The ABC's of the Bible- Quenching the Spirit

"Do not quench the Spirit." (1 Thess. 5:19)

Believers can... quench that Spirit-prompted, intimate knowledge by not accepting God’s purpose in life’s difficulties (cf. Rom. 5:3; James 1:2–3, 12), by not being prayerful and worshipful (cf. John 4:24; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17), by not casting their cares upon God (cf. 1 Peter 5:7), by operating in their own flesh rather than trusting God’s strength (cf. Prov. 3:5–6), by not trusting God’s supply (2 Cor. 9:8; Phil. 4:19), and by not trusting God’s love (cf. Eph. 2:4–5; 1 John 3:1; 4:19)...[Believers] also can quench the Spirit’s efforts to make them more Christlike; for instance, by neglecting the reading and studying of Scripture (cf. Ps. 119:130; Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15), or by merely reading the Bible for information rather than allowing it to reveal Christ to them. Or they can proudly refuse to admit that they need to see His glory and become more like Him (cf. James 1:22–25). -John MacArthur (MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series: 1 & 2 Thessalonnians).