1 Thessalonians 5:19 - Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 16:23 - Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Psalm 139: 23, 24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
I have been a Christian long enough to know that, unfortunately, I’ve quenched the Spirit many times. Sometimes, it was because of sin, and other times, it was in ignorance, or unbelief. Once, I just plain old made a mistake. Another time, I had a good friend tell me that it felt like a wall slammed into her when I walked into the room.
Peter must have felt awful when Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan!” A few verses earlier Peter had been commended by Jesus for recognizing that Jesus was the Christ. What a shock for Peter!
Even it we disagree with a person who tells us we have quenched the Spirit, I think the best response is, “Maybe they’re right. Who knows?” We are all fallible. I’ve even seen an anointed pastor in Japan be accused of stifling the Holy Spirit. As horrific it is to think we are resistant to the Holy Spirit, it’s happened to all of us. The Apostle Paul wouldn’t have had to admonish the Theologian Church about not stifling the Holy Spirit unless it was a common problem.
Thankfully, our Lord is one who reinstates us, just as Jesus did several times with Peter. I’m reminded of the words in Micah 6:8 - He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Joy