The Lord said by our words, we acquit and condemn (Matt. 12:37). We, disciples, accept Christ as Lord, and we take Paul’s words seriously and say to you, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30, NASB). Do not become like those whom God never ruled, those who were never called by His name (Isa. 63:19). “They rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So, He turned Himself against them” (Isa. 63:10). This attitude did not stop with the generation in Isaiah’s time. It was still alive in Paul’s time and is still alive today.
Those called by His name were chastised by the Apostle Luke, saying thus: “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did” (Acts 7:51). Too many are still rebelling against the Lord. So, with authority from the Lord Jesus, I say stop grieving the Holy Spirit.
The Lord has called past generations to account for their words and actions because their hearts always went astray (Heb. 3:10-11). Despite the signs performed among them, they refused to believe in God. They treated Him with contempt (Num. 14:11). The Lord God says, “They rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes” (Ezek. 20:8). They followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward (Jer. 7:24). Do you see a parallel today? How long will we rebel against the Holy Spirit?
Mockers of God’s Word and the Lord’s Way grieve the Holy Spirit, agitating whole nations while they deviously and maliciously attempt to set the world on fire. It is time to listen to the Word of God and “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Eph. 4:31, ESV). Peter agreed with Paul, saying thus: Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander (1 Pet. 2:1).
Recognize that “people with no regard for others can throw whole cities into turmoil” (Prov. 29:8, GNT). It was true then, and it is true now. These people have no regard for others or God’s Word. Christians must reject foolishness and blatant lies because they know they add fuel to the fire that is spreading across the nation and the world. Ask the Lord for the courage to get into the trenches and fight for the Lord’s Way. Paul said: “I say this to make you feel ashamed. Has it come to this, that there is not one person among you who is wise enough to settle disagreements between brothers” (1 Cor. 6:5, ISV)? Judge what is right, but understand that evil men do not dispense justice! “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34, NLT). Stop grieving the Holy Spirit!
Minister Nettie Pennington, Associate Minister, Springfield MB Church
