If you possess the gift of praying in tongues, it is likely that you have either grieved or quenched the Holy Spirit at some point without even realizing it. This occurrence is quite common, which is why I believe it is important to address it.
It is crucial to understand the difference between quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit. Both instances are highlighted in various scriptures in the bible including Ephesians 4:30 which says ‘And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.’
1 Thessalonians 5:19 also warns us against quenching the Holy spirit.
Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
If you have the Holy Spirit within you, it will show through the manifestation of His presence. This manifestation often takes the form of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are an outward expression of the power of the Holy Spirit working within an individual.
The gifts manifest through various means, such as speaking or interpreting tongues. The Holy Spirit also grants knowledge, which is manifested as the gift of knowledge, and provides guidance, known as the gift of wisdom.
The Holy Spirit may also use a believer to perform miracles and heal others, which is termed as the gift of Performing Miracles and healing.
Restricting the Holy Spirit
Now that God has given us free will, we are responsible for setting limits for the Holy Spirit to work within us. It important to understand that spirits require an earthly body to operate on Earth.
Every spirit that wishes to use your earthly body is subject to the limitations that you impose. Spirits tend to possess people because they seek to manifest themselves through physical bodies. This applies to both the Holy Spirit and evil spirits too.
When the Holy Spirit lives within you, He will often prompt you to take specific actions. However, the Holy Spirit must seek your permission to use you as He desires.
Quenching the Holy Spirit
Quenching the Holy Spirit is when you are limiting the move of the Holy Spirit within you. These limitations are often related to time. For instance, while praying in tongues, the Holy Spirit may urge you to reach a higher spiritual level that requires you to pray for an extended period.
For example, if you only pray for an hour instead of the required an hour and a half, you are stifling the Holy Spirit and quenching the fire He seeks to ignite within you.
Grieving the Holy Spirit
Grieving the Holy Spirit on the other hand is when you annoy the Holy Spirit. Upsetting the Holy Spirit makes it difficult for Him to dwell within you.
Essentially, by engaging in sinful behavior, speaking inappropriately, listening to secular music, or partaking in activities that defile you, you create a hostile environment for the Holy Spirit.
This results in Him being grieved by the presence of evil in your life, hindering His work; Just as in the time of Noah, when God was saddened by the wickedness of humanity, causing Him to regret His decision to place man on Earth.
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:5
The feeling of sorrow and regret arises when you engage in sinful behavior to the extent that the Holy Spirit is unable to work within you.
If you grieve or quench the Holy Spirit while praying in tongues, a sense of unfinished business typically lingers. This feeling often manifests as a strong urge to persist in praying in tongues, leading you to keep going.
In such instances, the Holy Spirit is signaling you to allow Him more time to complete the work He has begun in you.
After completing your prayer, the Holy Spirit may prompt you to continue praying in tongues for a few minutes. If you ignore this prompting, the Holy Spirit may stop trying to encourage you.
There may also be times when the Holy Spirit prompts you to shout, dance, lift your hands, or make declarations while praying in tongues.
These physical actions are meant to amplify the effectiveness of the spiritual work the Holy Spirit is doing through you. Ignoring these prompts can hinder the Holy Spirit’s work in you. Because of this, He will typically retreat and refrain from urging you to take any further action.
As a result, you will notice that your tongues become dry and the joy of praying in tongues diminishes. At times, you may also experience extreme fatigue because, naturally, when you pray in tongues, it is the Holy Spirit who empowers you.
However, if the Holy Spirit withdraws, you begin to rely on your own strength to pray in tongues which leads to tiredness. Physical exhaustion sets in and you feel the strain in your jaws. Speaking in tongues becomes a strenuous task, which is disheartening.
Grieving the Holy Spirit typically occurs when you are not praying in tongues. This is because praying in tongues and grieving the Holy Spirit cannot happen simultaneously. Grieving usually arises as a consequence of leading a sinful life.
The more wickedness and sin you permit in your life, the more defiled you become. You may find yourself discouraged from praying as you have allowed evil spirits to possess more power than the Holy Spirit within you.
The Holy Spirit enters a dormant state, waiting for you to be purified because He cannot use a defiled body. For instance, if your tongue has been defiled through lying, arguing, or speaking unedifying words, the Holy Spirit will refrain from using it for praying in tongues.
Similarly, if you defile your eyes by watching defiling content, the Holy Spirit will no longer use your eyes for visions or any spiritual activities. If most of your body parts are defiled, He may not use you at all.
When you reach this state, you may feel a lack of motivation to pray or seek God. It may seem like praying is a strange and discouraging task.
Therefore, dedicate ample time to praying in tongues, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you. If the Holy Spirit prompts you to scream, shout, or speak certain words loudly, do not restrict Him. Give Him the time He needs, even if it means extending your prayer time.
Continuously pray in tongues until you feel a sense of completion. You will begin to notice sweetness in your tongues. Also, always strive to lead a pure life by avoiding sin at all costs. Blessings!