27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Paul says not to quench the Spirit and then tells us not to despise prophecies. There are currently entire denominations that not only despise the prophets and their prophecies of our day and age, but they build an entire platform and following by only making videos bashing and degrading them. Yet, Paul tells us not to despise prophecies and not to quench the Spirit. The only way to not quench the Spirit is to embrace the Spirit by stirring up your God-given Spiritual gifts.
The Gifts of the Spirit are built on our fruit. That doesn’t mean that they’re optional. They are mandatory. We have all been given a Spiritual Gift from God, and if we refuse to use it, we will be thrown out into outer darkness as well. This is because we are quenching the Spirit. We’re stifling and putting out the flame within us when we are called to stir it up and flame it. We’re called for more than just to exist. These gifts are to build us up, as well as to build up the Church. Therefore, when we refuse to use these Spiritual Gifts, then we quench the Spirit and therefore weaken ourselves as well as others around us.
Once we stir up the Spiritual Gifts already given to us, then we keep going. We keep seeking more. Why? Because there will never be a time when the LORD will run out of levels to elevate us to. The LORD gives out of His abundance. He is eternal. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Therefore, God can never run out of new things to show us, teach us, and give us.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Never Be Satisfied.