Quench Not the Spirit

Newsletter #379 - May 2010 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

Never try to extinguish the Holy Spirit. To do do, if you are one of God's elect, is bordering on the unforgivable sin. Let's begin our study in the Book of Matthew. The Pharisees are plotting to kill Jesus.

Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all;

This is exactly the reason they wanted to kill Jesus. He was doing good works they weren't capable of doing.

Matthew 12:16 And charged them that they should not make Him known: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 18 "Behold My servant, whom I have chosen; My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

This is the Father speaking of the Son. Wherever the Father and Son are, the Holy Spirit is present also.

Matthew 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets.

Jesus walked right into the church to make His declarations. That is where the Pharisees would be found.

Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in His name shall the Gentiles trust."

A Bruised reed is just barely hanging on. Have you ever been at a point in your life that you were barely hanging on? Jesus can heal broken bodies and broken hearts. He can trim your wick to make your life brighter without ever quenching the flame, if you don't try to quench the Holy Spirit. Give yourself to Him. Jesus was quoting Isaiah. When Jesus quotes Scripture in the Old Testament, you always want to check it out. We will.

Isaiah 42:1 Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Judgment will mean rewards for some, and it will be chastisement for others. Everyone will be judged fairly.

Isaiah 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law."

People crave disciple. You can't be happy, unless you have discipline in your life. Jesus brings discipline.

Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

That is your Father. He is the creator of your very soul. The next verses is why Jesus wanted us to look here. Remember, the Pharisees were trying to kill Him. Here is truth.

Isaiah 42:6 "I the LORD have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the People, for a light of the Gentiles;

Jesus is the light of the world. God won't let His Son down. Nor will Father let you down, if you are doing His work. God always takes care of His children that love and serve Him. Are you working to accomplish Father's will?

Isaiah 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Jesus gave sight to some who were physically bind. He gave sight to many more who were spiritually blind. Jesus preached the Gospel to the prisoners who died before He was crucified (1 Peter 3:18-19). Many believed.

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Don't overlook this last verse. Your Father, through prophecy, tells you what tomorrow brings. There is no excuse for anyone to be deceived. God isn't going to give His glory to antichrist. Count on it.

Isaiah 42:10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. 11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Let the whole world receive the Word of the Lord and praise Him.

Isaiah 42:12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare His praise in the islands. 13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies.

There is no "maybe" in this verse. The Lord prevails!

Isaiah 42:14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

A woman in travail is about to give birth. A new age is about to be brought forth. He want everyone the opportunity to hear truth, but His patience is beginning to wear thin with the enemy.

Isaiah 42:15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

This comes to pass when the earth is rejuvenated (Revelation 21:1-3).

Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

This is why Jesus pointed to this Scripture. He wanted you to find comfort. Jesus wanted you to know not to quench the Spirit of God. He wanted you to know the truth of how it is going to come down at the end of this age. Let's continue our study in the Book of Matthew.

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

The virgins are symbolic of Christians waiting for the bridegroom, that is to say Jesus, to return.

Matthew 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Olive oil is symbolic of truth. Without oil the lamp and the Holy Spirit are quenched. No truth; no light.

Matthew 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Don't be as those who think the bridegroom isn't coming at all. You are watchmen. Don't fall asleep on your watch. Don't be caught with no truth in your vessel.

Matthew 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.'

The 7th trump sounds, and Jesus returns. Some will be ready to meet Him, and some will not be ready.

Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, 'Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.'

There lamps were quenched. They had no truth from God's Word to place in their lamps. Don't be among this group. Jesus is going to be very disappointed in them.

Matthew 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.'

This happens at the 7th trump. What happened at the 6th trump? Antichrist appears at the 6th trump, and you have to worship him before you can buy and sell anything. Those without oil will worship the antichrist. They aren't fit to be the bride of Christ.

Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'

Beloved, there is a time when it becomes too late.

Matthew 25:12 But he answered and said, 'Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Make certain you vessel has sufficient oil to grant you admittance to the wedding. It takes knowledge and understanding of the letter your Father has written to you to be a part of the wedding party. You don't want to be caught short on oil, that is to say truth. Never quench the Spirit of Almighty God. Turn with me to Ephesians.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

Through the power of His might, a little church in Arkansas can become one of the largest television ministries in the world. Millions of people listen to the Word. There is a spiritual war going on. This Scripture tells us how to prepare for that fight. Never, ever, fight against Satan without calling on the power of God.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Satan will eat your lunch, unless you have the gospel armor on, and the Holy Spirit with you.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Again, this is a spiritual war. The enemy is Satan. Does that frighten you? It shouldn't, if you utilize the power Jesus Christ gave you over all your enemies (Luke 10:17-19). God is telling us how to prepare.

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

You aren't going to fly away. You are going to make a stand for the true Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Your girt is your belt. Truth will hold your britches up. You earn your breastplate of righteousness by doing what is right. Be ready to march for the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Most important of all, make sure you have the shield of faith. You can quench Satan's fire, when the Holy Spirit speaks through you.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Put on the gospel armor so you can quench the fiery darts of Satan. Never, never, quench the Holy Spirit.

In His Service,
Arnold Murray