Grieve not the HOLY SPIRIT - Ephesians 4:30

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Jesu Jevu!

    I do dream nightly and usually remember nothing, or possibly a little bit of what I had been dreaming.  However, when something occurs and then re-occurs numerous times I can usually count on this being the Spirit speaking to me.

    Last night (or early this morning) I kept hearing in my head "grieve not the Holy Spirit" over and over and over.  Yes, when you hear this many things come to mind; what have I done; what am I going to do; which way do I turn?

   First let's look at the Holy Spirit.  So often we thing of the Spirit as we have learned from movies, church teachings, ideas of what "Spirit" is.  So often we think of the Spirit as a supernatural 'thing', a ghost, or possibly an angel.  Let me give you a different perspective.

   The Holy Spirit is not the wind blowing; the clouds moving; the water flowing; the Holy Spirit is a live being, just as God is.  We who are saved have the Holy Spirit walking with us.  Can the Spirit be the above mentioned; certainly, but we must realize the Holy Spirit walks with us daily in our lives and will guide us, only if we listen.  Ohhhh!

   There is a key, if we listen.  Grieve means to bring sorrow, grief or distress - this is how we may "grieve the Holy Spirit".  However,  when we listen to that still small voice - whether audible or in our mind - we are being led.

   Now that leads me to another issue - when people say the Spirit led them and it is something contrary to God's teaching - (divorce, lying, murder,etc) they are grieving the Holy Spirit.  What I am saying here is too often people use the excuse of the Holy Spirit to "do what they WANT to do" rather than following the Spirit's leading.

   Some of you who have been around the area may remember a young woman 25 or so years ago who killed her children because 'God told her to'. This type of action does grieve the Spirit.  God does not endorse evil deeds.

   Ephesians 4: ³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

   Actually read Ephesians 4: 17-32 (click here)  to get the full understanding and meaning of what we are being told.

    My prayer today is that I do not grieve the Spirit and ask your prayers as well, as I pray for you also.

   Think of the Spirit in this way:  You watch your child grow.  He/she does things that you do approve of and that you don't approve of.  The ones you don't approve of do, indeed, cause you to feel bad or grieve.

   In these cases you may offer guidance which will or will not be accepted.  If it is accepted your grief lessens; if not accepted you grief remains.  We are God's children; God - the Trinity - Three in One; therefore we are a child of God, Jesus, and the Spirit, which are all alive and with us.  So, which way will you travel now, today, tomorrow, the next week, month and year?  With the Spirit leading or you having the Spirit in tow and grieving the Spirit?  Food for thought. Love you all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Johnny