Do Not Quench the Spirit
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Don't stop the work of the Holy Spirit. Don't treat prophecy like something that is not important. But test everything. Keep what is good, and stay away from everything that is evil.
A lot of people aren’t all that comfortable with the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t fit all that well with our rational mindset after all, so what we tend to do, is we just ignore Him.
Some people claim that the only way that God speaks to us today, is through His Word, the Bible, while others claim that God is still speaking through prophecies, dreams, visions, words of knowledge and … in a whole bunch of ways that don’t fit so well with our rational western mindset.
What’s the answer? What’s the truth? What do you believe?
Well, the answer is in God’s Word, the absolute, infallible bedrock of my faith in Jesus. Let’s be clear. The main way that God speaks to us, is through the Scriptures, through His Word, the Bible. And that Bible, in the New Testament, clearly says that God the Holy Spirit is still speaking to us in many other ways.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Don’t stop the work of the Holy Spirit. Don’t treat prophecy like something that is not important. But test everything. Keep what is good, and stay away from everything that is evil.
First up, don’t quench the Spirit. Just because you can’t wrap your rational mind around Him, don’t stop His work. Don’t treat prophecy as though it’s not important.
But hang on, isn’t this whole prophecy open to misinterpretation, manipulation and abuse? Yes it is! I remember once someone gave me a so-called “prophetic word” that jarred with me; it didn’t ring true.
That’s why, in the same breath, the Spirit tells us to test everything, keep what’s good and throw the rest away. I love the balance of God’s wisdom.
So, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Don’t miss out on what He’s doing, but at the same time, be discerning.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Blessed by this devotion?
Share it with a friend!
Respond
Doreen Sheers
Thanks Bernie for the balanced word on prophecy. So much false stuff out there these days with false teaching that one ...
more
Thanks Bernie for the balanced word on prophecy. So much false stuff out there these days with false teaching that one has to be astute and know ones’ Bible. Some of this stuff may sound good but much of it is mysticism , New Age, and false teaching. Many in the body of Christ ( like myself was) are accepting everything that is taught without question. I have thrown out so many ” Christian ” books and CDs and repented of taking in all that stuff. So now, I am very conscious in searching out stuff and my Bible reading has increased majorly . I spend more time praying and am more conscious of the times in which we live.
God’s blessing on you Bernie and the ministry.
Doreen