And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
—Ephesians 4:30
This verse says not to grieve the Holy Spirit. This means not to cause Him pain, distress, or suffering. This is why it is so extremely important for us to know what the Word says about grieving Him.
Look at the word “grieve” in Ephesians 4:30. It is the Greek word “lupete.” It defines the pain of someone who is betrayed and wounded by someone they deeply love. Consider a husband or wife who discovers their spouse has been unfaithful. They feel very hurt and wounded. The Greek word “lupete” describes all the emotions that come with such a deep betrayal.
The meaning of the word “lupete” also describes exactly what we do to the indwelling Holy Spirit when we act like the person we were before Jesus gave us a new life. In using this Greek word, Paul made His intention explicitly clear. When we let other things take precedence and don’t make our relationship with the Holy Spirit our greatest priority, we hurt, betray, and deeply wound Him. Whenever we yield our lives to this world instead of yielding to the One who knows and loves us best, we end up causing Him pain.
The Holy Spirit lives inside of us. He leads and guides us. He comforts us in our pain. He teaches and reveals God's truth to us. He sanctifies us. He convicts us with His righteousness and brings forth His good work in us. He empowers and seals us for the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit has been sent to give us the mind of Christ so we can know the will of God and have the victory Jesus won on our behalf. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS 100% HERE FOR US! We are the reason He was sent. So when we ignore Him or refuse to listen to Him or regularly disobey what He leads us to do, it grieves Him.
In the verses preceding Ephesians 4:30 and the one following it, Paul was specific about the things these Ephesian Christians were doing that grieved the Holy Spirit. They were lying, holding on to resentment, giving power to the enemy, stealing, speaking evil about one another, allowing bitterness in their hearts, being angry, and acting with hatred toward each other.
Because Paul used the word “grieve” (the Greek “lupete”), it reveals to us that the Holy Spirit was wounded by these believers. He felt like a spouse who was being betrayed by the love of His life. How could these Christians give in to their flesh after all the Holy Spirit had done within them?
The Holy Spirit—who was sent to teach and guide us—doesn’t just exist in the cosmos. He lives inside us. Paul calls Him “the spirit of holiness” in Romans 1:4. He is called the Holy Spirit because He is holy. That is who the Holy Spirit is, and holiness is what He produces in our lives.
The temple of the Holy Spirit who is named “YOU” is more valuable to God than anything else in His creation. He created you for His good pleasure. He died so you might live, and He lives in each of us who believe in Him. But when we turn around and allow trash in our lives, drag Him into the mire with us, and never consider how it must grieve Him, we are deeply grieving the One who lives inside of us.
The sins Ephesians 4:25-31 reveal are the attitudes that are the most difficult to overcome—ones like resentment, bitterness, anger, and hatred. We should never hold a grudge or have bitterness or allow anger or hatred because we know that they wound the Holy Spirit. The next time you are tempted to hold resentment in your heart toward someone, remember it grieves the Holy Spirit. As you grow in your awareness of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, you will draw on His help and His power to change the way you think and react.
Always remember that the Holy Spirit actually lives inside of you. Whatever you do, you do to Him as well. Where you go, you take Him with you. When you choose to sin, you are dragging His holiness into the mud right along with you. You don’t really want to grieve Him! Don’t wound the One who has already been wounded for you—the One who was sent to empower your new life in Christ. He deserves your utmost respect. Honor the Spirit of holiness in you. Live worthy of what you have received.
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