Quench Not The Spirit…

Quench Not The Spirit… by Randolph Jason for Gospel News Network

Is this statement infallible and inerrant – And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. ~ Genesis 1:3 KJB

What about this statement – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. ~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 KJB

We recently came across an article written by Lara D’Entremont.  From our perspective it seems to need some help regarding the Voice of God, hearing from the Holy Spirit and the role they play in our lives. What we have come to believe, based on the inspired Word of God in Genesis and 2 Corinthians, is any and all negative thoughts should be addressed, immediately. They should be taken captive by the Holy Spirit and rebuked in the name of Jesus Christ.

We should, immediately, pray upon any negative words that are spoken at us and, once again, immediately, ask the Holy Spirit to take the words, thoughts, captive and rebuke them all in the name of Jesus Christ. We should not allow negative  thoughts, words or actions, which are ALL born from the devil, go unaddressed and we most certainly should never, ever name them, like we would name a pet.

I rarely dealt with or named my emotions—at least not the “negative” ones. They had to be killed, banished, ignored, and stuffed. I learned this from both Christian circles (like the counselor above) and my own fears. I didn’t want others to see my emotions. Negative emotions always equaled sin and weakness in my mind, a reason for people to look down their noses at me. So I tried to kill my negative feelings with kindness—or gratitude.

Why would a person ever “name” something that is from the devil? Is God capable of speaking something negative or malicious about one of His children? Why would a person even consider this to be a legitimate activity? She uses words like killed, banished, ignored, and stuffed We shouldn’t do anything of the sort. “We” shouldn’t do anything at all. “We” should get out of the way and give this, immediately, to the Holy Spirit. Since when are we above Jesus Christ and have authority to deal with emotions and fears? We don’t.

Emotions are a part of God’s good creation. While many of the negative emotions wouldn’t exist without the fall into sin, they are still a part of us, and at times even a means to protect us. Fear can guard us against real danger. Anger alerts us to injustice. Sadness cries that the world is not as it should be. Rather than squashing every emotion, we can become curious and ask ourselves what it’s trying to tell us. Source

This is a cute sentiment. It is wrong on many, many levels. All emotions, positive, negative and undisturbed are God’s creation. Sin, meaning to miss the mark and it also means to separate, which is what happens, we separate from God and our actions are then driven by demonic thoughts instead of Godly thoughts.

Our emotions do not protect us, they do not guard us, they do not alert us. Our emotions are a signal from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Counseling us on what is surrounding us. The Holy Spirit is Comforting us regarding where we currently stand. The Holy Spirit is doing all He can to get our attention so that we can avert a troublesome situation or we can rejoice and sing praise to the Lord. We are not in charge. Our emotions don’t belong to us. Our emotions are a signal from the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 KJB

But what if there’s goodness in every emotion—even in the ones we don’t like so much? This is how an apostate speaks using a Christian platform to infiltrate the Gospel – we can become curious and ask ourselves what it’s trying to tell us. This statement is 100% devoid of seeking, asking, knocking. It is 100% devoid of God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. It is 100% self involved. It is 100% devoid of the Bible versus the author references (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

As I name and feel the sadness, grief, fear, and anger within me, I resound a holy agreement with God that his world is broken by sin. Source

We should seek, first, the Holy Spirit to calm our soul and then, as stated before, rebuke the negative thoughts, words or actions hurled at us, we should rebuke them all in the name of Jesus Christ. We should not ask ourselves anything about anything.

As I’m learning to keep my emotions from the weaving briars of sin, I’m trying to name what I feel rather than suppress it. When we shove our emotions into a darkened corner of our hearts, it doesn’t get rid of them but gives them time to fester with the sin that still resides in us. It’s like when my toddler stuffs unwanted food under the table hoping it will disappear. Rather than vanishing, I discover the food days later—crusty, slimy, and moldy. It’s worse than before. Source

It sounds like the author is describing a lack of repentance. Why would anyone attempt to teach something like the paragraph above? It is, once again, strictly focused on self and completely ignores Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Not only does it ignore our Lord and Savior but it ignores prayer, repentance and it goes completely against what the Bible teaches us about our Christ Identity. How can a person be a child of God, while they are calling themselves “negative emotions”? If a person is a child of God they should identify as such. My name is Randolph Jason, and I’m a grateful child of  God. This is how you address me, Randolph Jason and this is who and what I am – a grateful child of God. This has nothing to do with me and everything to do with our Father, who art in heaven.