Q. “C.H.” What is to “grieve” and to “quench” the Spirit of God?
A. The allowance of flesh in the least degree in a Christian is to grieve the Spirit of God by which he has been sealed until (for) the day of redemption (Eph. 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)). What a motive to holiness is the fact — true of every believe — that the Holy Spirit of God dwells in him! He may, alas, grieve Him in many ways. Rejection of light which God has given; worldliness; in fact everything that has not Christ for its motive and object must grieve God’s Spirit — hinder our growth and communion.
To quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:1919Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)) is to hinder His free action in the members of Christ in the assembly. While there are special permanent gifts in the Church, (Eph. 4:1111And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:11)) there are also the “joints and bands,” which work effectually in the measure of every part, and by which the Body of Christ increases. If they are hindered in true spiritual service — a single word for instance — the Spirit of God is quenched.
There are dangers to be avoided on both sides, specially by those who seek to walk in the truth of the Church of God. On one side the danger is, that because there is liberty “that all may learn and all may be comforted,” there may be the undervaluing of special ministry, which is a permanent thing as long as the Church of God is here. On the other, there is the danger of quenching the Spirit in the various helps, and joints, and bands by which nourishment is ministered in the body of Christ, by putting special ministry in the place of the free action of the Holy Spirit in the members of Christ; both are to be cherished, and the most spiritual are those who will value all that God gives.
The following verses (1 Thess. 5:20, 2120Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20‑21)) show that it is ministry the apostle has in his mind. While in verse 12 he exhorts them to own those who labor amongst them and esteem them highly in love for their work s sake; in vv 19-21 they were not to quench the Spirit in any, but at the same time to “prove all things” which were said, and “hold fast that which was good.”
Words of Truth 5:59.