I Thessalonians 5:19  Quench not the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. In theology we refer to the Godhead as the Trinity. The cults like the J.W.’s like to argue that the word “trinity” is not found in the Bible and they like to waste time on such arguments. The better solution for Christians is to use Biblical terms. The Bible uses the word “Godhead” three times. It refers to the three persons of the Godhead many times. I was doing some research recently and noted a song that is sung in some religious circles that talked of the Holy Spirit and then in the next line the song refers to the Holy Spirit as “it”. The Holy Spirit is not an “it”. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. As we see in our text the Holy Spirit can be quenched.
The Greek word translated as “quench” means to “extinguish”. When a song writer refers to the Holy Spirit as “it”, he or she is seeking to extinguish the Holy Spirit. When the Charismatics corrupt the person and work of the Holy Spirit, they are quenching the Holy Spirit.
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit indwells every born again Christian at the moment of salvation. He is referred to as God in the Bible.

Acts 5:3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

God takes up residence in the heart and life of every born again Christian in the person of the Holy Spirit. His work is that of a Comforter and a Guide. He is also there to enable the true child of God to serve God faithfully.
He guides the true child of God into all truth. Thus we know that the lies being taught by the Charismatics are not of God. The Bible does not teach that born again Christians need to pray for the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. The born again Christian is taught to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

God directed the apostle Paul to contrast the filling of the Holy Spirit with the drunkenness of wine. We know that when a person is drunk we say they are “under the influence”. They are no longer in control of their lives. They have given that control over to the liquor they have consumed. That is why they do foolish things.

John 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

When Jesus spoke those words, He was with His disciples. The Holy Spirit was with them as well. In Acts 1 Jesus told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the “baptism” of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

This was a one time event and it was for the apostles. Since Acts 2, every born again Christian receives the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
The born again Christian is automatically indwelt by the Holy Spirit. However, the born again Christian must yield his members to the work of the Holy Spirit Who now dwells within. Unlike alcohol which permeates the blood stream and the mind of the recipient of it, the Holy Spirit does not take control of the born again Christian’s life without his or her consent. The Holy Spirit is not a drug. He is the third person of the Godhead. God does not force Himself upon the lost, nor does He force Himself upon the saved. He works in the heart and conscience of the lost person to show them their need of salvation. He changes the nature of the saved person and reminds him or her of what they must be doing. The lost person prays and asks God to forgive him and to save him by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit enters into the born again Christian’s life. He is there to guide him in all things. He does not force the saved person to obey God. He makes it abundantly clear to the saved person that following God’s way is the only way to live. The saved person must yield himself to the guiding work of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus stated:

John 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The Charismatics corrupt the work of the Holy Spirit. He does not take centre stage. He is in the believer’s life and He guides the believer. He reminds the believer of what he needs to be. He also works to guide the believer to be what he needs to be.
The Bible shows us the unity of the Godhead in many different ways. The apostle Paul wrote:

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Here we are told that it is Christ which strengtheneth me. Christ is the One Who saves the lost sinner. He cleanses the lost sinner through His shed blood. He makes it possible for the Holy Spirit to live inside the born again Christian’s heart and life. Yes, it is Christ which strengtheneth me. He does that by sending the Holy Spirit to indwell the true child of God. There is a unique unity within the Godhead.
The true child of God can quench the ministry of the Holy Spirit in his life. He can extinguish that work. He can push the Holy Spirit aside. He will not do so for long, because God does not allow His child to be a rebel. He will chasten His child to bring about the peaceable fruit of righteousness in those who are exercised thereby. The Bible tells us there are saints who have died because they refused to obey God’s Will for them. God wants others to be saved. He wants others to know how to be saved. A foul mouthed, drunken person does not make a good testimony of a Christian. He does not exalt God. He exalts the devil. We are going to do some further study on what God does in the born again Christian’s life. There is much confusion on this matter. The devil is the author of confusion. God is the Author of truth.
For now, we need to understand that when God saves a person, He saves the person to serve Him. There is great joy in serving the Lord. The born again Christian is not duped into getting saved. He will never complain of being called to serve God. Pretenders will complain. They will not want to attend a good church. They will not want to read their Bible faithfully. They will not want to learn how to be a faithful witness to the Lord.
The saved person is commanded not to quench the Spirit. Don’t try to put Him out of your life. You cannot do that, so don’t even bother trying. Yield your life to the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart. That work will be clearly identifiable in the Word of God. It will not be the freakish activity of the Charismatics. It is amazing to see how that poison is spreading to many other religious groups.
Know God and know His peace and blessing.
Pastor Bartel