Home | Articles | Poetry | About The Author | Contact Us |
On weekends and school holidays when we were youngsters Carolyn, Peter, and I eagerly rode our Malvern Star bicycles nearly all day from sunup to sundown only checking in with Mum for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Those were the halcyon days of the late 1960s in a suburb of Melbourne known as East Burwood when our brand new home had just been completed and most of the vacant blocks of land were in various stages of having houses built on them. Many fun memories and one that stands out was that we developed a healthy appetite and thirst so we fuelled up before launching off again in our eagerness to explore and "play" houses. We couldn't wait to finish eating, drinking, and all the necessary stuff Mum asked of us. On the warmer days it felt so good to drink lots of fluids (most likely BoBo Cordial as we came from South Australia) which certainly quenched my big thirst. This was when I was taught the meaning of the word "quench" and I do vividly remember Mum using this word before my curiosity was piqued in asking what it meant. A few years went by before further education included knowledge that house fires and/or bushfires could also be quenched. Fast forward to 21st century life when discovery was made of spiritual things that could be quenched or put out, other than physical matter.
Any serious follower of Christ who has been called out of the world certainly does not want to quench God's Holy Spirit to any degree. Having part of God's power living within us is such an amazing gift and one that we must not take advantage of in the sense of becoming desensitized by ignoring The Helper's still quiet voice while being led. As we examine ourselves thoroughly during this pre Passover time have we asked ourselves whether we are guilty of blocking it or resisting God's Spirit, even inadvertently without being aware? Let it not be so amongst us that there are any deliberate attempts even on the smallest scale to block God's Spirit. For if we do this by ignoring it, we may then find ourselves in the position of having His Spirit reduced whereby it becomes smaller, quieter to the point of leaving. This is how to grieve the Holy Spirit by resisting and quenching it much like a fire is put out altogether. Instead we should be intently listening, building and kindling it through acts of righteousness while emulating Jesus Christ. Ask yourself how are you doing in your time of self-examination? This article is as much for me in my studies as it is for anyone who desires careful preparation for Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread.
After hands were laid on us at our baptism when we eagerly took part in this awesome stage of our life-long covenant to God we understood that we are now awaiting our marriage to Christ.
https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/the-road-to-eternal-life/water-baptism-and-laying-on-of-hands For now we are pledged, promised and showing God whether we are serious in remaining faithful to Him via this covenant. There is no room or place for being half-hearted for we must be fully convicted day after day in order to be Christ-like. This means obedience, and loving God and others even when we may feel discouraged, persecuted, abused, tired, hungry, thirsty, and wrongly accused. These are all things Christ experienced on much greater levels than any of us have, as you may well know. Looking at Christ's sinless example is always going to be beneficial and helpful in order to reveal where we may be going off track. It is so easy to stiffen our necks, have hardness in our hearts especially towards others who have offended us.
There is one example that speaks volumes to me when thinking about this topic. King David in the Bible pleaded with God not to take His Holy Spirit from him in Psalm 51:11 after realising how egregious his sins were. We want to learn from David's example on how to repent so sincerely, deeply, fully, in order to show God we want no part of sin because we know that sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Therefore it has become a meaningful and beneficial custom to read Psalm 51 before Passover as well as participating in fasting and the subsequent meditation that proceeds in order to develop humility and a stronger relationship rather than gaining anything else, for the spiritual things are most desirous amongst those who are called, chosen, and faithful (Revelation 17:14).
It is vital that we fully examine, rather than giving this matter cursory thought, to understand how we are travelling on our journey as Christians. Actually it is a life or death matter whether we choose to prepare properly or ignore anything such as forgiveness and mercy. We must ask ourselves whether we are at peace with all people, our neighbours, or whether there is even just one we do not speak to or prefer to avoid. Imagine going through these matters carefully with a "fine tooth comb" to pry out what is there. Now imagine identifying issues and going to these people to offer the proverbial olive branch in order to ask forgiveness. It may have to be over the phone after composing a letter so your careful and loving words are remembered and at hand without forgetting anything. Now imagine what God has seen you do in reconciling with your brother or your fellow human being. This is love, this is peace, this is what pleases God our Father and His Son, Jesus the Christ.
Using verbiage from Isaiah 40:28 "Have you not known, have you not read…" it is wise to go to and consider key scripture found in Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift". For this is what is asked of us. We will not be forced as God gives us the gift of free will, yet we must have a sensitive conscience in order for it to be pricked or stirred into action. Once we do this we have peace and is it not incredible to keep the Passover knowing we are listening to God's Spirit in order to undertake our part in healing relationships (Romans 12:18)? Pleasing God is the best!
For further study and enrichment on spiritual matters pertaining to keeping God's Holy Spirit alive, well, and thriving within there is a really interesting sermon to listen to from this link:
https://www.ucg.org/sermons/quench-not-the-spirit-2id. Also, there is an additional link below to a sermon which has enlightened me on something that has puzzled me for quite some time.
https://www.ucg.org/sermons/understanding-repentance-and-mercy. May each and every one of us who are serious about keeping God's Holy Days prepare well under God's daily guidance so that we are ready to take the Passover in 2023 with a humble heart, to meaningfully and lovingly show our Father that we deeply desire unification and reunification with all others after thorough examination by doing our part.