The Holy Spirit wants to guide our steps and help us to make wise decisions—but if we quench the flame of the Spirit, we will wander in darkness and invite disaster. In today’s devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef explains what it means to quench the Spirit.
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[00:00:00] You are listening to My Devotional, the daily devotional from Dr. Michael Youssef and Leading
[00:00:06] The Way.
[00:00:08] Is Illuminating Power by Dr. Michael Youssef
[00:00:14] If you have ever tried to read a book by candlelight during a power blackout, you know
[00:00:18] that the dim and flickering flame provides poor illumination for reading.
[00:00:23] I would prefer a bright, steady, 100 watt bulb any day.
[00:00:28] Lightlight makes the book easier to read and easier to understand.
[00:00:32] In the same way, the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit makes the Bible plain and understandable.
[00:00:38] Trying to grasp God's Word by reading by the dim and flickering candle flame of our human
[00:00:43] understanding is simply foolish, especially when the brilliant light of God is available
[00:00:48] for the asking.
[00:00:50] The Holy Spirit wants to guide our steps and help us make wise decisions, but if we
[00:00:54] quench the flame of the Spirit, we will wander in darkness and invite disaster.
[00:01:00] The Holy Spirit wants to give us the power to overcome temptation, but if we quench the
[00:01:04] flame of the Spirit, we leave ourselves wide open to Satan's deception.
[00:01:09] The Holy Spirit wants to open the eyes of our spiritual understanding, but if we
[00:01:13] quench the flame of the Spirit, we remain willfully blind and ignorant of reality.
[00:01:20] We quench the Spirit when we insist on clinging to our pride and our confidence in our own
[00:01:26] strength.
[00:01:27] We quench the Spirit when we cling to sin and unforgiveness.
[00:01:30] We quench the Spirit when we replace the wisdom of the Word of God with our human folly.
[00:01:37] And we should be aware that not only can individuals quench the Spirit, but entire
[00:01:42] churches can quench the Spirit.
[00:01:44] Many churches today exhibit great pride and self-confidence, tolerate sin and practice
[00:01:49] unforgiveness, and have replaced God's Word with human ideas and programs.
[00:01:55] When individual believers and entire congregations quench the Spirit, disaster will follow as
[00:02:01] surely as the night follows the day.
[00:02:04] So Paul's Council in 1 Thessalonians 519, Do Not Quench the Spirit, is as timely
[00:02:11] today as when he first wrote those simple yet profound words.
[00:02:16] Let's pray together.
[00:02:19] Forgive us for the times when we have quenched the Holy Spirit in our lives, leaning on
[00:02:24] our own valuable understanding.
[00:02:28] Help us to turn away from such pride and to trust and hope in you.
[00:02:33] Obey your word by your Spirit.
[00:02:38] We pray in the name of Jesus.
[00:02:40] Amen.
[00:02:41] To take a deeper dive into today's devotional topic, check the show notes for links
[00:02:46] to additional resources.
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[00:02:55] My Devotional is a ministry of leading the way with Dr. Michael Yusef.
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