Putting out the Spirit's Fire

Q: 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says "Do not put out the Spirit's fire." How do we do this? Thank you.

A: Thank you for your question. I believe the answer to your question is found if we keep reading on after verse 19. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 reads, "Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." The way you can put out the Spirit's fire is by treating prophecy as though it is not important and by not testing everything to determine whether or not it is good or evil. When it comes to not treating prophecies with contempt, one has to be clear as to what is a prophecy. Most people think of prophecy as the foretelling or prediction of what is to come. In other words, it is something that tells the future. While that is certainly a meaning of the word, there is a broader definition that more accurately fits this warning about putting out the Spirit's fire. That definition of prophecy is the revelation of the truth of God. A prophet is considered one who has been sent by God with a message to tell. If we use this broader definition, one can "put out the Spirit's fire" by not believing the truth that has been revealed to them about God and His word is important. Just look at the Day of Pentecost, for example.

When the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, many in attendance were amazed at what was happening. Yet, we read in Acts 2:13 where some scoffed at was happening. "But others were laughing at the apostles, saying they were drunk from too much wine." The actions of the Holy Spirit on the disciples was a miraculous event, yet we read where they were laughed at and accused of being drunk. This could be an example of putting out the Spirit's fire by not believing a revelation of God is important. Christians, not just unbelievers, can be guilty of treating prophecies with contempt as well. For example, the Bible is clear on the teaching that we are forgiven of every sin we have committed or will ever commit in our lives and that God doesn't remember our sins, doesn't count our sins against us and will never hold them against us. Yet, there are teachers who are unwilling to tell Christians of this truth. One of the most famous pastors in the world, when it comes to the subject of grace, is guilty of treating prophecies regarding forgiveness with contempt. It is regarding 1 John 1:9. 1 John 1:9 states, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

The pastor in question used to correctly interpret this verse. Of it he once said that this verse was "referring to an unbeliever who needed to agree with God that he had sin so that he could be the recipient of the forgiveness that God has already given to him."  He went on to say that "to ask God to forgive you would be a denial of what God did on the cross." However, today he has changed what he teaches. He now says, "Historically, such teaching (with regard to the complete forgiveness of sins) has consistently led to the error of Antinomianism; a practical disregard for the law of God and a callous lack of concern for violating it." Now, I cannot go into the subjects of forgiveness and Antinomianism. My point is to give you a practical example of how the revelation of truth, a prophecy, is disregarded even after someone knew and taught the truth at one time in their ministry. This is why the passage containing the verse you asked about goes on to say "Test everything." If you have treated a prophecy with contempt, how will you test everything? You cannot. The only way to test everything you hear is to match it up against the truth of the word of God. And to blatantly disregard a revelation of the truth as not important is to sabotage the very thing you need to test everything.

Furthermore, how can a Christian "Hold on to the good" and "Avoid every kind of evil" if they have held the truth of God's word in contempt? Again, you cannot. In Psalm 11:3, the Psalmist asks, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” If I dare paraphrase this verse I could ask, "When prophecies are treated with contempt, what can the righteous do?" The word of God, the Bible, is the written revelation of God to mankind. Jesus Christ, when talking about His death to come, said, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come (John 16:13)." It is the Holy Spirit of God, who indwells every believer, that leads us into the truth. If we do not allow the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us, or deny what has been revealed, it is in that way that we "put out the Spirit's fire." When we do not put out the Spirit's fire by not treating what He reveals to us with contempt, we are able to test everything against the truth and hang on to the good and avoid evil. Ultimately, when that is happening we will begin to understand God's will and "Be joyful always; pray continually [and] give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)." I pray this shed some light on your question.