“Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” — John 16:7 

“Do not quench the Spirit.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NKJV)

John 16:7’s “It is to your advantage” may just be the greatest understatement of all of John’s writings. It is a truth so powerfully accurate that any true believer would be quick to recognize the validity of this verse. 

After the incarnation of Jesus among us, nothing in all of Scripture even approaches the advantage that the presence of the Holy Spirit offers Christians. He literally enables and empowers all worthwhile acts of those who follow Jesus; giving wisdom, courage, discernment, and boldness that we might be able to do the good works set before us.

There are no figures that reveal the billions of dollars that have been spent on failed programs and equally ineffective “new” methods of ministry when all that was required was to listen to the Holy Spirit. Instead, many Churches, both large and small, have quenched the Spirit by refusing to be led by Him. At a time when the Church should be embracing Scripture (and the Holy Spirit) as never before; we find that too many of our Churches are teaching a false gospel and attempting to “do” ministry without the leadership of God the Holy Spirit.

We have men and women who live in open sin being declared Apostles, Bishops, Pastors, and Priests, by their Church leaders. This is not because they have not heard the truth; rather it is because they have denied the validity and veracity of the Holy Word of God and rendered it of no effect in their lives. It is to these and their followers that Jesus spoke in Matthew 23:15.

To a great degree, the mainline denominations are crumbling just when this nation desperately needs to hear the truth; this is the inevitable result of substituting man’s opinion for God’s word. There is a reason that Paul warned the Thessalonians not to quench the Spirit; Church cannot properly exist without His leadership and counsel, and ministry is never accomplished without Him. When the blind lead the blind we may be certain that they were not following the lead of God the Holy Spirit.

Rev. Bobby Thornhill is a retired pastor.