Week 5 – The Pitfall: Grieving the Holy Spirit

Text: Ephesians 4:30

 

We are accustomed to thinking in terms of right vs. wrong. However, in the Christian life there is a relationship component as well. What we do affects our relationship with the Holy Spirit. It is not just important to do what is necessary to walk in the Spirit. It is equally important that we stop doing things that hinder His work in our midst. This is a major pitfall that we must avoid if we are going to walk in the power of the Spirit.

 

The Bible uses two terms concerning our relationship with the Holy Spirit. The first term is grieving. This means to cause distress or sadness. The second term is quenching. This means to completely extinguish. There are things that we can do that cause distress to our relationship with the Spirit. If we persist in these things, the Spirit will go silent in our lives.

 

Ephesians 4:17-32 gives us a long list of things that grieve the Holy Spirit.

·        Living like the world (as you lived before your salvation)

·        Staying ignorant of God

·        Having a hard heart, being calloused, no longer sensitive to the Spirit

·        Sexual sin

·        Not dying to self

·        Not renewing our minds

·        Not striving to be like Jesus

·        Being dishonest/not being truthful

·        Sinful anger

·        Theft

·        Laziness

·        Refusal to share or be generous

·        Corrupt speech

·        Speech that does not build others up

·        Speech that is not filled with grace

·        Bitterness

·        Arguing

·        Slander

·        Malice towards others

·        Not being kind

·        Refusing to forgive

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 teaches us what grieves the Holy Spirit.

·        Refusing to respect pastors and elders

·        Refusing to love and care for pastors and elders

·        Disunity in the body

·        Not confronting laziness

·        Not helping those who are struggling

·        Being impatient with other believers

·        Revenge, not turning the other cheek

·        Not rejoicing

·        Neglecting prayer

·        Being ungrateful

·        Despising the proclaimed (and directed) Word

·        Not showing discernment

·        Engaging in any form of evil

Are you grieving/quenching the Holy Spirit? Would you ask Him?

–        Am I grieving you?

–        Have I quenched you?

 

Repent!

–        Stop doing it

–        Ask for forgiveness

–        Ask for a restored relationship with the Holy Spirit

–        Ask for the power to walk in freedom

–        Make restitution or reconcile