Honoring the Holy Spirit: Living in Redemption

 

Summary

In Ephesians 4:30, Paul exhorts us not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we are sealed for the day of redemption. This profound statement is a pivotal doctrine in our Christian faith, emphasizing the unique nature of Christian ethics. Unlike other moral systems, Christian ethics are deeply rooted in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Our conduct is not merely about adhering to a set of rules but is about living in a way that honors the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. This relationship is personal and intimate, and our actions, words, and even thoughts can grieve Him.

The Holy Spirit is not just an influence or power; He is a person who resides within us, making our bodies His temple. This indwelling presence is a seal of our salvation, a guarantee of our redemption. Our sanctification, therefore, is not about self-improvement or personal happiness but about living a life that reflects the glory of God. It is about responding to the Spirit's promptings and allowing Him to work in us, transforming us into the image of Christ.

Grieving the Holy Spirit can lead to a loss of the joy and assurance of our salvation. When we ignore His presence or fail to respond to His leading, we risk losing the sense of His love and the joy of our salvation. Moreover, it can leave us vulnerable to the flesh and the attacks of the enemy. However, the Spirit never abandons us. Even when we grieve Him, He remains within us, convicting us and drawing us back to God.

Ultimately, our lives should be lived in anticipation of the day of redemption, when Christ will return and we will be made perfect. Our conduct should reflect this hope and the reality of the Spirit's presence within us. By remembering that the Holy Spirit is always with us, we can live in a way that honors Him and prepares us for the glory that awaits.

Key Takeaways:

- The Holy Spirit's indwelling presence is the seal of our salvation, marking us as God's own until the day of redemption. This relationship is personal, and our actions, words, and thoughts can grieve Him. We must live in a way that honors His presence within us. [12:08]

- Christian ethics are distinct because they are rooted in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Our conduct is not about adhering to a moral code but about living in a way that reflects the glory of God and honors the Spirit who dwells within us. [05:02]

- Grieving the Holy Spirit can lead to a loss of the joy and assurance of our salvation. When we ignore His presence or fail to respond to His leading, we risk losing the sense of His love and the joy of our salvation. [39:00]

- The Holy Spirit never abandons us, even when we grieve Him. He remains within us, convicting us and drawing us back to God. Our sanctification is about responding to His promptings and allowing Him to transform us into the image of Christ. [43:04]

- Our lives should be lived in anticipation of the day of redemption, when Christ will return and we will be made perfect. By remembering that the Holy Spirit is always with us, we can live in a way that honors Him and prepares us for the glory that awaits. [35:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Ephesians 4:30
- [01:07] - Paul's Method and Doctrine
- [02:49] - Connection and Context
- [05:02] - The Differentia of Christian Ethics
- [07:18] - The Heart of Sanctification
- [10:01] - The Glory of God in Sanctification
- [12:08] - The Holy Spirit as the Seal
- [16:26] - The Holy Spirit Can Be Grieved
- [19:30] - Relationship of Love with the Spirit
- [23:34] - How We Grieve the Spirit
- [29:58] - Why We Should Not Grieve the Spirit
- [35:00] - The Day of Redemption
- [39:00] - Consequences of Grieving the Spirit
- [43:04] - The Spirit's Conviction and Restoration

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:30: "And grieve not the holy spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be "sealed" by the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 4:30? How does this concept of sealing relate to our salvation? [12:30]
2. In what ways does the sermon describe the Holy Spirit as a person rather than just an influence or power? [20:53]
3. What are some specific actions or behaviors mentioned in the sermon that can grieve the Holy Spirit? [23:34]
4. How does the sermon explain the relationship between Christian ethics and the Holy Spirit? [05:02]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding the Holy Spirit as a person who can be grieved change the way we view our daily actions and thoughts? [20:53]
2. The sermon mentions that Christian ethics are distinct because they are rooted in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. How does this perspective differ from other moral or ethical systems? [05:02]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the consequences of grieving the Holy Spirit in terms of our spiritual joy and assurance? [39:00]
4. How does the anticipation of the "day of redemption" influence the way we live our lives according to the sermon? [35:00]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you might have grieved the Holy Spirit through your actions, words, or thoughts. How can you respond to His conviction and seek restoration? [23:34]
2. The sermon emphasizes living in a way that honors the Holy Spirit's presence within us. What specific changes can you make in your daily routine to be more mindful of His presence? [27:26]
3. Consider the idea that our sanctification is not about self-improvement but about reflecting God's glory. How does this change your approach to personal growth and spiritual disciplines? [10:55]
4. The sermon warns against ignoring the Holy Spirit's promptings. Can you identify a recent prompting from the Holy Spirit that you may have ignored? How can you be more responsive in the future? [27:46]
5. How does the hope of the "day of redemption" motivate you to live differently today? What practical steps can you take to align your life with this hope? [35:00]
6. The sermon discusses the loss of joy and assurance when we grieve the Holy Spirit. What practices can you incorporate into your life to maintain a sense of God's love and the joy of your salvation? [39:00]
7. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to honor the Holy Spirit's presence. What is one tangible action you can take this week to address this struggle? [27:26]

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit's Seal of Salvation
The Holy Spirit's indwelling presence is a profound assurance of our salvation, marking us as God's own until the day of redemption. This relationship is deeply personal, and our actions, words, and thoughts can grieve Him. Living in a way that honors His presence within us is not just a matter of following rules but of nurturing a relationship with the divine. The Holy Spirit is not merely an influence or power; He is a person who resides within us, making our bodies His temple. This indwelling presence is a seal of our salvation, a guarantee of our redemption. Our sanctification, therefore, is about living a life that reflects the glory of God and responding to the Spirit's promptings. [12:08]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: In what ways can you consciously honor the Holy Spirit's presence in your daily actions and decisions today?


Day 2: Christian Ethics Rooted in the Spirit
Christian ethics are distinct because they are rooted in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Our conduct is not about adhering to a moral code but about living in a way that reflects the glory of God and honors the Spirit who dwells within us. This unique nature of Christian ethics emphasizes that our moral actions are deeply intertwined with our spiritual relationship. Unlike other moral systems, Christian ethics are not just about right and wrong but about living in harmony with the Spirit's guidance and allowing Him to transform us into the image of Christ. [05:02]

Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."

Reflection: How can you align your daily decisions with the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than merely following a set of rules?


Day 3: The Risk of Grieving the Holy Spirit
Grieving the Holy Spirit can lead to a loss of the joy and assurance of our salvation. When we ignore His presence or fail to respond to His leading, we risk losing the sense of His love and the joy of our salvation. This disconnection can leave us vulnerable to the flesh and the attacks of the enemy. However, even when we grieve Him, the Spirit never abandons us. He remains within us, convicting us and drawing us back to God. This ongoing relationship is a testament to His enduring love and commitment to our spiritual growth. [39:00]

Isaiah 63:10 (ESV): "But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have been ignoring the Holy Spirit's guidance? How can you begin to listen and respond to Him today?


Day 4: The Spirit's Conviction and Restoration
The Holy Spirit never abandons us, even when we grieve Him. He remains within us, convicting us and drawing us back to God. Our sanctification is about responding to His promptings and allowing Him to transform us into the image of Christ. This process is not about self-improvement or personal happiness but about living a life that reflects the glory of God. The Spirit's conviction is a loving call to return to the path of righteousness and to embrace the transformative work He desires to do within us. [43:04]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: What is one specific area where you feel the Holy Spirit is convicting you to change? How can you take a step towards transformation today?


Day 5: Living in Anticipation of Redemption
Our lives should be lived in anticipation of the day of redemption, when Christ will return and we will be made perfect. By remembering that the Holy Spirit is always with us, we can live in a way that honors Him and prepares us for the glory that awaits. This anticipation is not just a future hope but a present reality that shapes our daily conduct. It calls us to live with purpose and intentionality, reflecting the hope and assurance of our salvation in every aspect of our lives. [35:00]

1 Peter 1:13 (ESV): "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: How can you live today in a way that reflects your hope in the future redemption and return of Christ?

Quotes

"Grieve not the holy spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. We come in a systematic study of this great epistle and at the moment of this fourth chapter to this arresting striking and amazing statement which the Apostle here as it were HS into the midst of a series of practical injunctions and exhortations." [00:22:24]

"Now the Apostle puts it in this interesting and extraordinary manner in terms of seing I'm not going into that this morning because when we were dealing with the 13th verse of the first chapter many of you present will recall that I preached five sermons on that whole matter of the sealing of the spirit so I cannot repeat it all again I take it for granted that you are clear in your minds as to the meaning of the the term in whom or by whom ye are sealed until the day of redemption." [00:750:04]

"Now no man is a Christian unless the holy spirit is in him and if a man have not the spirit of Christ says Paul in Romans 88:9 he is none of his this is a great doctrine that runs right through the New Testament we needn't go into it in particular you notice that there in 1 Corinthians 3 which I read at the beginning the Apostle reminds us that the Holy Spirit dwells within the church as a body the third chapter of First Corinthians deals with it in the corporate sense but you remember that at the end of chapter 6 in that same first epistle to the Corinthians the apostle it like this what know he not that your body he's now talking about the individual not about the church as a body know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which you have of God and you are not your own for you are bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods." [00:894:48]

"Now this is a kind of temporary condition but it's a true one in Salvation he has put himself into this relationship to us that it is possible for us to hurt him to grieve him to disappoint him now the analogy that we must bear in our minds is obviously this that our relationship to the holy spirit is a relationship of love and this is the very essence of the Christian doctrine of salvation we finished with law we are no longer under law but we are under grace and we must never think of ourselves in those old legal terms if a Christian sins what he should be most conscious of is not so much that he's done that which is wrong or that he has even broken God's law what should rarely trouble him is this that he is offended against love." [00:1170:40]

"Grieve not the spirit the holy spirit of God now this must be interpreted in its fullest sense obviously the things the Apostle has been detailing grieve the spirit anything I say which belongs to the flesh Grieves the spirit take the list he gives in Galatians 5 now the works of the flesh he says are manifest which are these adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife itions heresies envyings murders drunkenness reings and such like those are the works of the Flesh and they grieve the holy spirit of God yes but let's remember that we grieve him not only in actual Deeds or practices we've been reminded already that we can grieve him with our words he's always with us he hears everything we say let no evil communication proceed out of your mouth therefore he's grieved by it and all these other things that he's going on to mention oh but we must go a stage further you can grieve him by your thoughts he is in you he is within you how often has the devil tripped us all at this point you said but I didn't do that thing no no I know you didn't do it and you may not have done it because you're a coward but you thought it and you enjoyed it and you played with it in your imagination and you thought all was well because you hadn't done it no no you've grieved him an unworthy or an impure thought a thought of anger jealousy or Envy it Grieves him it hurts him as much as the action everything is known to him the innermost recesses of your mind and heart and being he knows it all the world doesn't know it your own thoughts you know them he knows them and he's as grieved by unworthy thoughts as he is by unworthy words and by unworthy actions." [00:1429:36]

"Is there anything more insulting than that can another person insult you or hurt you more grievously than by just going on as if you were not there by behaving and conducting himself for herself as if you were not in the room is there anything more humiliating well Christian people the holy spirit of God is in you do you always remember that do you honor him the fail to so I say is to grieve him and then another way in which we do it of course is this is our failure to respond to his promptings and his leadings and his influences and all that he does in us and to us and Upon Us in order to further the work of sanctification within us the Holy Spirit has been given to apply the Redemption that has been purchased and worked out for us by the Blessed Son of God and the Holy Spirit has been sent and given to us in order that all this may be applied in order that it may be worked out within us it is he that worketh in us both to Will and to do says Paul of his good pleasure that's what we are working out what he works in well now the spirit is here constantly in doing that the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh he's Within Us in order to do that and of course we are aware of this he prompts us he leads us he creates desires within us you suddenly find yourself Desiring to read the word that's the spirit he suddenly will stimulate you perhaps to prayer or to meditation he'll tell you to leave something and to do something it's all the spirit it's all a part of his great work of sanctification now I say not to respond or to postpone or to say well I can't do that now I'm doing something else or to fail to give yourself and to be led by him oh these are the ways in which we grieve him as many as are led by the spirit of God says Paul to the Romans they are the sons of God well if you don't follow his leading or if you try to thwart them or if you try to postpone them it's all grieving oh go back fall back upon the human analogy the parent and the child that's it and you see how the spirit can be grieved by any disinclination on our part by any tendency to say all right I'll do it later on to put him off as it were how grieving to the spirit that we shouldn't immediately respond and recognize his workings and be grateful to him for condescending to dwell within us and to be concerned about our sanctification." [00:1615:55]

"Why should we not grieve him well I've already been answering the question in a sense because he is who and what he is and that ought to be enough he is the third person in the Blessed Holy Trinity and he is dwelling as a guest within your life in your very body as the hymn reminded us a gracious willing guest you know the very greatness of the person ought to be enough for us we all know what this is in practice don't we there are certain things we may normally do but if we happen to have some particularly distinguished guest staying in the house we don't do it we feel instinctively we should be on our best behavior when we've got some honorable person with us there are things we don't do there are things we do if there are little children in the house they're told to keep quiet not to make too much noise in the morning or at any other time because so and so is staying here quite right it's a mark of respect and of Honor look at the trouble people take to read books of etiquette in order that they may behave properly in certain High Social Circles think of the punctiliousness with which people study the rules if they should have the privilege of being presented to the queen in Buckingham Palace quite right and yet in every one of us is the holy spirit of God how careful You' be of your speech in buing and Palace you should be infinitely more careful of your speech whatever you are because of the guest that dwells within you your thoughts your imaginations he's there he knows about them it's comparable to swearing in the presence of a saint or using unworthy language in the presence of some holy person this is Christian sanctification the realization that he is within us oh not how can I get rid of this no no think of him my dear friend and then you'll be all right if you only realized he was always with you and was aware of everything that passes within you that's the thing that solves the problems you don't want some magical experience you just want to realize the truth which is given to you in this word of God if we but realize that he's always within us our whole conduct and Department would be entirely different." [00:1813:00]

"Think of the base in gratitude that we are guilty of when we grieve him in any shape or form think of all that has been done for us think of the planning of God in eternity think of the subordination of the son to the father and of the spirit to the Son and the father here he is co-equal coeternal the third person in the Blessed Holy Trinity and yet for you Redemption and mine he subordinated himself and he's even condescended to dwell within you it's Bas in gratitude not to realize his presence and not always to do everything that is well pleasing in his sight to grieve him I say it's to be a c it's to be guilty of a base in gratitude for all he has done for us and then let me go on and point out another it is as the Apostle reminds us here a complete failure to understand the final object of Salvation what is the final object of Salvation that my sins may be forgiven that I may be happy all the day and that I may get rid of all the problems in my life no no they are incidentals that's not the end and the object what's the end and the object well here it is the day of redemption grieve not the holy spirit of God whereby ye are sealed un that's the end these things thank God for them while we're passing through this world of time but these are the Temporaries there's the grand thing well what is it well it's this it is this day of the Lord that is coming it is this day when Christ will come back and judge the world in righteousness and Destroy his every enemy and remove every vesage of evil out of the whole Cosmos and will usher in his Everlasting Kingdom and you and I shall be in it in glorified bodies perfect and spotless without spot or Winkle or any such thing a part of this glorious Church the bride of Christ with everything which is unworthy and evil removed that's the end the day of redemption the coming in of the full and final and perfect salvation the Apostle has really said it all at the fourth verse of the first chapter according as Heath chosen Us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and Without Blame before him in love that's the end of redemption and salvation not so much I say these particular things that may be true of us here and now but that we may be holy and Without Blame before him in love in this world but especially there the day of redemption a man therefore who Grieves the spirit is a man who clearly is not and understanding as the Earth the whole object and purpose of redemption why did Christ die on the cross was it simply that you might not go to hell no no put it positively that you might go to Glory don't look at the negative always don't always say I'm delivered from this that or the other of course you are but you're delivered for prepared for it's that which matters isn't it tragic that people will preach sanctification in these subjective personal terms instead of holding before us the vision of the day of redemption the glory that awaits us the Perfection that we're being prepared for that's the object of it all." [00:2019:39]

"If you grieve the spirit well you won't have a sense of God's love to you you won't have the joy of Salvation you won't have Assurance you won't have certainty you won't have peace you won't be able to say the spirit beareth witness with my spirit that I am a child of God all that is implied in the ceiling and if you grieve the spirit the evidences of your ceiling will become faint they may altogether disappear don't misund understand me I'm not saying you're lost but I'm saying that you'll you'll miss and lose the comfort the Christian is a man who is meant to know the joy of the Lord rejoice in the lord always and again I say rejoice says Paul to the Philippians he's saying it here the Christian is not a man who trudges his weary way through this world moaning and beoning no no when he looks in he sees nothing but sin and he does moan but he mustn't merely look in he must look out he sees himself in Christ and he should be filled with a joy unspeakable and full of glor Glory he should go singing as he marches to Zion Children of the Heavenly King as he Journeys sweetly sing sing your savior's worthy praise glorious in his works and ways but you won't be able to if you grieve the spirit all the tender visitations of his love and the intimations of his rejoicing in you there be withdrawn and you'll be left to yourself and you lose all these wonderful experiences of when he comes and Embraces you and and infolds you in the arms of his love and let you know that you belong to him so for your own sake grieve not the spirit." [00:2345:83]

"Let's be clear about this Doctrine the spirit never abandons a child of God the seal is a seal and a seal is no seal which can be broken at any moment and then put back again and broken again no no you don't go in and out of Salvation you're not saved today and lost tomorrow and saved again that's not the Bible the seal is a seal and it's God's seal and no man can break it so that when I say the spirit withdraws himself I don't mean he goes out of you he still stays there but the gracious manifestations are withheld and then because he is still in you he will convict you he will strike you down he'll prostrate you he'll make you feel helpless and hopeless and then when you feel that you're abandoned by him he'll again reveal the Lord Jesus Christ to you as your savior who died for you and who still loves you and he'll wash away your sin again and he'll smile upon you once more and he'll restore unto you the joy of his salvation but what fools we are ever to live in such a way as to lead to such experiences grieve not the holy spirit of God my dear friend he's in you and he will have you and he'll bring you to that glory and Perfection and if you won't be led by him will he'll chastise you he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ don't grieve him my dear friend I warn you don't grieve him for if you do you will bring upon yourself Grievous experiences and agonies of soul that you need never have had." [00:2613:55]

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Transcript
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