QUENCHING THE SPIRIT by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 1, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 26.

QUENCHING THE SPIRIT.

By G.

“Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thess. 5:19. What is meant by quenching the Spirit? To quench means “to put out, as fire or a light, especially by water or smothering.” The Spirit itself can not be quenched, else it could be destroyed. But its influence on the mind can be quenched, or rejected, until it will finally withdraw. And this is the evident meaning of the text. God works by His Spirit to “convince the world of sin” (John 16:8, margin); but, as in the case of the antediluvians, it “shall not always strive with man.” Gen. 6:3.

But the text quoted at the beginning is addressed especially to the church. The Spirit is to the church a “comforter” and “guide” (John 16:7, 13). The Scriptures are given by the Spirit, the “inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16), and these constitute the Word of life (John 6:63). Through the Scriptures the man of God is instructed in righteousness and “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” By the Scriptures he is comforted in all trials and tribulation. They constitute his only “sword”—a weapon both offensive and defensive.

But the Scriptures are of no manner of use to us without the guidance of the Spirit. Hence the importance of the injunction to “quench not the Spirit” by neglecting or rejecting its testimony. As the world can not realize the enormity of sin and the need of a Saviour without the conviction of the Spirit, as sinners can not come to the Saviour without the drawing power of the Spirit, so the Christian can not continue in the way and become perfected in the Christian life without the constant aid of the Spirit. Thus it is plain that the loss to those who quench, or smother, or, by indifference or rebellion, render ineffective its good offices, is irreparable.

It is only by the Spirit that we can offer acceptable prayer to God (Rom. 8:26, 27). So, then, to quench the Spirit shuts up the only avenue of appeal to the “throne of grace.” Every word of real encouragement in the race, every needed reproof, or correction, or admonition, or exhortation, through whomsoever it may come, is of the Spirit. Every impulse to speak the truth in due season, or to do a righteous act, or to think on that which is holy and elevating and truly invigorating, is of the Spirit.

Then it is not only expedient, but absolutely essential to purity of life and eventual salvation, that we “quench not the spirit.” As the apostle says in another place, “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30. To “grieve” the Spirit is to drive it away, or “quench” it; and this would mean a cessation of the sealing process, and a loss of eternal life.