Continued…
The were more concerned with the praise of men
Lied unto God by lying to His Body (the Church)
Conspired to cover up the truth thus tempting the Spirit
Taking God for granted
Presuming that God is not concerned with such “trivial” details
Bar_Jesus (Elymas the Soccerer) (Acts 13: 4-12)
Whatever forms a hindrance to the prosperity of the Gospel causes the Spirit to grieve
Do you distract people from concentrating on listening to the preaching of the word by:
Starting an unprofitable discussion while the sermon is going on
Is your appearance particularly you dressing a distraction
Deliberate over reaction
Uncontrolled activity (e.g. frequent movement in and out of church auditorium)
Paul rebuked Elymas sharply with these words “O full of all subtlety and all mischief ……..”
(Read Genesis 3: 1)
King Saul (1 Samuel 13, 1-14)
The popular saying goes: “Once beaten twice shy”, but this was totally contrary in the case of King Saul.
In the above text, we see that the instructions (commands) of God are always very clear.
Do not be overzealous
Do not assume a role that is not assigned to you
Do not try to assist God, He is more than sufficient
Again in 1 Samuel 15: 1-3, 7-11, 16-31 Saul turned back from following the Lord by not performing His commandment
The following are to be noted:
Partial obedience is complete disobedience and may lead to fatality
You cannot please men at the expense of God
You cannot be more compassionate that the compassionate God
Beware of covetousness and do not join the multitude to do evil
Read Psalm 119: 9-11, 97-112
The Spirits Demands the following from us
Be at peace with the brethren (vs. 1-3 see also Hebrews 12: 14-17)
Identify your gift or tap into the fully provided operating grace (vs. 7-13)
Grow up (vs. 14)
Speak the truth in LOVE to ensure a healthy relationship is developed
Do not live like Gentiles (vs. 14-19);
Vain in their minds
Void of the knowledge of God
Completely gone astray and totally insensitive to God’s command
Put off the corrupt and deceitful old man (vs. 22-23)
CONCLUSION
If you have lost the visible presence of Christ I have good news for you, that the Spirit of God never leaves his people finally; he leaves them for chastisement, but not for damnation. He sometimes leaves them that they may get good by knowing their own weakness, but be will not leave them finally to perish. Are you in a state of backsliding, decline and coldness?
Examine yourself to identify where or how you have grieved the Spirit, give up any whatever you need to and reconcile with Him. Maintain constant fellowship with Him in prayer to God, and let your daily cry be, “Return, return, O Holy Spirit return, and dwell in my soul.”
Altar Call
May be the Spirit has been striving during the past week. Oh yield to him, resist him not; grieve him not, but yield to him. Is he saying to you now “Turn to Christ?” Listen to him, obey him, he moves you. Oh I beseech you do not despise him.
Do not resist the Holy Spirit any longer to avoid Him saying;
“I will go unto my rest, I will not return unto him, the ground is accursed, it shall be given up to barrenness.”
“Repent and be converted everyone of you, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord,”
“He that believeth in the Lord Jesus and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
May the Lord grant that we may not grieve the Holy Spirit, Amen.
- What To Do While Waiting For Breakthrough - September 26, 2010
- Breakthrough By The Holy Spirit Sermon - September 19, 2010
- Work – Made Productivity - September 12, 2010