Grieving the Spirit

Paul moves to the positive after the proclamation of the negatives that need removed from our Christian Life.

Last week we discussed Paul admonition of NOT walking the same way that you did before you accepted Christ.

Now Paul moves into some positive attributes of walking right - being righteous

Speaking Truth

Being Angry

Being honest

Being an Encourager

Being kind, tender and forgiving

Being — our very being — the WHO WE ARE IN OUR LIFE.

Ilustration:

Millard Fillmore. Among the dinner guests was Secretary of State Daniel Webster, who had been unusually quiet. In an effort to engage him in conversation, a colleague asked, “Mr. Webster, will you tell me what was the most important thought you ever had?” Following a brief silence, he confidently replied, “The most serious thought that ever occupied my mind was that of my individual responsibility to God.”

What truth that is?

We have an INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLITY

You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your response to it.

All to often we want about 5.00 worth of God. We want just enough to make us feel better, our situation or struggle improved or corrected, we want another person to be corrected by God.

We all too often just want 5.00 worth of God, rather than the transformation.

Look i know that tattoos in some Christians circles are frowned upon.

Yet it is a good example for our discussion today.

Putting on a temporary tattoo can be fun.

Many churches at events will have face painters, or give the kids these colorful little temporary tattoos

and they wash off pretty quick

I have seen people move to a little more serious step and get a HENNA Tattoo, still not permanent by will stain your skin for a few days.

But many of us have made the full commitment --- we have the ink that will remain forever

Forever marked.

So here is the question that Paul is raising today.

Are you a temporary Christian, a short term follower, or are you ALL IN for HIM?

are you marked and sealed forever in HIM?

I think these attributes that Paul is teaching today are all available in temporary form

short time form

or they can become permanent — they can be your character

and in becoming your character you model Christ --- which is our GOAL.

Speak Truth

Eph 4:25 “25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”

You are driving down the highway when you encounter a sign that reads, “Dangerous Curve Ahead.” Immediately you are confronted with making a choice. One, you can observe the warning and slow down. Two, you can ignore the warning and maintain your rate of speed. Or, three, you can defy the warning and speed up. Whatever response you exercise, you will not change the truth of the sign. The curve remains dangerous, regardless of whether you acknowledge the fact or not

Real Truth — God’s Truth is eternal

God’s Truth is ABSOLUTE

We likely all believe in some common truths

Gravity

our need of air, water, food

There is always day and night

seasons will change here in Bosque Farms

Good and Evil exist in this world

But things can get a little confusing quickly — can’t they?

honey how do i look in these jeans

your child has four fumbles, scored a touchdown by running the ball the wrong way, and then tackled one of teammates

We say GOOD GAME

speed limit signs are a suggestion

i didn’t eat the last cookie

Whatever it is … we all do the white lie thing to keep the peace, not hurt someone, or to cover our errors.

all to easy to see it in others,

but we tend to justify in our own choices

Solution:

Truth in love - speak the truth

Pause, pray ponder and proceed

Be Angry

eph 4:26 “26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,”

Be Angry - Paul says Be ANGRY,

there is no biblical doctrine that says that anger is not a part of life

In fact the Scripture shows that God got angry, Jesus got angry, and therefore you and i will get angry

the question is not the angry but what you are doing with that anger.

a lighter is not inherently dangerous, in fact it can be very useful

the lighter is not danger without a catalyst

a lighter can be used to exhaustion with no negative effects

I can use a lighter exclusively for lighting UNITY Candles at wedding

The lighter is not the issue.

But with the wrong intent it can be used to destroy, ruin a forest, etc.

The same with the flame of anger inside of us.

It can be used to motivate us to correct a wrong, start a revival or change a life.

Master the anger, and do not let the anger master you.

Sun going down. - don’t hold a grudge, don’t ruminate on it.

Feel it, pause, pray, and lift it to God

God will handle it

God will handle in His Time not ours — we answer to Him, not Him to us.

There are so many things we hear about this verse.

I have marriage couples that haven’t sleep in month because of this verse. THATS A JOKE

BUT I think that Paul is saying

LET IT GO. IT has it place and time, but let it go

the same as the phrase “tomorrow is another day”

lam 3:23 “23 they [HIS MERCIES] are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Honest Work

Eph 4:28 “28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”

i want to address this but not dwell on it

we are too work.

forgive me if you must, but God created us to work

charity is to help in tough times, we are to be givers

“share with anyone in need”

today we live in a world were there are thieves --- they can work but they chose to beg, steal, and lie

It can look one way and be another.

If you have the motivation from your heart to give, GIVE, God is the judge not you.

I don’t think you are doing a thing wrong passing a begger on the street with a cellphone …etc...

give when prompted and work so that you manage your finances to be a giver

YUP that means your giving to the church to further the Gospel,

it means to be diligent with your bills

you were meant to work and because of sinning in EDEN

we are not even supposed to LIKE IT

sometimes we just need to put our head down and get to work.

Building Up Others

Eph 4:29 “29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

I love that Paul set this command right here.

between truth, anger, work, charity and our final point GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

This is not the giving small compliments (those are great)

but PAUL is talking about

teaching, rebuking, correcting and encouraging

Paul is telling us to HOLD THE LINE of the SCRIPTURES

be patient with others

Patience requires continued contact

bear WITH THEM

BE THERE

let them know the sin is wrong but it doesn’t define them

Their identity is in Christ alone

Help them in the rough cuts and in the polishing.

TELL THEM they are GOD’S Masterpiece in Progress

they are loved and blessed, and adopted, they are NEW

redefined.

and YUP there is sometimes pain in the progress.

Encourage others to stay the course,

TELL THEM THEY CAN DO IT

Because

Phil 4:13 “13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Grieving the Holy Spirit

Eph 4:30 “30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

There is so much confusion on what is grieving the Spirit

I want to try to offer a simple answer.

Grieving the Spirit is INTENTIONALLY doing, saying and becoming anything different than what Scripture teaches

It is INTENTIONALLY doing the opposite of the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Please don’t miss the Word INTENTIONAL

Remember the elementary lessons regarding grieving the Spirit

.1. Refuse to be bitter (Eph. 4:30)

.2. Never hold a grudge; totally forgive

.3. Do not say anything that diminishes anyone’s credibility.

We are sinners, but we don’t become the sin. We become the Saviour

Ultimately Grieving the Holy Spirit it never accepting the Lord and ending up in HELL.

BUT Paul is telling us here that it is fighting the Holy Spirit,

Pretending that we DON”T HEAR

so that we can do what we will and not what HE WILLS

Kind, Tender and Forgiving

Eph 4:32 “32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Illustration :

When Robert Ingersoll, the famous atheist, was lecturing, he once took out his watch and declared,

“I will give God five minutes to strike me dead for the things I have said.”

The minutes ticked off as he held the watch and waited. In about four-and-a-half minutes, some women began fainting, but nothing happened.

When the five minutes were up, Ingersoll put the watch into his pocket.

When that incident reached the ears of a certain preacher, Joseph Parker, he asked,

“And did the gentleman think he could exhaust the patience of the Eternal God in five minutes?

Friends

GOD IS A PATIENT GOD

good, kind, long suffering, kind gentle and always loving

BUT there is a point of no return

or no entry into HEAVEN

Paul is telling us

You want to be a CHRISTIAN, then start to act like it more and more every day.

Be a true speaker, a person that understands proper anger, work hard so that you can be useful, watch your mouth and build up others

Walk carefully

Matt 6:33 “33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Lets PRAY