11/03/2020: His Soul: What grieves the Holy Spirit

Colleem Stringer

The Soul of a person is made up of imagination-image; thinking; these filter through the feelings-emotions and result in behaviour…Remember the will-decision maker is also involved

Emotional make up of the Holy Spirit; “Fruit of the Spirit” Gal 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption

  • What is grief? The sadness you feel at the loss of intimacy with someone. Our hurtful thoughts and actions can also cause a temporary loss of intimacy.

Ephesians 4: 25-32

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Some of the specific behaviors that cause the Holy Spirit to grieve. V31-32 Stop mistreating one another because it grieves the Holy Spirit. It creates a loss of intimacy between us that He loves. When you are in willful rebellion, you interrupt your intimacy with the Holy Spirit and that loss of connection produces grief in Him. Bitterness and Iniquity:The Holy Spirit finds bitterness and particularly grievous. Acts 8:18-23 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Iniquity: Habitual Sin: Sin is an event, iniquity is a lifestyle. Sin is an act; iniquity is a habit. You don’t play footsie with the devil for years without getting involved with some dark habits or practices. We are temples of the Holy Spirit and whatever we give we give our eyes to, the Holy Spirit sees and is grieved by my sin and iniquity. Sanctification is an upward journey becoming pure and more Christlike in our behaviour is a process as we partner with the Holy Spirit in that process. We grieve Him when He brings it to our attention and we refuse to allow Him to help us deal with it and be free. John 8:32.  Some iniquities are shallow and have a weak hold on us. However, others have roots that run quite deep and become habitual (unbroken strongholds) where we become captive to sin and need to allow the Holy Spirit to deliver us from being bound by iniquity.

Daniel 2:22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what’s in the darkness and light dwells with him.  If we humble ourselves then the Holy Spirit will meet us at that knee humbling place and set us free. John 8: Woman caught in adultery: Jesus said to her “Go now and leave your life of  sin.”

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the rest; so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Song “I’m no longer a slave to sin; I am a child of God.”

Remember all his attribute names… John 14: 16 Amplified And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby) that He may remain with you forever.