Gtcotr/ws073025
Allow me to reiterate what we talked about last Wednesday evening concerning the ministry and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. We do not want to raise a generation who never experience the Holy Fire of God.
1 Thessalonians 5 NKJV
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
So let’s begin to read this epistle from the Apostle Paul.
1 Thessalonians 1 NKJV
1 ¶ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- · Paul, Silas, and Timothy visited Thessalonica after Paul and Silas had been stripped naked in public, beaten with rods, and imprisoned in a dark dungeon in stocks and chains in the town Philippi, (Acts 16).
- · Thessalonica was the capital city of the second district of Macedonia.
- · The message of the Gospel was well received by some important Greek men and women (Acts 17).
- · The religious Jews took issue with the Apostle Paul and his team and violently assaulted some who believed and turned the local authorities against them.
- · The new converts were able to help Paul and Silas and Timothy get out of town in the cover of night.
- · Now, about 12 to 18 months later, AD52, these three men were in Corinth and agree to write this second letter to the Believers in the Church at Thessalonica saying:
2 ¶ We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 ¶ And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.
8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.
9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
These 3 amazing men, filled with the passion of Christ, committed to the spreading of the Gospel, and bearing the marks of the Lord Jesus in their bodies, gave great instruction to this faithful congregation in Thessalonica.
Tonight I want to mention one of their closing points which is found in chapter 5. Now remember, Paul and these men with him knew the price being paid by the Believers in Thessalonica for trusting in Jesus. Yet we hear the clear admonition written by the inspiration of God …
1 Thessalonians 5 NKJV
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
- · The concept of quench is used in connection to putting out a fire.
- · There are three basic ways of extinguishing a fire:
- o By throwing water on it.
- o By covering it with a non-combustible material.
- o By neglecting to resupply the needed fuel.
- · This is no doubt in reference to the Holy Fire which was to burn continuously in the House of God.
- · This admonition to not extinguish the fire of the Holy Spirit is in direct connection with the ministry of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- o Specifically
20 Do not despise prophecies.
- · In direct contrast to extinguishing the Holy Fire, 2 Timothy 1:6 in the ESV and the NLT instruct us to
2 Timothy 1:6 “Fan into flames” the spiritual gift God has given you …
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
- · The last word from Paul to the Believers at Thessalonica was to make sure the gifts were valid by testing the prophecies for example.
- · How does a person test the Holy Spirit and specifically prophecies?
Prophecies must first agree with the Word of God. Plus the level of prophetic authority given to the general members of the Body of Christ for congregational ministry, as it intended in 2 Thessalonians, as well as in Corinthians and in Timothy, is relegated and limited to:
1 Corinthians 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
- 1. Edification – Building up; Strengthen
- 2. Exhortation - Encouragement
- 3. Comfort – Consolation
It is being testified everywhere that we are in a season of the stirring up of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would baptize His followers in the Holy Spirit and Fire. Let’s not quench the Holy Fire of God in our lives or in our Church.
We don’t have to be weird or spooky to simply say what you feel Jesus would say to the people around you if He were in your shoes … because He is! Fan into flames the spiritual gifts God has given you and especially prophecy. Make it a point to strengthen, encourage and consol others under the anointing of God. Don’t let the fire of God go out in the house of God, Whose house we are!
