GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The wind blows where it wants, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

As oftentimes, when walking in a wood near sunset, though the sun himself be hid by the height and bushiness of the trees around, yet we know that he is still above the horizon, from seeing his beams in the open glades before us, illuming a thousand leaves, the several brightnesses of which are so many evidences of his presence. Thus it is with the Holy Spirit. He works in secret; but His work is manifest in the lives of all true Christians. Lamps so heavenly must have been lit from on high. (J. C. Hare.)

Be tender with His love

Since we can’t control the Spirit, “It should lead us to be very tender in our conduct towards the Holy Ghost, so that we do not grieve him and cause him to depart from us.” (Spurgeon)

👉 Read Spurgeon's full sermon Grieve Not the Holy Spirit on Ephesians 4:30
👉 Read 3 Surprising Ways to Grieve the Holy Spirit By Kevin DeYoung

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:3

Quote L. Pintus

God prefers that we are continually aware of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence and sensitive to how deeply sin affects Him, and us. It is good to understand the biblical theology of grieving the Spirit. It helps when we are able to feel God's sorrow over sin. But the surest way to avoid grieving the Spirit is to know Him and walk in a moment-by-moment, love relationship with Him. Then, grieving Him becomes unthinkable.

Holy jealousy

1. If a mother should see her child fender of someone else than of her; if she should know that it was more happy in the company of a stranger than when in the bosom of its own parent, she would feel it a very hard trial to bear. Now, the Spirit of God gives to us believers celestial joys and abounding comforts; and if He sees us turn our back upon all these, to go into worldly company, to feed greedily upon the same empty joys which satisfy worldlings, He is a jealous God, and He takes it as a great slight put upon Himself.
2. The Spirit of God is greatly grieved by unbelief. What would grieve you more, than to have your child suspect your truthfulness?

It is a mercy to know that the Spirit of God never leaves His people finally; He leaves them for chastisement, but not for damnation.

Look at Christ

J. I. Packer puts it, “The Spirit’s message to us is never, ‘Look at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me,’ but always, ‘Look at Christ, and see his glory; listen to him, and hear his word; go to him, and have life; get to know him, and taste his gift of joy and peace.’”

The light shines in the darkness. It means it shines continually in the darkness, meaning that Christ is continually bombarding every corner of our hearts of darkness through the work of His Holy Spirit in nature, conscience, and the Scriptures. Whether you are with or without Christ, meditate upon Christ being light, and you will better understand how much He loves you. R Kent Hughes

Holy Spirit, we would hear 

Your inner promptings, soft and clear; 

And help us know Your still, small voice 

So we may make God's will our choice.