Fan The Flame
1 Thessalonians 5:19 – “Quench not the Spirit.”
Have you ever tried to light a campfire only to have the wind or water snuff it out just as it begins to burn? That’s the imagery Paul evokes when he writes, “Do not quench the Spirit.” The Greek word translated “quench” (σβέννυμι) means to extinguish, suppress, or stifle—as you would a flame. In other words, Paul is telling believers: Don’t put out the fire of the Holy Spirit in your life.
This one simple sentence—just four words—carries enormous weight. It sits in the middle of these exhortations from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22: “Rejoice evermore - Pray without ceasing. - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. - Quench not the Spirit. - Despise not prophesyings. - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. - Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
There is one thing I want to make clear from the start: to quench the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean we are more powerful than He is. God is sovereign. His Spirit moves and accomplishes His purposes with irresistible power when He chooses to. However, for reasons that are wise, holy, and good, God often allows us to resist Him for a time.
As 2 Timothy 2:25 says, “if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” Repentance itself is a gift. So, even if we suppress the Spirit’s work, we are never outside His reach. But Paul’s command in 1 Thessalonians is a serious warning: don’t resist the Spirit’s fire—fan it into flame.
So how do we quench the Spirit? Let’s explore four practical ways this can happen, and how we can guard against each.
1. Despising the Supernatural Work of the Spirit
Immediately after saying, “Do not quench the Spirit,” Paul adds, “Do not despise prophecies.” This helps us understand the first way we might suppress the Spirit: by showing contempt for His supernatural gifts. In the early church, prophecy was one of the clearest demonstrations of the Spirit’s work. However, like many spiritual gifts today, it was vulnerable to misuse and even abuse. When believers saw gifts misused, some grew cynical and dismissive. That same temptation exists today.
We might roll our eyes at someone’s testimony, dismiss someone’s word of encouragement, or grow skeptical of spiritual gifts because of a few bad examples. But Paul says: don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (v. 21). Be discerning, yes—but never contemptuous toward what is truly of the Spirit. When we despise the Spirit’s work because it makes us uncomfortable or because others misuse it, we risk quenching His fire in our midst.
2. Neglecting the Spiritual Gifts Within Us
Paul told Timothy, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee,” (1 Timothy 4:14), and “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee” (2 Timothy 1:6). Spiritual gifts aren’t given to be shelved. They’re meant to be stewarded and exercised in the body of Christ. Neglecting them—out of fear, laziness, insecurity, or comparison—is another way we quench the Spirit.
Ask yourself: What has God gifted me to do? Whether it’s teaching, encouragement, hospitality, intercession, or leadership—use it. The Spirit empowers you, not for personal glory, but to build up the church and reflect Christ. When we ignore these gifts, we stifle not only our spiritual growth, but the blessings others could receive through us.
3. Suppressing Spiritual Emotions and Expressions
Ephesians 5:18–19 urges believers to “be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” The Spirit stirs in us joy, awe, and praise—emotions that seek expression in worship and community. But sometimes, in fear of looking foolish or out of emotional reserve, we clamp down on what God is stirring in us.
Perhaps you’ve felt prompted to sing, raise your hands, pray out loud, or speak an encouraging word—but you held back. That, too, is a form of quenching the Spirit. When God stirs your heart with holy passion or deep compassion, don’t resist. Give your voice to it. Let it move you toward worship and obedience.
4. Resisting the Fruit of the Spirit
Finally, we quench the Spirit when we resist the character He’s cultivating in us. Galatians 5:22–23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:” Ephesians 4:29–31 expands this by warning against bitterness, anger, slander, and corrupt speech, and to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God.”
Quenching the Spirit can look like choosing bitterness instead of forgiveness, grumbling instead of gratitude, or gossip instead of grace. When we choose sin over sanctification, we shut down the Spirit’s refining work in our hearts. We may still be saved, but we become stagnant - living without the joy, power, and presence we were meant to know.
Final Encouragement
If you’ve been quenching the Spirit in any of these ways—by resisting His gifts, suppressing His promptings, ignoring His fruit, or despising His work – don’t despair. God is merciful. His Spirit is not easily extinguished. Like glowing embers under a campfire’s ashes, He can stir the fire in you again. You can say yes to the Spirit - yes to His gifts, yes to His promptings, yes to His fruit, and yes to His refining fire.
Lord, show me and my friends where we’ve resisted You. Reignite our hearts and restore our joy as we take these words not just as a warning, but an invitation - to live ablaze with His power, presence, and purpose. We need Your help to fan into flame the gift You’ve given us. Amen
Credit: Ron Kelley
Have you ever tried to light a campfire only to have the wind or water snuff it out just as it begins to burn? That’s the imagery Paul evokes when he writes, “Do not quench the Spirit.” The Greek word translated “quench” (σβέννυμι) means to extinguish, suppress, or stifle—as you would a flame. In other words, Paul is telling believers: Don’t put out the fire of the Holy Spirit in your life.
This one simple sentence—just four words—carries enormous weight. It sits in the middle of these exhortations from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22: “Rejoice evermore - Pray without ceasing. - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. - Quench not the Spirit. - Despise not prophesyings. - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. - Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
There is one thing I want to make clear from the start: to quench the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean we are more powerful than He is. God is sovereign. His Spirit moves and accomplishes His purposes with irresistible power when He chooses to. However, for reasons that are wise, holy, and good, God often allows us to resist Him for a time.
As 2 Timothy 2:25 says, “if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” Repentance itself is a gift. So, even if we suppress the Spirit’s work, we are never outside His reach. But Paul’s command in 1 Thessalonians is a serious warning: don’t resist the Spirit’s fire—fan it into flame.
So how do we quench the Spirit? Let’s explore four practical ways this can happen, and how we can guard against each.
1. Despising the Supernatural Work of the Spirit
Immediately after saying, “Do not quench the Spirit,” Paul adds, “Do not despise prophecies.” This helps us understand the first way we might suppress the Spirit: by showing contempt for His supernatural gifts. In the early church, prophecy was one of the clearest demonstrations of the Spirit’s work. However, like many spiritual gifts today, it was vulnerable to misuse and even abuse. When believers saw gifts misused, some grew cynical and dismissive. That same temptation exists today.
We might roll our eyes at someone’s testimony, dismiss someone’s word of encouragement, or grow skeptical of spiritual gifts because of a few bad examples. But Paul says: don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (v. 21). Be discerning, yes—but never contemptuous toward what is truly of the Spirit. When we despise the Spirit’s work because it makes us uncomfortable or because others misuse it, we risk quenching His fire in our midst.
2. Neglecting the Spiritual Gifts Within Us
Paul told Timothy, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee,” (1 Timothy 4:14), and “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee” (2 Timothy 1:6). Spiritual gifts aren’t given to be shelved. They’re meant to be stewarded and exercised in the body of Christ. Neglecting them—out of fear, laziness, insecurity, or comparison—is another way we quench the Spirit.
Ask yourself: What has God gifted me to do? Whether it’s teaching, encouragement, hospitality, intercession, or leadership—use it. The Spirit empowers you, not for personal glory, but to build up the church and reflect Christ. When we ignore these gifts, we stifle not only our spiritual growth, but the blessings others could receive through us.
3. Suppressing Spiritual Emotions and Expressions
Ephesians 5:18–19 urges believers to “be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” The Spirit stirs in us joy, awe, and praise—emotions that seek expression in worship and community. But sometimes, in fear of looking foolish or out of emotional reserve, we clamp down on what God is stirring in us.
Perhaps you’ve felt prompted to sing, raise your hands, pray out loud, or speak an encouraging word—but you held back. That, too, is a form of quenching the Spirit. When God stirs your heart with holy passion or deep compassion, don’t resist. Give your voice to it. Let it move you toward worship and obedience.
4. Resisting the Fruit of the Spirit
Finally, we quench the Spirit when we resist the character He’s cultivating in us. Galatians 5:22–23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:” Ephesians 4:29–31 expands this by warning against bitterness, anger, slander, and corrupt speech, and to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God.”
Quenching the Spirit can look like choosing bitterness instead of forgiveness, grumbling instead of gratitude, or gossip instead of grace. When we choose sin over sanctification, we shut down the Spirit’s refining work in our hearts. We may still be saved, but we become stagnant - living without the joy, power, and presence we were meant to know.
Final Encouragement
If you’ve been quenching the Spirit in any of these ways—by resisting His gifts, suppressing His promptings, ignoring His fruit, or despising His work – don’t despair. God is merciful. His Spirit is not easily extinguished. Like glowing embers under a campfire’s ashes, He can stir the fire in you again. You can say yes to the Spirit - yes to His gifts, yes to His promptings, yes to His fruit, and yes to His refining fire.
Lord, show me and my friends where we’ve resisted You. Reignite our hearts and restore our joy as we take these words not just as a warning, but an invitation - to live ablaze with His power, presence, and purpose. We need Your help to fan into flame the gift You’ve given us. Amen
Credit: Ron Kelley
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