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Don't quench the Spirit: Don't play it safe.














Sunday at Southwest we talked about Paul's command to not quench the Spirit. How do we do that? What do I do to avoid pouring water on the flame of God's fire?

Consider this quote by the 19th century missionary John Paton. Maybe playing it safe douses the fire.



"During the crisis [an epidemic that killed thousands for which Paton and the other missionaries were blamed], I felt generally calm, and firm of soul, standing erect and with my whole weight on the promise, 'Lo! I am with you alway.' Precious promise!

Without that abiding consciousness of the presence and power of my dear Lord and Savior, nothing else in all the world could have preserved me from losing my reason and perishing miserably. He became to me so real that it would not have startled me to behold Him, as Stephen did gazing down upon the scene. I felt His supporting power.... It is the sober truth, and it comes back to me sweetly after 20 years, that I had my nearest and dearest glimpses of the face and smiles of my blessed Lord in those dread moments when musket, club, or spear was being leveled at my life. Oh the bliss of living and enduring, as seeing 'Him who is
invisible'!"


Paton experienced the warmth and light of the Spirit of God most acutely when godly risk and mortal danger fanned the flames. Are we missing something when we fail to take similar risks?

May we too know the bliss of risks taken in the name of Jesus!
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