Grieve Not the Holy Spirit
Read Ephesians 4:25-31
Introduction
As we read these passages, it looks like a do and don’t list:
- Speak the truth
- Don’t let the sun go down on your anger
- Give no place for the devil
- Work with your hands
- Let no corrupting words proceed from your mouth
- Impart grace to those who hear you.
- Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you
- Be kind to one another with tenderness and forgiveness.
However, in the middle of this passage, we find something interesting.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesian 4:30 NKJV).
Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does it mean to grieve Him?
Who is the Spirit?
Scripture clearly states that the Holy Spirit’s person is the primary in the ministry of the Word. It also states that the Triune Godhead operates coequally, coeternally, and coexists as One. Each member of the Trinity has special functions: the Executive is the Father, the Architect is the Son, and the Contractor is the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a person uniquely and distinctly at work in you and the church. He is not silent nor unmoving. The Holy Spirit has the characteristics of a person in this way:
- He possesses the attributes of mind (Rom 8:27), will (1 Cor 12:11), and feeling (Eph 4:30).
- He engages in activities — revealing (2 Pet 1:21, teaching (John 14:26), witnessing (Her 10:15), interceding (Rom 8:26), speaking (Rev 2:7), commanding (Acts 15:6-7), and testifying (John 15:26).
- He has a relationship with us. He can be grieved (Eph 4:30), lied to (Acts 5:3), and blasphemed (Matt 12:31-32).
- The Holy Spirit possesses the divine attributes of the Godhead: He is eternal (Her 8:14), omnipresent (Ps 139:7-10), omnipotent (Luke 1:35), and omniscient (1 Cor 2:10-11). (Omnipresent is widely or constantly encountered, omnipotent is unlimited power and can do anything, and omniscient is unlimited knowledge — knowing everything.)
- The Holy Spirit is known by name: the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit of promise, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of grace, the Spirit of life, the Spirit of adoptions, and the Spirit of holiness.
The Holy Spirit and you
The Holy Spirit dwells in you. Our relationship with the indwelling Spirit of Christ will show in our life. Your thoughts become your words, your words become actions, your actions become habits, and habits become character. Following the lead of the Holy Spirit makes a difference.
As Christians, we can choose to do what is “uncharacteristic” of a Christian by walking according to the flesh. We’re even warned not to go there in the Word; when we do so, it grieves the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit not only “seals” us for the day of redemption — He prepares us for that day. This process is called sanctification — growth or maturity in holiness (set aside for God’s purposes). On our part, we are to actively grow and put to death any sin in our hearts and minds.
Only the power of the Holy Spirit can help us mature and cultivate an intimate love relationship with Christ. Without the Holy Spirit, we are immature, and our relationship with Christ suffers. Is it any wonder the Spirit is grieved?
Being Led by the Spirit
Being led by the Spirit involves progressively putting to death sinful appetites. Although all Christians have the indwelling Spirit, not all willingly follow His lead. The more fully you are led by the Spirit, the more willing you are to obey and conform to His will, word, and ways.
The Holy Spirit’s prompting will never encourage you to act contrary to Scripture. The Holy Spirit guards us against habitual sin, illuminates Scripture, and informs our souls.
Our daily effort to obey and continually be led by the Spirit makes a difference. How can we be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit if we only acknowledge Him periodically?
You are the Temple
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
The temple is merely a building until the Holy Spirit of God’s presence enters it. It can be destroyed—and come to ruin through corruption and adultery. Unworthy, immature, or crude behavior grieves the Spirit, as do false teaching, pride, and immorality.
Once the Spirit of God leaves the building, it is worthless, useless, and a mere shell. The Spirit of God does not “leave” us, but you can push Him away and ignore him. This ultimately grieves the Spirit.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Honor God
You honor God by remaining in Him, especially in the right relationship. Stewardship of your spirit, soul, and body is important. What God has redeemed should not end up in the trash pile. Since the Spirit dwells in us, we are not self-governing or self-sustaining, for we belong to the Lord. Our liberty is in Christ within—our destruction is without.
We were bought at a great price with the precious blood of Christ Jesus. So, let us not grieve the Spirit by making His dwelling place uncomfortable. Let us diligently remember that we belong to the Lord in holiness (set aside for His good purposes) and righteousness (in right standing with Him).
Indwelling Holy Spirit
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of the heart. Proverbs 20:27 NKJV.
The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit and exposes every hidden motive and the inner depths of the heart. The human spirit is God’s “contact point” where He shines His light, showing us our true nature.
The Holy Spirit dwells in the human spirit the moment we’re saved. Here, we commune with God. Fellowship with God is only possible because He makes it so, and He makes it so through the move of the Holy Spirit.
The manifestation of the Spirit of God begins in the human spirit, transforms the mind, and sanctifies the soul. There is only one throne in the human spirit, and only one can sit on it: either oneself or the Lord.
What Does it Mean to Grieve the Spirit?
To grieve the Spirit is more than pushing the Spirit out of the way, it’s letting the spirit of the flesh, the world, and the enemy have their way with your soul.
He is ultimately grieved when the Holy Spirit is pushed from His rightful place. He watches as we destroy our loving relationship with God. No matter how hard He tries to get our attention, we silence Him, and His counsel and wise instruction are met with deaf ears. His help is shunned, and fellowship is rejected.
To grieve the Spirit is the first step in losing your first love and breaks the heart of God.
In Conclusion
The power source for living the “with God” life remains in the powerful presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Devotion to God becomes dynamic when the Holy Spirit is allowed free access to our lives. What happens when He freely teaches and counsels you, and you follow that counsel? What happens when He gifts you, and you allow the gift to manifest in your life?
The Holy Spirit is not grieved!
God’s desire for you is an exclusive, loving relationship with Him. His promise to dwell with us, receive us, and be our Father should motivate us to holiness and uninterrupted fellowship with Him.
Embrace this truth, and you will not grieve the Spirit.
