Quenching the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19-20

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies."
 
quench =  Greek is to extinguish 

           Notice how Paul was instructing the church of Thessalonica not to allow themselves to shut off or extinguish the Holy Spirit from working among them. The context here is the gifts of the Spirit. He tells them not to despise (Greek means least esteemed, set at nought) prophesy.  John the baptist said in Matthew 3:11 that Jesus was coming to baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Paul wanted the church to remain in the fire of the Holy Spirit, were the gifts of the Spirit can flow freely. Paul knew that if they quench the Spirit they will only have a form of godliness without the power. He did not want them to become cold or luke warn.
what principles can we learn from this scripture.

1. It is possible as an individual and a church to extinguish the fire and the gifts Holy Spirit.
   

How can the Holy Spirit be quench

• Lack of prayer & fasting.
• Teaching that the Gifts of the Spirit have ceased.
• Tradition and formality.
• Academics and degrees without the fire of the Holy Spirit. 
• Sinful behaviors in the leadership.
• Man made rules and regulations.

Consequences of quenching the Holy Spirit

1. Church becomes dead and dry.
2. The members don't sense his presence in their daily lives
3. Church attendance becomes routine.
4. The church becomes ineffective in the community.
5. The Church begins to lose its  life.

  
Evangelist Peter Carrion