Quenching the Spirit

Quenching is a metallurgical term. As metal is heated in can get red hot! When at that high temperature the metal is put in some liquid, basically "to put out the fire". Quick cooling of the red hot metal leaves a hardened material.

Church is much the same way. When God's word is preached the Holy Spirit draws near.

Hebrews 12:29  "For our God is a consuming fire."

Throughout scripture God and his Holy Spirit is associated or likened to a fire, and as we are touched by God's presence, we feel that fire of the Holy Spirit within our own chest:

 Luke 24:32 "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"

Christians can feel the presence of God when they worship him. Communion with God truly sets a fire within those who are standing on holy ground in the presence of God.  Oftentimes, when people worship, those who are in communion with God feel his presence! That's a wonderful thing: feeling the presence of the Lord who created each one of us. The presence of God can only be felt when the truth of his word is revealed to the hearts of those craving his presence. As Christians become "on fire" for God's truth, unbelievers sense God's presence and the call of the Holy Spirit. Many unsaved persons will respond to God' gracious call because of the efficacy of truth! The Spirit is ignited just a small spark even in the unbeliever!

Sometimes Satan disrupts that communion. It undermines God when the presence of God's Spirit goes unnoticed. This is most likely to happen when people's hearts are burning within! Satan senses the heat of the Holy Spirit and causes things to happen to quench the Spirit. Sometimes it may be a crying baby, too many people causing commotion or pride somewhere raising its ugly head.

The songs sang, the music played, the teachings taught or the words spoken by preachers play a crucial role in the reception of the Holy Spirit. Satan will look for an opening and use it to destroy the mood of the service. Satan is patient! He will wait as long as he needs to for weak humans to slip! Babies will cry, congregants will move around and disrupt, and people will fail to love as they should. Any of those things will quench the Spirit.

All words spoken must be spoken in truth and must be scriptural. Once personal criticism is spoken from up front, or out back for that matter, Satan throws cold water on the fire of God. I once listened to a preacher spend an half-hour condemning people he knew. The Spirit was immediately quenched. Satan stepped forward when criticism replaced truth, and caused disruption. The pulpit is holy. It's the symbolic "burning bush" from which God speaks. When words are at odds with or words spoken in the wrong spirit,  that burning bush fizzles. The cold water of darkness supplants the heat of light. When that happens the Holy Spirit is quenched. The fire is put out and a quenched fire ignites only with difficulty!

There is much truth in scripture which needs to be spoken. There is no cause to inject critical opinions. Criticism of benign subjects fails to magnify God and to demonstrate love. For instance, I personally don't care for drums in the church. If I was to condemn those who do enjoy drums, and that subject is benign, so to speak, if I offend others by subjecting them to my opinion, I create an atmosphere of resentment. Criticism quenches the Spirit!

There are certain things which should not be allowed in church. Jesus was quick to be angry with the buyers and sellers in God's house. He likened them to a den of thieves. Why did Jesus do that? Because their love of money was an idol before God! Jesus had reason, from a scriptural standpoint, to criticize and rebuke. However, Jesus never condemned sincere Christians trying to worship. He encouraged them.

What we "like" or "prefer" must never be confused with what pleases God.  The best way to quench the Spirit is when we criticize others for deviating from what we prefer. Grownup people have Christian liberty to exercise worship which suits them. As long as worship magnifies God and is orderly, then God will be pleased!

1 Corinthians 14:40 (ESV) "But all things should be done decently and in order."

As long as things are decent and are done in an orderly fashion there should be little to criticize! Sure, bass guitarists gyrating on stage are not exhibiting decent behavior. Likewise, there may be little order with such musicians. However, on the other hand, if someone is reading scripture, for example, while songs are being sung or the preacher is preaching, and are not causing a commotion, that's their worship preference. To criticize those diligently pursuing truth quenches the Spirit, introducing in its stead, a critical spirit.

Churches are holy ground. The aisles must always be tread with caution. God is to be respected and revered! Decency and order is the way to stand on holy ground. Undue criticism isn't conducive to keeping the Spirit's fire burning in the hearts of sincere Christians. Never should the cold water of personal criticism attempt to temper worship, thereby quenching the Spirit! A quenched Spirit in the hearts of devoted Christians hardens hearts. That's why Satan laughs when spirits are dampened.