Quench not the Spirit.
—1 Thessalonians 5:19
The word “quench” carries with it the idea of “putting out the fire.” Fire, as we know, is one of the symbols used to describe the Spirit’s ministry. If the Lord’s, then the Holy Spirit is our “eternal inhabitant” as Saint Augustine called Him. Therefore, quenching Him does not mean putting Him out of the life, but the smothering or damping of His operations. And, as Paul emphasizes, this can be done by our adverse criticism of those who are trying their best to witness for Christ.