Christians Have the Holy Spirit, Part 4

Chuckle: A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

Quote: "We parents can often do more for our children by correcting our own faults than by trying to correct theirs." –Unknown source

CAUTIONS CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. "Grieve not the Spirit of God by whom you have been sealed until the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30 NIV). You can only grieve someone who loves and cares for you. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we don't heed His call or follow His instructions. We grieve Him when we place our will for our lives ahead of His. We should make a free personal, moral response to the personal Spirit of God. He is with us and is grieved when we sin.

You see, the Spirit doesn't indwell us just to have a place to stay. He lives within us to: ". . . teach you all things and remind you of everything I (Jesus) have said to you" (John 14:26 NIV). The Spirit teaches us by convicting us of our sins, by conditioning our consciences to be our guide in making Godly decisions, and reminding us to let the love of Christ be reflected in us by our words, actions, and even our thoughts.

2. "Do not put out (quench) the Spirit's fire" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV). This is similar to "grieving" the Spirit. Fire suggests great power that needs to be released in our lives and the life of the church. We quench the Spirit when God's Spirit tells us something or leads us to do something and we ignore Him. The gifts of the Spirit must not be ignored or neglected. We throw cold water on the Spirit's work by our disobedience and apathy.

3. Do not resist the Spirit. "You always resist the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51 NIV). This is a warning for the unbeliever and the believer alike. Refusing to follow God's direction for our lives given us through His Word and His Spirit is resisting the Holy Spirit. You may have seen a famous painting by Holman Hunt, "The Light of the world." It shows our Lord standing at a closed door and knocking. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20 NIV).

The painting shows there is no latch on the outside of the door. It can only be opened from the inside. We are called to avoid resisting the wooing of the Spirit and open our hears from the inside. God will not force himself into our hearts. We must open our hearts to him. The Spirit's purpose is to give you spiritual life. Your body's purpose is to give God's Spirit a home. God will accept you where you are and take you where he wants you to be.

As we close out this series on the Holy Spirit, here are some of the words of Jesus concerning the Holy Spirit which you may want to study further: John 14:16-17; John 16:8-11; John 16:13-14.

Love, Jerry & Dotse