STOP, LISTEN, OBEY, REWARD

Don’t quench the Spirit when you are told by God to do something or you know a Divine Opportunity is presenting itself because both you and whomever you are ministering to will be richly rewarded.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Do not put out the Spirit's fire;” (NIV) or “Quench not the Spirit” (KJV).

The Greek word for “quench” in this verse is sbennumi.  As you can well imagine, it means to extinguish and is often associated with the killing of a fire by saturating it with a heavy dose of water.  Let’s not allow fear or any other weapon of the enemy or of our own making to get in the way of God using us.   Let’s not throw water on God’s fire in us.  God is right in all things.  We need to trust His righteousness in us when He places us in certain places and in front of certain people.  Trust His leading, He knows what He is doing.

Another way “quench” can be interpreted is dry up.  Here the warning is not to let yourself get into a pattern of quenching the Spirit or you will dry up and the likelihood of not hearing the voice of God increases dramatically.  Step out in faith.  He desires for us to grow in Him by trusting in Him and His Divine Opportunities He presents – He is The Great Adventure (Steven Curtis Chapman).

Has the Holy Spirit been instructing you to do or say something to someone recently?

On my choir missions trip to Puerto Rico I experienced two Divine Opportunities - one I capitalized on and the other I missed.  

The one that I obeyed and did not quench the Spirit on was a case where God placed two young blood brothers on my heart throughout Saturday night's service.  Every chance I got I prayed for their relationship with God.  After the service I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to let them know that God loves them, I love them, that they were prayed for and would really like to see them back the next morning at Sunday service.  Marge Smith was gracious enough to translate all this and the tears and hugs ensued.  One of the brothers returned and I still pray for the sons of a pastor of a church that resided in our area where we stayed.

The other instance was when I visited San Juan after Sunday service.  On my way to finding something to eat I passed by a beggar and did not do anything about the pull I felt in my heart and spirit.  Later, when I was home, Pastor Dial, in his sermon would include the phrase "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."(Acts 3:6).  Like an arrow shot into my heart the Holy Spirit disciplined me and instructed me on a missed opportunity.  I could have at least shared God's love, a smile, some time and prayer with this individual, but I missed this one.

If you DO NOT “quench” the Spirit God promises great reward.  God's healings, salvation, and miracles are enough for most of us, BUT Hebrews 10:35 says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.”  The following bolded words are Rick Renner's.  Look closely at his study of what happens when we obey the Spirit's leading.

 The phrase “recompense of reward” is from the Greek word misthapodosia.  …it doesn’t just refer to a payment but to a recompense, reimbursement, settlement, or reparation.  …this word is used to tell us that God rewards or pays those who are faithful to assignments He has given them.

But why would we think God is going to do less than a human employer would do?  Because the verse above uses the word mistha, it emphatically asserts that God is going to take good care of those who do His will.  This means that faith really does pay.

But in Hebrews 10:35, the word used isn’t just mistha; it is expanded even further into the word misthapodosia.  This compound word means reimbursement for expenses you spent to do the job; a settlement to take care of injuries or losses; or reparations to cover all that vanished due to war.

God is mindful of the time, love, patience, and money you have invested as you have worked for Him.  Hebrews 6:10 says God never overlooks or fails to remember what you have done for Him.  If you’ve worked long hours on His behalf; if you’ve invested your personal energies into the work of His kingdom; if you’ve given 100 percent of your heart and soul to your assigned task; or if you’ve given sacrificially of your finances – God has never forgotten any of these things.  That is why Hebrews 6:10 says, ‘For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name…’

The word misthapodosia suggest that God will be sure to remember it all…

He may pay you by giving you:

·         New victories in different areas of your life

·         Success in your business or ministry

·         A greater anointing than you’ve ever had

·         An increase of financial prosperity

·         A long-term friendship you’ll be able to count on for years to come

(Sparkling Gems From the Greek, p.82-83)

So, have your Spiritual antenna tuned to God’s channel or voice for Divine opportunities and don’t quench the Spirit when He says - go, do, say - because now you know you will be doing His will, blessing others, being blessed yourself immediately and God says you’ll be rewarded.