new born babies and new creatures (as a born again)? Surely it will be unfair and an act of zero appreciation towards what the Holy Spirit has been sent to come and do in our lives.

Beloved, the Holy Spirit is the best friend we can trust. He makes no mistake as 'He' is always speaking the mind of God.  Jesus said in John 16:13, that the Holy Spirit will speak of what 'He' hears.

HOW DO WE QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
- By not being willing to be led by 'Him'.
- By refusing to pay attention and listen to the 'Him'.
- By being unteachable (not allowing 'Him' to teach you)
-  By doubting his voice when 'He' speaks.
- By refusing to embark on a mission as led by 'Him'.
- By refusing to use the gift that 'He' has given us to do exploits for the good of others.

WHERE DO WE QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The Spirit is quenched from within our body. Remember, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit as written in 1 Cor 6: 19. If our body is indeed the temple of the Holy Spirit, then our bodies is the location where we quench this lovely personality called the 'Holy Spirit'.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF QUENCHING THE SPIRIT?
- We will bear evil fruits - Gal 19-21
- We will lose power - Acts 1:8
- We creat space for evil spirits to possess us - 1Sam 16:14
- Human nature takes control of us - Rom 8:5.
- We become God's enemy - Isa 63:10, Rom 8:7.
- We will lose Heavenly connection - Rom 8:16-17
- We will be dead men and women walking in the streets - Rom 8:6 , Rom 8:13.

EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO QUENCHED THE SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE.
King Saul was one of those who restrianed God's Spirit. Read 1Sam 15: 10- 35 and pay attention to verses 24-30. Also read 1Sam 16: 14-23 and pay attention to verses 14-16. In anoter development, Jonah was another character in the bible that restrained God's Spirit. Read Jonah 1: 1-17 for evidence.

HOW DO WE SUSTAIN AN UNQUENCHABLE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
- Daily total surrender or submission to 'Him'
- Daily fellowship with 'Him'
- Always being hungry for 'Him'
- By asking 'Him' to fill you daily and remain in you.

Beloved, there are many ways we can sustain our relationship with 'Him' and we can also develop more ways for ourselves. In real life situation, we always have a way of sustaining our relationship with someone we love so much. But we cannot sustain our relationship with the Holy Spirit with money, like we do in our relationships with our fellow human beings.
All 'He' wants is to baptize us and make us new born babies in the spirit, help us, produce good fruits in us, teach us and remind us of what we learnt from Jesus. 'He' also gives us freedom as written in 2 Corinthians 3:17.

Beloved, let us not make God's Spirit sad, for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on us, a guarantee that the day will come when God will set us free.
(Eph 4: 30).

Written & Published By:
Bro. Aligwekwe Nnamdi

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