Quenching the Spirit: The Danger of Public Profession Without Personal Belief🔥✋✨

Revealing a Heart Problem inside the Body of Christ

by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

Yesterday and today, the Lord impressed a sobering truth upon my heart: Some people do not believe the very words they say about Him. Although what they say is biblical truth, they lack belief in their hearts. What happens when someone publicly professes something about God that they do not truly believe? The Spirit of God is grieved, and this disbelief often opens the door to idol worship—even within the church.

The Subtle Danger of Idol Worship

Idol worship isn’t always bowing before a golden calf. In many cases, it’s far more subtle. People idolize themselves, their beliefs, other church leaders, or their agendas instead of God. This problem can occur among church members, leaders, and even pastors. The danger here is that when leaders or congregants place their faith in anything other than God that the consequences ripple through their personal lives, their ministries, and the entire church body.

The Ten Problems with Self-Idolatry in Ministry

1. It Is Idolatry – Placing self or others above God violates the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).
2. It Is Unbelief – Failing to believe in the truth you profess indicates a lack of faith in God’s power and presence (James 1:6-7).
3. It Is a Lack of Relationship – Without personal intimacy with Jesus, one’s words become hollow (John 15:4-5).
4. It Is a Lack of Truth – Professing what you do not believe leads to spiritual hypocrisy (John 4:24).
5. It Is a Lack of the Spirit of the Lord – The Spirit cannot fully work through someone who resists Him (Ephesians 4:30).
6. It Enables the Spirit to Bear No Witness – Without belief, the Spirit cannot testify through a person’s life (Romans 8:16).
7. It Is Evidence of a Lack of Spiritual Fruit – True fruit comes from abiding in Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).
8. It Is a Reliance on Human Wisdom – Leaning on personal understanding instead of God leads to failure (Proverbs 3:5-6).
9. It Is a Lack of Testing the Spirits – Discerning truth from falsehood is essential for spiritual integrity (1 John 4:1).
10. It Is a Lack of Freedom Due to Spiritual Oppression – Idol worship and unbelief lead to bondage (Galatians 5:1).

Riding the Coattails of Others

When someone rides the coattails of other pastors, evangelists, or even Christian friends, they reveal their lack of belief and relationship with God. They rely on the faith and understanding of others instead of pursuing their own intimacy with the Lord. This approach not only stunts personal growth but also quenches the Spirit in their lives and, tragically, within their church services.

Scriptural Foundations

Here are the scriptures that underscore these truths:

1. Quenching the Spirit – “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)
2. Unbelief and Resistance – “Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:4-6)
3. Idolatry – “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
4. Lack of Relationship – “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4)
5. Testing the Spirits – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
6. Bearing Fruit – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
7. Freedom in Christ – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

A Call to Return to True Worship

If these issues resonate with you or reflect what you’ve observed in your church or leadership, know that there is hope. God calls us to repentance and renewal. We must:

• Examine our hearts (Psalm 139:23-24)
• Surrender our idols (1 John 5:21)
• Seek a genuine relationship with Him (Jeremiah 29:13)
• Allow the Spirit to work freely (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Leaders and members alike must remember that true power in the church comes from abiding in Christ and fully believing the words we proclaim. Let us not quench the Spirit, but instead allow Him to move freely and powerfully through lives surrendered to Him.

How to Truly Abide in Christ

Abiding in Christ requires a daily, intentional commitment. Here are some ways to strengthen your relationship with Him:

1. First, One Must Be Truly Saved – A person must be born again as a new creation in Jesus; without salvation, there is no true attachment to the Vine or the Vinedresser (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17).
2. Daily Prayer and Communion – Set aside uninterrupted time to talk with God and listen to His voice (Philippians 4:6-7).
3. Meditate on Scripture – Let God’s Word renew your mind and anchor your faith (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2-3).
4. Worship in Spirit and Truth – Engage in worship that glorifies God, not self or emotions (John 4:24).
5. Obedience to His Commands – Love and obedience go hand in hand (John 14:15).
6. Surround Yourself with Godly Community – Stay accountable to other believers who encourage spiritual growth (Hebrews 10:24-25).
7. Examine and Surrender Any Idols – Identify and remove anything that takes God’s place in your heart (1 John 5:21).
8. Trust in the Holy Spirit – Allow Him to lead, correct, and empower you (John 16:13, Romans 8:14).
9. Set Aside Personal Agendas – Even leaders with agendas must surrender them in order to truly abide in Christ. One with an agenda quenches the Spirit and prevents the Lord’s full work within their lives and ministries.
10. Speak from the Abundance of the Heart – The mouth must reflect the heart’s true belief. No idle word should be spoken, for our words reveal our faith and relationship with Christ (Matthew 12:34-37, Ephesians 4:29).

Closing Prayer & Weekly Challenge

Prayer: Lord, reveal Your truth in our hearts and convict us where we have not fully believed the words we profess. Help us to surrender any idols, agendas, or unbelief that hinder us from abiding in You. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may walk in true faith and obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge for the Week: Take time each day to examine your heart. Are you truly abiding in Christ, or are you relying on the faith of others? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas that need surrender and commit to walking in deeper faith and obedience.

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