Quench not the Spirit
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:19Devotional Series: Why Tongues
Teaching: Why Tongues? pt. 3 (WED 2023-07-19) by Pastor Star R Scott
Paul, writing of the Corinthian church, in 1 Corinthians 14, we find one of the most interesting, unique churches that is in the Scriptures. These were a people that were very puffed-up over their spiritually. Aren’t you glad we never have a tendency to be a little puffed-up? Aren’t you glad that in our church, here, we never have that tendency to be puffed-up at all? We’re just so humble. The thing that pride, in being puffed-up, causes is that it makes our understanding, our will, become truth on an equal basis to the Word of God and will cause us at many times to misapply or misunderstand the truth that God is trying to speak to us. These people were so puffed-up that they had sin in their midst, sin in their midst, that it said even the pagans did not approve of. That a man would be with his father’s wife. And he said, “And yet, you’re rejoicing because you’re seeing miracles, you’re speaking in tongues, you’re prophesying, and yet, this sin is here in your midst. You don’t need to be puffed-up; you need to repent and clean up the church”; amen?
So, today, many churches are judged, their spirituality, based upon gifts. It could be great teaching gifts, great orators, that are in these pulpits. Great Bible studies that are being given. In the Pentecostal churches, so much is emphasized, again, as was taking place, here, in Corinthians, how much music and dancing and jumping and shouting there is in the churches. Many different ways for pride and self-will to express itself. And that’s why, then, we see the need for Chapter 13, the love chapter of the Bible that many refer to it as, sandwiched between Chapters 12 and 14, because for these gifts to operate effectively and to bring about the edification of the church the way they should, they have to operate in love. Otherwise, we’re sounding brass and tinkling symbols, Chapter 13 says. We’re just making noise. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another.” Love one another. Love one another. “Faith, hope and love; the greatest of these is love.”
As we’re looking now into the specifics of this particular chapter, Chapter 14, we’re admonished to desire spiritual gifts. Can I encourage you, again, this evening? Desire spiritual gifts. Desire to be used of God. Desire to be the one whom God speaks to as we come together. One comes with a psalm, and one comes with a doctrine; amen? One comes with a tongue and another with the interpretation of tongues. The gift of tongues is dying in the church, today. The gift of speaking with other tongues that manifested itself in Acts, Chapter 2, verse 4, on the day of Pentecost, is being excluded from churches, today. It’s tragic, and there’s a great admonition—keep your finger, here, in 1 Corinthians and just real quickly turn over to the book of 1 Thessalonians. And there’s a statement made in 1 Thessalonians that should really grasp our hearts, our spirits. Remember, the book of 1 Thessalonians was written because they were under great persecution. Somebody had lied to them and told them that the rapture had already taken place, they had missed it, and they were, now, in the Great Tribulation. So, Paul is writing to clear that up to them. And as Paul’s speaking to them right here, he's admonishing them along these lines. And in the midst of all of this admonition of the coming of the man of sin, the preparation of the church. That we are a people, Chapter 1, verse 10, that are not appointed unto wrath. We see all of these things that come and share with us—again, verse 9 of the fifth chapter, we’re not appointed to wrath.
We see it again. They were so burdened, they thought they were under the judgment and wrath of God. He’s saying, “No, you’re not. No, you’re not. Here’s what you’re going to see first, and then that day will come. So, follow those (he goes on in the fifth chapter in verses 12‑13) that God has set into your life to be an overseer, to help lead you into the truth. Esteem them highly for their work’s sake.” And then, this little section here, of Scripture that is just so interesting. We’re admonished to rejoice evermore, to pray without ceasing, in everything to give thanks for this is the will of God. And then he says, listen, “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things…” which we’re going to see, here in Chapter 14, is that same admonition that Paul is giving but with great detail and clarity. Prove whether or not this is truly God moving in our midst, and then hold onto that that’s good.
So, today, many churches are judged, their spirituality, based upon gifts. It could be great teaching gifts, great orators, that are in these pulpits. Great Bible studies that are being given. In the Pentecostal churches, so much is emphasized, again, as was taking place, here, in Corinthians, how much music and dancing and jumping and shouting there is in the churches. Many different ways for pride and self-will to express itself. And that’s why, then, we see the need for Chapter 13, the love chapter of the Bible that many refer to it as, sandwiched between Chapters 12 and 14, because for these gifts to operate effectively and to bring about the edification of the church the way they should, they have to operate in love. Otherwise, we’re sounding brass and tinkling symbols, Chapter 13 says. We’re just making noise. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another.” Love one another. Love one another. “Faith, hope and love; the greatest of these is love.”
As we’re looking now into the specifics of this particular chapter, Chapter 14, we’re admonished to desire spiritual gifts. Can I encourage you, again, this evening? Desire spiritual gifts. Desire to be used of God. Desire to be the one whom God speaks to as we come together. One comes with a psalm, and one comes with a doctrine; amen? One comes with a tongue and another with the interpretation of tongues. The gift of tongues is dying in the church, today. The gift of speaking with other tongues that manifested itself in Acts, Chapter 2, verse 4, on the day of Pentecost, is being excluded from churches, today. It’s tragic, and there’s a great admonition—keep your finger, here, in 1 Corinthians and just real quickly turn over to the book of 1 Thessalonians. And there’s a statement made in 1 Thessalonians that should really grasp our hearts, our spirits. Remember, the book of 1 Thessalonians was written because they were under great persecution. Somebody had lied to them and told them that the rapture had already taken place, they had missed it, and they were, now, in the Great Tribulation. So, Paul is writing to clear that up to them. And as Paul’s speaking to them right here, he's admonishing them along these lines. And in the midst of all of this admonition of the coming of the man of sin, the preparation of the church. That we are a people, Chapter 1, verse 10, that are not appointed unto wrath. We see all of these things that come and share with us—again, verse 9 of the fifth chapter, we’re not appointed to wrath.
We see it again. They were so burdened, they thought they were under the judgment and wrath of God. He’s saying, “No, you’re not. No, you’re not. Here’s what you’re going to see first, and then that day will come. So, follow those (he goes on in the fifth chapter in verses 12‑13) that God has set into your life to be an overseer, to help lead you into the truth. Esteem them highly for their work’s sake.” And then, this little section here, of Scripture that is just so interesting. We’re admonished to rejoice evermore, to pray without ceasing, in everything to give thanks for this is the will of God. And then he says, listen, “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things…” which we’re going to see, here in Chapter 14, is that same admonition that Paul is giving but with great detail and clarity. Prove whether or not this is truly God moving in our midst, and then hold onto that that’s good.