When we speak of the Holy Ghost, we are not talking about an “it”, but a HE. He is a person. The very spirit of God living and dwelling in the midst of his people. Many people will tell you that the Holy Ghost came at the day of Pentecost, and never before that, well that is not exactly the truth. The word of God gives us many examples of the Spirit of God leading people, and coming mightily upon them in the Ot.
Isaiah 63:7-10
v.10 but they (the children of Israel)rebelled, and grieved his holy spirit, therefore he turned himself to be their enemy, he fought against them.
The children of Israel after all that they had seen, still rebelled against God. The bible tells us that they grieved the Holy Spirit, and rebelled against God.
Eph. 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
1 Thess. 5:19 tells us to quench not the spirit.
The Holy Spirit of God, is the comforter that Jesus told us about which was to come. It is the Holy spirit living within us, that leads us, and guides us, comforts us, calms us, and directs our steps.
Jn. 14:26 But the comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
It is the Holy Spirit of God, which brings to remembrance the word of God. The Spirit of God comes to live within, and leads us. Father, Son, Holy Ghost, 3 in 1, and 1 in 3. It is therefore God himself, which lives and resides inside of us.
David wrote in Psalms 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart o God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit.
It is the power of the Holy Ghost, which allows us to be able to see clearly into a situation in our lives. In order for us to walk according to the will of God in our lives, we must be able to see clearly where he has called us to be.
It is a tragedy in the kingdom of God, when you are not operating in the position where God has desired for you to be. Because not only are you doing yourself a disservice, but there is also someone else who is called to that job, that is operating somewhere else.
The bible says to us repeatedly, do not quench the spirit of God, and do not grieve the spirit of God.
One way that we grieve the spirit of God, is by intentionally disobeying his word. Another way is by perverting his word with our own ideas or philosophies.
This is why Paul stated in 2 Thess. 3:6 Now we command you bretheren in the name of Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which we have received.
In 2 Tim. Ch. 3, Paul gives a list of things that would be creeping their way into the pulpits of the church in the last days. It is very important that we, being the church of the last days, stick closely to the teachings of the original church.
Because the enemy is out to pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ, and turn it back into some type of legalistic religion.
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
The one that really sticks out, is the last, that men would have a form of Godliness, but be denying the power thereof. They would say that Jesus is Lord, but you can live how you please. They will tell you what to do, but won’t do it themselves. They would say that Jesus is the king, but they will serve themselves. They would say that Jesus died for your sins, but not for your sickness. They have a form of Godliness, but they deny the power of God.
In the last days they will teach that it is what you do that gets you saved. They will say that you must wear this type of clothes, or take communion this way, so you feel that what you are wearing, or doing is what got you saved. But Jesus Said I am the way
When the word of God tells us that it is by grace that we are saved through faith, and not of works, lest any man should boast.
The bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
When a child of God sits under this type of adulterated teaching for a long period of time, they become malnourished in spirit, and eventually the fire of God, is no longer permitted to burn, they have quenched the fire of God, with religion.
Paul said, do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, but stir up the gift of God that is within you. The Greek word for stir up, is anazopuren” to add fuel to the fire” Do not quench the Holy Ghost, but add fuel to the fire that is within you.
What this actually means is that you should run away from people who preach something other than the cross of Jesus Christ for salvation. The way that you add fuel, is by prayer, fellowship, and the word of God.
Stir up the gift of God that is within you. Add fuel to the fire. In 2 tim. 2:15 Study….
Do not quench the spirit. Is. 63:10 but they rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit.
They rebelled. Rebellion-“armed resistance to ones government or ruler, resistance to, or defiance of any authority.” They defied the authority of Almighty God, and thought that they would get away with it, and God himself turned against them in battle.
See, God is not a half-way God. Youre either in or out, up or down, hot or cold, off or on…there is no in between with God. And when you are grieving God, he can not fight for you.
Samuel said to King Saul, To obey is better than to sacrifice. Saul had tried to force a sacrifice, rather than wait for the word of the Lord. He tried to perform a religious ritual, which he himself had not been called to do. It was the priests job to offer up sacrifices unto the Lord.
And Samuel told him It is better to obey the voice of the Lord, than to give a sacrifice, for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity, and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being King.
It is not the religious rituals that move God. It is the faith that you have in his word. God is no respector of people, he is a respecter of FAITH. Obeying the word of God, is far better than performing religious rituals.
Samuel said to Saul. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being King. There are many of us here today, who have been in the church for years and years, but are still rejecting the word of God.
When you reject the word, you are in open rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft. Rejecting the word, is rejecting God himself. And the word of God said, if you are not for me, then you are against me.
Its not the rituals, its not the water, its not the bread, its not the programs, burning of insensce, or confessionals that appeal to God, but faith in the shed blood of the spotless lamb that is pleasing to him.
We must be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit of God, and never do anything to grieve him. God wants only the best for his people, and his desire is for you to function in the exact place where he has called you to be.
Sometimes it will be uncomfortable, and sometimes, it will be a stretch, but as long as you are on the wheel, God is going to shape you.
Ps. 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, it is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.
Is. 63:10 but they rebelled, and vexed his holy spirit. Therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
Many of us wonder why we keep going around this same mountain for years and years, when it is because we keep complaining.
Numbers 14:27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me.
Complaining about a situation, does not make it better, in fact it is considered to be a sin, when the bible tells us what so ever is not of faith is sin.
