The Silent Sovereign: Grieve not the Spirit

by David Chadwick

Live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). Pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18).

Finally, grieve not the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Or as 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, "Do not quench the Spirit."

I find today's exhortation to be the pinnacle point of a life that is full of the Holy Spirit because it forces all of us to yield to a power bigger than ourselves. It demands that we take God out of the boxes in which we place him.

In order to live a life that does not quench or grieve the Spirit, we must remain pliable, malleable, humble, open to change, willing to both repent and surrender. Without these characteristics, we risk putting ourselves in the all-knowing, all-powerful position that only God is intended to have.

If the Spirit of God is living inside of our hearts and if we are one with Christ, then we must give ourselves fully to his ways. If we choose to live in a way that is contrary to his holiness and his will, he lives in us so we will automatically grieve him.

The Holy Spirit is a person. He is our friend. And we can hurt his heart. Even make him cry. When you do this, if you truly follow Jesus, you will immediately sense it within. You will know his sadness, for it will become your sadness. You just know when you've disappointed him.

Over time, if you continue to live in sin and quench the Spirit inside of you, his voice will become harder to hear. His power will no longer be available to you.

Spend time each day seeking the Spirit's will in all areas of your life. Make your relationship with him your life's greatest desire, your most fervent want to. If there is anything in your life contrary to his will, confess it and repent of it. Breathe out all impurities every single day. Receive God's grace anew by confession (1 John 1:9).

Then, reconnect the relationship! Hear and obey the Spirit in a fresh way. Know the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). He wants to live in and through you! FOREVER!