Introduction:      The Bible teaches us that as believers we have within us the greatest power in the universe; the blessed Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). You cannot be saved without the Spirit; you cannot face the hardships of life without the Spirit; the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for living out the Christ life. All that we do without the Spirit is in vain; no wonder the Bible declares that we are to “quench not the Spirit.” There are two warnings and a command in our text concerning suppressing the Spirit.

I.          SUPPRESSING THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT (V.19)
The Holy Spirit is pictured in the bible as a dove and as a fire (Isa.6:6-7; Acts 2:2-4). That fire is in you! A God says we are not to quench the Spirit. There a many ways the Spirit can be quenched.

            A.        Stifle The Fire In Others

·         Criticism can dampen the fiery enthusiasm of the Spirit in others.

·         Selfishness will diminish the momentum of the Spirit’s leading others.

            B.         Suffocate The Fire In Yourself

·         Refuse to believe in what you cannot see or touch. We are to walk by faith not by sight (2Cor:5:7).

·         Completely absorbed in the things of the world. We take the Spirit wherever we go. (Illus: Make time for Jesus in your life!)

·         Neglecting our Christian duties. And the plain teaching of Scripture (expound).

·         Refuse to exercise your spiritual gift. We need to do what God has called and equipped to do.

“Quench not the Spirit!” “Quench” = to suppress, to douse, to put out (i.e. a camp fire).

(Illus: the one committee we do not need in Southside is a cold water committee!)

II.         SPURNING THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT (V.20)
“Despise” = to set down as no account. This gift was not just predicting the future, but was and now is “forth telling” the Word of God.

            A.        Disregarding The Message

Not listening to the Word of God. (Illus: we allow too many distractions to keep us from listening). Some seem to have the attitude that God’s Word isn’t all that important to them. (Illus: they’ve heard it all before).

            B.         Discounting The Message

Hearing but not heading the Word because it is not what you want to hear (expound).

III.       SPOTTING THE REALITY OF THE SPIRIT
Discern the reality of the Spirit.

            A.        The Examination

“Prove all things” = to test by the Word of God. The sure test is dose it line up with the Word of God. (Illus: Church; are we going to quench the Spirit, or are we going to suppress the Spirit, or are we going to unleash the Spirit and be discerning so that everything that we are lined up with the Word of God?)

            B.         The Exhortation

“Hold fast” = to possess, to retain, to stay with.

Conclusion:       The fire of the Holy Spirit can be quenched, but there is a fire that cannot be quenched (expound Mark 9:43 -48). Are you quenching the Spirit?