Do Not Grieve or Quench the Holy Spirit!

Do Not Grieve or Quench the Holy Spirit!

The Bible warns us:  “Do not quench the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” (Ephesians 4:30)   How would one grieve or quench the Holy Spirit?  First let’s discuss how we “grieve” Him and then we will cover how we “quench” Him.

When we study the verses before and after Ephesians 4:30 we see that we can grieve the Holy Spirit by hateful speech and by treating other people badly. Let’s read those three verses together:  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building one another up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”  (Ephesians 29-31)

  And the next verse reads: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God has forgiven you through Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:32)  Clearly these Bible passages tell us that we grieve the Holy Spirit when we do not walk the love walk.  Scripture says that those first early Christians really loved one another and took care of one another.  And I believe the Holy Spirit did mighty works among them because of that.  The lame walked, the sick were healed, and many miracles happened when they prayed. (Acts 2-5) All because the Holy Spirit and the love walk are connected.

One of the ways we honor God is by honoring His people. We can learn something about how God is grieved, by looking at how we are grieved.  We parents are grieved when our children or grandchildren treat us or each other badly.  When one family member is hurt or excluded by another or when the family itself is broken or torn apart. Just before Jesus died on the cross He prayed for us that we would be close and loving and together as He and the Father are.  (John 17:20-25)  That His followers would walk the love walk.  Jesus’ prayer was that the world would be able to see Him through the unity and love and kindness of His followers – the Church.  Has His prayer been answered in your home and your church?  

But what if someone in your family or your church has hurt you deeply or done something really wrong?  How do you walk the love walk then?  Love will tell you to forgive that person even when you don’t think they deserve it.  Love will call you to do all you can to make peace. To be the peacemaker when you would like to make war. Love will call you to keep some of your opinions to yourself and to be willing not to always get your own way. We are called to forgive and forget.  Give up selfish pride.  Walking the love walk is hard to do.  It will cost you something.  Are you willing to pay the price?

The love walk is a supernatural walk and it brings supernatural joy and laughter along the way. The Holy Spirit can freely fill us with his strength and power when we are walking the love walk. Love will tell you to give time to someone when you would rather spend that time on yourself.  Love will require you to not say some things you would like to say.  And command you not to do some things you would like to do.  Hold back gossip when you would like to tell all. But the Holy Spirit will give you the desire and joy to do those things if you will allow Him. Our willingness to obey and walk the love walk will have a lot to do with how much the Holy Spirit will be free to give us His gifts and fruits.

I think we all may have some work to do to walk the love walk and stay on the path.  I certainly need help as I can be judgmental and unloving.  I pray to God to soften my heart. I have made a decision to try to think nicer thoughts about the people I know and not gossip but forgive.  I am trying to stay on this joyful love path but it isn’t always easy for me.  I don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit.

And how do we “quench” the Holy Spirit?  The word “quench” means to “put out” or to stop or slow down, to make less intense.  We want to increase the Spirits’ flow in our life and not slow it down. If we believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit lives in us.  And our attitudes affect whether the Holy Spirit increases or decreases in our lives.  Satan will try to fill our minds with wrong attitudes and thoughts.  Scripture says: “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it (the heart) flow the springs of life.”  (Proverbs 4:23) 

If we desire God and seek His truth, have faith in Him and help the poor, we open ourselves up to more and more of the Holy Spirit.  But if we desire worldly things above God, live disobedient lives and turn our backs on the needy, we quench the Holy Spirit that lives in us. 

Scripture says: “Live by the Holy Spirit, and you will not give in to the desires of your sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.” (Galatians 5:16-17)  We are told here to “Live by the Holy Spirit” or to let Him guide our lives otherwise we will follow our natural sinful nature.  We quench the Spirit when we refuse His guidance and give in to the desires of our sinful nature. 

The Holy Spirit is our divine helper.  He councils and comforts us.  Guides us into truth and teaches us.  And He gives grace to us.  Grace is spiritual power enabling us to live good lives and do the work that God has for us to do. 

One of the symbols of the Holy Spirit is oil. (Zechariah 4:6)  Oil soothes and medicates.  We use oil in engines to keep the parts of the machine moving. And when we face our tasks and jobs with the Holy Spirit as our helper it seems that our problems are overcome and the oil of the Spirit just keeps things moving along smoothly.  I ask the Holy Spirit to give me strength and help me with my tasks, especially the ones that seem too difficult for me.  Or give spiritual guidance and inspiration when I write these blogs.  I count on this supernatural grace- this oil that keeps our souls alive and moving- breathing life and grace into each day.  His strength is made perfect in our weakness. 

Another symbol of the Holy Spirit is fire.  The Holy Spirit in us is a supernatural fire – a fire to burn away the dross of sin in our lives and a flame of light to light up our lives and show us the way.  A power to help us pray for others, and guide us into the Truth. (Romans 8:26-27) 

God has given this marvelous Gift of the Holy Spirit to us and we need to value Him and take full advantage of all that He offers us.  We grieve Him when we forget to love others.  We can welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives and be careful not to grieve or quench Him!  I believe we  do this by learning to live our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the Scriptures and ideas in this blog were taken from Joyce Meyer’s book, “Knowing God Intimately”. Pages 222-256.

  

Keep on Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

Keep On Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

The Bible says:  “Do not get drunk on wine which can lead to sin: but keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)  It seems that this Bible verse may be comparing wine with the Holy Spirit.  Both can stimulate or calm us and make us feel good.  But this Scripture warns us not to drink too much wine as it can lead to harm.  Instead we are encouraged to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and keep on being filled and be filled some more and then more until “streams of living water flow out from within us” (John 7:38)   

So how do we “keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit”?  The Holy Spirit lives inside of us when we believe in Christ as our Savior and Lord.  So first we need to have the Spirit there inside of us in order to “keep on being filled” with Him.  Scripture says: “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you received from God, you are not your own.”  (1 Corinthians 6:15-16)  

Everyone who believes in Christ as their Savior receives the Holy Spirit, but after we believe in Jesus we can choose to have more or less of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  It’s our call. We can grieve the Holy Spirit by not giving Him room to do much in our lives.  Or we can want to grow in our Christian faith and desire more of the Holy Spirit and His power and influence.  Then if we pray and ask God to fill us with more of His Spirit, God will answer that prayer and give us what is sometimes called the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.”   

 Scripture tells us that God our Father wants all of us to have the Holy Spirit inside of us and He promises to give Him to us if we ask for this gift.  Scripture says: “If you being sinful and imperfect parents, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father (who is sinless and all loving) give the Holy Spirit to you when you ask Him.”  (Luke 11:13)

Our heavenly Father has the gift of the Holy Spirit for each of his children. He has planned a large life for every one of us but we will need the Holy Spirit to guide us through this life.  I don’t think we want to miss out on what God has for us and live our lives without His guidance and help.  

 Our part is to want the gift of the Holy Spirit and to desire Him in our lives.  To be willing to obey and to open our heart’s door to Christ’s Spirit, that’s our part.  God will not give the Holy Spirit to anyone who is not open to receiving Him.  He will not go where He is not wanted.

Jesus Christ (His Spirit) stands at the door of every heart knocking and asking to come into every life.  If we are too busy to hear Him knocking, or don’t want Him coming in and changing our lives around, we will never know how much we have missed!   Scripture says:  “Look, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and commune with him/her and she/he with Me.”    (Revelations 3:20)  And:  “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”  (Hebrews 2:3)

Sometime when people receive the Holy Spirit they fall down on the ground or cry or feel Gods’ liquid love flowing into them and they know that they have received because they can feel His dramatic presence.  But then other people receive the Holy Spirit quietly when they believe without feeling anything at all. “We don’t base our experience with God on feelings, but on faith” says Joyce Meyer. (Joyce Meyer, “Knowing God Intimately” p.191)

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit was poured out on a crowd of people as they were listening to Peters’ sermon and when they were all believing in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Here we read: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.”  (Acts 10:44)   After the Holy Spirit came onto them, this group began praising God and speaking in unknown tongues and the believers who came with Peter were amazed.   

We do not have to speak in tongues after we receive the Holy Spirit.  Many people do but then many don’t.  Sometimes people make too much of speaking in tongues. But speaking in tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide us and gift us and help and strengthen us.  And the Holy Spirit gives us “fruit” in our lives – love, joy, faith, peace, patience, gentleness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Scripture says: “If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.  (1 Corinthians 14:2)  And Jude, verse 20, says that when we pray in tongues we edify ourselves and build ourselves up in the holy faith.  Joyce Meyer speaks personally about her experience with speaking in tongues and how it builds her up and edifies her.  Here is what she says: “Many times I have had the experience of feeling discouraged or physically tired, and yet I had work to do.  Often I have needed to teach in one of my conferences, and I certainly did not feel like a woman of faith who was anointed by God, or filled with His power, to minister to others. At such times I have learned to pray in the Holy Spirit, or pray in other tongues.  As I do so, I can literally feel the life and power of God rising up out of my “inner man” and ministering strength to my entire being.”  (Ephesians 3:16)  (Joyce Meyer, “Knowing God Intimately” pp.171-172)   

Scripture says that we have not because we ask not.  (James 4:2)   Ask for more of the Spirit in your life and then believe you receive, and you will receive.  Scripture says: “We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14)  Faith is everything.  Joyce Meyer in her book, “Knowing God Intimately” p. 193 writes:  “If you don’t believe you have received, then even if you have received, it will be to you as if you have not.  You cannot act upon something you don’t believe you have.  I want to stress again the importance of “believing in faith” that you have received and not making your decision based on feelings.” (Joyce Meyer, “Knowing-God Intimately”, p.193)

All through the Bible we are told again and again that our faith is all important to God.  And Scripture says that “Faith comes by hearing the Word of God”  (Romans 10:17)  Many times I have felt that my little faith was not enough and have asked God for more faith.  And He has answered.  Scripture says that God will give all of us more faith if we ask. 

In Luke 11:13 Jesus promises that God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.  So if you haven’t already, come and ask.  Ask in faith and believe that you receive and you will receive the Holy Spirit. The tiny drop will grow into a stream in your life and then into a river of living water flowing out of you.  Open the door and He will come in. Give Him lots of room in your life and keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.  And your life will never be the same again!      

  

Many of the thoughts and scriptures in this blog were taken from Joyce Meyer’s book, “Knowing God -Intimately”.