“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” I Thessalonians 5:19
I’ve read this verse a lot over the course of my life. I’ve understood it to mean not quenching His work generally speaking. Is He asking you to do something? Then do it. Is He asking you to go? Then go. Is He blessing you with a supernatural gift? Step out in it and pray for healing, speak a word of encouragement.
Last week, a new dimension to this verse struck me in regards to the fruit of the spirit. Do I pinch the fruit off the vine before it is mature and stunt the sanctifying work of the Spirit in my life? Or do I try and produce the fruit on my own without allowing the farmer’s careful attention to nurture that growth?
The Spirit’s work in my life is not just about the “big” things. It’s also about the deep things. The working of the heart. (Click to Tweet)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Is He working to produce self-control in me by asking me to give up those things that keep me distracted from Him? Yet I refuse to go along with His plan and continue to make provision for the desires of my flesh?
Is He working to produce love by putting me in a place of loving someone who is hard to love? Yet I continue to speak ill of others instead of looking for the good?
Is He working to produce joy in me by asking me to trust Him? Yet I refuse the gift and instead wallow in self-pity?
Is He working to produce patience in me by allowing me to run into those things that test my patience over and over to make it strong? Yet I refuse to practice that patience and instead blow my stack when things don’t happen as I like?
Quenching the Spirit is similar to a child refusing to listen and learn, practice and grow, hear and obey when their parents train them.
As I think about it, I realize there are many days that I quench the Spirit and His work in my life. This must grieve the Father who longs to give good gifts to us – His children.
Do you struggle with allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life? What areas do you struggle with?
photo credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net // winnond
