Friday, July 29, 2011
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
LIVE FOR "THE DAY"
What a vital role the Holy Spirit plays in our life of faith, our living for the Day. He is the one who has called us to faith through His word and sacraments. He is the one who seals us in the faith, keeping us focused on the DAY of Christ's return. Therefore the admonition in verses 19-22 are also vital.
"Do not quench the Spirit." The Spirit not only gives faith, He leads and guides in the way of truth (John 16:13). He gives us "righteousness and peace and joy" (Romans 14:17). He makes us to "abound in hope" (Romans 15:13).
We can quench the Spirit. We can put out the Spirit's fire and prevent Him from guiding us in the truth by despising prophecy and not continuing in His word. If we don't listen to the Spirit we keep Him from working in us.
We can quench the Spirit and prevent Him from giving us righteousness by living in sin and impenitence. We squelch the joy from the Holy Spirit by focusing on the troubles and sorrows of life rather than the joy in the Lord and what God works.
What a dreadful mistake it would be to quench the Spirit and His work in our life. As we seek to live for the all important Day, may we let the Holy Spirit work in us daily and follow His guiding. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:16-17).
In doing so, "Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." Or as we read in Philippians 4:8-9, "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." The Spirit will be with you and keep you for "that Day."
