Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Do not quench the Spirit.
(1 Thessalonians 5:19)
The average body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), and the heart, liver, and muscles regulate it. When the body dies, it feels cold. Similarly, in the spiritual world, the Holy Spirit is like a fire that maintains your spiritual temperature. It guides you to keep it warm through prayers, reading, and staying away from evil. If you extinguish the Holy Spirit’s fire, you will be spiritually dead, giving Satan and his army a chance to triumph over you.
Now, let’s explore the reasons the Holy Spirit’s fire may be extinguished.
- Reading the bible
Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)
Jesus wants you to read the Bible. Every word will nourish your soul and serve as oil for your lamp. Bible verses give you the power to resist. Jesus used this weapon when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness for forty days. Jesus always responded with a verse.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105)
- Limping between two teams
We discussed this topic in a previous post, and we mention it here because it is a reason to extinguish the spirit’s fire. There is no common ground between light and darkness.
- love the sin
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:17)
We often pray and convince ourselves that we’re doing our part. But deep down, we’re still drawn to pornography and the pleasure it brings, despite the subsequent regret. The Holy Spirit tries to remind us of a better life, filling us with guilt and urging us to stop. It suggests alternative activities and warns of potential relapse. It even reminds us of how our actions affect those around us, especially our spouses. However, we ignore these voices and continue with our plans to watch porn. Its influence weakens. The more we indulge, the less we hear the voice. Pornography becomes the dominant presence, clouding our view of everything else.
- Not knowing why we pray
One reason is when we pray without understanding the words. It becomes routine without depth or sincerity. Prayer is not about giving God words, but about receiving from Him. God doesn’t need our prayers, but asks us to pray so we can receive from Him.
Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
Israel thought they could live their lives, offering sacrifices when they sinned, and then go back to their old ways. But God doesn’t need prayers or sacrifices like that. He looks at the heart that seeks Him.
I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. (Psalms 50:9-15).
God doesn’t require our prayers. He is holy and much bigger than we can comprehend. Countless people have lived before us, and there are millions living alongside us. We will all eventually die, and there will be millions more after us. So, what impact will my prayer have on his greatness?
Yet he argues that we should all pray because that is how we receive. Prayer is about receiving from him, not just giving him a few minutes. He wants you to pray so he can give you what your heart desires. He doesn’t want money or sacrifices.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17).
When you pray, Satan fears you. He knows you are connecting with God, and God will protect you when necessary. Jesus himself confirmed this when he asked his disciples to pray.
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41)
God is in heaven, is eager to bless those who approach Him with a heart of gratitude and a spirit burdened by life’s challenges. He seeks individuals who are aware of their own limitations and weaknesses, as they are the ones who can fully experience His empowering strength.
I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves. (Psalms 69:30-31)
- Getting busy
Satan might actually get you involved in service, work, or even a missionary job. He wants to keep you busy and shift your focus away from prayer. You may be tempted to watch a movie or stay up late at night, which can make you tired and lead to skipping your prayers. The mornings become rushed, and day after day, you try to utter a few words in prayer, telling yourself that God knows you’re seeking Him, but you’re just too busy.
Sometimes, a person can become so consumed with serving inside the church that they have no time left for prayer. This reminds me of David, the king of Israel. He was not only the king but also the commander of the army, a judge when people needed one, a husband, and a father to several children. His life was busier than any of ours, yet he still found time to say:
Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. (Psalms 119:164)
If you desire God in your heart, make Him a priority by giving Him a few minutes of your time. In return, He will bless the rest of your time and you will accomplish all your tasks and more.
- Delaying
Tomorrow is Satan’s favorite word. Every time you try to pray, read the Bible, or engage in any spiritual task, Satan tells you to do it tomorrow. He encourages you to enjoy today and promises that tomorrow you will start praying. He suggests that you sleep today and tomorrow you will pray, or watch a movie today and tomorrow you will pray. He even convinces you to work on a project today, assuring you that tomorrow you will have time to read the Bible.
However, if you truly desire God and recognize that your power comes through Him, you will make the time you dedicate to God sacred and a priority. He is not asking for a lot of time, but when you give Him those few minutes, He will bless the rest of your time. As a result, you will accomplish more than you ever could without His presence in your life.
- Taking advantage of God’s kindness.
We tend to perceive God only as a forgiving God, disregarding His fairness. We constantly think about His love and the fact that He is always ready to accept us back, so we allow ourselves to relapse and spend days indulging in lustful thoughts, believing that we can return to Jesus at any time.
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4).
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22).
Please note that the Bible mentions the verb “fell” in the past tense, referring to Satan and his army of fallen angels who deserved God’s severity. It does not refer to us. However, the entire verse serves as a warning for us not to misuse God’s kindness and continue in Satan’s ways that we also be cut off.
- Lack of mercy towards others.
God’s help is inevitable when you are merciful and forgiving, even if your willpower leads you towards sinful actions.
Jesus himself said:
Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37).
By maintaining a merciful and forgiving heart, you can keep the fire of the spirit alive within you constantly.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).
My dear, be cautious of deceitful tactics, maintain your lamb’s radiance and full of oil, keep its flame burning, as it will provide the warmth necessary to survive – without it, there is no battle.
keep praying for 5 minutes (step1)
May add 5 more minutes (step 2)
Win this battle.
