Sinning Against the Holy Spirit

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:22-32

I. Introduction:

II. Grieving the Spirit

A. Ephesians 4:29-32

B. Definition

C. Grieve – to cause one to feel grief Grief – Intense feeling from loss, disaster, or suffering

D. Israel of old grieved the Spirit, “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.” Isaiah 63:10.

E. They would not heed God’s word.

F. They rebelled against God’s authority

G. Psalm 78:40 – “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert!” They witnessed His wonders in Egypt and in the wilderness, they heard Him speak from Mt. Sinai, and God fed them daily; yet they rebelled.

H. We can make the Holy Spirit feel grief.

I. The Spirit has given us words of edification by which we can build up one another. When we destroy one another, we are destroying God’s work. If we are filled with evil speaking towards our brethren, it causes strife within the church and with God.“When you did it to the least of my brethren, you did it unto me,” said Jesus.

J. We must respect God’s authority and not rebel against the Word revealed through the Spirit.

K. Those who seek their own interests above their brethren grieve the Spirit for they cause problems within the church. Jude 17-21

III. Resisting the Spirit

A. Acts 7:51-53

B. Their fathers resisted the Holy Spirit by resisting God’s authority and oppressing their brethren.

C. 7:9 – Joseph was sold by his brothers (the head of the tribes that would become Israel) out of envy

D. Though they treated Joseph terribly, God was with him. Through Joseph, God saved the brothers and, by extension, Israel.7:23, 35-40 – The Israelites rejected Moses on several occasions though God was with Him and had chosen him to lead the people from Egypt.

E. The Jews rejecting Jesus were just like the Jews that rejected God’s chosen leaders in the past.

F. Moses spoke of Jesus who would come, 7:37. The Jews rejected Jesus and, in doing so, resisted the Holy Spirit. They also resisted the Holy Spirit by objecting to Stephen’s message and killing him for teaching the truth.

IV. Quenching the Spirit

A. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

B. NIV: “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.”

C. Other uses of quench

D. Ephesians 6:16 – “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Mark 9:48 – “[hell fire]where Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” In a list of several exhortations at the close of Paul’s letter.

E. From a spiritual gifts perspective, they should use the gifts that have been given and give heed to prophecies.

F. We can quench the Spirit.

G. The Spirit inspires the Word of God which teaches us how to worship and live.

H. When we do not study the word nor teach it to others, we render the Spirit inactive in our lives.

I. This action is like pouring water on a campfire on a cold day. The fire can bring warmth and may even save our life, but if we quench it, it will do us no good. As some have said, the person who can read but does not is no better than the person who cannot read.

J. We can also quench the Spirit by sapping the joy and peace that the word brings out of our lives.

K. The Spirit does not equal excitement or ecstatic fervor. However, the product of our salvation should be peace, joy, hope, love, and goodness which we can drive from our lives.

L. Let us not put out the fire of the Spirit in our lives.

M. Let us daily study and meditate on the word so we can become like Jesus. Let us go forth in the good work and inner joy that should accompany salvation.

V. Blaspheming the Spirit

A. Matthew 12:31-32

B. Jesus cast a demon out of a possessed person.

C. The Jewish leaders attributed the miracle to the work of Beelzebub.

D. Jesus said that it was illogical to think that the Devil would fight against himself and hope for success. He also said that the argument would mean that their sons also cast out demons by Beelzebub; a conclusion they would not want to accept.

E. Jesus said that His power came from the Spirit of God, v.28.

F. The might of the Spirit is such that it can overcome Satan’s power.

G. The purpose of the miracle was to prove that Jesus is God’s Son.

H. John 10:24-28 – The works testify that Jesus is the Christ John 14:10-11 – Believe for the sake of the works John 20:30-31 – The signs were to prove Jesus’ divinity

I. In rejecting the works of Jesus, or attributing them to Satan, the Jewish leaders rejected the following:

J. That Jesus came from the Father That Jesus was the Christ That Jesus is the Son of God

K. Their only hope of eternal life

L. John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Luke 10:16 – “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

M. We can blaspheme the Holy Spirit by denying the signs of Jesus, rejecting Him as the Christ, the Son of God.

N. John 16:8-11 – The message of the spirit convicts one of sin, persuades one to prepare for judgment, and provides the message of salvation through Jesus. If we reject the divinely inspired word and the Son who was demonstrated to be the Christ by many wonderful works, we cannot be saved.

VI. Insulting the Spirit

A. Hebrews 10:26-31

B. We may not blaspheme the Spirit choosing instead to heed the Spirit’s call and obeying the gospel.

C. If we, after obeying that message, turn our back on God, we insult the Spirit that called us and Christ who saved us.

D. Instead of exalting Christ above every name, we trample Him under our feet.

E. Instead of considering the blood as something precious, valuable, and life saving; we treat it as something common that can be wasted or spilled carelessly on the dirt.

F. We often throw the remaining water in a glass out in the yard if we are no longer thirsty. If we were out in the desert, would we be so careless with the water?

G. Instead of respecting the Spirit who calls us to God’s grace and forgiveness of sin through the gospel, we insult Him.

H. Imagine someone making great preparations for your comfort and safety and preparing to give you things you never dreamed of and you carelessly ignored the offer. The person would be insulted at your rejection of his extremely generous offer. We insult the Spirit when we reject the offer of grace from God, which we do not deserve, to receive help from God, which we do not deserve, and an eternal home with God, which we do not deserve.

I. God will avenge those who ignore His offer, reject His Son, and insult the Spirit either before or after they are baptized.

J. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 – Punishment on those who reject God Hebrews 2:1-4 – Do not neglect your salvation

VII. Conclusion: The message of the gospel, inspired by the Spirit, calls you to salvation. The apostles, though the Spirit and the command of Christ, command all to repent of their sins and to be baptized into Christ, Mark 16:15-16. Do not insult the Spirit; respond to His invitation. He calls you to a rich feast and living waters, Revelation 22:12-17.