And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
To grieve not God's Holy Spirit means to put away all corrupt speech that fails to edify, with all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, and instead to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving as God forgave for Christ's sake. The Spirit so grieved is a tender, personal, ever-present messenger of God who seeks to dwell within as an honored guest to teach, renew and sanctify, and who seals those who receive Him as belonging to God unto the day of redemption. He is wounded by harsh, angry and retaliatory words, by jesting, frivolity and irreverence, by criticism, envy, jealousy, division and evil surmising, and by choosing one's own way, resisting light, persisting in sin and neglecting the work given. Persisted in, such grieving drives Him away until communion ceases, mercy's voice is no longer heard, and souls are left to their own ways, which crucifies Christ anew and puts Him to open shame. Yet even after grieving Him, wholehearted repentance with thorough confession and forsaking of sin brings pardon, blotting of sin, healing of backsliding, and renewed strength to obey and to walk in love.
Words and Immediate Context
The command not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom believers are sealed unto the day of redemption stands between speech that is good for edifying and ministering grace to the hearers and putting away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice in favor of being kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Corrupt communication that fails to edify and minister grace grieves Him, while speech sanctified by the Spirit, controlled and made valuable for edifying, with kindness and tenderheartedness and forgiveness and walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself, does not grieve Him. It is a word of inspiration to be studied and obeyed rather than ignored or disregarded or treated with indifference, and only doers of the Word receive the reward. It belongs to coming into unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, growing up into Christ the Head in truth and love, no longer tossed by every wind of doctrine, with the whole body fitly joined together and edified in love.
Not grieving Him means putting off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Those who claim to believe and teach the Word and enjoy the privileges of the banquet of truth while working unrighteousness grieve Him, because they have not so learned Christ as the truth is in Jesus and have not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God. He is grieved by lying, by anger held past sunset, by giving place to the devil, by stealing, by corrupt communication, and by bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice. He is honored by speaking truth with neighbors as members one of another, by being angry and sinning not, by stealing no more but laboring with the hands at what is good to have to give to him that needeth, by speech only that is good to edifying to minister grace, and by kindness and tenderheartedness and forgiving even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Those converted to God and sealed by Him unto the day of redemption must not continue the old conversation and walk nor walk as others in vanity of mind, but speak the truth in love and grow up into Christ who is the Head.
The verse belongs to the plan of God plainly and simply revealed in Ephesians 4 for all His children to lay hold upon the truth, showing the means He has appointed to keep His church in oneness and agreement so they reveal a healthy and healthful religious experience to the unbelieving world. Its teaching is part of the practical Bible lesson that must be lived in the call to walk worthily with humility, meekness, patience, love, and unity in the Spirit, rather than bringing personal ideas and opinions that mislead others and cause division. Those who conform their lives in obedience to the commandments of God and are united in the faith of the Scriptures, bound together as one in Christ Jesus with lives hid with Christ in God, will practice the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them and be a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son. They appreciate the great gift of God, use heaven's provision made at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, cooperate as laborers together with God, become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, and by courtesy, unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy magnify the law of God and make it honorable, demonstrating that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. God's work is directed by the Holy Spirit and is not to be controlled by one person acting as the sole head, but believers and institutions are to work under God's guidance and in cooperation with one another.
Loyalty to the law of God is enjoined upon all, and all must keep the law if they would live in it, with blessing to all who are obedient. Violating God's law grieves the Holy Spirit and dishonors Christ, and knowingly treating the Sabbath commandment as optional — obeying or disobeying according to convenience — grieves Him. He is grieved when hearts and lives are not right, when conduct conflicts with profession of faith, and when the sacred Sabbath is profaned by using its hours for worldly work instead of prayer and meditation. He is grieved when the commandments of God are not kept in spirit and in truth, and grieving Him in this way prevents advancement in Christian growth, which requires receiving the truth of God and allowing it to sanctify and purify the soul.
Spirit Who Is Grieved
The Holy Spirit is tender and personal, ever present with people, and human conduct can wound Him. He is the tender messenger of God with a mind that defines right conduct and a heart of love that is pained when that love is not met. The warning not to grieve Him stands joined to putting away bitterness, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice and practicing kindness, tenderness, compassion and forgiveness. His work is to shield from the enemy's attacks and counter his plans, to reprove sin, to impress Christ's words on the mind and bring them to remembrance, and so to restore God's moral image in humanity. When He is grieved the longing for communion with God ceases, for He quickens otherwise lifeless faculties to value heavenly things and draws affections toward God and truth, so that where Christ dwells the thoughts and actions are directed to God's glory. Careless and irreverent expressions in prayer, treating God's holy and reverend name without reverence, grieve this tender Spirit and shut such prayers out of heaven. Persistent harmful conduct, indulged discontent and lack of love, and trifling with God grieve Him almost entirely away, and if warning is resisted He may withdraw and leave the person to follow his own will.
He seeks to dwell in each person and abide in each soul as a welcomed honored guest. When welcomed He teaches, renews and sanctifies and completes the good work begun, making the receiver complete in Christ. Impure thoughts, wrong affections and feelings, perverse sentiments and rebellious acts are replaced with holy thoughts, heavenly affections and Christlike actions. He is grieved when the human agent chooses his own way, seeks to work himself, relies on self, and refuses to enter the Lord's service because the cross feels too heavy or the self-denial too great. Heeding His lessons as the divine Teacher makes wise unto salvation, and those lessons must be guarded, remembered and repeatedly followed against the natural, unconsecrated inclinations of the mind. Each must fight his own battle against self until repeated heeding fixes the impression forever, with minds and bodies subordinated to God and natural habits and appetites made subservient to the higher wants of the soul, for there is to be no halfway work and no dependence on self since He alone renews and sanctifies.
He continually draws every soul toward Christ, and no one can take even one step toward Christ without that drawing. To grieve Him is persistently to refuse that drawing, and if refusal is persisted in He is grieved away and will no longer draw. He warns, convicts and impresses the conscience to show duty clearly and bring to full surrender to God, and He is grieved away by a wavering, undecided religious life that is frequently convicted and comes almost to surrendering all for God but fails to decide and falls back again. Disregarding His warnings and convictions, trifling with God, and neglecting to follow clearly shown light harden the conscience and make it less and less susceptible to His impressions until light turns to darkness. He speaks to the soul through conscience in invitations, reproofs and warnings, and neglecting and resisting these appeals makes conscience less responsive until the desire to obey dulls. God does not compel to sin nor destroy; when mercy and truth are persistently rejected He withdraws His restraining influence and leaves people to their own inclinations.
He represents Jesus Christ and is a present refuge. He is the Comforter and God's indwelling, co-working presence whose transforming power makes people pure, true and holy, which human theories and plans cannot supply and without which they lead away from God. He holds an office in the plan of redemption that must be honored by coming into working order in cooperation with God instead of striving for supremacy and seeking the highest place. Striving for supremacy grieves the Holy Spirit of Christ, while seeing this grief and giving Him homage opens the way to honor Christ's great work. Through Christ's mediation His direct influences are imparted to human agencies to give power to prayer and to united entreaty to save souls ready to perish, and those who love Christ plead for conversion of souls, so that losing that first love belongs to grieving Him.
Sealed unto Redemption
The Holy Spirit seals believers unto the day of redemption, marking those who receive Him as belonging to God and giving assurance to that day, and converted believers are sealed until that day. The sealing calls for putting away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice, corrupt speech, harsh speech and unkind conduct, and for practicing kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, gracious speech and conduct that honors the sealing, forgiving as freely as forgiveness has been received by those who expect God to forgive their sins. Obedience to these instructions belongs to being sealed unto that day, and the instruction applies to every person.
The Spirit seals God's righteousness, not sin, so receiving the Spirit requires the righteousness of God which alone He approves, and seeking God's kingdom and righteousness is the preparation for receiving His gift. His presence is always with people, and His work is to shield them from the enemy's attacks, counter the enemy's plans, reprove and expose sin, impress Christ's words on the mind, bring those words to remembrance, and restore God's moral image in humanity. He is God's seal marking those who receive Him as belonging to God, represents Jesus Christ, and is a present refuge, while conduct that cherishes bitterness, anger, malice and unforgiveness can grieve Him.
The present time remains a day of grace and repentance before Christ's intercession ends and pardon is no longer offered. God's Spirit can be grieved away for the last time, and when this happens the voice of mercy is no longer heard and people are left to their own ways, filled with the results of their own choices. God patiently and faithfully calls people to repent, but His patience and mercy will not strive forever, and those who finally refuse its appeal lose His mercy; a true Christian therefore waits for God's teaching and the Spirit's leading rather than resting in merely formal religion without vital godliness.
Speech and Temper That Grieve
Corrupt speech that fails to build up hearers and impart grace, together with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, grieves the Holy Spirit and must all be put away. Putting them away is putting off the former corrupt old man and putting on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness, renewed in spirit of mind, shown in putting away lying and sinful anger, giving no place to the devil, stealing no more but laboring honestly with the hands at what is good in order to have to give to the needy, speaking truth, speaking only what is good for edifying, and being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Having the mind of Christ and forgiving just as freely as forgiveness has been received is required of those who expect God to forgive their sins, and obedience to these instructions belongs to being sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption and applies to every person.
Jesting, joking, laughing, lightness, trifling, frivolity, foolish, common and improper talk grieve the tender Spirit and drive Him away, even among those professing the most solemn truths, and this improper conversation explains lack of faith and power. Too much jovial talk when brethren and sisters are together, and much jesting, joking and laughing by women professing godliness, is unbecoming, reveals lack of true Christian refinement, falls short of reserve, shamefacedness, sobriety and less boldness, does not strengthen the soul in God but brings great darkness, brings those who engage in it down to a low level, and drives away the pure, refined, heavenly angels. Frivolous thoughts, feelings and conversation grieve the Spirit even when those involved claim they mean no harm, and favoritism with the envy, jealousy and suspicion it fosters likewise endangers spiritual life, whereas a heart changed by Christ bears good fruit with strength of purpose and solid character. Careless and irreverent words and expressions in prayer grieve the tender Spirit of the Lord, fail to recognize His holiness and treat His holy and reverend name without reverence, and cause such prayers to be shut out of heaven.
Harsh, passionate, angry, peevish, impatient, scathing, rash and retaliatory words and tones grieve and wound the Spirit and drive Him from the heart and home. The Spirit cannot abide in a heart where a retaliatory spirit is cherished, so retaliation must be put away and passion controlled rather than answered in anger. Lack of love and tenderness in dealings with one another, harsh words and tones of voice, severe judgment and human harshness that causes pain and sorrow grieve Christ's Spirit, who personally notes every word and tone and hears every harsh judgment passed on those whom in infinite love He is presenting to the Father and every sigh of pain and sorrow caused by harsh treatment, because human beings are His property. Ill-advised, peevish and scathing words harm speaker and hearer and can poison and stir others to rebellion, while speech is to communicate God's wisdom and love, reveal the indwelling Saviour, reflect Christ's meekness, speak truth in love especially when provoked, and be gracious and Christlike with no place for angry and trifling words in the Christian home.
Criticism, faultfinding, evil surmising, suspicion, distrust, jealousy, envy, hatred, strife, division, dissension, selfish religion, gossip, talebearing and ridicule grieve the Spirit, separate from God, hinder conviction and conversion, and give enemies advantage, with nothing grieving Him like division, envy, jealousy and evil surmising. Wrong speech and wrong temper in fellowship, including selfishness, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, pharisaical piety and pride, drive away the Spirit and cause believers to stray from righteousness and hinder God's work. Standing ready to pick flaws, talk of deficiencies of brethren, and criticize men God has placed in positions of trust grieves the Holy Spirit and for Christ's sake and for the soul's sake must no longer be done. Murmuring, casting reflection upon men at the head of responsibilities, and giving vent to expressions and feelings from a bruised soul because more means are needed to advance the work grieve the Spirit; when tied up in hard places for want of means the whole business is to be carried to God, recognizing that a depleted treasury and letter after letter calling for means leave managers discouraged and nervous. Not grieving Him means speaking only what ministers grace, encouraging one another, giving each fellow laborer room to work with different lent gifts and capabilities, forming a symmetrical character by loving God supremely and neighbor as self in a precious bond of union, speaking words of encouragement when there is encouragement to speak and otherwise keeping silent, with words carefully chosen, choice, clean, pure, fraught with Christian sympathy and love that give strength instead of bruising souls already smarting, for silence is often eloquence.
Resistance and Neglect That Grieve
Choosing one's own way and relying on self grieves the Holy Spirit, and the grief is serious when people refuse the Lord's service because its cross feels too difficult or its self-denial too great. The Spirit seeks to dwell in each person to complete the good work begun, replacing impure thoughts, wrong affections and desires, and rebellious actions with holy thoughts, heavenly affections, and Christlike actions. Walking contrary to that sacred, ennobling and sanctifying influence abuses the gift, so the evidence of God's work must be kept fresh in mind and the Spirit's heavenly character recognized. Rejecting clear evidence of duty to follow personal desires and pleasing inducements grieves the Spirit, and strong feeling with earnest prayer does not prove His leading when it turns from the known path of duty, for God may leave the person to follow the chosen course and suffer its results. Disobedience itself grieves Him, and love to Jesus refuses to grieve Him by disobedience but corrects the fault when reproved.
Doubting the Spirit's work as merely human influence grieves Him, especially when temptations are accepted, old habits resumed, prayer neglected, and an experience of God doubted, for rejecting His work cuts off from the source of blessing and leaves no reserve power to work on the heart. Hardness of heart that fails to heed warning and lacks love and spirituality grieves Him. He speaks through conscience in invitations, reproofs and warnings, and neglecting and resisting those appeals makes conscience less responsive until the desire to obey dulls, while God does not compel to sin but withdraws His restraining influence and leaves persistent rejecters of mercy and truth to their own inclinations. Stubborn unbelief, opposition and offense at the Spirit's work, warring against Him by speaking against those who praise God and rejoice in His love, grieves Him, and the remedy is to end opposition, welcome the light and Jesus, confess the wrong, and be united in sympathy and love for the Saviour with peace following.
Continued sin and disobedience grieve the Spirit, and disobedience corrected when reproved is the refusal to grieve Him. Impure thoughts and unholy deeds grieve Him, for truth sanctifies only when received into the heart and lived out, and separated from life and practice it is dead and useless, while sin among professed followers dishonors Christ before angels and people. Continued acceptance of evil influence resists and grieves Him, and the warning is to tear away from that influence before grieving Him entirely, resisting the devil and holding fast to eternal life rather than persisting in deception. Treating the mercy offered through Jesus lightly grieves Him, and continued rejection causes Him to depart, so that after God has done all He can to save, those who persist in refusing Jesus' sacrifice face death and lose eternal life and the immortal inheritance forever. Placing oneself again and again in the company of one to whom attachment is improper grieves Him, for spending hours together night after night with wrong position, attitude and affections that one would not have registered in heaven breaks God's commandments, debases character to prevarication and brings down to a low moral level, and the guilt is greater against clear light and prior Christian experience than in ignorance with weak moral sense.
Delaying the work God gives to free people from bondage of sin and resisting His methods grieves the Holy Spirit. The warning touches each day, not to grieve Him today, because today's actions cannot be recalled or changed tomorrow. The delay that grieves Him is failure to act promptly to rescue souls and advance salvation. Lack of consecration and faith grieves Him sorely at the time most earnest effort is demanded for the third angel's message, while evil angels counterwork and heavenly agencies labor to make light and truth effective and many workers sleep. Souls must be guarded and truth held firmly so as not to oppose Him. When workers relax devoted persevering effort, yield to temptation, cherish pride and exalt self, He is sorely grieved and the church is weakened.
Selfishness and discord grieve the Spirit and drive away the peace and love that should mark the church, so self-exaltation, excessive self-esteem and seeking others' approval at the expense of right must be renounced, for indulged selfishness cannot expect God's favor. Refusing counsel, withholding help and acting in proud independence grieve Him, for God would have workers learn from one another and unsanctified independence prevents Him from working with them. Selfish religion that favors those who agree, withdraws from those whose views differ and seeks to discredit their work grieves Him, fostering prejudice and alienation that damage His work and dishonoring Him by failure to represent brotherly love. Being overcome by temptation and indulging impatience and faultfinding grieves Him and separates from strength, to Satan's triumph, and victory requires the soul imbued with the Spirit of Jesus, divine power with human effort, more prayer, continual faith and a mind ascending to God. Self-sufficiency with cherished unchristlike spirit grieves and drives Him away. Murmuring and casting reflection on those bearing responsibilities, venting bruised feelings because more means are needed, grieves Him, and when tied up for want of means the whole business is to be carried to God rather than bruising souls already smarting under their own course, speaking only choice, clean, pure words fraught with sympathy and love that give strength, for silence is often eloquence.
The same warning is reflected in that guardian angels are grieved when their counsel and warnings are rejected for one's own way, for they do not force the will, and when guidance is persistently resisted they leave in sadness and Satan gains control. Allowing feelings and imagination to control reason when there is power to resist grieves the Spirit, yielding in this way is sin, and the will must be sanctified into submission to God.
Life That Does Not Grieve
Not grieving the Holy Spirit means putting off the old corrupt nature and putting on the new nature created in righteousness and true holiness, shown in putting away lying, sinful anger, giving place to the devil, stealing, corrupt speech, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice. In their place are speaking truth, refusing sinful anger, laboring honestly with the hands at what is good in order to have to give to the needy, letting no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth but only what is good for edifying to minister grace to the hearers, and being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Having the mind of Christ and forgiving just as freely as forgiveness has been received is required of those who expect God to forgive their sins, and the Spirit who is thus honored seals believers unto the day of redemption. Speech that edifies and ministers grace, with kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, and walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself, does not grieve Him, for control of speech is among the highest gifts and possibilities before the Christian, and words spoken under the sanctification of the Spirit are of great value.
Not grieving requires a great reformation in life, words, works and spiritual understanding, so as not to become hard-spirited as strangers to the working of the Holy Spirit, but daily to catch the inspiration of heaven and breathe the atmosphere of heaven. It belongs to God's plainly revealed plan in Ephesians 4 for walking worthily with humility, meekness, patience, love and unity in the Spirit, rather than bringing personal ideas and opinions that mislead others, coming into unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, growing up into Christ the head in truth and love, no longer tossed by every wind of doctrine, with the whole body fitly joined together and edified in love. It means conforming the life in obedience to all the commandments of God and unity in the faith of the Scriptures, with lives hid with Christ in God, practicing the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them, bearing a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son. Those who so live use heaven's provision made at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, cooperating as laborers together with God, becoming partakers of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, and magnifying the law of God and making it honorable through courtesy, unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy that demonstrate the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, so that even a tiny light is particular about shining consistently amid moral darkness not to please self but to honor God with service corresponding to ability given.
Keeping the command requires guarding speech and refusing evil-speaking, for harmful and careless conversation grieves the Holy Spirit who seals unto the day of redemption, and keeping the heart free from what defiles it includes speaking in a way that does not call for repentance. Believers refuse to encourage speech that damages another's character and use words to build one another up in faith, speaking truth in love with meekness and faith. At social gatherings nothing should be said or done to drive the Spirit away, but He should be welcomed so that God is honored and those present are refreshed and strengthened, with gatherings centered on God's word, advancing His work, and doing good. When tempted to speak rash, harsh or hasty words, lifting the heart to God in prayer and trusting Him to help speak rightly keeps from grieving Him.
The Spirit is kept in the home by working the works of Christ there with tender, respectful regard for one another in love and unity, obeying Christ's words, letting the lamp burn brightly to give light to those in darkness so that men seeing good works glorify the Heavenly Father and the influence extends to bless the church, for God measures church members by what they are in the home. Driving Him from the home by an unchristlike course and disobedience to Christ's words must be feared, and in marriage husband and wife should fear to grieve Him by unkind exaction such as demanding of a wife what she cannot do and preserve her health, but with the fear of God restraining them and the truth refining and ennobling the heart they are to love each other and be happy in the love of God by being kind, tender and thoughtful. A child's wrongdoing, cross, rough and quarrelsome conduct grieves the Holy Spirit, and parents should explain this calmly, helping children recognize it and turn from wrongdoing through gentle counsel and prayer that softens hearts in preparation for eternal life, rather than harsh words or punishment given in anger. Anger, scolding and unholy passion dishonor God before children and undermine patient, kindly training that shapes character, while calm, patient, prayerful correction honors Him.
Consequences and Restoration
Persisted in, grieving drives the Spirit away, even finally and entirely, until communion ceases and mercy's voice is no longer heard. Doubting His work as merely human influence, accepting temptations, returning to old habits, neglecting prayer, and doubting an experience of God grieve Him from the soul, cutting off the source of blessing until no reserve power remains to work on the heart. Resisting through continued acceptance of evil influence grieves Him, so the warning is to tear away from that influence before grieving Him entirely, to resist the devil and hold fast to eternal life. He speaks through conscience in invitations, reproofs and warnings, and neglecting and resisting those appeals makes conscience less responsive until the desire to obey dulls. God does not compel to sin or destroy, but when mercy and truth are persistently rejected He withdraws His restraining influence and leaves persons to their own inclinations, ways and doings, filled with their own doings and pierced with sorrows. He continually draws every soul toward Christ, since no one can take even a step toward Christ without that drawing, and persistent refusal grieves Him away until He no longer draws. Treating lightly and slighting the mercy offered through Jesus grieves Him, and if rejection continues He will depart. Though all that could be done to save has been done, persistent refusal of Christ's sacrifice and of redemption purchased by His suffering and death brings death and the loss of eternal life and the immortal inheritance forever, recognized only after refusing it.
Grieving the Spirit is no small matter, for it crucifies Christ anew in the heart and puts Him and the Redeemer who gave His life to open shame before enemies. Choosing one's own way and refusing His service because its cross or self-denial feels too difficult grieves the indwelling Spirit who seeks to complete the good work begun by replacing impure thoughts, wrong affections and rebellious acts with holy thoughts, heavenly affections and Christlike actions. Straying from the Lord grieves the Spirit of Christ afresh. Continuing in a defiant, unchristian course — excusing self, seeking human sympathy instead of confessing, resenting reproof and warning, keeping corrupting associations and habits, and bringing dishonor and reproach on the truth — grieves Jesus who gave Himself to cleanse from all iniquity and purify a peculiar people zealous of good works, making that sacrifice vain and, if pursued despite long forbearance and earnest labor to save, bringing sure ruin. Pursuing a course that dishonors the Saviour, breaks solemn promises, and passes over disrespect without repentance grieves the Spirit of God and puts Him to open shame before the enemies of truth and righteousness. Claiming to be God's children while not doing His will, living unlike Christ, and leading others astray by unsanctified lives grieves Him and gives occasion for the truth to be spoken against. Such grieving removes heaven's signature and places the soul where God cannot instruct him as a channel of light. Refusing out of love to bring sorrow to His Spirit comes from faith in His promises and knowing Him as personal Saviour who died, who first loved with matchless charms, who has done everything God could do to awaken love, who laid help upon One that is mighty to give rich blessings for overcoming, and who wants none to perish but all to have life, answered by talking of His love.
The warning applies to each today, for choices and actions can grieve the Spirit of God and today's actions cannot be recalled or changed tomorrow. Every day lived becomes past history that is written down and cannot be blotted out, amended, controlled or recalled once it becomes yesterday, so today must be used to avoid a bad showing and to trace nothing that will cause regret in the future, making the past a monitor and friend that teaches not to repeat what was disagreeable.
Even after grieving, turning with wholehearted repentance, thorough confession and forsaking of sin, humility and faith brings pardon, blotting of sin from heaven's record, healing of backsliding, renewed cooperation with God, and strength to do His will. Stubborn unbelief and opposition to His work grieve Him, whether by stubborn feelings, taking offense when others praise God and rejoice in His love, speaking against those who experience Him, fear of people, hard feelings, and coldness toward others' joy in God, all of which war against Him. Those who had so opposed recognized that they had grieved Him, acknowledged their wrong, confessed it, ended opposition, welcomed the light and Jesus, and turned to sympathy and love for the Saviour, and unity and peace followed among those awaiting the Lord's coming. Grieving Him is the serious result of backsliding and an influence that does not support the Lord, yet He still seeks to reclaim the one who has grieved Him, so that when that person calls on Him and seeks Him wholeheartedly He can be found and can save.
Human neglect, worldly absorption and refusal to work grieve the Spirit away from the earth until He departs, and that departure leaves night wherein no man can work. That night is shown by the nations being angry with one another and by widespread preparations for war. The present is therefore a brief respite to be used for consecration, mighty intercession, and urgent proclamation of the warning message before the night closes work forever.
Application in Home and Church
Holding back a testimony one feels duty-bound to give, out of fear of people or fear of offending others, grieves the Spirit of God. Staying away from meetings to avoid disapproval does the same. Resisting the Spirit's prompting to speak in this way is followed by loss of the communion and freedom previously enjoyed, interrupting communion with God. Stubborn unbelief and opposition to the Spirit's work also grieve Him, including objecting to others' expressions of joy in God's love.
Joining in marriage with an unbeliever grieves the Spirit of God, forfeits His protection, and places one on Satan's ground. There is no concord between Christ and Belial, and through the children of disobedience Satan gains easy access to aim temptation, leaving terrible odds against the believer in the battle for everlasting life. Placing oneself again and again in the company of one to whom attachment is improper grieves the Holy Spirit, and spending hours together night after night with wrong position, attitude and affections that one would not want registered in heaven breaks God's commandments, debases character to prevarication and brings one down to a low moral level. Improper attentions and familiarity between a man and a woman who are not husband and wife are wrong in God's sight, displease Him, make both guilty before Him, throw influence on the side of wrong and work like evil leaven spreading to others, with lasting harm so those involved will never again be what they once were and without excuse where warnings have been given. The sin of grieving the Spirit in this way is greater when committed against clear light and prior Christian experience than when committed in ignorance and weak moral sense.
Ministers grieve the Holy Spirit by teaching truth with only shallow knowledge of God's word, whereas beginning with little knowledge, sharing what is known and continually seeking greater knowledge qualifies for larger work and imparts more heavenly illumination as more light is received. Bitter denunciations and theatrical conduct in presenting sacred truth grieve Him, as does selfishness woven into the work, while His work upon hearts brings conviction, confession and softening influence. Sharp dealings and sharp bargains between managers, any narrow selfish feeling exalting one institution at the expense of another, and any pen or spoken reflection or insinuation lessening the influence of an institution or worker are wrong and contrary to God's will, and God will not work with such a spirit. God is dishonored and His Spirit grieved by a reckless, frivolous course among workers, which is an existing evil and neglect of duty letting dissipation prevail and slowly leavening the whole lump, so the grieving element must be purged and God must take control. Wrongdoing and harmful influence can grieve Him so that He cannot abide where those conditions continue, as at the Health Institute. Success requires humbled, contrite dependence on the Spirit with less of self and more of God, rather than self-display and contention for supremacy, counteracting truth, lording over the heritage, and sharp institutional rivalry.
Worrying and being troubled in mind grieves the Holy Spirit, and keeping the verse means ceasing worry, ceasing to think God does not love or will condemn and treat with severity, casting oneself unreservedly on His merciful provisions, trusting Jesus Christ as the only hope and present help in need, believing His love and taking Him at His word, and casting away unbelief. Distrusting God's Word and doubting His promises grieve Him, including leaning on fellow men as broken reeds and telling wants to men instead of coming to the heavenly Father as a child comes to an earthly parent, though God stands behind every promise, ever mindful of His covenant, always the same, keeping truth forever with no unfaithfulness and able to do exceeding abundantly above all that can be asked or thought. Letting the mind dwell on doubt and unbelief instead of committing ways entirely to God grieves Him, and talking doubts and discouragement does not remedy trouble but weakens and gives Satan advantage to distress. Speaking doubts strengthens one's own distrust and spreads unbelief to others, while facing God's light and speaking with faith and hope stands against this distrust. Lack of appreciation for His benefits and blessings grieves Him, requiring thorough wakefulness and earnestness in grasping the blessing provided, lest by ingratitude He pass by and open heavenly treasures to those who will appreciate them; thankfulness and cheerful faith replace repining.
Trifling with the message God gives to bear grieves His Spirit, namely picking out only pleasing portions and construing them to justify one's own course as the voice of God, then when rebuke comes that does not coincide with opinions and judgment dishonoring God's work by dismissing it as mere human opinion no better than one's own or anyone else's. Introducing teachings God has not given hinders the advancement of His cause and grieves His Spirit. Time setting for Christ's coming and trying to obtain revival on that ground grieve the Spirit of the Lord, since incautious words that fanatical ones seize to create excitement and stir passions and feelings where principle does not control require due caution in every word uttered. Professing to believe reformatory work while refusing light on health and by resistance making medical missionary work exceedingly hard grieves the Holy Spirit, as does criticism of health reform. Attributing a wrong cause to another's weakened physical and mental powers was an instance of the charge that the Spirit can be grieved.
Corrupt communication that does not edify and minister grace, with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, grieves the Holy Spirit whereby believers are sealed unto the day of redemption, and God will not be trifled with nor vindicate a work where no distinction is made between the precious and the vile. Complete renovation to Christlike principles is required, putting away all bitterness and evil speaking and becoming kind, tenderhearted and forgiving even as God for Christ's sake forgave, and then the cloud resting upon the institution will be rolled back. Jealousy, evil surmising, evil speaking and evil actions grieve the Holy Spirit and can drive His presence away from a church, hindering bringing souls to Christ, and faultfinding, dissension, rivalry and sinful influence hinder Him from convicting and converting and can damage those exposed. Wrong conduct and influence can grieve God's Spirit and drive His presence away from a community, for He cannot abide where such influence prevails. Churches must be set in order, the door of unbelief closed, and straight paths made so the weak are not turned out of the way, because Satan's seducing power will increase to deceive even the elect while the third angel's message is borne aloft. Murmuring, casting reflection upon men at the head of responsibilities, and venting expressions and feelings from a bruised soul because more means are needed grieve Him, so in hard places for want of means the whole business is to be carried to God, speaking words of encouragement when there is encouragement to speak and otherwise keeping silent with choice, clean, pure words fraught with Christian sympathy and love that give strength instead of bruising souls already smarting, for silence is often eloquence.
To grieve not God's Holy Spirit means to put away all corrupt speech that fails to edify, with all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, and instead to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving as God forgave for Christ's sake. The Spirit so grieved is a tender, personal, ever-present messenger of God who seeks to dwell within as an honored guest to teach, renew and sanctify, and who seals those who receive Him as belonging to God unto the day of redemption. He is wounded by harsh, angry and retaliatory words, by jesting, frivolity and irreverence, by criticism, envy, jealousy, division and evil surmising, and by choosing one's own way, resisting light, persisting in sin and neglecting the work given. Persisted in, such grieving drives Him away until communion ceases, mercy's voice is no longer heard, and souls are left to their own ways, which crucifies Christ anew and puts Him to open shame. Yet even after grieving Him, wholehearted repentance with thorough confession and forsaking of sin brings pardon, blotting of sin, healing of backsliding, and renewed strength to obey and to walk in love.
Words and Immediate Context
The command not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom believers are sealed unto the day of redemption stands between speech that is good for edifying and ministering grace to the hearers and putting away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice in favor of being kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Corrupt communication that fails to edify and minister grace grieves Him, while speech sanctified by the Spirit, controlled and made valuable for edifying, with kindness and tenderheartedness and forgiveness and walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself, does not grieve Him. It is a word of inspiration to be studied and obeyed rather than ignored or disregarded or treated with indifference, and only doers of the Word receive the reward. It belongs to coming into unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, growing up into Christ the Head in truth and love, no longer tossed by every wind of doctrine, with the whole body fitly joined together and edified in love.
Not grieving Him means putting off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Those who claim to believe and teach the Word and enjoy the privileges of the banquet of truth while working unrighteousness grieve Him, because they have not so learned Christ as the truth is in Jesus and have not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God. He is grieved by lying, by anger held past sunset, by giving place to the devil, by stealing, by corrupt communication, and by bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice. He is honored by speaking truth with neighbors as members one of another, by being angry and sinning not, by stealing no more but laboring with the hands at what is good to have to give to him that needeth, by speech only that is good to edifying to minister grace, and by kindness and tenderheartedness and forgiving even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Those converted to God and sealed by Him unto the day of redemption must not continue the old conversation and walk nor walk as others in vanity of mind, but speak the truth in love and grow up into Christ who is the Head.
The verse belongs to the plan of God plainly and simply revealed in Ephesians 4 for all His children to lay hold upon the truth, showing the means He has appointed to keep His church in oneness and agreement so they reveal a healthy and healthful religious experience to the unbelieving world. Its teaching is part of the practical Bible lesson that must be lived in the call to walk worthily with humility, meekness, patience, love, and unity in the Spirit, rather than bringing personal ideas and opinions that mislead others and cause division. Those who conform their lives in obedience to the commandments of God and are united in the faith of the Scriptures, bound together as one in Christ Jesus with lives hid with Christ in God, will practice the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them and be a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son. They appreciate the great gift of God, use heaven's provision made at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, cooperate as laborers together with God, become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, and by courtesy, unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy magnify the law of God and make it honorable, demonstrating that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. God's work is directed by the Holy Spirit and is not to be controlled by one person acting as the sole head, but believers and institutions are to work under God's guidance and in cooperation with one another.
Loyalty to the law of God is enjoined upon all, and all must keep the law if they would live in it, with blessing to all who are obedient. Violating God's law grieves the Holy Spirit and dishonors Christ, and knowingly treating the Sabbath commandment as optional — obeying or disobeying according to convenience — grieves Him. He is grieved when hearts and lives are not right, when conduct conflicts with profession of faith, and when the sacred Sabbath is profaned by using its hours for worldly work instead of prayer and meditation. He is grieved when the commandments of God are not kept in spirit and in truth, and grieving Him in this way prevents advancement in Christian growth, which requires receiving the truth of God and allowing it to sanctify and purify the soul.
Spirit Who Is Grieved
The Holy Spirit is tender and personal, ever present with people, and human conduct can wound Him. He is the tender messenger of God with a mind that defines right conduct and a heart of love that is pained when that love is not met. The warning not to grieve Him stands joined to putting away bitterness, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice and practicing kindness, tenderness, compassion and forgiveness. His work is to shield from the enemy's attacks and counter his plans, to reprove sin, to impress Christ's words on the mind and bring them to remembrance, and so to restore God's moral image in humanity. When He is grieved the longing for communion with God ceases, for He quickens otherwise lifeless faculties to value heavenly things and draws affections toward God and truth, so that where Christ dwells the thoughts and actions are directed to God's glory. Careless and irreverent expressions in prayer, treating God's holy and reverend name without reverence, grieve this tender Spirit and shut such prayers out of heaven. Persistent harmful conduct, indulged discontent and lack of love, and trifling with God grieve Him almost entirely away, and if warning is resisted He may withdraw and leave the person to follow his own will.
He seeks to dwell in each person and abide in each soul as a welcomed honored guest. When welcomed He teaches, renews and sanctifies and completes the good work begun, making the receiver complete in Christ. Impure thoughts, wrong affections and feelings, perverse sentiments and rebellious acts are replaced with holy thoughts, heavenly affections and Christlike actions. He is grieved when the human agent chooses his own way, seeks to work himself, relies on self, and refuses to enter the Lord's service because the cross feels too heavy or the self-denial too great. Heeding His lessons as the divine Teacher makes wise unto salvation, and those lessons must be guarded, remembered and repeatedly followed against the natural, unconsecrated inclinations of the mind. Each must fight his own battle against self until repeated heeding fixes the impression forever, with minds and bodies subordinated to God and natural habits and appetites made subservient to the higher wants of the soul, for there is to be no halfway work and no dependence on self since He alone renews and sanctifies.
He continually draws every soul toward Christ, and no one can take even one step toward Christ without that drawing. To grieve Him is persistently to refuse that drawing, and if refusal is persisted in He is grieved away and will no longer draw. He warns, convicts and impresses the conscience to show duty clearly and bring to full surrender to God, and He is grieved away by a wavering, undecided religious life that is frequently convicted and comes almost to surrendering all for God but fails to decide and falls back again. Disregarding His warnings and convictions, trifling with God, and neglecting to follow clearly shown light harden the conscience and make it less and less susceptible to His impressions until light turns to darkness. He speaks to the soul through conscience in invitations, reproofs and warnings, and neglecting and resisting these appeals makes conscience less responsive until the desire to obey dulls. God does not compel to sin nor destroy; when mercy and truth are persistently rejected He withdraws His restraining influence and leaves people to their own inclinations.
He represents Jesus Christ and is a present refuge. He is the Comforter and God's indwelling, co-working presence whose transforming power makes people pure, true and holy, which human theories and plans cannot supply and without which they lead away from God. He holds an office in the plan of redemption that must be honored by coming into working order in cooperation with God instead of striving for supremacy and seeking the highest place. Striving for supremacy grieves the Holy Spirit of Christ, while seeing this grief and giving Him homage opens the way to honor Christ's great work. Through Christ's mediation His direct influences are imparted to human agencies to give power to prayer and to united entreaty to save souls ready to perish, and those who love Christ plead for conversion of souls, so that losing that first love belongs to grieving Him.
Sealed unto Redemption
The Holy Spirit seals believers unto the day of redemption, marking those who receive Him as belonging to God and giving assurance to that day, and converted believers are sealed until that day. The sealing calls for putting away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice, corrupt speech, harsh speech and unkind conduct, and for practicing kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, gracious speech and conduct that honors the sealing, forgiving as freely as forgiveness has been received by those who expect God to forgive their sins. Obedience to these instructions belongs to being sealed unto that day, and the instruction applies to every person.
The Spirit seals God's righteousness, not sin, so receiving the Spirit requires the righteousness of God which alone He approves, and seeking God's kingdom and righteousness is the preparation for receiving His gift. His presence is always with people, and His work is to shield them from the enemy's attacks, counter the enemy's plans, reprove and expose sin, impress Christ's words on the mind, bring those words to remembrance, and restore God's moral image in humanity. He is God's seal marking those who receive Him as belonging to God, represents Jesus Christ, and is a present refuge, while conduct that cherishes bitterness, anger, malice and unforgiveness can grieve Him.
The present time remains a day of grace and repentance before Christ's intercession ends and pardon is no longer offered. God's Spirit can be grieved away for the last time, and when this happens the voice of mercy is no longer heard and people are left to their own ways, filled with the results of their own choices. God patiently and faithfully calls people to repent, but His patience and mercy will not strive forever, and those who finally refuse its appeal lose His mercy; a true Christian therefore waits for God's teaching and the Spirit's leading rather than resting in merely formal religion without vital godliness.
Speech and Temper That Grieve
Corrupt speech that fails to build up hearers and impart grace, together with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, grieves the Holy Spirit and must all be put away. Putting them away is putting off the former corrupt old man and putting on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness, renewed in spirit of mind, shown in putting away lying and sinful anger, giving no place to the devil, stealing no more but laboring honestly with the hands at what is good in order to have to give to the needy, speaking truth, speaking only what is good for edifying, and being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Having the mind of Christ and forgiving just as freely as forgiveness has been received is required of those who expect God to forgive their sins, and obedience to these instructions belongs to being sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption and applies to every person.
Jesting, joking, laughing, lightness, trifling, frivolity, foolish, common and improper talk grieve the tender Spirit and drive Him away, even among those professing the most solemn truths, and this improper conversation explains lack of faith and power. Too much jovial talk when brethren and sisters are together, and much jesting, joking and laughing by women professing godliness, is unbecoming, reveals lack of true Christian refinement, falls short of reserve, shamefacedness, sobriety and less boldness, does not strengthen the soul in God but brings great darkness, brings those who engage in it down to a low level, and drives away the pure, refined, heavenly angels. Frivolous thoughts, feelings and conversation grieve the Spirit even when those involved claim they mean no harm, and favoritism with the envy, jealousy and suspicion it fosters likewise endangers spiritual life, whereas a heart changed by Christ bears good fruit with strength of purpose and solid character. Careless and irreverent words and expressions in prayer grieve the tender Spirit of the Lord, fail to recognize His holiness and treat His holy and reverend name without reverence, and cause such prayers to be shut out of heaven.
Harsh, passionate, angry, peevish, impatient, scathing, rash and retaliatory words and tones grieve and wound the Spirit and drive Him from the heart and home. The Spirit cannot abide in a heart where a retaliatory spirit is cherished, so retaliation must be put away and passion controlled rather than answered in anger. Lack of love and tenderness in dealings with one another, harsh words and tones of voice, severe judgment and human harshness that causes pain and sorrow grieve Christ's Spirit, who personally notes every word and tone and hears every harsh judgment passed on those whom in infinite love He is presenting to the Father and every sigh of pain and sorrow caused by harsh treatment, because human beings are His property. Ill-advised, peevish and scathing words harm speaker and hearer and can poison and stir others to rebellion, while speech is to communicate God's wisdom and love, reveal the indwelling Saviour, reflect Christ's meekness, speak truth in love especially when provoked, and be gracious and Christlike with no place for angry and trifling words in the Christian home.
Criticism, faultfinding, evil surmising, suspicion, distrust, jealousy, envy, hatred, strife, division, dissension, selfish religion, gossip, talebearing and ridicule grieve the Spirit, separate from God, hinder conviction and conversion, and give enemies advantage, with nothing grieving Him like division, envy, jealousy and evil surmising. Wrong speech and wrong temper in fellowship, including selfishness, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, pharisaical piety and pride, drive away the Spirit and cause believers to stray from righteousness and hinder God's work. Standing ready to pick flaws, talk of deficiencies of brethren, and criticize men God has placed in positions of trust grieves the Holy Spirit and for Christ's sake and for the soul's sake must no longer be done. Murmuring, casting reflection upon men at the head of responsibilities, and giving vent to expressions and feelings from a bruised soul because more means are needed to advance the work grieve the Spirit; when tied up in hard places for want of means the whole business is to be carried to God, recognizing that a depleted treasury and letter after letter calling for means leave managers discouraged and nervous. Not grieving Him means speaking only what ministers grace, encouraging one another, giving each fellow laborer room to work with different lent gifts and capabilities, forming a symmetrical character by loving God supremely and neighbor as self in a precious bond of union, speaking words of encouragement when there is encouragement to speak and otherwise keeping silent, with words carefully chosen, choice, clean, pure, fraught with Christian sympathy and love that give strength instead of bruising souls already smarting, for silence is often eloquence.
Resistance and Neglect That Grieve
Choosing one's own way and relying on self grieves the Holy Spirit, and the grief is serious when people refuse the Lord's service because its cross feels too difficult or its self-denial too great. The Spirit seeks to dwell in each person to complete the good work begun, replacing impure thoughts, wrong affections and desires, and rebellious actions with holy thoughts, heavenly affections, and Christlike actions. Walking contrary to that sacred, ennobling and sanctifying influence abuses the gift, so the evidence of God's work must be kept fresh in mind and the Spirit's heavenly character recognized. Rejecting clear evidence of duty to follow personal desires and pleasing inducements grieves the Spirit, and strong feeling with earnest prayer does not prove His leading when it turns from the known path of duty, for God may leave the person to follow the chosen course and suffer its results. Disobedience itself grieves Him, and love to Jesus refuses to grieve Him by disobedience but corrects the fault when reproved.
Doubting the Spirit's work as merely human influence grieves Him, especially when temptations are accepted, old habits resumed, prayer neglected, and an experience of God doubted, for rejecting His work cuts off from the source of blessing and leaves no reserve power to work on the heart. Hardness of heart that fails to heed warning and lacks love and spirituality grieves Him. He speaks through conscience in invitations, reproofs and warnings, and neglecting and resisting those appeals makes conscience less responsive until the desire to obey dulls, while God does not compel to sin but withdraws His restraining influence and leaves persistent rejecters of mercy and truth to their own inclinations. Stubborn unbelief, opposition and offense at the Spirit's work, warring against Him by speaking against those who praise God and rejoice in His love, grieves Him, and the remedy is to end opposition, welcome the light and Jesus, confess the wrong, and be united in sympathy and love for the Saviour with peace following.
Continued sin and disobedience grieve the Spirit, and disobedience corrected when reproved is the refusal to grieve Him. Impure thoughts and unholy deeds grieve Him, for truth sanctifies only when received into the heart and lived out, and separated from life and practice it is dead and useless, while sin among professed followers dishonors Christ before angels and people. Continued acceptance of evil influence resists and grieves Him, and the warning is to tear away from that influence before grieving Him entirely, resisting the devil and holding fast to eternal life rather than persisting in deception. Treating the mercy offered through Jesus lightly grieves Him, and continued rejection causes Him to depart, so that after God has done all He can to save, those who persist in refusing Jesus' sacrifice face death and lose eternal life and the immortal inheritance forever. Placing oneself again and again in the company of one to whom attachment is improper grieves Him, for spending hours together night after night with wrong position, attitude and affections that one would not have registered in heaven breaks God's commandments, debases character to prevarication and brings down to a low moral level, and the guilt is greater against clear light and prior Christian experience than in ignorance with weak moral sense.
Delaying the work God gives to free people from bondage of sin and resisting His methods grieves the Holy Spirit. The warning touches each day, not to grieve Him today, because today's actions cannot be recalled or changed tomorrow. The delay that grieves Him is failure to act promptly to rescue souls and advance salvation. Lack of consecration and faith grieves Him sorely at the time most earnest effort is demanded for the third angel's message, while evil angels counterwork and heavenly agencies labor to make light and truth effective and many workers sleep. Souls must be guarded and truth held firmly so as not to oppose Him. When workers relax devoted persevering effort, yield to temptation, cherish pride and exalt self, He is sorely grieved and the church is weakened.
Selfishness and discord grieve the Spirit and drive away the peace and love that should mark the church, so self-exaltation, excessive self-esteem and seeking others' approval at the expense of right must be renounced, for indulged selfishness cannot expect God's favor. Refusing counsel, withholding help and acting in proud independence grieve Him, for God would have workers learn from one another and unsanctified independence prevents Him from working with them. Selfish religion that favors those who agree, withdraws from those whose views differ and seeks to discredit their work grieves Him, fostering prejudice and alienation that damage His work and dishonoring Him by failure to represent brotherly love. Being overcome by temptation and indulging impatience and faultfinding grieves Him and separates from strength, to Satan's triumph, and victory requires the soul imbued with the Spirit of Jesus, divine power with human effort, more prayer, continual faith and a mind ascending to God. Self-sufficiency with cherished unchristlike spirit grieves and drives Him away. Murmuring and casting reflection on those bearing responsibilities, venting bruised feelings because more means are needed, grieves Him, and when tied up for want of means the whole business is to be carried to God rather than bruising souls already smarting under their own course, speaking only choice, clean, pure words fraught with sympathy and love that give strength, for silence is often eloquence.
The same warning is reflected in that guardian angels are grieved when their counsel and warnings are rejected for one's own way, for they do not force the will, and when guidance is persistently resisted they leave in sadness and Satan gains control. Allowing feelings and imagination to control reason when there is power to resist grieves the Spirit, yielding in this way is sin, and the will must be sanctified into submission to God.
Life That Does Not Grieve
Not grieving the Holy Spirit means putting off the old corrupt nature and putting on the new nature created in righteousness and true holiness, shown in putting away lying, sinful anger, giving place to the devil, stealing, corrupt speech, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice. In their place are speaking truth, refusing sinful anger, laboring honestly with the hands at what is good in order to have to give to the needy, letting no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth but only what is good for edifying to minister grace to the hearers, and being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Having the mind of Christ and forgiving just as freely as forgiveness has been received is required of those who expect God to forgive their sins, and the Spirit who is thus honored seals believers unto the day of redemption. Speech that edifies and ministers grace, with kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, and walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself, does not grieve Him, for control of speech is among the highest gifts and possibilities before the Christian, and words spoken under the sanctification of the Spirit are of great value.
Not grieving requires a great reformation in life, words, works and spiritual understanding, so as not to become hard-spirited as strangers to the working of the Holy Spirit, but daily to catch the inspiration of heaven and breathe the atmosphere of heaven. It belongs to God's plainly revealed plan in Ephesians 4 for walking worthily with humility, meekness, patience, love and unity in the Spirit, rather than bringing personal ideas and opinions that mislead others, coming into unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, growing up into Christ the head in truth and love, no longer tossed by every wind of doctrine, with the whole body fitly joined together and edified in love. It means conforming the life in obedience to all the commandments of God and unity in the faith of the Scriptures, with lives hid with Christ in God, practicing the golden rule of doing to others as they would have others do to them, bearing a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son. Those who so live use heaven's provision made at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, cooperating as laborers together with God, becoming partakers of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust, and magnifying the law of God and making it honorable through courtesy, unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy that demonstrate the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, so that even a tiny light is particular about shining consistently amid moral darkness not to please self but to honor God with service corresponding to ability given.
Keeping the command requires guarding speech and refusing evil-speaking, for harmful and careless conversation grieves the Holy Spirit who seals unto the day of redemption, and keeping the heart free from what defiles it includes speaking in a way that does not call for repentance. Believers refuse to encourage speech that damages another's character and use words to build one another up in faith, speaking truth in love with meekness and faith. At social gatherings nothing should be said or done to drive the Spirit away, but He should be welcomed so that God is honored and those present are refreshed and strengthened, with gatherings centered on God's word, advancing His work, and doing good. When tempted to speak rash, harsh or hasty words, lifting the heart to God in prayer and trusting Him to help speak rightly keeps from grieving Him.
The Spirit is kept in the home by working the works of Christ there with tender, respectful regard for one another in love and unity, obeying Christ's words, letting the lamp burn brightly to give light to those in darkness so that men seeing good works glorify the Heavenly Father and the influence extends to bless the church, for God measures church members by what they are in the home. Driving Him from the home by an unchristlike course and disobedience to Christ's words must be feared, and in marriage husband and wife should fear to grieve Him by unkind exaction such as demanding of a wife what she cannot do and preserve her health, but with the fear of God restraining them and the truth refining and ennobling the heart they are to love each other and be happy in the love of God by being kind, tender and thoughtful. A child's wrongdoing, cross, rough and quarrelsome conduct grieves the Holy Spirit, and parents should explain this calmly, helping children recognize it and turn from wrongdoing through gentle counsel and prayer that softens hearts in preparation for eternal life, rather than harsh words or punishment given in anger. Anger, scolding and unholy passion dishonor God before children and undermine patient, kindly training that shapes character, while calm, patient, prayerful correction honors Him.
Consequences and Restoration
Persisted in, grieving drives the Spirit away, even finally and entirely, until communion ceases and mercy's voice is no longer heard. Doubting His work as merely human influence, accepting temptations, returning to old habits, neglecting prayer, and doubting an experience of God grieve Him from the soul, cutting off the source of blessing until no reserve power remains to work on the heart. Resisting through continued acceptance of evil influence grieves Him, so the warning is to tear away from that influence before grieving Him entirely, to resist the devil and hold fast to eternal life. He speaks through conscience in invitations, reproofs and warnings, and neglecting and resisting those appeals makes conscience less responsive until the desire to obey dulls. God does not compel to sin or destroy, but when mercy and truth are persistently rejected He withdraws His restraining influence and leaves persons to their own inclinations, ways and doings, filled with their own doings and pierced with sorrows. He continually draws every soul toward Christ, since no one can take even a step toward Christ without that drawing, and persistent refusal grieves Him away until He no longer draws. Treating lightly and slighting the mercy offered through Jesus grieves Him, and if rejection continues He will depart. Though all that could be done to save has been done, persistent refusal of Christ's sacrifice and of redemption purchased by His suffering and death brings death and the loss of eternal life and the immortal inheritance forever, recognized only after refusing it.
Grieving the Spirit is no small matter, for it crucifies Christ anew in the heart and puts Him and the Redeemer who gave His life to open shame before enemies. Choosing one's own way and refusing His service because its cross or self-denial feels too difficult grieves the indwelling Spirit who seeks to complete the good work begun by replacing impure thoughts, wrong affections and rebellious acts with holy thoughts, heavenly affections and Christlike actions. Straying from the Lord grieves the Spirit of Christ afresh. Continuing in a defiant, unchristian course — excusing self, seeking human sympathy instead of confessing, resenting reproof and warning, keeping corrupting associations and habits, and bringing dishonor and reproach on the truth — grieves Jesus who gave Himself to cleanse from all iniquity and purify a peculiar people zealous of good works, making that sacrifice vain and, if pursued despite long forbearance and earnest labor to save, bringing sure ruin. Pursuing a course that dishonors the Saviour, breaks solemn promises, and passes over disrespect without repentance grieves the Spirit of God and puts Him to open shame before the enemies of truth and righteousness. Claiming to be God's children while not doing His will, living unlike Christ, and leading others astray by unsanctified lives grieves Him and gives occasion for the truth to be spoken against. Such grieving removes heaven's signature and places the soul where God cannot instruct him as a channel of light. Refusing out of love to bring sorrow to His Spirit comes from faith in His promises and knowing Him as personal Saviour who died, who first loved with matchless charms, who has done everything God could do to awaken love, who laid help upon One that is mighty to give rich blessings for overcoming, and who wants none to perish but all to have life, answered by talking of His love.
The warning applies to each today, for choices and actions can grieve the Spirit of God and today's actions cannot be recalled or changed tomorrow. Every day lived becomes past history that is written down and cannot be blotted out, amended, controlled or recalled once it becomes yesterday, so today must be used to avoid a bad showing and to trace nothing that will cause regret in the future, making the past a monitor and friend that teaches not to repeat what was disagreeable.
Even after grieving, turning with wholehearted repentance, thorough confession and forsaking of sin, humility and faith brings pardon, blotting of sin from heaven's record, healing of backsliding, renewed cooperation with God, and strength to do His will. Stubborn unbelief and opposition to His work grieve Him, whether by stubborn feelings, taking offense when others praise God and rejoice in His love, speaking against those who experience Him, fear of people, hard feelings, and coldness toward others' joy in God, all of which war against Him. Those who had so opposed recognized that they had grieved Him, acknowledged their wrong, confessed it, ended opposition, welcomed the light and Jesus, and turned to sympathy and love for the Saviour, and unity and peace followed among those awaiting the Lord's coming. Grieving Him is the serious result of backsliding and an influence that does not support the Lord, yet He still seeks to reclaim the one who has grieved Him, so that when that person calls on Him and seeks Him wholeheartedly He can be found and can save.
Human neglect, worldly absorption and refusal to work grieve the Spirit away from the earth until He departs, and that departure leaves night wherein no man can work. That night is shown by the nations being angry with one another and by widespread preparations for war. The present is therefore a brief respite to be used for consecration, mighty intercession, and urgent proclamation of the warning message before the night closes work forever.
Application in Home and Church
Holding back a testimony one feels duty-bound to give, out of fear of people or fear of offending others, grieves the Spirit of God. Staying away from meetings to avoid disapproval does the same. Resisting the Spirit's prompting to speak in this way is followed by loss of the communion and freedom previously enjoyed, interrupting communion with God. Stubborn unbelief and opposition to the Spirit's work also grieve Him, including objecting to others' expressions of joy in God's love.
Joining in marriage with an unbeliever grieves the Spirit of God, forfeits His protection, and places one on Satan's ground. There is no concord between Christ and Belial, and through the children of disobedience Satan gains easy access to aim temptation, leaving terrible odds against the believer in the battle for everlasting life. Placing oneself again and again in the company of one to whom attachment is improper grieves the Holy Spirit, and spending hours together night after night with wrong position, attitude and affections that one would not want registered in heaven breaks God's commandments, debases character to prevarication and brings one down to a low moral level. Improper attentions and familiarity between a man and a woman who are not husband and wife are wrong in God's sight, displease Him, make both guilty before Him, throw influence on the side of wrong and work like evil leaven spreading to others, with lasting harm so those involved will never again be what they once were and without excuse where warnings have been given. The sin of grieving the Spirit in this way is greater when committed against clear light and prior Christian experience than when committed in ignorance and weak moral sense.
Ministers grieve the Holy Spirit by teaching truth with only shallow knowledge of God's word, whereas beginning with little knowledge, sharing what is known and continually seeking greater knowledge qualifies for larger work and imparts more heavenly illumination as more light is received. Bitter denunciations and theatrical conduct in presenting sacred truth grieve Him, as does selfishness woven into the work, while His work upon hearts brings conviction, confession and softening influence. Sharp dealings and sharp bargains between managers, any narrow selfish feeling exalting one institution at the expense of another, and any pen or spoken reflection or insinuation lessening the influence of an institution or worker are wrong and contrary to God's will, and God will not work with such a spirit. God is dishonored and His Spirit grieved by a reckless, frivolous course among workers, which is an existing evil and neglect of duty letting dissipation prevail and slowly leavening the whole lump, so the grieving element must be purged and God must take control. Wrongdoing and harmful influence can grieve Him so that He cannot abide where those conditions continue, as at the Health Institute. Success requires humbled, contrite dependence on the Spirit with less of self and more of God, rather than self-display and contention for supremacy, counteracting truth, lording over the heritage, and sharp institutional rivalry.
Worrying and being troubled in mind grieves the Holy Spirit, and keeping the verse means ceasing worry, ceasing to think God does not love or will condemn and treat with severity, casting oneself unreservedly on His merciful provisions, trusting Jesus Christ as the only hope and present help in need, believing His love and taking Him at His word, and casting away unbelief. Distrusting God's Word and doubting His promises grieve Him, including leaning on fellow men as broken reeds and telling wants to men instead of coming to the heavenly Father as a child comes to an earthly parent, though God stands behind every promise, ever mindful of His covenant, always the same, keeping truth forever with no unfaithfulness and able to do exceeding abundantly above all that can be asked or thought. Letting the mind dwell on doubt and unbelief instead of committing ways entirely to God grieves Him, and talking doubts and discouragement does not remedy trouble but weakens and gives Satan advantage to distress. Speaking doubts strengthens one's own distrust and spreads unbelief to others, while facing God's light and speaking with faith and hope stands against this distrust. Lack of appreciation for His benefits and blessings grieves Him, requiring thorough wakefulness and earnestness in grasping the blessing provided, lest by ingratitude He pass by and open heavenly treasures to those who will appreciate them; thankfulness and cheerful faith replace repining.
Trifling with the message God gives to bear grieves His Spirit, namely picking out only pleasing portions and construing them to justify one's own course as the voice of God, then when rebuke comes that does not coincide with opinions and judgment dishonoring God's work by dismissing it as mere human opinion no better than one's own or anyone else's. Introducing teachings God has not given hinders the advancement of His cause and grieves His Spirit. Time setting for Christ's coming and trying to obtain revival on that ground grieve the Spirit of the Lord, since incautious words that fanatical ones seize to create excitement and stir passions and feelings where principle does not control require due caution in every word uttered. Professing to believe reformatory work while refusing light on health and by resistance making medical missionary work exceedingly hard grieves the Holy Spirit, as does criticism of health reform. Attributing a wrong cause to another's weakened physical and mental powers was an instance of the charge that the Spirit can be grieved.
Corrupt communication that does not edify and minister grace, with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, grieves the Holy Spirit whereby believers are sealed unto the day of redemption, and God will not be trifled with nor vindicate a work where no distinction is made between the precious and the vile. Complete renovation to Christlike principles is required, putting away all bitterness and evil speaking and becoming kind, tenderhearted and forgiving even as God for Christ's sake forgave, and then the cloud resting upon the institution will be rolled back. Jealousy, evil surmising, evil speaking and evil actions grieve the Holy Spirit and can drive His presence away from a church, hindering bringing souls to Christ, and faultfinding, dissension, rivalry and sinful influence hinder Him from convicting and converting and can damage those exposed. Wrong conduct and influence can grieve God's Spirit and drive His presence away from a community, for He cannot abide where such influence prevails. Churches must be set in order, the door of unbelief closed, and straight paths made so the weak are not turned out of the way, because Satan's seducing power will increase to deceive even the elect while the third angel's message is borne aloft. Murmuring, casting reflection upon men at the head of responsibilities, and venting expressions and feelings from a bruised soul because more means are needed grieve Him, so in hard places for want of means the whole business is to be carried to God, speaking words of encouragement when there is encouragement to speak and otherwise keeping silent with choice, clean, pure words fraught with Christian sympathy and love that give strength instead of bruising souls already smarting, for silence is often eloquence.