RESISITING, GRIVEING AND QUENCHING THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 Have you ever grieved the Holy Spirit?  I have.  The Bible informs 3 ways that we may undermine the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives:  RESISTING, GRIEVING, and QUENCHING.

When Stephen was on trial before the religious leaders of Israel, he preached a powerful sermon.  He concluded his message with these words.  “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers:  You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51)  These people were "stiff-necked."  They wanted their will, not the will of God.  They did not allow God opportunity to remove the garbage in their lives.  They were self-righteous and self-sufficient.  When we conduct ourselves in this same manner, we are resisting, grieving, and quenching the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

 In writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul commanded: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit."  (Ephesians 4:30)  He then told them:  "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”   When we harbor bitterness in our hearts and malicious words in our mouths, we are grieving the Holy Spirit.

Paul instructed the Thessalonians: "Do not quench the Spirit."  

                                                                                             (1Thessalonians 5:19) 

Just as a fire can be quenched, the promptings of the Holy Spirit can be stifled.  As we read the Word of God, the Spirit can stir a spiritual fire of conviction within us.  Will we respond positively to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, or will we suppress it?  When the Lord is igniting a vision of service for Him, will we yield, or will we extinguish it?  When the Lord is calling us to intercessory prayer, will we cry out to Him, or will we suppress that desire that He is kindling?  Will we allow the Spirit to blaze within our hearts, or will we "quench the Spirit?"  May each of us be sensitive to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Pastor Galen