Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit

Paul warns the Ephesians to not grieve the Holy Spirit – – we want to examine what this is and how to avoid it.

Ephesians 4:30–32 ESV

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

I) Bitterness

Pikria – means “cutting, pungent to a sense of taste or smell” – – it suggests an attitude of wanting to cause hurt to another person

James 3:11 ESV

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

We cannot desire to harm another and be with God – ;

James 3:14 ESV

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

Acts 8:23 ESV

For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

II) Wrath

Thumos – means “hot anger, passion”, normally in connection with the wrath of God – ,

Revelation 14:10 ESV

he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Revelation 14:19 ESV

So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

It refers to a quick passion that arises from an inward attitude – – that reflects a sense of superiority –

2 Corinthians 12:20 ESV

For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

Luke 4:28 ESV

When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.

III) Anger

Orge – means “natural impulse, came to signify anger, as the strongest of passions”, it reflects a more considered passion than wrath –

James 1:19–20 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

It often reflects a view to take revenge, both proper judgment and improper vengeance – , ;

Romans 2:5 ESV

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 2:8 ESV

but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Romans 13:4–5 ESV

for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

IV) Clamor

Krauge – is based on the sound of a raven’s cry, it signifies an uproar

This suggests tumult within –

Acts 23:9 ESV

Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”

V) Slander

Blasphemia – means to “speak to injure” – it normally is used to describe someone who speaks against divinity – ;

Matthew 9:3 ESV

And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”

Romans 2:24 ESV

For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

This term defines one who intends to cause harm by what they say about another

VI) Malice

Kakia – means “of bad character” – it denotes someone who wishes evil on others –

Titus 3:3 ESV

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

All of these terms have as the common root a desire to harm another person; but that desire is the opposite of love and therefore the opposite of the attitude which is taught and felt by the Holy Spirit

VII) Kind, tender-hearted, forgiving

The answer to this is change our attitude to seek what is good for others

Each of these terms means to desire what is serviceable, good hearted, graceful towards others; but the context demonstrates that this comes from the Holy Spirit, our pledge from God and the forgiveness we have from God

Concl: Jesus taught that His disciples must love others – – it stands to reason that the opposite of that would grieve God.

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”