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Hallelujah.
We thank God for this great opportunity to be able to come together to share God's Word
with us again.
We don't take it for granted, we take it with utmost importance and seriousness when we
are called upon to share the Word of God because in sharing the Word of God, lives are impacted.
If you share the wrong doctrine, then you will also be impacting lives but you will
be affecting them in the wrong way.
Are we together?
So we thank God for the opportunity to be able to share and we take it very seriously.
Thank you, lead pastor, pastor Frederick and the associate pastors for this opportunity.
Today I want to teach on something, I don't know, it's going to be a teaching and a charge
at the end of it.
Something that we probably have heard about before, right?
Something we have heard about before, probably a language you have used before, right?
A language you have used before, a statement that you have made before, however you really
don't know the meaning, maybe, or you have not done sufficient study on that topic.
So today I want to open our eyes to something that will help us also in our conduct as believers,
right?
In our conduct as believers.
You know, in every field, let me put it this way, in every field there is a language of
every field, right?
In every field, if you are in engineering, there is a language they use.
One day I was sharing, I think we were talking about it in pastor, and I said, if someone
in engineering uses the word power and the person is talking to international relations
students or scholars, you will be meaning something different in their ears.
Because every field has its own language and what those concepts, let me call it concepts,
what those concepts mean.
So if you talk to an engineer about power, you are probably talking about something related
to electricity, right?
Something related to energy or something related to other areas.
But if you are talking about power within the context of politics, right?
You are actually talking about something totally different, not something visible.
You are talking about influence, right?
Political influence, you are talking about the ability to make someone do something they
probably wouldn't want to do.
That's actually power.
So in church, in the body of Christ, in the scripture, right?
We cannot also transpose out of context the concept that we found somewhere and use it
in the scripture.
So also in the scripture when you say the Spirit of God is strengthening you, is empowering
you, right?
That you'll be filled with power.
It's not talking about electricity.
It's not talking about influence.
It's not talking about any manipulation politically, you know?
It's talking about something that comes from the Holy Ghost, hallelujah.
So today we'll talk about something that will help us to understand much more about the
concept of fire.
But the title of this sermon is not fire, right?
The title of the sermon is not fire, but the title of the sermon will lead us to understand
what fire is, right?
What fire is, right?
So the title of the sermon is Quench Not the Spirit.
You can write it down.
Quench not the Spirit.
First Thessalonians 5, 12 to 28.
That's our key scripture for today.
Quench not the Spirit.
First Thessalonians 5, 12 to 28.
So growing up, what we learned or what we understood about quench not the Spirit, it's
like you are holding the Holy Spirit down from walking, hallelujah.
So most of the time we've understood this to mean that you can actually block the Holy
Spirit from walking.
And when we say block, we are envisaging the person of the Holy Spirit, like you are hindering
the Holy Spirit from walking.
As much that could be true, right, we need to explain it.
We need to give an explanation to what quench not the Spirit means.
So Paschini was just closing the prayer and he said something.
And he said that if you worry, right, there are some expressions in the Spirit that you
cannot manifest.
That when worry comes into your mind, you worry about many things, it hinders your manifestation
of the Spirit.
And it really hits so well because it comes close to what I want to teach you today.
So quench not the Spirit.
The first thing we need to understand when studying quench not the Spirit is to look
at the context in which it is used.
Okay?
Quench not the Spirit.
Why did Paul make that statement?
What was he saying before he made that statement?
And what did he say after he made that statement?
So we will understand what it means by what, quench not the Spirit.
So we need to check the context.
First is Ezekiel 5, 12.
Yes.
And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the
Lord and admonish you.
So here he's talking about pastors, right, people who lead you.
The next, please.
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, want those who are unruly, comfort the fainted hearts, uphold
the weak, but patient with all.
See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for both yourselves
and for all.
Always, always.
Pray without season.
In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Then the word, the phrase, quench not the Spirit.
Do not quench the Spirit.
The next one.
The next verse, please.
Do not despise to prophesy.
Test all things, all first, what is good.
We're going to 28, abstain from every form of evil.
Now may the God of peace, right, now the God of peace himself, sanctify you completely
and your whole spirit and soul embody the preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Let's stop here.
Now if you observe from verse 12, right, we are in school, we are learning.
If you observe from verse 12, what you will observe is that he's explaining the conduct
of a believer to their pastors, right?
Is that what it says?
It says, esteem those who label among you words highly.
It's saying honor your pastors, right?
That is what it's saying.
Hold them with high regard.
Those who teach will label, yes my NIV says, all them in the highest regard in love because
of their work.
That is the conduct of a believer, right?
It's an activity of a believer.
Good.
The next one says, live in peace with one another.
Is that a conduct of a believer as well?
Good.
All right, live in peace with one another.
And we urge you brothers and sisters, one, those who are idle and disruptive.
So they are people who are not engaged in doing anything.
They are just idle, right, disruptive.
So they are idle, disruptive.
Their job, right, the activities they are engaging in is disruption, right, disrupting
what is happening in church.
So it's just talking about words, the conduct of a believer.
So let's see.
It said encourage the disheartened, right?
Is that a conduct?
Yes.
Can you encourage your brother?
Yes.
Help the weak.
That's a conduct as well.
Be patient with everyone.
So we see that those are conduct, those are actions, right, that a believer performs,
right, a believer performs.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good.
So we see that in the context of all that is saying, the foundation of it is that it's
talking about what the believer should do, what a believer should do, right?
Is an activity that a believer should engage in.
Verse 16 says rejoice always, the conduct of a believer, and pray continually giving
thanks.
Then in a reverse statement, right, it says do not quench the spirit.
To put it in the way, in the pattern of Paul's writing that he has started, we can say that
continue in the spirit.
Can we say that?
If you want to turn it and put it in a positive direction, right, rather than saying do not
quench the spirit, we can say continue in the spirit.
Good.
So what we see here is that the foundation of the statement quench not the spirit is
actually talking about the conduct of a believer.
In surrounding it is talking about the activities of the believer.
Activities of the believer.
So that is the context.
So now let's check the word quench.
Let's check the word quench because quench will help us understand what should not be
done to the spirit, right?
Quench, we need to understand quench and we need to understand what the spirit is.
So let's check the word quench.
The word quench in Greek is spenemi.
I'm going to spell it.
The word quench in the Greek, right, is spenemi, S-B-E, S-B-E-N-N-Y-M-I.
S-B-E-N-N-Y, then MI.
S-B-E-N-N-Y-M-I.
It simply means to extinguish or to suppress, right?
It means to extinguish or to suppress, to suppress something.
The word quench means to extinguish or to suppress something.
So it means to suppress not, I mean to mean not to suppress the spirit.
It will mean not to suppress the spirit, not to extinguish the spirit.
So you know that you can actually not extinguish the Holy Ghost.
That is the first thing you must note.
That although when we explain this quench, it says that do not extinguish the spirit,
right?
But we know that you cannot put out the Holy Spirit, right?
As a person, that's God.
So you can extinguish God.
So it will also mean that the word spirit there needs to be explained.
Extinguish not the spirit.
And I said that spirit is not talking about God because man cannot extinguish God.
So the spirit needs to be explained.
And I've said quench, which is extinguish, means to suppress.
So let's look at the context in which quench is also used in other part of the scriptures.
Can we check Matthew 12 20?
Matthew 12 verse 20, a bruised reed it will not break and smoking flax it will not quench
till it sends forth justice to do what?
To victory.
So we are saying quench used in the context of a smoking flax.
That is in relation to what?
Fire.
What we see here that it says a smoking flax it will not quench is using quench in relation
to fire.
Okay.
Mark 9 44 and 46.
Mark 9.
So we want to see how quench is used so that we can know what is, what can be quenched.
What is being quenched?
What is Paul telling us not to quench?
Because we already said that cannot be God.
The worm does not die and the fire is not what?
Quenched.
Fire again, right?
Fire again consistently we see the context that Mark 9 is telling us the fire is not
quenched.
The word quench used in relation to what?
To fire.
All right.
Ephesians 6.
Can you give me verse 14 of this Mark 9 44?
Again, so just a repetition.
Their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched.
Again used repeatedly in this place.
Actually this quotation is an Old Testament quotation from Isaiah 66 verse 24.
Can we go there?
Mark 9 44 and 48 is a quotation from Isaiah 66 verse 24.
It says, and they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed
against me.
For their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an aberrant to whole flesh.
So from the Old Testament brought into the New Testament we see that it is used in context
of fire.
Fire can be quenched.
Ephesians 6.
16.
Let's go to Ephesians now.
Overall taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fairy deaths
of the wicked one.
Right?
Quench all the fairy deaths of the wicked one.
So we shall also use it right?
Relating to fire.
Hebrews 11.
34.
The last scripture.
Quench the violence of fire.
You see that?
Quench the violence of fire.
Escape the urge of sword out of weaknesses.
We are made strong, became valiant in battle, torn to flight the armies of the aliens.
So from all the scriptures what we can observe is that quench is regularly used in relation
towards fire.
Good.
All right.
So now let's now check what is fire.
Because first of all I'm explaining that quench not the spirit, that spirit is not God because
you can't quench God.
Now we can confidently replace it with quench not the fire.
Right?
Quench not the fire.
So from that you should already know.
I don't need to even finish this.
You should already know that fire is not what the Holy Spirit is.
Because by this explanation we have already settled that fire is not the Holy Spirit.
So fire needs to be what's explained.
We'll be explaining everything.
All right.
Good.
So the text shows that the word spenemi is used in relation to fire.
Right.
So we can say quench not the fire.
Now because I grew up in a Yoruba church and I actually knew this scripture by heart.
In the Yoruba version of the scripture it is explained as emashepa ino emi.
It means do not quench the fire of the spirit.
I think that's a better rendition.
Right.
That's a better rendition.
Yes.
So I had to go back to that to check it and I saw that that was what was there.
So it means that there is something called the fire of the spirit.
Glory to God.
All right.
So let's check.
We need to check from the scriptures what is the fire of the spirit.
So Paul is telling us not to quench the fire of the spirit.
So what is the fire of the spirit?
So we can say that Paul took an illustration from the Old Testament.
Right.
He is referring to the fact that there's a fire that must not be quenched.
There's a fire that must not be quenched.
So let's see how fire has been used in the Old Testament.
Right.
Let's see how fire has been.
Genesis 8 20.
Genesis 8 verse 20.
He said, I now built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean animal and of every
clean bread and offered burnt offerings on what? on the altar.
Right.
He offered what?
Burnt offering.
So it means that the offering was burnt.
It was lit up.
Right.
I mean, can somebody come to me burnt without fire?
No.
So it was lit up.
It set up the offering that it was given to the Lord.
Good.
So we see he's using the context of what?
An offering.
He's using the context of an offering.
Genesis 22 verse 7 quickly.
Genesis 22 verse 7.
He said, but Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, and said, my father, he said, here I am my
son.
Then he said, look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for what?
For the burnt offering.
Right.
Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?
So we're going to see fire right first as something in relation to what?
Offering.
Okay.
Fire is used in relation to offering.
Now let's go to where fire is mostly regularly used in the Leviticus era.
So first of all, we can establish that fire is used as part of an element for offering.
We can say that fire is used as part of the elements for offering.
For offering, at least from these two verses, we can establish that.
So let's go to Leviticus 1.17.
Let's go to Leviticus 1.17.
Then he shall split it at his wings, but shall not divide it completely.
The priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire.
It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
A sweet aroma to what?
To the Lord.
So an offering made by what?
Fire.
Again, right, offering made by fire.
Leviticus 2 verse 3.
Leviticus 2 verse 3 quickly.
The rest of the grains offering shall be errands and a son.
It is most holy of the offering to the Lord made by fire.
Made by fire again, right?
Leviticus 3.11.
Let's just write the scriptures down.
Leviticus 3.11.
All right.
And the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the Lord.
Now I'm not going to read the remaining scriptures.
I'm just going to list them out.
Then you can go home and read them.
Now the other scripture is Leviticus 4.35.
Leviticus 4.35.
Leviticus 5 verse 12.
Leviticus 6 verse 10.
I just took one from each chapter up until 6.
Leviticus 6 verse 10.
Now media team, can you give me 6 verse 10?
Can you give me 6 verse 10?
Leviticus 6 verse 10.
It said, and the priest shall put on his linen garment and his linen trousers, he shall put
on his body and take out the ashes of the burnt offering which he has consumed on the
altar and shall put them beside the altar.
The next verse.
Then he shall take off his garment and put on the garment and carry the ashes out of
the camp to clean the place.
Verse 12.
And the fire of the altar shall be kept what's burning on it shall not be what's put out.
Can you see that?
So we can say that Paul was writing something related to this section of the scriptures.
Did you see where something about quenching has been talked about?
Right?
It shall not be quenched, it shall not be put out.
And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning and lay the burnt offering in order
on it.
And he shall burn it on the fat, shall burn it the fat of the piece offering.
Now we can see from the scriptures that fire is actually used in the service of the priesthood.
Fire is used when the priest is offering something.
That is one.
Fire is used when the priest is making an offering.
You can also put it down.
That putting up fire is the responsibility of the priest.
Putting on fire is the rest.
You can say the instruction is going to Aaron and his sons.
Aaron and his sons.
So putting up fire is the responsibility of the priest.
Fire is used when the priest is making an offering.
You can also write down that fire is part of the authorized.
You can say the fire, sorry, you can put it this way.
Fire is authorized for offering.
Yes.
You can write it that way too.
That fire is authorized for offering.
So we can say therefore in the priesthood service, fire is authorized for offering.
So we can say the fire is actually the activities, it's part of the activities that is granted
to the priesthood to carry out.
In all what they do, fire is part of the activities of the priesthood.
It's part of the activities of the priesthood.
Now in another context, you will see the priests use fire to burn an incense.
Leviticus 10 verse 1.
You can write that down.
In this context, he uses fire to burn an incense so that the smell would go up.
The smell of the incense would go up.
So fire is therefore what is part of the activities of the priesthood.
Now there are other contexts where fire is used.
Just like I said, you can juxtapose one concept and use it all across the scripture.
So I'm just going to give you two other scriptures where fire is used differently.
Different from an offering.
Different from being, yes, different from an offering.
So you can write it down in brackets.
Just put it in brackets.
Other use of fire in the scriptures.
So just write it down.
Other use of fire in the scriptures.
Leviticus 10 verse 2.
Media team, you have to give me this one so that I can show you, right?
You have to put this up.
Leviticus 10 verse 2.
So that when you use the fire, even in songs or you use it in your day-to-day life as a
believer, you know what it means.
So fire went out from the Lord.
Give me from verse 1.
Then, Nara ben Abi, the sons of Aaron, each took a censer and put fire in it, right?
Put incense on it and offered a profane fire before the Lord, which he had not what commanded
them, right?
So there's an instruction at which fire should be used in the offering, right?
And in this context, they use fire in a way that it was not authorized.
Now let's see.
Here's what it says, so the fire went from the Lord and devoured them and they died before
the Lord.
Now, what you should see here first is that this is used in the context of judgment, okay?
Is used in the context of judgment and whether it came from the Lord or is not from the Lord,
we are going to discuss that in subsequent teachings, right?
Especially in the interpretation of the New Testament, Old Testament.
What we see here is that fire became what judged them, right?
Okay, so you can put Jude 1 to Jude verse 23 as another use of fire as judgment, right?
As another use of fire as judgment.
Jude 23 immediately, please.
Jude 23, it talks about delivering people from fire.
It said, and others save with fear, pulling them out of fire, hating even the garments
defiled by the flesh.
So it's talking about pulling people out of fire, right?
Pulling people out of judgment, pulling people out of condemnation.
So these are the two other contexts.
So what we can see is that fire is used as offering, right?
Is used as offering and in this context is used as judgment, but we're not focusing on
this context.
Lastly, can we check 1 Samuel 2, 23, 28.
1 Samuel 2, 28.
Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon my
altar, to burn incense, to wear the effort before me?
And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel
made by fire?
1 Samuel 3, 3.
Can you go to 1 Samuel 3, verse 3?
And the lamp, and before the lamp of the gold went out in the Tabernacle of the Lord, we
had the act of gold wars.
And while Samuel was lying, can I come from verse 1?
Come from verse 1, please, of this chapter.
Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli, and the word of the Lord was read
in those days.
There was no widespread revelation.
And it came to pass at that time while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his
eyes had gone, had begun to grow so deep that he could not see.
And before the lamp of God went out in the Tabernacle of the Lord, where the act of gold
wars.
Now stop on this verse.
Now fire also symbolizes, symbolizes the presence.
Okay?
Symbolizes the presence.
So in the Old Testament, fire must keep burning in the temple.
Okay?
It symbolizes the presence.
It must keep burning.
Fire must keep burning.
So the fire must not go out.
The fire must keep burning.
Right?
It must keep burning.
So it's an offering, and it's also seen as symbolism of the presence of God, which is,
which shows that it must keep burning.
And we see that in the context of, in the context of the Leviticus era.
So we can conclude and say that fire is actually an activities by those of the Old Testament.
Right?
It's an activities by those who believe in God in the Old Testament.
So fire, reading from Genesis to Leviticus, is an activity.
They engage with fire when it comes to their offering and sacrifice and worship of God.
So let's come to the New Testament and see what fire is in the New Testament and see
how that applies to you.
Acts chapter two, Acts chapter two, Acts chapter two, from verse one.
Just Acts chapter two from verse one.
All right.
When the day of Pentecost has fully come, they were all in one, they were all with one
accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as a Russian mighty wind and it filled the
whole house where they were sitting.
And there appeared to them divided tongues as a fire and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak with other tongues
and the spirit, as the spirit did what gave them all trends.
So here again, we can see that verse three, can you go to verse three?
It said something appeared to them as divided tongues as a fire, something.
Then verse four says that they were now filled, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
So therefore what appeared to them is not the Holy Spirit.
Now we have to explain these because if you have been attending some meetings, you should
know the explanation of this, that this part is not the Holy Spirit coming upon them.
I mean, it's not the first time they are receiving the Holy Spirit.
Do we get it?
So this has been taught regularly as the time that the Holy Ghost began its operation on
earth.
And that was the first time the Holy Ghost was launched into earth and every believer
received it.
Actually that is not because that is what makes us equate the fire.
Right?
So the spirits in verse four.
Do we get it?
So this is not the first time, this is not a time the believers, right?
The disciples received the Holy Spirit.
So you can write John 14 down as the scripture to explain that the believers had the Holy
Spirit before the day of Pentecost.
So John 14, verse 20, verse 28 and 29.
John 14 verse 20 verse 28 and 29.
We'll really just write it down first.
Write it down.
Luke 24 verse 25.
I think we've been dealing with this.
And thank God for that teaching that I said the foundation.
24, 25, Luke, then verse 44 as well and verse 51.
So just put that in brackets, right?
And right, this is the explanation for how the believer received the Holy Ghost.
Just keep it there and I'll just quickly explain that.
So when Jesus said that I am in the Father and the Father in me in John, can you go to
John 14, 20 for me?
I'll just be on one verse.
Me that's in, please can you quickly help me?
John 14 verse 20.
He said, and that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.
Are you seeing something here?
Jesus is saying that there is a day that the disciples will realize that they are in union
with Christ.
Okay?
There is a day that they will realize that they are in union with Christ.
That is the day they received the Holy Spirit.
The day the believers, the disciples realized that they are one in union with Christ, they
understood that and believe it.
That is the day they received the Holy Ghost.
And that day is in Luke 24 verse 44.
Okay?
So Luke 24 verse 44 now.
And he said to them, these are the words which I spoke to you while I was with you, that
all the things must be fulfilled which are written the Lord of Moses and the law of Moses
and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me.
Next verse.
And he opened their understanding and that they might do what?
Comprehend the scriptures.
So it means that what Jesus told them in John is taking place here.
In this day, they understood after Jesus explained to them.
Verse 44 verse 46.
And he said to them, thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer
to rise from the dead and the third day.
To rise from the dead and the third day.
The next.
And that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name to all nations beginning
at Jerusalem.
Next.
And you are witness of these things.
Next.
Behold, I send the promise of the Father upon you, but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until
you are endured with power from an eye.
Which is referring to Acts chapter 2.
Hallelujah.
So we can say that when the believers believe in Luke 24, they receive the Holy Ghost.
Right?
Therefore, in Acts 2, it is not that they are receiving the Holy Ghost for the first
time.
So that now brings us to explaining what is tongues of fire.
Right?
As of the tongues of fire.
Okay.
This time is running too fast.
But we'll move.
So three things happened on the day of Pentecost.
Please write it down.
Three things happened.
They heard, they saw, and they spoke.
On the day of Pentecost, they heard, they saw, and they spoke.
They heard, they saw, and they spoke.
So therefore, these are activities that is touching in the believers, in the new creation.
So this is an empowerment of activities that were in the new creation, in the believer
that have believed.
They saw, they spoke.
They heard the voice.
And this is the first time this is happening.
This empowerment.
Are we together?
So we've never seen them speak in tongues before.
We've never seen them interpret the tongues before.
We've never seen them see as a fire, write a tongue.
So we can say that what happened on the day of Pentecost is that the believers began an
activity through empowerment of the Holy Ghost.
The believers, the disciples of Christ, they started an activity, or I don't understand
what you're talking about, activities of the Spirit through what?
The empowerment of the Holy Ghost.
The believers started an activity from the Holy Ghost that is within them.
They began to speak in tongues, interpreting tongues, preaching with boldness, and the
Church increased.
So the tongue of fire as seen, right?
It's only a symbol of the activities that they have begun.
The tongue of fire is what?
Is a symbol of the activities.
It refers to the activities that these disciples started doing.
The spiritual activities that the disciples are engaging in from that moment.
Now let me just explain again that the tongue of fire is not the Holy Spirit as well.
Acts chapter 10, let me show you somewhere.
Acts chapter 10.
We can't have the whole reading, but can you go to verse 34?
When Peter opened his mouth in truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality.
Now before that, verse 44.
Go to verse 44.
Acts 10 verse 44.
He said, while Peter was still speaking, this word, the Holy Ghost fell upon those who
heard the words, the word of God, right?
The Holy Ghost fell upon those who did what, who heard.
In this place, there is no tongue of fire.
You realize there is no seen as anything as the tongue of fire, but the Holy Ghost was
what was in operation, fell upon them.
It means they received the Holy Ghost.
They are believing for the first time, right?
They are believing for the first time and therefore they received the Holy Ghost.
These ones are receiving here.
The disciples receiving Luke 24.
And their activities is in Acts chapter two.
Do we get it?
Good.
So therefore the Holy Ghost is not tongue of fire.
Again, the Holy Ghost is not tongue of fire.
The Holy Ghost is not tongue of fire, but the activities through the Holy Ghost is fire.
The activities through the Holy Ghost can be referred to as fire.
So let's go back to 1 Thessalonians 5.
Then you will do the work here.
First Thessalonians 5 verse 18.
Or go to verse 19.
Okay.
All right, everybody.
If you have been following, now you should be able to interpret this correctly.
So do not quench, replace the spirit.
How would you replace the spirit with activities of what?
Of the spirit.
Glory to God.
That is it.
So Paul was saying that don't quench the activities of the spirit.
So it brings us to some things that we need to tell ourselves.
A believer can quench the activity of the spirit.
A believer can be on fire and can also be so cool and lackadaisical about the things
of the spirit.
Okay?
So you must know that you are a new creation.
You have the identity of Christ.
You have the Holy Ghost in you, but you can be as cold as ice.
Okay?
The believer can extinguish it.
It means that the believer can stop the activities.
Can say, it's okay.
Don't prophesy.
We don't want the believer to say, it's okay.
Don't speak in tongues.
Yeah, we will do that.
So in this case, the activity of the spirits with empathy that Paul was talking about was
prophesying.
Go to the next verse, verse 20.
Verses 520.
He said, do not despise what prophesying.
Don't despise prophesying.
Don't despise prophesies.
Does it make sense now?
So when we combine the two together, do not stop the activities of the spirit.
Don't stop prophesying.
Don't despise prophesies.
When you go to Acts chapter 2, what happened there is that they spoke in tongues and they
explained what they said.
And that is prophecy.
Acts chapter 2, you can put it there.
Acts chapter 2, they spoke in tongues and they explained what they said.
So let's go to Acts chapter 2.
Acts chapter 2, from verse 7.
He said, utterly amazed, okay, from verse 7, yes.
They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, look, are not all these who
speak Galileans?
And how is it that we hear each in our own language in which we were born?
Patients and maids and the elements and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya, Adjoining Cyrene,
visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Christians and Arabs, we hear them speaking
in our own tongues, the wonderful works of God.
The next.
So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, whatever could this mean?
As Morkin say, they are full of wine.
Stop.
So on the day of Pentecost, when the believers began to operate in the activities of the
spirit, we find them speaking in tongues and interpreting and the people understood it,
right?
And we also find those who do what?
Who despise prophecy.
That is what I say.
Or as Morkin said, they were full with what?
They are full with wine.
So first, to quench the spirit is to extinguish the activities of the spirit, because you
cannot extinguish the spirit himself, he's a person.
So you extinguish the activities of the spirit.
Now, let me come back to the illustration of Aaron and his sons, right?
When Aaron and his sons were serving in the priesthood, right?
They were serving in the priesthood.
They were using fire as part of the offering, right?
As part of the offering.
And that offering is for service to what?
To the people of Israel, right?
The offering is for service for the people of Israel.
The burnt offering for himself and his son, right?
The incense for himself and the people of Israel, right?
So fire was used as part of what is being used to serve people, right?
Therefore we can see that the activities of the spirit, it is used to serve the church.
The activities of the spirit is used to serve the church.
Who are the priesthoods today?
The believer.
The believer is the priesthood that can participate in the activities of the spirits for the edification
of the church.
We are the priesthood that can participate in the activities of the spirits for the building
up of the church.
We are the priesthood.
We can also write this down.
The activities of the spirit, it is authorized to believers.
Just the way the fire was authorized, right?
The priesthood was authorized to Aaron to offer.
Then you can offer.
If you offer, if you are not in the priesthood, you have a problem.
Maybe a fire will just come out from the midst of the fire.
But today we are part of that priesthood.
Glory to God.
We are part of that priesthood that can participate in the activities of the spirit of God for
the edification, for the building up of the body of Christ.
So we can say that when we prophesy, we are serving each other, right?
When we speak in tongues, we are serving each other, right?
So therefore I said that a believer can actually quench it.
It simply means to extinguish it, to stop it, to interrupt it, to make more create of
it.
So when you make more create of the things of the spirit, actually, you are quenching
it.
You are quenching the fire.
When you make more create of the, someone is speaking in tongues, you are listening
to the sound of the songs, the tongues.
You are not serious.
You are supposed to be praying.
Or you are wondering, someone is speaking in tongues and interpreting, you are saying,
I don't believe anybody in this church should do that because you have been taught well.
But when you see people do that, they are quenching.
Or another one, when you say it is over, it doesn't exist again.
You are quenching the spirit.
When you say the activities of the spirit, like prophecy and tongues, don't exist, it's
ended with the apostles.
If you hear such a thing, in such places, they are quenching the spirit, right?
They are quenching the activities.
They are stopping it from operating.
It means that the church cannot benefit from the things that come from those activities.
You can benefit from it.
Right?
You cannot benefit from it because you say it's over.
Now let me show you another word.
First is aloneness.
Go back to first is aloneness please.
Despise not prophesying.
Let's check the word despise.
What it means to despise.
What does it mean to despise?
To not despise prophecies.
So to despise, the word despise means to not take serious.
To take with content, like treat something with content.
To not take serious is the word exaltanil.
Despise means to not take something serious, to treat with content.
Exaltanil, exou, exou, the, exou, the, neo.
Exou, the, neo.
To make fun of something, you're making fun of it.
To say they are drunk, those that are participating in it.
So please, as a believer, another way you can actually quench the spirit is when you
see people making fun of it and you join.
When you see people making fun of the things of the spirit and it does not shake you, it
does not get you angry, it does not make you look, why are they doing this?
You are participating in quenching the activities of the spirit.
So whether it's online, whether it's online, people are on chat, or you're in a group chat,
or you're anywhere, the moment you realize that the miracles of God and the prophecies
and the speaking in tongues are being used for a joke, do not participate in it.
Hallelujah.
Are we with me?
So the activities of God, you don't join them in making fun of it.
Right?
You don't join them.
You don't use tongues for comedy.
You don't use prophets for comedy.
They are for the edification of the church.
I know today everybody online just doesn't do anything they want, but as a believer you
must have a caution.
You must have a caution.
It is what makes people not to take it seriously.
Right?
They don't take it seriously because it's being made fun of.
So to despise me, not to take it seriously, to make fun of something.
Therefore a believer can be on fire, right?
Coming to fire now, a believer can be on fire, which means that you are full of the activities
of the spirit.
Okay?
So when we say a believer is on fire, we mean that the believer is full of the activities
of the spirit.
You can perceive that this person is full of the activities of the spirit.
This person gives himself to speaking in tongues and prophecy.
When you come to a place and they are praying and you are seeing the word, that is fire.
It is not the Holy Ghost.
It is the activities of the spirit.
So therefore, fire also represents your engagements with the things of the spirit.
Your engagement with the things of the spirit.
Your engagement.
So as a believer you need to engage the things of the spirit regularly.
If you want to be on fire, it is not a one moment thing.
Ah, that's another thing I must say.
That fire is not a one moment thing.
He said the fire must continue to burn on the altar.
The fire must continue to burn on the altar.
It's not a one moment thing.
Fire is not only in catharsismos.
Fire is not only in our third Sunday service, which is prayer service.
Fire is not only when you are in believers meeting.
Fire is not a one moment thing.
It's a continuous thing that must continue in the life of a believer.
Fire is not a one moment.
It must continue.
It must participate in prophesying.
Now we can also say, right, we can also say that fire means your walk in the spirit.
Galatians 5.
Your walk in the spirit.
Galatians 5 verse 16.
Can you put that up?
Galatians 5 verse 16.
I said, and walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
So a believer can choose not to walk in the spirit.
You can choose not to participate in the activities of the spirit.
You can choose to neglect it.
You know, Paul would tell Timothy, said, neglect not what's the gifts that is given to you
by the laying of hands of the Presbyterian.
That's first Timothy 4 verse 14.
You can put second Timothy 1 verse 6 as well.
To stir up the flame that is in you.
Stir up something.
So you can write it down.
First Timothy 4 verse 14.
Second Timothy 1 verse 6.
So fire can be seen as the walk in the spirit, right?
It can also be seen, walk in the spirit, we'll put Galatians 5.16.
It can also be seen as walking in love.
Ephesians 5 verse 1 to 2.
Spirit of the spirit can be seen as a walk in the spirit, can be seen as walking in love.
Walking in love is Ephesians 5, 1 to 2, then verse 15 and 20.
Verse 15 and 20.
Can we just read out verse 15 and 20 and we'll close?
We'll read verse 15 and 20 and we'll close.
And we'll practice a little bit.
We'll continue on Wednesday.
We still have a few things to say.
So see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.
Redeeming the time because the days are evil.
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the spirit.
What do we do now?
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your hearts to the Lord.
Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Can you see that this is an activity, right?
It's an activity of the spirit.
The last thing I'll say is that it is your responsibility to be on fire for God.
It is not God's responsibility.
To be on fire for God is your responsibility and you can choose not to.
But I encourage you to.
To be on fire for God is your responsibility.
We appreciate you being here today.
We hope you carry this word with you throughout your week.
Don't forget to check the show notes for additional insights.
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Until next time, stay blessed.