Quench or Ignite?
It’s crazy to think you have to give Jesus, the Anointed One, Lord of Lord, and King of Kings permission to do something. When Jesus is Lord over your life, He has permission to direct your steps. Did you know you can quench the Holy Spirit? We know this is possible because in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, it says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” What does this even mean? Quench means to suppress, stifle, hinder or restrain the Spirit from moving through you. For example, you know He wants you to pray for someone but you’re nervous and you don’t do it. He has given you a word of encouragement for someone, but you just aren’t sure if they will receive it. He desires to move through us. We are the light of the world - a city set on a hill. It is the Holy Spirit in us that makes us shine. We are to shine His presence and power to those around us.
Pastor Tim shared a moment in service Sunday of this very thing happening to him last week. He was leaving the church and heard the Holy Spirit tell him to go to a certain store that he does not typically shop. He kind of passed it off at first because it was next to another stop, he was making. As he was checking out there was a lady standing there who recognized him as a pastor. They exchanged conversation and when he left the store, he realized Abba had directed his steps just to show this young lady how much Jesus loves her. This young lady was in the service Sunday and Pastor Tim was able to say to her, Abba moved heaven and earth to let you know He sees you and He loves you. What a powerful moment it was in the room. What if Pastor Tim thought no, I will just go where I usually go. I am familiar with that store. I can get in and out. He would have quenched the Holy Spirit, and this young lady would have missed the encounter with Jesus. We must slow down and be in tune with His voice so He can show others how much they are loved by Him.
We must surrender to His Lordship. At The Wilderness Place we have been in 2 Corinthians 3:16-17 all year. This verse had revealed some truth, and we have experienced freedom from things that have held us back from being all He designed us to be. “But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted, and they see. Now the Lord I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom.”
There is freedom! This isn’t just all about you and I being free from sin and bondage and wrong thinking. This is freedom to do his will. Freedom to be led by him. We can go where he directs us to go. We can give like he wants us to give. Pray like he says pray. Love like he says love. This intimate relationship with Jesus has to reproduce fruit in the earth. So many fail to see the beauty of complete surrender. The focus is on what we don’t get to do if we surrender instead of the focus being on Him. Our appetites matter so much. We must keep coming to His table, eating His food and drinking from His fountain. This is what changes us into who He designed. The image of Jesus displayed on the earth.
You are significant and there is so much more in you than you know right now. Surrender to Him to reveal the promises, power and hope in you! The world is waiting in anticipation for the revealing of Jesus through His beloved children.
