They had good intentions but they quenched the Holy Spirit. Have you ever had somebody give you the "brush-off"? It does not feel too pleasant, does it? You can imagine how the Lord feels when we do the same to His prec ious Holy Spirit. Dwight L. Moody said he had been at some great meeting when the Holy Spirit put an urge on his heart to pray. He had to slip away to a restroom all by himself where he could get on his knees before the Lord. That may seem extreme to some, but keep in mind, this is why he was so extremely used of God, too! Could it be that this is why you have not been used successfully? Have you quenched the Holy Spirit? There is a great example of this in the Word of God? In II Samuel 6 we read of David becoming king over Israel. He remembers that a hundred years before the ark of God was taken captive by the Phil istines. It was when Eli was priest and his two sons were killed in the ensuing battle with the enemy. One of Eli's son's wife gave birth to a baby and named it Ichabod, which means "the glory is departed." And for a hundred years that is exactly what had taken place in Israel. The missing ark of God was the outward or visible manifested pres ence of God. David wisely wanted it returned to its rightful place. To accomplish the task some 30,000 men were chosen to go down to Baal of Judah on this important mission. When they got the ark they started back toward Jerusa lem. The new kind had a reveren tial fear of God, which is what we need today! "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," the
In Philippians we are reminded, "It is God who works in you, both to will and to do of His good pleas ure." I like to translate that, "It is God who works in you, both to desire and to do of His good pleas ure." Most of us are quite aware of the fact that it is God who works in us. He gives us the power to do His good pleasure. What many are not aware of, however, is that it is also God who gives us the desire to do His good pleasure. Have you ever thought about that? He puts it in your heart to read the Bible, to pray, to fellowship with other believers at church, and to win someone else to Christ. The ad monition is, do not quench that desire? When we do we sin against God. We quench the Holy Spirit by sins of omission as we fail to do what He gives us the desire and the urge to do. Many times we have attended services where the Lord has warmly stirred our hearts. There was a de termination and a hunger to know more of Him. Somehow, however, things interrupted and those good intentions went out the window. We must learn to put first things first. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." The Lord will not play "second fiddle" to anybody. I was a pastor for 13 years. Liter ally hundreds of times I have seen Christians at special meetings such as Bible conferences, missionary gatherings, and revival services where individuals have been brok en before God. Our hearts are moved, and there is a new avowal to do something ourselves. A week or two and they are "gung-ho" for God. Then, all of a sudden, you wonder why they are not seen. Page 24
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