"They rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit" (Isaiah 63:10). Stephen's scathing rebuke threw the high priests into a rage: "Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye" (Acts 7:51). (Google image, Stephen)
In the New Testament, provision was made that this should no longer be the case. God promised His people a new heart and a new spirit. He wrote His law in their hearts and gave them His Spirit, so that they would keep His judgments and do them. (See Hebrews 10:16).
The Spirit of God's Son is given to live in us and have mastery over us. Grieving Him should no longer be a matter of course. The warning, "Grieve not the holy Spirit," is a promise because what grace commands, it enables us to perform.
The believer who seeks to live as one who has been sealed with the Holy Spirit will find that his faith in the power and presence of the Spirit within makes it possible to live without grieving Him.
In the New Testament, provision was made that this should no longer be the case. God promised His people a new heart and a new spirit. He wrote His law in their hearts and gave them His Spirit, so that they would keep His judgments and do them. (See Hebrews 10:16).
The Spirit of God's Son is given to live in us and have mastery over us. Grieving Him should no longer be a matter of course. The warning, "Grieve not the holy Spirit," is a promise because what grace commands, it enables us to perform.
The believer who seeks to live as one who has been sealed with the Holy Spirit will find that his faith in the power and presence of the Spirit within makes it possible to live without grieving Him.
Perfect Harmony with God
The danger of grieving the Spirit is great unless we live entirely under His power. We need to heed the warning and make a study of all that can possibly hinder His blessed work in us.
The context (from verse 25) speaks of falsehood, anger, stealing, corrupt speech, and transgressions of the law of love. These were to be put far away. Everything that is against God's law grieves His Holy Spirit.
The commands of the Lord Jesus include the beatitudes pronounced on the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and the pure in heart. He taught us to bear the cross, deny self, forsake the world, and follow Him.
He instructed His disciples to love one another as He had loved them and to serve one another. These are the marks of the heavenly life Christ came to bring. Everything that is not in harmony with these grieves the Spirit and prevents the enjoyment of His presence.
Paul tells us, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). While God's Word announces the major principles of our action, the Holy Spirit teaches the individual believer to apply those principles in daily life.
In little things, in doubtful things, in things where opinions differ among Christians, the believer grieves the Spirit when he does not wait for His guidance and acts contrary to His mind.
The whole life of the believer is to be under the Spirit's control with the heart watchful and ready to obey in everything. What is not of faith must be yielded to God at once, or it may become a cloud that darkens the light of the Spirit in His divine tenderness.
Scripture speaks of the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. It tells us that the only way a believer can live the life in the Spirit is in the power of the truth. "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh" (Galatians 5:24).
Even as Christ yielded His life and His flesh to the death of the cross, so the believer accepts God's judgment on his whole sinful nature as embodied in the flesh. His own will, strength, and even his goodness have been given up to the power of the cross.
He says by faith, "I am crucified with Christ . . . Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). Anything that yields to the flesh hinders and grieves the blessed Spirit. A tender, humble, watchful dependence on the Blessed Spirit and His leading is necessary if we are to maintain His fellowship undisturbed.
(Chapter 13, pp.66-68, italics added)
by Andrew Murray
Copyright © 1984
by Whitaker House
Used by permission
Let's pray-
"Father, I glory in what Christ Jesus has done for me. I let go—put aside all past sources of my confidence—counting them worthless, in order that I may experience Christ and become one with Him. I unfold my past and put into proper perspective those things that are behind. I trust in You, LORD, with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge You, and You will make my paths straight. Thank You, in the Name of Jesus. Amen." (Letting Go of the Past, Prayers That Avail Much Commemorative Edition)
Today's Bible verses-
Psalm 28:6-7, (NLT) "Praise the LORD!
For he has heard my cry for mercy. The
LORD is my strength, my shield from every
danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He
helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I
burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
Psalm 94:19 (NLT) “When doubts filled my mind,
your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
Psalm 119:76 (NLT) “Now let your unfailing love
comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.”
Psalm 28:6-7, (NLT) "Praise the LORD!
For he has heard my cry for mercy. The
LORD is my strength, my shield from every
danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He
helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I
burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
Psalm 94:19 (NLT) “When doubts filled my mind,
your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
Psalm 119:76 (NLT) “Now let your unfailing love
comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.”
Today's quotes-
~ Jennifer Eivaz-
1. Commit to Fasting- Fasting is never convenient and hardly something we feel like doing. But we cannot base our fasting on our feelings. Instead, we are to purpose our hearts to seek the Lord with fasting as an act of our will and out of obedience to Jesus' instruction. Remember He said, "When you fast . . . "(Matt. 6:16), assuming it would happen.
2. Asses Your Reasons- Be purposeful while fasting-God's glory
3. List the Promises- See Isiah 58, have no selfish motives
4. Prepare your body- End with light broths and soups, then vegetables, then dairy and meats last.
5. Declare Your Fast- We do not declare our fasts within the quiet recesses of our hearts. Instead, we verbalize them out loud before the Lord, telling him that we are fasting for a particular time frame and why we are doing it. Remember, "By your words you will be justified" (Matt. 12:37 (NKJV). The declaration makes our fasting official in the courts of heaven and brings it under the covering of the Lord.
6. Pick a Friend- Check out Ecc. 4:9-10
7. Recognize Opposing Forces- See Matt. 4:1-11, to see how Jesus handled it.
There are great rewards to fasting—spiritual, emotional and physical rewards. Through fasting, we subdue the voice of our flesh and increase our spiritual sensitivity. We hear the voice of God better and begin to discern the spirit realm more accurately."
(Taken from her book, pp. 128-131).
When fasts are called by our churches, may we be ready to commit to participating!
~ Mary Southerland- "God wants us to trust Him in every circumstance. Trust is letting go, knowing God is more than enough. Trust is obedience because what I do reveals what I believe about God regardless of what I say. Trust and obedience go hand in hand. The more we obey, the more we will trust and the more we trust, the more we will obey, understanding that He is indeed Lord of all. The result is joy." (From her post, The Joy of Obedience) www.marysoutherland.com
Words of wisdom-
~ As we persevere along the path God has prepared for us, depending on His Strength to sustain us, we'll see miracles happen. Those who live by faith, can see them clearly. They see God's glory.
~ We are created to live close to God. His purpose for us is to thrill at the joy of His Presence. Multiplied rules of the observance of religion becomes habitual, but He wants us to glorify Him with our hearts yielded to Him.
List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam NY church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!
Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
Helpful ways the Lord helped me in my marriage
Upcoming posts-
#28 The Revelation of Jesus
Jan. 1st- Thursday's post by Andrew Murray
Grace for the Imperfect
1/4th- Saturday's post by Kelly Balaire
#29 Unlocking Your Spiritual Treasure
7th- Tuesday's post by Andrew Murray
$30 Aglow with the Spirit
9th- Thursday's post by Andrew Murray
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| Four cute snowmen |
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