GET TOGETHER- DON’T GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Eph 4:29-32 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV)
For all of us when we come to the Lord Jesus Christ there are areas that we need the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. I have had to pray this passage over myself and certain situations on numerous occasions since I became a Christian. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I certainly don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit by exhibiting those seven behaviors or actions in the above passage. Those being corrupt words, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice. Below I have these words and the Greek terms that the Bible was originally written in for each one.
1. Bitterness- pikria, pik-ree’-ah . It can figuratively or literally mean poison. A state of sharp resentment or hate; spite or bitter resentment
2. Wrath- thumos, thoo-mos’ a state of intense anger with the implication of passionate outbursts
3. Anger -orge, or-gay’ a state of anger or fury
4. Clamor- To cry out against someone or shout at them in a disrespectful manner
5. Evil speaking blasphemia, blas-fay-me’-ah To speak against someone in a way that will bring harm, or injure his or her reputation
6.Malice-kakia, kak-ee’-ah a feeling of strong dislike with a possible implication of the desire to do harm
I have thought about some of the ads that I have seen by some of our candidates that are running for statewide office. As a Christian that is Pro-Life and a believer that marriage is between one and one woman I have been troubled by these ads where candidates that advertise that they are Christians slam their opponents.
I don’t think us being Pro-Life and Pro Marriage between one man and one woman exempts us from abstaining from these behaviors that grieve the Holy Spirit. Certainly, we are to speak the truth. Certainly, we are to stand up for what we believe. But we are also to do this without grieving the Holy Spirit.
In a culture that is so hostile to the church we will need the Holy Spirit’s help to speak the truth in love. We will need the Holy Spirit’s help to not as Paul writes in Ro 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. (NKJV)
If you noticed I left off one behavior in my list. It is speaking corruptly. The Greek term here for corrupt is sapros, sap-ros’. It means pertaining to that which is harmful in view of its being unwholesome and corrupting – ‘harmful, unwholesome.’
We can see many that oppose the Gospel filled with rage, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking. The devil would like to have us to resort to those behaviors. But if we will not grieve the Holy Spirit we can depend upon Him to help us to glorify God even in the face of persecution and hostility. 2Co 10:4,5” For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
LET US PRAY
Lord Jesus I know for me and many others there are times that the enemy attempts to get us to respond as the world responds when we are persecuted or criticized. We need Your help through the Holy Spirit to not grieve the Holy Spirit and act in a manner that brings glory to Your Holy Name. Help us to pray through this passage in all circumstances and situations where we would be tempted to speak, or act in a way that would not bring glory to You.
In Jesus Name
Amen
God Bless you all!
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
