The Grieving Holy Spirit
Notes
Transcript
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
First in our sermon series about the Holy Spirit
At the very core of our scripture passage this morning is verse 30:
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Repeat the verse...
We will study the most misunderstood Person of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit.
It is not uncommon in Christianity today for people to see the Holy Spirit as a mysterious force or power, or an influence or some illumination.
We see here from this text that the Holy Spirit is a Person, and that He can be grieved. The Holy Spirit has a personality.
Marks of a personality - knowledge, emotion and will. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and He can be grieved inside of us. We can cause the sorrow of the Holy Spirit
What grieves the Spirit?
a. Lying or Falsehood
b. Sinful Anger, bitterness, rage
c. Stealing
d. Foul or Abusive language, harsh words, slander.
What the Spirit wills for us to do:
As members of the same body, we ought to be truthful to each other.
Restrain anger because it may lead to rage which gives the Devil an opportunity.
Work and live honestly so we can bless others.
Speak only words that bring edification and imparts grace.
Live as forgiven people.
Illustration of a young man and his mother.
I’m sure many of you young people here have a saintly mother. I have always seen the power of the prayer of a mother for her children. There are Mama bears or mother hens here, You mothers can relate to this, the grief and anguish you feel when your son and daughter falls into an adverse situation or when he or she falls into sin. (talk of tears shed).
Switch roles - if you are the child - are you mindful of these emotions your mother has for you when you fall - make a mistake or sin? There are so many mistakes or sins that will be avoided by you, young man or young woman, If you consider how these bad choices will hurt your mother.
There’s a story of a young man in the old days that had his hand on the door of place of sin, thought came to him, if I should enter there, my mother might hear of it and it would nearly kill her.. he turned his back on that place --- so that he might not grieve his mother.
But there is one that is holier than any mother, one that is much more sensitive against sin and its effects, there is one Who loves you infinitely more than the most saintly mother.
AND HE DWELLS IN YOU:
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
As members of the same body, we ought to be truthful to each other.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
2. Restrain anger because it may lead to rage which gives the Devil an opportunity.
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.
God’s anger is righteous.
20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
3. Work and live honestly so we can bless others.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
4. Speak only words that bring edification and imparts grace.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
helpful, encouraging words...
5. Live as forgiven people.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
The cross of Jesus Christ. live as worthy of the cross of Jesus...
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.There is a difficult doctrine.
Divine Impassibility.
God cannot feel pain or emotions, because it denotes instability, or that He can be affected by something that He can change — God does not change.
The Holy Spirit has emotions but He is not bound by them the way human beings are, He may be disappointed by our choices, but our choices do not catch Him by surprise, the Holy Spirit may grieve, but He is not crippled with grief.
The Holy Spirit is not a passive spectator but is actively working in us.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
In God’s sovereignty everything we are capable of doing, we are capable to do only as the Spirit permits.
Recap: Lessons to take away:
What the Spirit wills for us to do:
As members of the same body, we ought to be truthful to each other.
Restrain anger because it may lead to rage which gives the Devil an opportunity.
Work and live honestly so we can bless others.
Speak only words that bring edification and imparts grace.
Live as forgiven people.
Be filled with the Spirit.
More of the Holy Spirit or The Holy Spirit wants more of you.
Surrender, be used by the Holy Spirit.
Call to repentance - prayer.