Flow Spirit Flow

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER OF TO THE THESSALONIANS

FLOW SPIRIT FLOW

1 Thess 5:19-20

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.

NIV

Jesus had promised his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit and we have evidence of that happening to the disciples on the day of Pentecost as is recorded in the book of Acts. We also have to acknowledge that Jesus did not recall the Spirit, but that he has and will remain here in the world at least until the Last Day. Where he goes or what he does after that is unknown or at least uncertain. But for now, He is in the world and convicts men of their need of repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior. Then after someone does accept Jesus the Spirit comes to indwell that believer to lead them into all truth. There are also all His gifts and his Fruit that he manifests in a believer as He wills. Here we are told not to put out the Spirit’s fire. The Greek actually uses the word that means to extinguish or quench the Spirit, but the implication is as to extinguish a fire, but in this case, it would be the divine influence. Nevertheless, the Spirit is like a forest fire where the flames consume the trees. The Spirit is on fire within us and we are not to quench his divine influence. In other words, we cannot go about doing life our way, but we need to be doing life His way. If we douse the flames of the Spirit. If we do, we will more or less be walking in our sleep, with no emotions, and having no idea where we are going or where we are. We need to allow the Spirit to animate Himself within us and manifest Himself through us. We should be living as if we have a fire in our belly, or at least as if the fire of the Spirit is consuming us. We also have to understand that one of his gifts to the church at large is prophecy, which is to speak through someone regarding either a future event or to utter something which can only be known by divine revelation. This second definition is certainly possible every time a pastor steps into the pulpit. It is also possible through the divine revelation of the Spirit for a believer to speak regarding what is to come. All the work of the Spirit has been contested by some denominations, while others are more open to however the Spirit decides to work. What we know for sure is that we are admonished not to see anything the Spirit does with contempt. Flow Spirit flow, flow through us, break us, mold us, form us, and use us, flow through us into the world around us, overflow from within us, consume our being, lead us, guide us, have your way with us. Flow Spirit flow.