And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption
This is a verse that I don’t hear often, but how many of us consider the Holy Spirit within us before we speak, act ? or think? watch a movie? read a book? gossip? or before we treat someone badly?
As the world starts to run down the wide and easy road to destruction, I want to warn you of the dangers of grieving the Holy Spirit and falling off God’s path for your life. When God showed me I had grieved His Holy Spirit, I felt like I had hurt my best friends feelings. I suddenly understood how important the Holy Spirit was to me. I had always relied on God’s Holy Spirit, I knew He was always with me but I decided to ignore the right thing to do and go my own way. When I realized how this made the Lord feel, I was saddened. God had giving me His guiding , comforting and wisdom filled spirit who was always with me and helping me and I took this great gift, by ignoring the Holy Spirit, I counted Him as nothing. That’s what is going on the world today. Many of us believe, but we count His Son Jesus as nothing. Many consider what he did for us as.. nothing because so many go their own way and don’t live the life we are commanded to live in Christ. The Lord told me that many count His life as nothing, especially those who live for their own lustful desires. You may call yourself a believer but if you go your own way, for example seeking Mediums, calling on the dead or mixing witchcraft into your life, you count his life as nothing.
Let’s go over what we know from Scripture about the Holy Spirit:
- The Holy Spirit gives us power to be witnesses to Jesus Acts 1:8
- Fills our heart and gives us gifts Acts 2:2-4, Luke 11:13
- It is only through Jesus that we receive the Holy Spirit John 20:21-23, 1 Thes 4:8
- The Holy Spirit teaches us and helps us when we need to speak Luke 12:12, John 14:26, 1 Cor 2:13
- He brings God’s word to our remembrance John 14:26
- The Holy Spirit bears witness with the Father and the Son, the three are one. 1 John 5:7
- Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
- Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- The Holy Spirit seals us with God’s promise, our guarantee of our inheritance Eph 1:13-14
- Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God dwells within believers – and we are not our own 1 Cor 6:19
- Lying to the Holy Spirit is a dangerous thing to do. Acts 5
When I think of the Holy Spirit, I’m always reminded of Isaiah 11:2: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord 
And that verse always reminds me of the 7 lamps. Each fire representing each of the 7 Spirits listed above. When I look at this with verses, I believe there is an order of growth in the Spirit. We know the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge, so knowledge comes next. It’s in the same order as the verse from Isaiah above. First Fear of God, then knowledge, then might, counsel, understanding, wisdom and the Spirit of the Lord. Maybe I’m right, maybe not, but I have more verses that might prove it.
While I’m writing about the Holy Spirit, there is something I want to share. I’ve debated sharing it for year because no one else has written anything on it and I don’t know anyone else who has experienced this, but I experienced the great wind of the Holy Spirit. I was going to put it as a full post, but I think this is the perfect place . It was early morning and I was waking up out of a dream. An older lady walked up to me and I was excited to speak to her even though I had no idea why she was walking up to me. She got close and very seriously she said “Many people are confused in bible studies today, you must show them your…… at that point I was awake and as her words …”you need to show them your… I heard the word ‘instep’ and at the exact same time, a great and mighty – and powerful rushing of wind went through me. It was loud – just as if it were a great tornado going by. Honestly, words can’t describe it. Maybe that’s why I’ve debated writing about it. No words can describe it and it was a moment I’ll never forget. I was terrified, holding on to everything around me, not realizing that the wind wasn’t touching my physical body. To explain the force… if it was an actual wind, I would have been blown through the walls of my house. It felt as if I was under a great waterfall, like the strongest part of Niagara falls – a great rushing wind went through me. I remember squinting my eyes and holding on as I felt the force starting at my head and down to my feet. In an instant it was done, suddenly I was different and so was my mind. I could see -actually see the shape -that God had changed my mind. I remembered the verses:
” Then he opened their minds to understand” and ” suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting”
What’s my point today? Well, I want you to know how much God loves you. I want you to know that God’s Spirit, who lives in you – has a love for you greater than anyone on earth can have. You have a best friend, you have someone who cares dearly for you and wants to help you, guide you, teach you, comfort you and guide you along the best pathway for your life. You must start to live according to Gods ways and get out of the lukewarm state of existence so many live in. We hurt God’s Spirit when we turn our backs on Him. Things you may not consider, like the books you read or the movies you watch. It’s true. The Holy Spirit is grieved/hurt when you don’t follow God’s way and allow yourself to fill your mind and heart with lust, pride, anger, immorality and anything else you know you shouldn’t be doing. Watching a movie I knew I shouldn’t watch was a lesson for me. God told me I had grieved His Holy spirit by allowing myself to be entertained by such filth. I argued back with God and told Him I didn’t mean it, but He reminded me that I knew – before the movie started that bad things would be in there. I had no idea that I could grieve God’s Spirit like that. That means watching shows that you know God wouldn’t approve of are something you need to stay away from. Popular movies like 50 shades of grey – that is not for you. Movies are full of lust, immorality, witchcraft, murders and abusing the names of God and His Son. Perhaps we are so used to is, perhaps our consciences have been so seared that we don’t realized what we are doing.
Consider your ways. In Jerimiah, the Lord says “Stop, look, ask and go down the old path”
“Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
Haggai 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts;Consider your ways.
Haggai 1:7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways
Consider your thoughts:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:8
You have more control over your thoughts than the devil wants you to know. His method of attack are those fiery darts which are thrown straight into your mind.
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16
If you don’t watch yourself, those lies, those untruths, those twisted ways will fall into your heart and soon become part of your life. It’s time to wise up. Fix your thoughts on what is true, righteous and worthy of praise. What are you letting yourself think about? Did you notice if you think about it long enough, it ends up coming out of your mouth. Fix your thoughts. Also, stop the worrying, fear and anxiousness. No where in the bible does it tell you to worry about tomorrow or be anxious. In fact, we are told to be anxious for nothing.
Matthew 6:34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
AND DON’T BREAK THE WEAKEST REED! Here’s another way we grieve God’s spirit: breaking the weakest reed. Consider this verse In Isaiah and Matthew 12:20
I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”
This verse in Isaiah is describing Jesus but it’s also a lesson for us today. Sometimes in our rushed lives and self centered ways, we don’t stop to consider other people. We raise our voice, we yell, belittle others, easily angered and impatient. Sometimes we can lash out at someone in haste and really hurt them without realizing it. The bible tells us that some of us use our words as swords to hurt others. You may not realize it, but the person you were so impatient with or the person you treated badly may be suffering inside. It doesn’t matter if you are right or wrong – what matters is that you treat others with love. Don’t crush the spirit that’s already broken, don’t put out a flickering light of a wounded soul. For God will bring justice on all who have been wronged. Treat others with love, apologize for hurting those you’ve hurt. Hurting others hinders your prayers……
Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior? Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever? All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies. You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. You love to destroy others with your words, you liar!
Those are strong words aren’t they? That’s why it’s called the Sword of the Spirit:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Ancient Paths 