Message 13 - 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5:19-20 – Do Not Quench The Holy Spirit; And Use Your Gift Series

MESSAGE 13 - 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5:19-20 – DO NOT QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT; AND USE YOUR GIFT

{{1Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. 1Thess 5:20 Do not despise prophetic utterances.”}}

Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. (KJV)

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. (ESV)

Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. (NASB)

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. (NIV)

Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies. (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

We are dealing with verses 19 and 20 together as they seem to be together in the original as related to each other. These two verses follow on from the mentions of prayer and thanksgiving just before today’s verse, both of which are energised by the Holy Spirit in a church and in private lives. Any reduction of church or private prayer, or thanksgiving can be understood as quenching the Holy Spirit.

Now as to the meaning of quenching the Holy Spirit, the word means putting the fire out or dampening. It means extinguish, going out, quench. The following parable about the kingdom of heaven touches on the same matter –

{{Matthew 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable with ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom, Matt 25:2 and five of them were foolish and five were prudent, Matt 25:3 for when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, Matt 25:4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Matt 25:5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep, Matt 25:6 but at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Matt 25:7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps, Matt 25:8 and the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out,’ Matt 25:9 but the prudent answered saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too. Go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ Matt 25:10 While they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast and the door was shut. Matt 25:11 Later the other virgins also came saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us,’ Matt 25:12 but he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Matt 25:13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. . .”}}

Edersheim - He says: [[“The lamps consisted of round receptacles for pitch or oil for the wick. This was placed in a hollow cup or deep saucer, which was fastened by a pointed end into a long wooden pole, in which it was borne aloft.”]]

EXPLANATION OF THE PARABLE

Because of its setting in Matthew 25 this parable is part of the teaching related to the disciples question at the start of Matthew 24 – {{Matthew 24:3 “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”}} That “age” is the end of the age of human government and the coming is the Second Coming to end the 7 year Tribulation. The Lord returns to set up His Kingdom at the start of the Millennium. It is NO way related to the Church, which was raptured 7 years before the Second Coming.

The parable is about 10 virgins hoping to meet the Bridegroom and gain entry into the marriage feast. The setting is right at the end of the Tribulation when Messiah returns to Jerusalem at the Second Coming. Five of the virgins were prepared and five were not. Once the event happens it will be too late. Just after the Lord comes (that coming is described in Revelation 19) there is a separation of the sheep and goats. The goats were unprepared. Those who refused to prepare (“to be prepared” is better for the Lord does that) will miss out. One major point this parable is teaching is to be alert for the coming of Messiah. The Jewish believers of that time must be watchful for the coming of the Lord. Here are two verses that connect with that event from the same Olivet Discourse – {{Matthew 24:44 “For this reason you be ready too, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” AND Matthew 24:42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming,”}} AND the identical thought is here – {{Matthew 24:41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill - one will be taken, and one will be left.”}} Half were taken and half left.