The last couple of meditations hinted at not quenching the Holy Spirit. This warning would not have been necessary unless it is possible to smother the fire of the Spirit. One thing is clear though; that is, quenching the Holy Spirit is not an incidental event. The Spirit is hardly quenched through a lone incident; it is usually a final product of some gradual process that may be imperceptible. Anyone who finally quenches the Spirit must have been grieving Him for some time. This is why the Bible also says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 NKJV
It can be said that Saul, the first anointed king of Israel, quenched the Holy Spirit. You will recall that following his choice and anointing with oil, the Spirit of the Lord rested on him. So profound was the impact of the Spirit that he began to prophesy. This was so noticeable that people wondered if Saul was also among the prophets. All that changed when God withdrew the Spirit from Him and in His place allowed evil spirit to torment him. Things deteriorated massively for Saul that he had to consult with the witch at Endor. Saul’s error was constant disobedience to the Lord. If we must add anything to that, it would be his insolent attitude in the face of glaring sin. He never owned up to any of his mistakes, always parrying blames to the people. A rebellious attitude is repulsive to the Lord, but a broken and contrite heart will remain a conducive environment for the ministry of the Holy Spirit.