Grieving the HOLY Spirit. We live in a fast paced world. Constantly having to be in the world without being of the world. We have conformed more and more to things by being desensitized. From TV, radio, media, friends and family, day to day living with others 'of this world'. Even those who claim to know Christ. Things that are every day occurrences were SHOCKING even 10 years ago. The world has found freedom and we as Christ followers have to live in it. We are told to follow our hearts ( Jeremiah 17:9). We are told go after what you want. (Romans 2:8, Matthew 6:33 and more) You deserve....... (Romans 6:23)
The fact of the matter is we were set apart. Told to live in the world not of the world. Each day becoming more like Christ. And one thing we have to steer clear of is grieving the Holy Spirit. There are many ways we do this.
Willful disobedience.
Knowing we are disobeying God's commands and yet doing it anyway. Filthy talk, stealing, uncontrollable anger and lying to name a few 'lesser' sins. I say lesser for us. Not for God. He sees zero difference between sins. This is a hard pill for me to swallow because I am a 'good' person. I have a hard time thinking a redeemed murderer is seen as an equal in the eyes of the Lord. BUT it is true and so I must see it this way. I heard once that "Sin brings disunity to the Church". This is a multiple meaning phrase. It brings disunity within us because WE .. YOU . YOUR BODY is the Church. And the body of Christ that makes up the church. Let's step into this for 1 second. When we as Christians become inconsequential in the church body because of sin we are taking away from the body. We are causing weakness. Bringing sorrow to the Holy Spirit.
Let's call her Alice. She is committing a sin, uncontrollable anger. She is also an amazing teacher with a fantastic testimony. Because of her anger she is unable to teacher others. Her teaching gift is unused to enrich the body of Christ. When we willfully disobey we are not able to use our gifts and others do not benefit from them. We have no growth to become more like Christ. Same can be said about Alice in her own 'body' she is unable to grow in Christ because she is stuck in her anger. A no winner situation.
Quiet time. Bible Study time. Rest. A break. Time with the Lord. Coffee with Jesus. All little quick witty phrases that says you spend time reading , learning AND listening. The Holy Spirit will guide you. Are you listening? When do you listen? I had to train myself to give time to just listen. Meditate. Be quiet. In 1 Kings 19 Elijah is waiting to hear from God. He sees all these natural disaster all around him but it was not God. It was the still small voice that happened after. We have to be quiet and listen. Just like a elementary school child has to be quiet and listen to their teachers so much we when it comes to hearing the Spirit. He speaks to us through the word and some in the still quietness. And when we do not listen. We grieve the Spirit.
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians "Do Not stifle the Holy Spirit" - Do not put out the flame. Do not stop the things of God. And that starts with ourselves. And being right and holy before Him.
Living in unity in Christ is Freedom. TRUE Freedom. And when we do we are able to live in such away that edifies the rest of the body of Christ. We are able to use our gifts and the Fruits of the Spirit to lift one another up and walk the common goal together.
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