The term "stifle" generally refers to the act of suppressing, restraining, or holding back something. In a biblical context, it can relate to the suppression of spiritual growth, the quenching of the Holy Spirit, or the hindrance of God's work in one's life. The concept of stifling is not directly mentioned in the Bible using this specific term, but the idea is present in various passages that warn against actions or attitudes that can hinder spiritual progress or the work of God.

Quenching the Spirit

One of the most direct biblical references related to the concept of stifling is found in the Apostle Paul's exhortation to the Thessalonians: "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Here, "quench" is akin to stifling, as it implies putting out the fire of the Holy Spirit, thereby suppressing His influence and work in the believer's life. This warning suggests that believers have a responsibility to remain open and responsive to the Spirit's guidance and not to hinder His activity through disobedience or neglect.

Suppressing Truth and Righteousness

The Bible also addresses the suppression of truth and righteousness, which can be seen as a form of stifling. In Romans 1:18, Paul writes, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" . This suppression, or stifling, of truth leads to spiritual blindness and moral decay, as individuals choose to ignore or reject God's revealed truth.

Hindering Spiritual Growth

Stifling can also occur when believers allow sin, distractions, or worldly concerns to hinder their spiritual growth. Jesus' parable of the sower illustrates this concept, particularly in the seed that fell among thorns: "But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful" (Mark 4:19). Here, the word "choke" conveys the idea of stifling, as these factors prevent the seed of God's Word from bearing fruit in a person's life.

Resisting God's Work

In the book of Acts, Stephen addresses the Sanhedrin, accusing them of resisting the Holy Spirit: "You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did" (Acts 7:51). This resistance is a form of stifling God's work, as it involves a deliberate refusal to accept and act upon the Spirit's conviction and leading.

Encouragement to Avoid Stifling

Believers are encouraged to cultivate an environment where the Spirit can work freely and effectively. This involves maintaining a posture of humility, obedience, and openness to God's leading. In Ephesians 4:30, Paul advises, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" . Grieving the Spirit can be seen as a form of stifling, as it involves actions or attitudes that are contrary to God's will and hinder His work in our lives.

In summary, while the specific term "stifle" may not be frequently used in Scripture, the concept is woven throughout biblical teachings, emphasizing the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to work unhindered in our lives and avoiding actions or attitudes that suppress spiritual growth and truth.1. (v. t.) To stop the breath of by smothering; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust.

2. (n.) The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; -- called also stifle joint.

3. (v. t.) To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame.

4. (v. t.) To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion.

5. (v. i.) To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration.

638. apopnigo -- to choke
... choke, drown. From apo and pnigo; to stifle (by drowning or overgrowth) -- choke.
see GREEK apo. see GREEK pnigo. (apepnige) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/638.htm - 7k

Ahab and Elijah
... abroad rest and comfort. It is easy to kill a conscience"after a fashion
at least. It is easy to stifle it. It is easy to come ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/ahab and elijah.htm

The Bequest of Peace.
... Some stifle anxiety about worldly things by impressing on themselves that fretting
does no good, and that what cannot be cured must be endured; and any anxiety ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xi the bequest of peace.htm

St. Peter of Alcantara Comforts the Saint. Great Temptations and ...
... work, which it produces. It seems to stifle the soul and trammel the body,
so as to make them good for nothing. 11. Now, though the ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxx st peter of.htm

Sermon
... Civilisation represents an elaborate system of auxiliary disciplines, designed to
stifle as far as may be the brute in man and to strengthen the acquired ...
//christianbookshelf.org/michelson/no 4 intersession/sermon.htm

Book I to Pleasant Songs My Work was Erstwhile Given, and Bright ...
... These are they who stifle the fruit-bearing harvest of reason with the barren briars
of the passions: they free not the minds of men from disease, but accustom ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/book i to pleasant songs.htm

The Naturalness of Prayer
... He is always confronting us, judging us, saving us in a spiritual world, which Nature
does not stifle, but only makes it more universal and impressive than our ...
/.../forsyth/the soul of prayer/chapter ii the naturalness of.htm

Significance of Compulsory Service.
... Educated people of the upper classes are trying to stifle the ever-growing sense
of the necessity of transforming the existing social order. ...
/.../the kingdom of god is within you/chapter vii significance of compulsory.htm

Of Scoffing and Derision.
... like it not in one respect, yet are many time so transported with it in the other,
that they choose rather to propagate the contumely, than stifle the conceit. ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section vii of scoffing and.htm

The Hindrances to Mourning
... Now when we stifle these motions, which is called a quenching the Spirit (1
Thessalonians 5:19), then we do, as it were, hinder the tide from coming in. ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/9 the hindrances to mourning.htm

Treats of How God Inspires the Soul with Such Vehement and ...
... This increases the anguish to such a degree that the sufferer gives vent to loud
cries which she cannot stifle, however patient and accustomed to pain she may ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter xi treats of how.htm

Stifle (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To stop the breath of by smothering; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the
death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust. ...
/s/stifle.htm - 8k

Falls (79 Occurrences)
... It quickly shows itself above ground, because it has no depth of earth; (WEY). Matthew
13:7 Some falls among the thorns; but the thorns spring up and stifle it. ...
/f/falls.htm - 28k

Message (222 Occurrences)
... has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears the Message, but the
cares of the present age and the delusions of riches quite stifle the Message ...
/m/message.htm - 34k

Choke (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To render unable to breathe by filling, pressing
upon, or squeezing the windpipe; to stifle; to suffocate; to strangle. ...
/c/choke.htm - 9k

Strangle (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vt) To stifle, choke, or suffocate in any manner. 3. (vt) To hinder from appearance;
to stifle; to suppress. 4. (vi) To be strangled, or suffocated. ...
/s/strangle.htm - 7k

Spring (122 Occurrences)
... light spring up. (ASV). Matthew 13:7 Some falls among the thorns; but the
thorns spring up and stifle it. (WEY). Mark 4:7 Some, again ...
/s/spring.htm - 40k

Yields (21 Occurrences)
... RSV). Mark 4:7 Some, again, falls among the thorns; and the thorns spring
up and stifle it, so that it yields no crop. (WEY). Mark ...
/y/yields.htm - 12k

Quite (55 Occurrences)
... has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears the Message, but the
cares of the present age and the delusions of riches quite stifle the Message ...
/q/quite.htm - 22k

Objects (30 Occurrences)
... Mark 4:19 but worldly cares and the deceitfulness of wealth and the excessive pursuit
of other objects come in and stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful ...
/o/objects.htm - 15k

Grow (139 Occurrences)
... him. (Root in WEB NAS). Luke 8:7 Another part falls among the thorns, and
the thorns grow up with it and stifle it. (WEY BBE). Luke ...
/g/grow.htm - 34k

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