PRECAUTIONS OF THE SPIRIT
"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." - Matt 12:32
The person of the Holy Spirit is unique to the believer, before Jesus, the person of the Spirit wasn't so understood as Jesus has made Him to be. After the the Word became flesh and dwelt among men, the Spirit started dwelling not just among but within us so as to make the Word (Jesus) visible among men.
The introductory scripture has been subject to a lot of arguement and controversies in Bible studies and at different places. Honestly, one may not be able to fully understand the context or interpretation of this statement, but we can be sure of some things that; the Holy Spirit is not superior in the Godhead, there is really no sin that cannot be forgiven. In fact, I believe that if Satan repents today (I doubt if I can); God still has enough mercy to forgive Satan.
It is easy to downplay the role and person of the Spirit since He is not visible, it is easy for men to confuse His working and this is the core of today's study. It is meant to bring us to the consciousness that the Holy Spirit is God, and that He must be given reverence as God.
God is a Spirit, God is the Holy Spirit, He can kill and make alive, He is plenteous in mercy and gracious. We shouldn't sin against the person of the Holy Spirit.
DO NOT LIE TO THE SPIRIT
"But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?'" - Acts 5:3
This couple wanted to ridicule the ministry of the Holy Spirit in Peter's life, they thought 'O God is not here, no one will see it". But the consequences of their action led to their death.
There have been times when we have brought disrepute to the works of the Spirit, we have lied to our pastors while there had been convictions through the Holy Spirit. I am not God to judge what will become of your actions but I am sure God frowns at it.
Lying to the Holy Spirit is trying to justify our wrongs and silencing our conscience at a time when only we know the truth, lying to the Holy Spirit is trying to play 'smart' about the compliance of obedience to God's word. Lying to the Holy Spirit is feigning or faking ignorance even though you just made a blunder.
"However, when the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." - John 16:13
The One who is the Spirit of truth will react to every lie, whether white or harmless, the Spirit of truth will also detect every lie; and he knows every liar.
How long have you lived a lie, it is possible that the life you come to portray in church are all lies, yet this piece is a conviction of the Holy Spirit for you to repent. Don't you dare lie by pretending it doesn't refer to you.
DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies." - 1Thess 5:19-20
Can one truly quench the Spirit? Yes! We can become totally fixed on patterns that we neglect the place of the Spirit. We can be totally strict on laws and we do displace the Holy Spirit in our lives.
There are places where the gifts of the Spirit is played down, the authorities do so out of fear of controversies or lack of understanding. But to quench the Spirit is to cheat ourselves of the benefits of Him. We wouldn't know how to pray, we wouldn't know how to live, we will grope in the Word as light wouldn't come.
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." - 2Tim 1:6
The Spirit of God will only work if you allow Him to, you express as much of the Spirit as you willfully decide, you must therefore be reminded that there is a place of stirring the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
You must engage yourself in things that allow the expression of the Spirit, you must stay in the place of your ministry or calling, you must do evangelism, be faithful. The gift of a man makes way for him. So, be mindful not to downplay the working of the Spirit in you.
Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty, liberty to express the fullness of Christ's righteousness, liberty to attain the height of fellowship as much as you want. Liberty to be exposed to the knowledge of the Father, and yes liberty in case you have been bound.
Don't even think of quenching the Spirit.
DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." - Eph 4:30
When the Lord takes us out of the dungeon and brushes us up, He decorates us with grace and lavish us with goodness, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a seal of our new life, the Holy Spirit at work in the believer signals a high expectation from the believer. If we disappoint God, He is grieved.
Those who grieve the Holy Spirit are willful backsliders who gave up the knowledge of God in them. The Holy Spirit is grieved mostly when we are live below our consecrated life.
King Saul made God regret, and this also plays out with the Holy Spirit, He sometimes regret possessing a person in the first place.
It is to your peril that the Holy Spirit is grieved, it will be your loss when the Spirit is grieved. Be careful not to allow it. If you quench or silence the Spirit of God, He is grieved.
TEST EVERY SPIRIT
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone into the world." - 1John 4:1
We must not allow the devil to outsmart us in this matter, the Spirit of God in us must be able to help us discern rightly those of the same Spirit.
The gifts of the Spirit can be imitated and this is where the devil is deceiving the church. But if we are awakened to the personality of Jesus, we would not be held captive by deceiving preachers.
Though there would be manifestation of miracles and a large congregation to follow, if the fruits does not confirm the working, then it is fake.
The Spirit of God doesn't just work through us, no! He works in us to make us attain the person of Jesus, if this be lacking, then such Spirit has failed the test.
"And Jehoshaphat said, 'is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?'" - 1Kings 22:7
Four hundred men were prophesying, yet king Jehoshaphat was able to discern that they weren't all right.
If there is a need in the church today, it will be the Spirit of discernment. Not all who call upon God are His people.
Let us not be swayed away by excitement, the operation of the Spirit is not a feel good agent. He has come for a real work and that must be evident.
CONCLUSION: The Holy Spirit is God and you be accorded due reverence.
God bless you and be cautious of the Spirit.
Akinsuroju Femi
The person of the Holy Spirit is unique to the believer, before Jesus, the person of the Spirit wasn't so understood as Jesus has made Him to be. After the the Word became flesh and dwelt among men, the Spirit started dwelling not just among but within us so as to make the Word (Jesus) visible among men.
The introductory scripture has been subject to a lot of arguement and controversies in Bible studies and at different places. Honestly, one may not be able to fully understand the context or interpretation of this statement, but we can be sure of some things that; the Holy Spirit is not superior in the Godhead, there is really no sin that cannot be forgiven. In fact, I believe that if Satan repents today (I doubt if I can); God still has enough mercy to forgive Satan.
It is easy to downplay the role and person of the Spirit since He is not visible, it is easy for men to confuse His working and this is the core of today's study. It is meant to bring us to the consciousness that the Holy Spirit is God, and that He must be given reverence as God.
God is a Spirit, God is the Holy Spirit, He can kill and make alive, He is plenteous in mercy and gracious. We shouldn't sin against the person of the Holy Spirit.
DO NOT LIE TO THE SPIRIT
"But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?'" - Acts 5:3
This couple wanted to ridicule the ministry of the Holy Spirit in Peter's life, they thought 'O God is not here, no one will see it". But the consequences of their action led to their death.
There have been times when we have brought disrepute to the works of the Spirit, we have lied to our pastors while there had been convictions through the Holy Spirit. I am not God to judge what will become of your actions but I am sure God frowns at it.
Lying to the Holy Spirit is trying to justify our wrongs and silencing our conscience at a time when only we know the truth, lying to the Holy Spirit is trying to play 'smart' about the compliance of obedience to God's word. Lying to the Holy Spirit is feigning or faking ignorance even though you just made a blunder.
"However, when the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." - John 16:13
The One who is the Spirit of truth will react to every lie, whether white or harmless, the Spirit of truth will also detect every lie; and he knows every liar.
How long have you lived a lie, it is possible that the life you come to portray in church are all lies, yet this piece is a conviction of the Holy Spirit for you to repent. Don't you dare lie by pretending it doesn't refer to you.
DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies." - 1Thess 5:19-20
Can one truly quench the Spirit? Yes! We can become totally fixed on patterns that we neglect the place of the Spirit. We can be totally strict on laws and we do displace the Holy Spirit in our lives.
There are places where the gifts of the Spirit is played down, the authorities do so out of fear of controversies or lack of understanding. But to quench the Spirit is to cheat ourselves of the benefits of Him. We wouldn't know how to pray, we wouldn't know how to live, we will grope in the Word as light wouldn't come.
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." - 2Tim 1:6
The Spirit of God will only work if you allow Him to, you express as much of the Spirit as you willfully decide, you must therefore be reminded that there is a place of stirring the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
You must engage yourself in things that allow the expression of the Spirit, you must stay in the place of your ministry or calling, you must do evangelism, be faithful. The gift of a man makes way for him. So, be mindful not to downplay the working of the Spirit in you.
Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty, liberty to express the fullness of Christ's righteousness, liberty to attain the height of fellowship as much as you want. Liberty to be exposed to the knowledge of the Father, and yes liberty in case you have been bound.
Don't even think of quenching the Spirit.
DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." - Eph 4:30
When the Lord takes us out of the dungeon and brushes us up, He decorates us with grace and lavish us with goodness, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a seal of our new life, the Holy Spirit at work in the believer signals a high expectation from the believer. If we disappoint God, He is grieved.
Those who grieve the Holy Spirit are willful backsliders who gave up the knowledge of God in them. The Holy Spirit is grieved mostly when we are live below our consecrated life.
King Saul made God regret, and this also plays out with the Holy Spirit, He sometimes regret possessing a person in the first place.
It is to your peril that the Holy Spirit is grieved, it will be your loss when the Spirit is grieved. Be careful not to allow it. If you quench or silence the Spirit of God, He is grieved.
TEST EVERY SPIRIT
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone into the world." - 1John 4:1
We must not allow the devil to outsmart us in this matter, the Spirit of God in us must be able to help us discern rightly those of the same Spirit.
The gifts of the Spirit can be imitated and this is where the devil is deceiving the church. But if we are awakened to the personality of Jesus, we would not be held captive by deceiving preachers.
Though there would be manifestation of miracles and a large congregation to follow, if the fruits does not confirm the working, then it is fake.
The Spirit of God doesn't just work through us, no! He works in us to make us attain the person of Jesus, if this be lacking, then such Spirit has failed the test.
"And Jehoshaphat said, 'is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?'" - 1Kings 22:7
Four hundred men were prophesying, yet king Jehoshaphat was able to discern that they weren't all right.
If there is a need in the church today, it will be the Spirit of discernment. Not all who call upon God are His people.
Let us not be swayed away by excitement, the operation of the Spirit is not a feel good agent. He has come for a real work and that must be evident.
CONCLUSION: The Holy Spirit is God and you be accorded due reverence.
God bless you and be cautious of the Spirit.
Akinsuroju Femi
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