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In ths lesson we are going to learn about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s primary work is to help us to pray and the primary objective is to do the will of God. What we are going to see today is how our actions, rather our unwillingness to obey God’s word grieves the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
It talks about living in peace with each other and to be holy. In fact the Bible says that without holiness no one will see God. Being holy is not an option.
Leviticus 19:2
Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
God says be holy, as I am holy -It’s a command of God. When we sin we violate God’s command. The Bible says that sin separates us from God. The Bible also teaches that we may inherit curses from God. There are also consequences for our sins. These are some of the ways we get affected. On God’s part, God gets grieved when the thoughts of our heart are only evil. The meaning of grief is deep or intense sorrow or mourning, I am sure none of us want to grieve God’s heart. Lets look at few places in the Bible and see how we end up grieving God and his
spirit.
1. Grieving God:
Genesis 6:5-6
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
This scripture says that man’s wickedness had increased and that every inclination of the thought of his heart was only evil.
The Bible says God was grieved that he had made man. God had made man in his own image. Man and woman are somebody special to God. God had made living creatures, trees, fish, birds, etc. All according to their kind, but as for man God created him in his image.
No wonder God is grieved when our hearts are bent on doing evil.
1 Samuel 15:11
"I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.
Here it says that God was grieved that he made Saul as king. The reason God was grieved is because Saul did not carry out God’s instructions. Disobedience hurts God. Jesus was so intense to obey God at every point. Even to the point of going to the cross and being separated from God. Jesus had decided not to grieve God.
2 Samuel 24:16
When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
Here because of David’s sin, seventy thousand people died. God had to tell the angel stop killing the people. The scripture says that God was grieved because of the calamity. I want us to search our hearts today - have you been grieving God by wicked thoughts? Have you been obeying God and following his instructions? Have you been grieving God by not helping the poor? We have brought enough grief to God, before becoming a Christian.
Today lets decide to remain pure in our thoughts and have a willing heart to obey and have a heart that is moved when we see calamity and the poor.
2. Grieving the Spirit:
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Here the Bible says do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. We may assume that when we commit sins like sexual immorality, deceit, stealing, etc. we are probably grieving the Holy Spirit. It is true to some extent.
Ephesians 4:29-5:2
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Bible says that unwholesome talk, bitterness, rage and anger, along with every form of malice can grieve the Holy Spirit within us. How are we doing in the area of lies - have you been lying to your discipler, at home, in the office?
a. Exaggeration - are you adding extra words to your experience, do you want your stories to be highlighted so people would say Wow?
b. Gossip - are you talking about your disciple’s sins to others and analysing it?
c. Slander - are you talking behind people’s back and being a conflict avoider?
d. Flattery - are you praising others for your personal benefits?
e. False teaching - do you teach the scriptures or wing something out?
f. Boasting - are you talking too much about yourself to others?
g. Dishonesty - are you being honest in all areas, feelings, attitudes, etc.
h. Rash words - making extreme statements like - get out, get lost, you’ll never change, you are always like this, etc.
i. Insensitivity - are you sensitive towards people’s feelings, laughing at others problems, etc.?
j. Mocking - laughing at others sins, looking down on non-Christians, etc.
k. Arguing - arguing about rights
l. Complaining - do you complain about food, clothes, and positions and have an ungrateful attitude?
Do we have a high standard in the areas of speech?
The call is for us to be imitators of God; the call is for us to be holy as God is holy. There are no two ways when it comes to following God’s standard. The commitment is the same for all disciples and so is the expectation of being holy in God’s eyes.
Lets decide not to grieve the Holy Spirit.
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