A note from our pastor:

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Ephesians 4:30

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

The focus of our verse this morning is the Holy Spirit. The one we often refer to as the third member of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit who works within mankind upon this earth and makes the elect spiritually alive.

The Apostle references back to the point he previously made in Ephesians 1:13.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

Ephesians 1:13

The Apostle is not referring to the sealing of our redemption in the sense of making it assured for that was done when God the Father chose a people before the foundation of the world. Furthermore, he is not referring to sealing our salvation in the sense of making it legally completed for that was accomplished by Jesus Christ upon the cross with his death. Rather, the Apostle is referring to the sealing of our salvation within our own minds.

The Holy Spirit works within us to make us know the love of God. The seal or assurance of our salvation is ultimately not circumcision, baptism, nor even communion, but rather is the Holy Spirit himself who witnesses to our spirit that the love of God for us is real. It is by the testimony of the Holy Spirit within us that we have hope in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the instruction from the Apostle in this verse is to grieve not the Holy Spirit. This is a not a separate sin, bur rather a reference to the sins previously mentioned. Not speaking truth, feeding anger, giving place to the devil, stealing, and speaking corruption all make the Holy Spirit to grieve our behavior.

When the Holy Spirit is grieved it makes no impact on the assuredness of our Salvation from God’s perspective, but it makes a significant difference in our joy in that salvation. For when we grieve the Holy Spirit, he pulls away from us. The evidence of this being the darkness of the soul, the lack of joy in service, and the bitterness toward other saints.

Ultimately, the believer suffers when he or she grieves the Holy Spirit. Let us strive to walk in love towards one another that the Holy Spirit might walk with us in joy.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah