Don’t Put Out The Fire!

1 Thessalonians 5:19  Quench not the Spirit.

When a fire breaks out and begins to burn a building, it needs to be put out so that it doesn’t spread to other surrounding structures in the area.

In the hottest and driest times of the year in the United States, forest fires can become a very serious problem. Just a small spark can start the tinder dry grass or leaves on fire and within a matter of minutes the fire can spread from just a small flame into a raging inferno, resulting in thousands of acres of forest and homes being burnt down.

To combat these fires, people can use several different types of tools or vehicles to put a fire out: planes can carry hundreds of gallons collected from a nearby lake to drop onto the flames, fire engines can spray water from hydrants over a great distance to put them out, all the way down to a simple fire extinguisher. Whatever is used, the main goal is to completely extinguish the flames.

If someone is doing the work of God, we don’t want to be a hindrance or impediment to them. We don’t want to “put the fire out” by discouraging them from doing what is good. It is a praiseworthy thing when someone gives themselves in the service of the Lord, and we don’t want to be that person who hinders the furtherance of the gospel.

In Mark 9, Jesus had a conversation with His disciples about this very subject. The disciples had just gotten through telling the Lord about how they had seen someone casting devils out in the name of the Lord, but they had discouraged him from doing it.

Mark 9:38-40  “And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.”

Instead, we need to commend and support those doing the work of God, whatever their works are. We need to let the fires of the holy spirit spread, instead of putting them out. Edify, and build up those who are doing these wonderful things for the Lord.

Quenching the spirit is like sticking your leg out to trip someone just as they are about to win and cross a finish line in a race. Don’t put out the fire!

In Christ,

Andrew

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