(1 Thessalonians 5:19) Do not put out the Holy Spirit's fire.

Throughout the Bible there are numerous images for the Holy Spirit, including water, wind, and oil.

These stir up very positive feelings of refreshing, awakening, and anointing. 

We desire the calming presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

We want to attend church services that are filled with worship, where we feel the uplifting presence of God. 

However, in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul exhorts the Christians in Thessalonica to stop quenching, extinguishing, or putting out the “fire” of the Holy Spirit. 

It seems that the image of the Holy Spirit’s fire was not as attractive as refreshing water or anointing oil. 

We are not exactly clear what Paul meant by the ‘fire’ of the Holy Spirit. But it does remind us that God is described as a “consuming fire” in Hebrews 12:29. 

Although fire is often seen as a negative and destructive symbol—like a house on fire—it is better to understand the Holy Spirit’s fire as a purifying power.  

As 1 Corinthians 3:13 tells us, Their work will be revealed for what it truly is, for the second coming of Jesus will reveal it with blazing fire. 

As John the Baptist declared about Jesus in Matthew 3:11, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 

One of the ministry roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to internally purify us. If we allow him, he burns up all the chaff and dead wood in our hearts. 

The Holy Spirit cleanses our inner life from all the junk that so easily builds up in us over time.

The problem is that the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit is not always comfortable; it burns deep within our souls.”

We would rather experience Holy Spirit goose bumps than the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying fire within us.

It is the Holy Spirit’s fire that produces spiritual holiness within us. 

The Holy Spirit’s fire does not destroy us, it purifies and heals us from the inside out. 

Do you allow the Holy Spirit’s fire to burn deep in your heart, or do you extinguish it because it makes you feel uncomfortable? 

Do you like the refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit, but resist the deep work he wants to do in your heart? 

Instead of fearing the burning fire of the Holy Spirit, we need to open wide our hearts and call on God to burn up all the sin that so easily entangles our lives, and everything within us that is not from him. 

Let it be, Lord!