Grieve Not the Holy Spirit

We looked last week at the seventh ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Filling of the Holy Spirit, and we saw that entails our yielding to the Spirit, and the Spirit’s control over our lives and decisions.

Over the next three weeks I want to look at the Three conditions of being The Spiritual Man.

Christians are told to live every moment of their lives with the Holy Spirit as their guide.

Life for the Spiritual man is a moment by moment union with God.

Sin, therefore in the life of a Christian, is the very opposite of any true working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

In this First Condition of The Spiritual Man, let’s look first at:

I. What Grieves the Spirit?

The simple answer is Sin.

Sin destroys spirituality.

When the Christian sins, the ministry of the Holy Spirit must change from a ministry through him, to a ministry of conviction to him.

The Bible does not teach that in this church age, the Spirit withdraws from the believer because of sin, but rather He is grieved by sin.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

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

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

So given the fact that when we sin we grieve the Holy Spirit, and are not then being led of the Spirit…God has directly given us in His Word directions regarding how to deal with sin in our lives.

First, God has provided that the sin of His children may be prevented.

We do not have to sin.

While it is true that ...We do sin, and we will never be sinless, even from this point on.

But it is also true that we do not have to sin.

Secondly, He has also provided a way to deal with the effect of sin in our lives.

When we sin, our lives may be cured of the effects that this sin has on our lives.

What a loving God!

He does not want us to sin…He did not create us to sin…and yet he knows our weakness…and He has provided us with all the instruction we need to make it right, when we do sin.

Sin Grieves the Spirit of God.

So we ought not sin, but when we do what must a Christian do?

II. The Cure of the Effects of Sin

So, having sinned, what are we to do?

By the way, we should be careful not to limit the sins to the sins of corrupt communication from verse 29, or the bitterness, wrath and anger etc. from verse 31.

In the context of this book and chapters we are looking at it speaks of stealing, anger, lying, later fornication and other sexual sins, covetousness, etc.

I have heard preaching on the very tunnel vision look at just these few verses…the context is clear…ALL sin grieves the Holy Spirit of God!

God has well defined sin…he has well defined His expectations of holiness for us…and he has well defined his cure for the effects that sin has on our lives.

The Bible does speak about unknown sin, and even gives example of praying for forgiveness of sins we didn’t even know we committed.

But Specifically the sins that effect our conscience, our heart and our lives are those sins which are the known sins.

The Holy Spirit has turned from leading, from filling us…to convicting us.

We feel it, and we know it…we have sinned!

And this sin must be dealt with to the exact direction of God’s Word.

At times you may feel a sense of shame, but cannot identify where the shame is coming from, we just feel convicted.

If you find yourself in this kind of situation it would be wise to pray for a clearer understanding, so that it can be dealt with biblically.

Of course this is all assuming that we are all believers.

If you are unsaved the cure of sin itself is Jesus and what He did for us on the Cross.

The whole of the responsibility on your part can be summed up with one word, “believe”.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved.

But we are talking about more than just forgiveness of your sins, that is just a part of the whole context of salvation.

Becoming a Christian, on top of forgiveness of our sins past, present and future…salvation involves a transformed life.

Likewise, the Bible offers a remedy and requirement for addressing the consequences of sin in the Christians life.

Just as the cure for sin for the unsaved can be summed up in one word, so can the cure for the effects of sin be summed up in one word for the Christian — “confess”.

This word is quite profound in the lives of the believer.

It is extremely relevant and important to the issue of overcoming sin in our lives.

Whether we are talking about believers who were alive before the cross or after the cross…that is the Old Testament saints, or in the church age…the renewal of the believers relationship with God remains the same.

Confession - The Word confession means to agree with God.

It is not repentance - that is something different - that is a change of mind that will lead us to a change of behavior.

Confession is agreeing with God what He has already said, that what we have done…whether a lie, a wrong thought, a theft, an unkindness…whatever we have done… we come to God and confess - we tell Him that we agree and recognize that what we did was sin.

This is a vital part of reconciliation, and continual living a spirit filled life.

I believe that there are seven major passages in scripture that teach us about the restoration of the believer.

III. The Seven Major Passages

Let’s look at these seven passages quickly this morning to see what the Bible teaches us about restoring our hearts to a life that is led by the Spirit.

First we are taught:

A. Only Christ Can Cleanse from Sin

In John 13 we find Jesus and His disciples in the upper room.

He is giving his farewell words to His disciples, to those who believed on Him.

John 13:1–11 KJV

1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

He is speaking to those who were clean every whit, the words translated every whit, comes from the Greek word holos, which means the Whole.

He is saying you are completely clean.

Because of the faith that His disciples had in Christ, Jesus could say, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 16.4)

Jesus, speaking to those who were believers - yet not all of them (Judas was there, and Jesus knew and clarified that they were not all clean).

But Jesus speaking to the believers gives an incredible image of our life as Christians.

He rises from super, laid aside His outer garments, girds himself with a towel (as a servant would), pours water into a basin and begins to wash the disciples feet.

Peter objects, but Jesus tells him, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”

So Peter says, OK Lord then wash all of me..my hands and my head also - I want to be all in…but Peter still doesn’t understand.

So Jesus profoundly says, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit - completely.

For the Christian, though we have been once for all cleansed at the moment of salvation, we must also be cleansed from every defilement of sin as we confess our sins to God.

Only Christ can make us clean.

In the second passage we are taught that...

B. Confession is the One Condition

For Cleansing As well as fellowship and forgiveness.

Let’s look at this second passage concerning how the Father deals with His children that have sinned.

1 John 1:1–2:2 KJV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

John writes, God is light - perfect holiness—if we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness —sin—we lie and do not the truth.

On the other hand, if we walk int eh light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with the Father and with Christ.

We are not talking sinless perfection.

We are not talking about becoming the light…we are talking about walking in the light - walking in righteousness.

When we confess our sin, we are forgiven, we are cleansed and we have fellowship with God.

There is only one condition for which we can be cleansed, forgiven and have fellowship - and that is Confession.

When we sin, we grieve God, the Holy Spirit.

When we are convicted of that sin, we must quickly renew that fellowship and be forgiven and be cleansed by confessing —agreeing with God—about that sin.

The third passage related to the cure of the effects of sin in our lives is found in 1 Corinthians 11:31-32.

Here we are taught that...

C. Self-Judgement Saves from Chastisement

1 Corinthians 11:31–32 KJV

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

In this third passage we are given another piece of important revelation.

We are given the picture of the Father waiting for us to self-judge ourselves and confess, or we will be chastened by Him.

We are the God’s children and He loves us.

He does not want us to continue in Sin, because knows the damages it does to us.

James 1:14–15 KJV

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

God does not want this for His children, so He will chasten us to get our attention and bring us back to righteousness.

He chastens us because He loves us.

Hebrews 12:6 KJV

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

According the example we have had in our own earthly fathers, this word may be colored or tainted in our mind.

Chasten and scourge will look different from one father to another.

But we must remember that we have a Perfect Father who does this because He loves us.

The word chasten means to instruct.

Punishment is different than chastening.

But chastening can include a form of punishment.

But all of this may be missed - we do not have to experience any form of chastening by the hand of our Heavenly Father!

If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

When we correct our sinful behavior, confess (agree with god) and repent (change our mind about that sin) we do not need the instruction of chastisement.

Nevertheless, although there may be chastisement in the life of the child of God there will never be condemnation!

Fourthly, we have already mentioned this partly, but we are taught in Hebrews 12:5-11.

D. Chastisement is Correcting

This is the Way the Father, just as any father corrects and trains His children.

Hebrews 12:5–11 KJV

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

This is one of the main passages on chastisement in the Bible.

Here the Bible tells us whom the Lord loveth he chastens.

In such we are told here that we are being dealt with as a son.

What is the end goal of this chastisement?

vs. 10 tells us, that we might be partakers of His holiness.

God is trying to train and develop in us the holiness that He expects His children to show forth.

In our previous chapter there a few verses that we didn’t read that speak of unrepentant Christians who disobeyed by taking the Lord’s Table unworthily.

1 Corinthians 11:30 KJV

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

This chastisement may include weakness, sickness, and even death for those who refuse to yield.

This is not to say that all weakness or sickness or death for that matter is a result of sin in their lives.

In John 15, we are told to abide in Christ.

This is another way of talking about being the Spiritual Man, the Spirit led man.

In this passage we are told what happens to those who do not abide in Christ, the true vine.

It doesn’t cease to be a branch; but because it does not bear fruit it is cut away.

When we fail to abide in Christ, we see the loss of effectiveness in prayer, loss of power, and loss of fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

We feel the heaviness of the Father’s chastisement on us, when we do not judge ourselves, and confess.

The fifth passage related to the cure of the effects of sin in our lives is found in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11.

E. An Old Testament Saint’s Example

Psalm 51:1–19 KJV

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

David had greatly and very publically sinned.

Here he lays himself open for all to see his broken and contrite heart.

It is interesting to note that he didn’t pray to have his salvation restored, but instead he said, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.”

One of the benefits of confession and repentance is the fruit of the Spirit growing once again in our lives.

There are aspects to this prayer that cannot be applied to us in the Church age.

In verse 11 he says, “take not thy Holy Spirit from me.”

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit had not yet come to indwell believers.

However the Holy Spirit would come upon believers to accomplish things God wanted accomplished.

For the Church Age Christian, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit which is our seal until the day of redemption.

But what a great testimony of godly sorrow, confession and repentance!

The Seventh passage that teaches us about the restoration of the believer is found in the Gospel of Luke.

However we are out of time, so we will continue this, Lord willing next week.

F. An Example of Christian Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:8–11 KJV

8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

We see a brilliant picture of the conviction displayed.

As true sorrow is shown by the Christian.

In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, He rebuked them for sins in the church.

The Holy Spirit convicted them, and here he speaks of the godly sorrow for their sin that they have expressed.

They felt sorrow and that sorrow led to repentance.

worldly sorrow is sorry they got caught.

Godly sorrow always leads to repentance.

It resulted in carefulness or eagerness to repent

It resulted in their clearing their conscience.

It resulted in indignation and fear

The word indignation speaks to anger or annoyance by the sin that had been committed.

Godly sorrow also resulted in vehement desire - great longing to make it right.

Zeal to keep it right

What revenge…this can be confusing at first but the word revenge is used here in the essence of justice being met.

It is under the blood, confessed, forgiven and made right.

This is the transforming power and the lasting effect of true repentance and confession in the Christian’s life.

The sixth passage that deals with the effect of this cure is, Psalm 51:1-19.

G. To Be Continued

We as believers are called to live holy lives.

We are left in this flesh that wars against the spirit to do what is right.

There will be times that we fail.

When we fail we will see the effects of our sin on our lives.

We will see chastisement from the Lord

We will see a feeling of shame as the Holy Spirit reproves us and convicts us.

We will see the effects of unconfessed sin show up in our lives with fear, nervousness, anxiety, sickness and many other ailments.

To the end, unconfessed sin will lead to death.

But God has given us a plan to help us be cleansed, forgiven and back in fellowship with our Father, with Christ our Savior and with His Holy Spirit who wants to fill us, and lead us in the paths of righteousness.

Is there anything today that stands between you and the sweet fellowship of the Father?

Is there anything that is stunting the growth of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, Spirit-Controlled)?

Confess - Agree with God that it is sin

Repent - Change your mind about it

and walk in newness of life that has been given to us.

Do you want to live the Great Life?

Keep short accounts with Christ!

Make it right with God today!

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