Grieve Not
As we walk the walk and talk the talk, of our daily living in the active Christian Life, representing Jesus Christ in all things, we can so often do it “My Way,” and then find out that we were actually on a wrong path, and deceived. Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” For if we are unable to hear the Holy Spirit talk to us, either by sin in the life, or through neglect, we are certainly on very dangerous ground. Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.” It is such a terrible situation to be in when God will not hear you, or cannot hear you, and unfortunately when the Holy Spirit cannot break through, and get your attention, and communicate with you, then sin is at the door.
1 Corinthians 12:6-14 “And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”
The “Key” is this part, “severally as he will,” for the Holy Spirit directs us, we are not in control of the Holy Spirit, we are actually the servants of God, and not God’s Boss, thus enabling us to have God ordered about, to attend to our long list of requests and demands, do this, do that, go here, fix this, and then that. It was put this way in a parable; can you picture this, God is seated on his throne listening to incoming prayers, and hears a request for some things to be urgently attended to. God quickly turns to a senior Angel beside him and asks him, “who do we have on the ground there close by who can attend to this for us?” A name is given, great says God, “they will be able to attend to this for us,” an embarrassed look on the Angel’s face, and God asks, “Why, What’s wrong?” Well the Angel replies, “That is the very person who is doing the requesting,” But God replies, “Have we not already empowered them to work for us, so where is the problem?” So where is the problem? We should be doing more, as God has empowered us, Blessed and directed our steps, so how come we are so faithless, powerless, or are we no longer committed to living and walking “by Faith?”
1 Samuel 28:11 “Then said the woman, whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, bring me up Samuel.” Why do we so often treat the “Holy Spirit” with disrespect, demanding, bring me up the Holy Spirit, I want, some things attended to. We work for God through the Holy Spirit, but so many want to sit back, bark out orders, and expect the Holy Spirit to attend to the work that we should be doing.
Luke 14:16-24 “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.”
To put this in a modern view, all the “Church Members” were way too busy, too tied up in the cares of this life, so the work of spreading the Gospel and giving Salvation was given to others, and then the “Church Members” also lost their Eternal Life. 2 Kings 22:5 “And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which [is] in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,” Luke 19:24 “And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give [it] to him that hath ten pounds.” We have those who make claims, and then there are those who are actually living and doing the work.
John 14:11-15 “Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it]. If ye love me, keep my commandments. Acts 9:6 “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” 1 Samuel 3:9 “Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” Isaiah 6:5-9 “Then said I, Woe [is] me! For I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphim’s unto me, having a live coal in his hand, [which] he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid [it] upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.”
2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 1 Kings 19:12-13 “And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was [so], when Elijah heard [it] that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, [there came] a voice unto him, and said, what doest thou here, Elijah?” Acts 9:4-6 “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks [promptings of the Holy Spirit]. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
“They are joined to their idols. Let them alone.” Hosea 4:17 Quote; “I was shown that if God’s people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting. The refreshing or power of God comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by doing the work which God bids them, namely, cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” {CD 33}
1 Thessalonians 5:15-24 “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying’s. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].”
Psalm 51:8-12 “Make me to hear joy and gladness; [that] the bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.”
Isaiah 63:10 “But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought against them.” Luke 11:13 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Ephesians 1:13 “In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Quote; “Grieve not the Holy Spirit by delay. Resist not God’s methods of recovering souls from the enslaved bondage of sin. To every man, according to his several ability, is given his work. Do your best, and God will accept your efforts.” {8T 56}
