Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit of God
God commands us in Ephesians to Not Grieve the Holy Spirit. What does this mean, what are the dangerous consequences and how can we avoid this sin?
Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
“Grieve Him and He will withdraw Himself. I mean by that, He will withdraw the manifestations of Himself. If you grieve the Spirit, you will not have a sense of God’s love to you, you will not have the joy of salvation, you will have no assurance, you will not have certainty, you will not have peace, you will not be able to say, The Spirit bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God.” MLJ
Romans 8:15-16 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
“But then let me add to that. If you grieve the Spirit and He withdraws His gracious influences, it means that He leaves you to the supremacy of the flesh; that is to say, you will be left with all the power of the flesh within you, and the devil making use of it to attack you. He will assault you, he will insinuate vile, foul, ugly thoughts and desires into your mind and heart. You will feel that you are living in hell and that hell is within you. And it is all because the Spirit, in order to teach you a lesson, is no longer, as it were, striving against the flesh. You have grieved Him. So if you are being subjected to most terrible temptations, examine yourself; it may be that you are being delivered over to Satan, to correct you and to bring you to your senses, and to lead you not to grieve the Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God. “ - Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God
Sermon Discussion Questions:
What are the resources we have to live holy lives?
What does it mean to:
Live in the Spirit,
Walk in the Spirit,
Be Led by the Spirit,
Mortify by the Spirit?
Why is it so Terrible to Grieve the Spirit?
What is the Danger of Grieving the Spirit?
