Let me give you a more recent illustration. Recently a man was telling me about his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He talked about how he loved that bike. He loves the feeling of the wind in his face and the roar of the engine.

Yet he wants to serve the Lord and grow in the faith. He knows that it is an expensive toy and that it is a selfish pursuit. It’s hard to take your wife and kids on a motorcycle! He also realizes that the bike tempts him to run with people he shouldn’t.

He said he felt led to sell it and wondered what I thought. I told him that there is nothing wrong with owning a motorcycle. There are many godly people who ride Harley’s and use them to witness to other riders. I could have told him to keep it, to ride it for the Lord. However, if he felt the Lord was leading him to get rid of it, he should not “quench the Spirit” and I certainly had no business telling him to keep it.

You see, we have freedom, we have liberty, but we must never use that liberty to “quench the Spirit” in someone else’s life. Today’s verse illustrates this thought.

God has given us His Spirit to lead us, guide us and teach us. His role is to help us discern truth and God’s will for our lives. Let’s learn to listen to Him. Let’s be careful not to ignore Him. And certainly, let us be cautious not to “quench” His flame in the lives of others.

Patchwork quilts are beautiful heirlooms of days gone by. However, patchwork theology is an affront to the Lord. Don’t quench the Spirit. Don’t despise the Word of the Lord. Learn to discern what is true from what is false.