QUENCHING THE WORK OF GOD

In Mark 5:1-20 - We find a story where Jesus delivers a man from demon possession and sends the evil spirits to go into a herd of pigs that results in all the pigs being drowned.

After the people of the area see this great power displayed, they ask Jesus to leave their area because they were fearful. I believe they were fearful on two levels. The first being that they couldn't comprehend the power and workings of Jesus. Secondly, they feared further loss. As result, instead of embracing the work of Jesus and rejoicing in the mans deliverance, they rejected it.

Many non-believers and believers do the same thing. When God (Holy Spirit) does something that doesn't fit into their theological belief (box), they quench the Holy Spirit or out right reject it as not being from God. Also, when it is uncomfortable to them or inconveniences them, they don't accept the work of the Lord. If it is going to disrupt their personal life or hinder them from accomplishing their personal objectives, they ignore the work of God or out right reject it.

We must be open to the work of God and embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must not be fearful, quench or reject the work of the Lord when:
- we don't understand the work.
- it does not fit into our nice little belief box.
- it disrupts our life.

Choking The Word of God

In Mark 4:1-20, we find the parable of the sower who sows the Gospel message (Word of God) and the different responses and effects of the Word on the hearts and lives of those who hear it. Yet, I would like to focus only on one of the results which we find in verses 7,18-19.

v. 7 - "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain."
v. 18-19 - " Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.


Let us first look at the worries of life. How can the worries of life choke the Word of God in our lives?
Worries will cause us to look at our problems which in turn will cause us to lose our focus on God. The end results are: less time in God's Word and meaningful prayer, our faith and hope in God is choked, our strength is sapped.

Secondly, let us look at the deceitfulness of wealth. The desire to have more money and things often distract us from spending time in church and our personal devotional life. Also, those who allow this to dominate them will often ignore certain truths in God's Word in order to obtain these things. Often they will put things above relationships. If your primary goal is the pursuit of things, it will lead to worry and have a negative impact our spiritual lives.

Thirdly, the desire for other things. I put this separate from deceitfulness of wealth because it encompasses more than this. It includes the desire to obtain status, position, honor and to be in control. The scripture says that He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. If these things reign in our hearts it will choke the spiritual life out of us. It will cause us to compromise God's Word to obtain them. Also, it is a desire for ungodly and unhealthy relationships, which will stifle the Word of God in us and cause us to do things contrary to God's Word.

When we allow these things to wrap around our heart, it will choke Jesus, the Word of God in our lives. We will not bear much fruit or any fruit. These things stifle hope, faith and love which are the only things of lasting value.

Sound Doctrine

As the church of the living God, we are to be the pillar and foundation of truth. (I Timothy 3:15) The world is preaching tolerance & pressuring us to compromise the truths in God's Word. In church history, you will see at times the church has put great importance on doctrine and other times a total neglect of doctrine.

I find that many churches in the United States are no longer putting enough importance on church doctrine and teaching in the name of love and tolerance. In the name of freedom and free choice the church often neglects sound Bible teaching. Every one has the right to believe and act as they feel God would lead them. (key word here is "I" and "Feel") In fear of hurting people's feelings or God forbid that they might leave the church because they don't agree or feel uncomfortable, we often tone down strong teaching and give water downed preaching.

We in the church have often fallen into the western trap of individuality and independence void of sound doctrine. Some believe it is all about me, God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus as my buddy.

I Timothy 4:1 - "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

I Timothy 4:16 - " Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

The word "doctrine" is mentioned 6 times in the Epistles and the word "teach or teaching" is mentioned  54 times. The word "instruction" is mentioned 13 times.

Let us as a church watch our lives and doctrine closely. Right living is dependent on sound teaching and doctrine accompanied by the Holy Spirit.