Be sure you are not extinguishing the wrong thing
I don’t know a lot of Greek, but one Greek word stuck out to me recently: “asvestos.”
It is related, you may have guessed, to our English word “asbestos” (fireproof, extinguish).
We use fire “extinguishers” in our daily lives.
Sometimes, I think we are extinguishing the right fire and letting the wrong fire burn.
What kind of fire? Spiritual fire.
Here are some fires to feed and some to extinguish:
1. “Extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one”
Ephesians 6 tells us we are in a battle against dark forces, which are shooting “fiery darts” at us.
Roman warriors would tip their arrows with flammable, even explosive, material and set them on fire. It could burn down a city or burn up a warrior.
Paul said to “put up the shield of faith with which we EXTINGUISH all the flaming darts of the evil one…”
Faith renders them powerless!
Any and every dangerous, fiery dart is extinguished when it collides with faith.
Why is it that so many Christians allow Satan to launch his fiery darts with no resistance?
“Quench them!” Put up that shield of faith and declare NO YOU DON’T.
2. “Allow the Spirit’s fire to burn!”
“Do not QUENCH the Spirit…” (1 Thess. 5:19)
This SAME WORD (“quench”) is used of the fire of the Spirit that He is sending to us.
His fire came upon the early disciples at Pentecost.
His fire brought miracles and purity to the early church.
Why do we allow Satan’s fiery darts, but “quench” (extinguish) the Spirit’s flame?
This verse tells us that we have the power to “extinguish” the mighty work of the Spirit!
Why do we do that? Are we embarrassed in our high-tech, highly opinionated, high-minded world that the Spirit’s fire is outdated and obsolete?
I say, “Let it burn.” My Dad used to say, “If it is cold in the pews, there is a polar bear in the pulpit!”
Cold churches and leaders are obviously resisting the power and movement of the third Person of the Trinity.
Stephen said, “You always resist the Holy Spirit…” to the Sanhedrin, who moments later stoned Stephen to death.
Don’t EXTINGUISH the Spirit’s fire!
3. Be always aware of the “unquenchable fire.”
Jesus told people to be careful of the “fire that cannot be quenched.” He was referring to the “lake of fire.”
On our recent vacation, we met a mechanic who was working on our vehicle. He told us he had a “widowmaker” heart attack and died three times from his home to the hospital.
In the ICU for three days, he went to hell. He saw a lake of fire as far as the eye could see. He smelled a wonderful fragrance as Jesus appeared to him, placed his hand under his chin, and said, “Jay, you are not ready to die, are you?” “I’m sending you back to serve Me.”
Instantly, Jay took a deep breath and came alive.
Don’t risk that fire. It is totally unquenchable.
Resist the devil’s fiery attacks.
Encourage the Spirit’s fiery empowerment.
Beware the final fiery judgment.
Don’t point your fire extinguisher in the wrong direction.