Grieve Not The Holy Spirit EPHESIANS 4:25 – 32 Key Verse Ephesians 4:30

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Introduction: This is more or less a continuation of the thought “ What is Christianity Really all About?” The mind set seems to be that - it just going to worship services, preaching, singing, praying, communing, and throwing in a few coins in the basket?

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Our lesson this will show another perspective that is different but related to what we studied last week of “Doing Good to Others.” What does Paul mean by his statement in EPHESIANS 4:30 “…. Grieve not the Holy Spirit….”?

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit As we begin the lesson some view God as being “far removed” from us and therefore not really relevant to what goes on in our lives. Some feel that they “can get away” with things – at least their lives imply this.

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Much discussion and arguments have taken place over the years regarding the Holy Spirit Regarding being a part of the Godhead Present at the Creation GENESIS 1:26 Whether he is a PERSON/BEING or Not And does He “Indwell Us” in “Being” or in “Word” only

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit I believe that the Scriptures are clear and that the Spirit Indwells us Personally at some level based on : ACTS 2: 38……… “and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” ROMANS 8:26 & 27 “helps us, searches our hearts” I Corinthians 6:19 …” do you not know that your “body” is the temple of the Holy Spirit..”

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Brother David Lipscomb wrote: “The Holy Spirit is God’s medium of communication with man, His representative here on the earth. We reach God through the Spirit. Then what pleases God pleases the Spirit – what grieves God grieves the Spirit.”

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit I would add: “What pleases the Spirit, pleases God and what grieves the Spirit grieves God.”

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit The prophet says: Isaiah 63:10 “But they rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.” The Holy Spirit was in the prophets of old and through them taught the people the law of God.

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit The people refused to listen – what about today? They rebelled against the prophets – what about today? And in turn the HS and therefore God - what about today? They sinned against God and God turned and fought against them – what about today?

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Again, referring to the frequent rebellings of the people against Moses, the H.S. speaking through the Psalmist, said, “How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!” Psalms 78:40

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit They provoked and grieved the Holy Spirit by; Their frequent murmuring Their rebellion against God’s law Their rebellion against God’s leaders Distrusting His promises Disobeying His Commands Grieving him and provoking his to destroy them.

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit He says then in; Psalms 95:10 ”Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11 Unto whom I swore in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the Representative of God still today since the Ascension of Christ. To grieve the Holy Spirit today is to grieve God – today. The Commands of the Holy Spirit are the Commands of God Who ever breaks those Commands today grieves the Holy Spirit and therefore grieves God

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Bottom Line: God will destroy those who grieve the Holy Spirit Are we guilty of grieving the Holy Spirit by our conduct today?

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit EPHESIANS 4:25 – 32 Verse 25 – Are we liars? Lying can take many forms – gossip, white lies vs. black lies, making up stories, not telling the whole truth, leaving out parts, our lives, distorting the truth. Verse 26 Anger- again it can take on many forms and expressions.

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Verse 27 - Related to Anger, but also anything else in our lives - “Giving place to the Devil” Verse 28 Stealing – obvious, many ways of stealing, but what about stealing the Hope of Eternal Life from others by what we fail to do or exemplify by our daily conduct?

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Or NOT GIVING AS WE OUGHT or AT ALL? It is possible to Rob God - Malachi 3:8 ”Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Verse 29 Our Words – anything that is not good, that does not edify and impart grace to others. (Verse 30 – The center of the thought) Verse 31 bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, that which is done with malice must be put away from us.

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Verse 32 - “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgives us”

Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Conclusion: “ What is Christianity Really all About?” The Holy Spirit is here with us and in us. Grieving the Holy Spirit is forbidden today as it was in the times gone by. When the Holy Spirit is grieved – God is grieved When God is grieved – the outcome has never been good. True Christianity is living in such a manner as to Not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

What MUST You Do to Be Saved? Hear The Word Of God Romans 10:17 Believe His Word Mark 16:16, John 8:24 Repent of your sins Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38 Confess your belief Romans 10:10, Acts 8:37 Be Baptized Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38 For the Remission of Your Sins Acts 22:16 Galatians 3:26, 27 Live Faithfully Titus 2:11-14