Life in the Spirit · Evangelism and Mission
Are We Grieving the Holy Spirit?
10 min read, approximately
“Do not grieve God’s Holy Spirit, with whom you have been sealed to mark you as God’s own on the day he grants you final deliverance.” (Ephesians 4:30)
To grieve, according to the dictionary, means to cause someone sadness or pain.
The Holy Spirit
But… grieve the Holy Spirit? Is he like the Father or the Son, that he can be grieved?
All right. Let us turn to God’s Word and read about the characteristics of the Holy Spirit:
\1. He Searches Everything, Even the Depths of God
“But God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. Who among people knows a person’s thoughts except the person’s own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may know what God has given us. We also speak of these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual things in spiritual terms. But the natural person does not receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to that person, who cannot understand them because they must be spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-14)
\2. He Helps Us and Intercedes for the Saints
“We know that the whole creation groans together and suffers the pains of childbirth until now. Not only creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, also groan inwardly as we await adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For we were saved in hope. But hope that is seen is not hope, for why would anyone hope for what they already see? If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans beyond words. The one who searches hearts knows the Spirit’s intention, because he intercedes for the saints according to God’s will.” (Romans 8:22-27)
\3. He Loves Us
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to help me by praying to God for me, so that I may be delivered from the rebellious people in Judea and that the offering of my service to the saints in Jerusalem may be accepted. Then, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.” (Romans 15:30)
\4. He Longs Jealously for Us and Does Not Want Us to Befriend What Is Wrong
“You adulterous souls! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes themselves an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says in vain: The Spirit he has caused to dwell in us longs jealously for us?” (James 4:4-5)
\5. He Forbids Certain Things
“As they traveled through Phrygia and the province of Galatia, the Holy Spirit forbade them to speak the word in Asia. When they reached Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them.” (Acts 16:6-7)
\6. He Guides Us, and We Must Submit Our Will to His
“So I say: Walk in the Spirit, and you will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is opposed to the flesh. They oppose each other, so that you do not do whatever you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:16-18)
\7. He Tells Us What to Do and Even Calls Us into Ministry
“While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them. Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3)
\8. He Speaks to Us
“But the Spirit clearly says that in the last days some will abandon the faith, listening to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences have been seared. They will forbid marriage and command people to abstain from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by believers and those who have known the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:1-3)
\9. The Father Sends Him in Jesus’ Name to Teach Us and Remind Us What to Do
“But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26)
\10. Yes, He Teaches
“You sent your good Spirit to teach them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.” (Nehemiah 9:20)
\11. If We Let the Holy Spirit Guide Us, He Bears Witness That We Are God’s Children
“For all who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children. You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry: Abba, Father! The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:14-16)
\12. He Does Not Confuse Us, but Gives Specific Instructions
“The Spirit said to Philip: Go over and join that chariot.” (Acts 8:29)
And then it says:
“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. Philip found himself at Azotus and, as he traveled through, proclaimed the gospel in every town until he reached Caesarea.” (Acts 8:39-40)
\13. We Cannot Lie to Him
“Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back part of the price of the property? While you kept it, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? Why did you put this in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. Great fear came upon everyone who heard.” (Acts 5:3-5)
\14. Our Fellowship Comes from Him
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)
What Comes Next?
Now that we know these characteristics of the Holy Spirit, we need to be clear about the following:
\1. We Must Be Born Again: We No Longer Practice What Is Wrong, but Let the Holy Spirit Guide, Govern, Teach, and Direct Us
“Jesus answered him: Truly, truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, they cannot see God’s kingdom. Nicodemus said to him: How can a person be born when they are old? Can they enter their mother’s womb a second time and be born? Jesus answered: Truly, truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, they cannot enter God’s kingdom. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:3-6)
\2. It Is for Our Good
“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I go away. If I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)
\3. Yet We Have All Been Baptized by the Holy Spirit
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and we were all given the same Spirit to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)
\4. So We Are the Temple of the Holy Spirit
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which belong to God.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
\5. And More Than That, We Have Been Sealed with the Holy Spirit
“In him you also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and having believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of the possession God has acquired, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Now that we have accepted being born again and becoming a temple of the Holy Spirit, we need to know that:
“The one who practices sin belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. Whoever is born of God does not practice sin, because God’s seed remains in them. They cannot go on sinning, because they are born of God.” (1 John 3:8-9)
Every sinful act not only grieves the Holy Spirit:
“Do not grieve God’s Holy Spirit, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)
It can also quench him within us:
“Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
What Does God’s Word Recommend?
“So I say: Walk in the Spirit, and you will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is opposed to the flesh. They oppose each other, so that you do not do whatever you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The works of the flesh are evident: adultery, sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrels, jealousy, rage, strife, divisions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I have told you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:16-23)
Are we grieving the Holy Spirit? How are we doing when it comes to the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
Well…
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)
_**Remember to stop by the Songbook
May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have a wonderful day in Christ Jesus!