March 5th, 2024
Written by Kara Wallis.
In Ephesians 4, Paul lays out clear instructions for how we as Christians are to live, the things we are to do and not do as believers. When we heard about Christ and were taught in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus we had to turn from our former lives and way of thinking. Paul says in Ephesians 4:17-19, “That we are to no longer live as Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking, which is darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every impurity, and they are full of greed.” Once we have met Jesus Christ and invited Him into our hearts and lives, we are to be made new in every aspect of our lives. We are to put off our old selves and be made new in the attitude of our minds, putting on the new selves which are created to be holy and righteous.
I know in my own life I am faced with things every single day that are contrary to the Word of God and there is a decision to be made whether I am going to act in accordance with the truth that I now know from having a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, or respond out of a fleshly desire to get even with someone that I may be frustrated with. It is hard, but I truly do not want to do anything to grieve the Holy Spirit or quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) in my life or someone else's life. I know that I have been guilty of this in the past and have hindered the Holy Spirit by trying to do things my way from a very emotionally-driven place. The word “grieve” in Greek means, ”to cause to feel sorrow, pain, unhappiness, or distress.” In Isaiah 63:9-10 it says, “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.” Also, Ephesians 4:30 says, ”And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Specific ways that we grieve the Spirit are by not speaking the truth, by letting our anger control our actions, by stealing, by speaking badly and abusively to one another, and by not getting rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander. We also grieve the Holy Spirit when we refuse and fail to be kind to one another and to forgive each other, just as God through Jesus Christ has forgiven us. The Holy Spirit desires to express Himself in our actions and attitudes. When we do things that we know are wrong we suppress the Spirit and we do not allow Him to move the way He wants to in the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The only correct path to follow is the one that leads us closer to God and I pray that all of us as believers of Jesus Christ do not grieve the Spirit by refusing to follow His lead in our lives. I hope that this comes across with so much humility, as I have not arrived in my walk with Christ. It is also my prayer that we can love and encourage one another as we walk out what the will of God is for each of our lives and strive and work together to further God’s kingdom.
In Ephesians 4, Paul lays out clear instructions for how we as Christians are to live, the things we are to do and not do as believers. When we heard about Christ and were taught in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus we had to turn from our former lives and way of thinking. Paul says in Ephesians 4:17-19, “That we are to no longer live as Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking, which is darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every impurity, and they are full of greed.” Once we have met Jesus Christ and invited Him into our hearts and lives, we are to be made new in every aspect of our lives. We are to put off our old selves and be made new in the attitude of our minds, putting on the new selves which are created to be holy and righteous.
I know in my own life I am faced with things every single day that are contrary to the Word of God and there is a decision to be made whether I am going to act in accordance with the truth that I now know from having a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, or respond out of a fleshly desire to get even with someone that I may be frustrated with. It is hard, but I truly do not want to do anything to grieve the Holy Spirit or quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) in my life or someone else's life. I know that I have been guilty of this in the past and have hindered the Holy Spirit by trying to do things my way from a very emotionally-driven place. The word “grieve” in Greek means, ”to cause to feel sorrow, pain, unhappiness, or distress.” In Isaiah 63:9-10 it says, “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.” Also, Ephesians 4:30 says, ”And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Specific ways that we grieve the Spirit are by not speaking the truth, by letting our anger control our actions, by stealing, by speaking badly and abusively to one another, and by not getting rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander. We also grieve the Holy Spirit when we refuse and fail to be kind to one another and to forgive each other, just as God through Jesus Christ has forgiven us. The Holy Spirit desires to express Himself in our actions and attitudes. When we do things that we know are wrong we suppress the Spirit and we do not allow Him to move the way He wants to in the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The only correct path to follow is the one that leads us closer to God and I pray that all of us as believers of Jesus Christ do not grieve the Spirit by refusing to follow His lead in our lives. I hope that this comes across with so much humility, as I have not arrived in my walk with Christ. It is also my prayer that we can love and encourage one another as we walk out what the will of God is for each of our lives and strive and work together to further God’s kingdom.
1 Comment
Thank you Kara for this encouraging word